On October 10, M2 celebrated the 10th anniversary of ShotTriggers with four announcements. Hold up, press the pause button. I’m getting ahead of myself. Does anyone know what M2 is? What about ShotTriggers? Are you kind of out of the loop, like me?
M2 is a Japanese game developer that specializes in bringing classic video games to modern platforms. They have a particular fondness for arcade shoot ’em ups. Okay, maybe they have a fondness. You could categorize what I’m going through as more of an unhealthy addiction.
The ShotTriggers series launched in 2016 as an initiative dedicated to preserving and re-releasing classic arcade shoot ’em ups on modern hardware.
Starting with Battle Garegga Rev.2016, ShotTriggers became known for its faithful arcade conversions, additional gameplay modes, and signature M2 Gadgets, which display useful information about enemy behavior, scoring mechanics, and hidden gameplay systems.
M2’s approach goes beyond simply porting these games to new platforms. The goal is to preserve the original arcade experience while making these often challenging shooters more accessible to newcomers.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary, M2 held a special event where it revealed four major developments: the return of Armed Police Batrider, a console adaptation of Devil Blade Reboot, a home release date for Senxin Aleste, and the launch of M2ShotTriggers ARCADE, which brings enhanced classic shooters back into Japanese arcades.
| Game / Project | Announcement | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Armed Police Batrider | Raizing’s 1998 arcade shooter returns with new modes and M2 Gadgets. | TBA |
| Devil Blade Reboot | Console edition of the 2024 PC shoot ’em up. | TBA |
| Senxin Aleste | PS5, PS4, and Switch release with new BLADE mode. | March 18, 2027 (Japan) |
| M2ShotTriggers ARCADE | New Japanese arcade initiative, launching with Kyukyoku Tiger (Twin Cobra). | October 15, 2026 (Japan) |
| Armed Police Batrider | |
|---|---|
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| Features & Details | |
| Arcade Mode | Faithful re-release of the 1998 Raizing shooter. |
| Team Gameplay | Assemble a team from 18 available aircraft. |
| Super Easy Mode | Adjusted enemy and boss attacks for easier play. |
| M2 Gadgets | Gameplay information and hidden boss indicators. |
| Arranged Modes | Additional modes are in development. |
| Release | Platforms and release date not yet announced. |
| Devil Blade Reboot | |
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| Features & Details | |
| Console Edition | M2 is adapting the PC game for consoles. |
| Gameplay | Fast-paced vertical shooting with detailed pixel art. |
| Scoring | Rewards destroying enemies at close range. |
| PS4 Demo | An early PlayStation 4 build was demonstrated. |
| Release | Final platforms and release date unconfirmed. |
| Senxin Aleste | |
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| Features & Details | |
| ORIGIN Mode | Faithful arcade conversion with M2 Gadgets. |
| BLADE Mode | Faster gameplay with character switching. |
| Blade Missile | Powerful attack that destroys enemy projectiles. |
| Extras | Training Mode, new music, and voiced sequences. |
| Platforms | PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch. |
| Release | March 18, 2027, in Japan. International release unconfirmed. |
| Ultimate Tiger (Kyukyoku Tiger) | |
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| Features & Details | |
| Arcade Release | First title for M2ShotTriggers ARCADE. |
| Platform | Sega ALL.Net P-ras MULTI Version 3 (APM3). |
| M2 Gadgets | Helpful on-screen gameplay information. |
| Super Easy Mode | A more approachable way to play. |
| Stages | Ten stages divided into two five-stage courses. |
| Launch | October 15, 2026, in participating Japanese arcades. |
| Source | Description |
|---|---|
| M2 ShotTriggers | Official 10th-anniversary event website. |
| Gematsu | Armed Police Batrider re-release announcement. |
| Gematsu | Devil Blade Reboot console edition announcement. |
| M2 Official | Senxin Aleste release date, platforms, pricing, and new modes. |
| Game*Spark | M2ShotTriggers ARCADE and Kyukyoku Tiger announcement. |
M2 ShotTriggers 10th-anniversary artwork. Image via M2.