The ultimate test of nerve and skill is preparing for its final descent.
Developer Strangely Named has announced that its frantic roguelike arcade shooter, OBLITACRATER, will be officially launching on Xbox and PlayStation platforms in 2026.
This full console release will coincide with the game leaving Steam Early Access and hitting its v1.0 launch on PC.
This high-stakes gamble of a game blends classic, pick-up-and-play arcade action with a unique risk/reward system that will have you constantly asking one question: should I stick or twist?
From Early Access to Full Assault
OBLITACRATER quietly launched into Early Access on Steam earlier this year, giving the developer a chance to test the game’s core concept and gather valuable feedback from a small group of early players.
Now, with the console versions officially confirmed and a full release on the horizon, Strangely Named is ready to unleash its cute-but-deadly arcade shooter on a much wider audience.
Stick or Twist?
Every drop onto the beautifully stylised world of OBLITACRATER is a high-stakes gamble.
The game captures the essence of arcade classics like Space Invaders, throwing you into a battle against endless swarms of enemies. As you fight, you will adapt your ship with dozens of powerful upgrades and weapons.
What truly sets OBLITACRATER apart is its unique “eject and bank your score” mechanic. There is no pre-defined endpoint to a run; it’s up to you when to escape. At any point, you can choose to eject from the battlefield and bank your score, submitting it to the leaderboards. Or, you can risk it all and continue to the next, more difficult wave to push for a higher score. The catch? If your ship is destroyed, your entire score for that run resets to zero.
Every run becomes an increasingly tense gamble between the safety of banking your points and the glory of a leaderboard-topping run.
A Word from the Creator
The game’s creator, Sen, explained the unique design philosophy behind this high-stakes loop.
“We stealth-launched the game into Early Access to test the game’s core concept with a small group of players. There really aren’t any games that have the same loop. The way you can drop down and then end the run at any point, that isn’t something you see in games,” he said.
He added: “It’s all about the risk/reward. We wanted something that got harder to play not because the game got harder, but because you’re putting more at risk every time you play. Every time you drop down, you add to the tension, you add to the risk. We’ve found it makes for some really balanced and competitive leaderboards, and we’re looking forward to seeing how it resonates with a wider audience.”
The countdown to a full-scale invasion of arcade-style fun has begun. With its unique and addictive risk/reward system and a pure focus on high-score chasing, OBLITACRATER is shaping up to be a must-play for fans of classic arcade shooters.
Prepare to risk it all when the full game arrives on Xbox in 2026.
