Karous: Dreamcast's Last Licensed Game Returns to Steam, PS5, and Switch in January 2026

Karous, the legendary vertical shooter that holds the distinction of being the Sega Dreamcast's final officially licensed game, is making its triumphant return on modern platforms. Publisher RS34 has announced that the Steam version launches January 22, 2026, with PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch versions also planned.

A Shmup Legend Reborn

Originally released in Japanese arcades on November 15, 2006, Karous (カラス, meaning "crows" in Japanese) was developed by Milestone Inc., the studio known for Radilgy and other distinctive shooters. The Dreamcast port followed on March 8, 2007, becoming the console's swan song and a collector's holy grail.

The game features Milestone's signature cel-shaded visual style but with a darker, more gothic atmosphere compared to their previous work. Set in the post-apocalyptic world of Re:Eden, players control Karous, a girl who lost her family during a great war with humans and seeks the mysterious Sanguis Dei.

Shot, Sword, and Shield

Karous distinguishes itself with a unique three-weapon system:

• Shot: Standard ranged attack
• Sword: Close-range melee strikes
• Shield: Defensive barrier that can reflect enemy fire

Each weapon becomes more powerful through use, with a maximum of 100 levels per weapon. This progression system encourages players to master all three combat styles rather than relying on a single approach.

Drum and Bass Atmosphere

One of Karous's most distinctive features is its drum and bass soundtrack composed by Daisuke Nagata. The heavy breakbeats and dark electronic atmosphere set it apart from typical shmup soundtracks, creating an intense audiovisual experience.

Alongside the game release, RS34 is launching two soundtrack albums on December 25, 2025: - SPRING RAIN: Original soundtrack (21 tracks) - ¥3,000 - DEFECT IN MY HEAD: Remixed soundtrack featuring Shinji Hosoe and Ayako Saso (18 tracks) - ¥3,000

Modern Features

The Steam release includes: - Steam Achievements - Steam Leaderboards - Multiple difficulty settings: Easy, Normal, and Hard - English and Japanese language support

Pricing and Requirements

The game is priced at ¥3,800 (approximately $25 USD) and has modest system requirements: - OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) - Processor: Intel Core i3 - RAM: 4GB - Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 530 - Storage: 500MB