BODY: Three decades after it first lit up Sega Saturn screens, one of the most beloved digital pinball games of the 1990s is making an unexpected return. Bisidé announced on May 20 that Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators — a title that has lived on in collector circles and emulator communities for years — will receive a "complete port" to Steam and Nintendo Switch, with release planned for sometime in 2026.
Originally developed by KAZe and released in 1995, Last Gladiators became a defining showcase of what the Saturn's 2D capabilities could deliver. Its four distinct tables, dense rule sets, and tight ball physics earned it a devoted following among pinball enthusiasts who considered it one of the best video pinball games ever made on a home console.
Bisidé has emphasized that this is not a remaster or a reimagining but a faithful port, preserving the original feel, sound design, and table layouts that defined the Saturn release. Specific pricing, exact release timing, and details on any modern conveniences — online leaderboards, save states, or display options — have not yet been disclosed.
The announcement caps a years-long campaign by fans to see the title legally available again, as physical Saturn copies have grown increasingly expensive on the secondhand market.
The insider take
Revivals of Saturn-era niche titles have been quietly trending in Japan as publishers rediscover that the console's library — long underrepresented on modern storefronts due to its difficult architecture — still commands a passionate domestic audience willing to pay full price for accuracy over modernization. For Bisidé, a studio better known for quirky lifestyle titles, taking on Last Gladiators signals confidence that the Reiwa-era retro market has matured beyond simple nostalgia bundles. Expect Japanese pinball communities on X and Discord to scrutinize the physics engine on day one — fidelity, not features, will decide whether this port earns the "complete" label it has been promised.
Originally reported by AUTOMATON (Japanese).