Akatori is a Metroidvania Action-Platformer Coming August

Developer Contrast Games and publisher Games Harbor have announced that Akatori, their upcoming Metroidvania action-platformer, is now available to pre-order on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S ahead of its August 2026 launch. A gameplay trailer and screenshots have also dropped alongside the announcement, giving players their first proper look at what to expect from this ambitious-sounding title.

Players take on the role of Mako, a teenage girl raised in the Firebird Temple, who sets out on a mission to save multiple worlds from the Amber Storms, a mysterious force that is infecting and distorting all living things. Alongside her travels, Mako is accompanied by a red bird sealed within a staff, whose origins and motives remain unknown. The staff itself is central to the gameplay, functioning as both a weapon against enemies and a tool for exploration, allowing players to glide from heights, slide down slopes, solve environmental puzzles, and uncover hidden areas.

The game spans five distinct worlds, each with its own biome, story, and set of challenges. Contrast Games appears to have put considerable effort into the visual side of things, blending crisp pixel art with smooth 3D models to create what they describe as breathtaking landscapes, from vivid open vistas and bizarre levitating buildings to cave catacombs and twisted natural environments. Combat looks to be no slouch either, with over 20 types of regular enemies and several unique boss encounters promised for players to work through. The soundtrack also adapts dynamically to what is happening on screen, shifting between intense and atmospheric depending on the situation.

Akatori is set to launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S on 12th August 2026, with a PC release via Steam also planned for August 2026. A Nintendo Switch version is in the works too, currently targeting late Q3 or Q4 2026. PlayStation players can add the game to their wishlist now via the PlayStation Store, while Steam users can do the same over on the game’s Steam page.

For those on Xbox who want to secure their copy early, Akatori is available to pre-order now via the Microsoft Store. Readers wanting to keep up with developments can follow Contrast Games and Games Harbor for further updates as the August launch approaches.