Hamster has re-released Taito's 1980 arcade game Balloon Bomber. This marks the first time the arcade version is available as a standalone title, and it can now be purchased on PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X|S.
Balloon Bomber was previously included in several Taito compilations released on PS2 and PSP, making this re-release the first in about twenty years. Players can now purchase the arcade version separately; currently listed platforms do not include Xbox One or PC.
The PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X|S versions are priced at $9.99, while the PS4 and Switch versions are $7.99. Upgrading from a lower-priced version to the new console version costs $2.99. The specific content differences between the various price tiers remain unclear.
In the game, players control an anti-aircraft gun to shoot down bombs suspended by balloons, aiming directly at the bombs themselves; hitting the balloon causes the bomb to fall instead. This release is described as a direct port of the original, featuring Time Attack, Original Mode, High Score Mode, and Caravan Mode, with support for variable refresh rates.