I’ve always had a soft spot for R‑Type. I’ve never been especially good at it, my ships tend to explode somewhere around Stage 3, but that’s part of the charm. It’s a series that punishes you, teaches you, and somehow keeps you coming back for one more go. So the fact that we’re getting more R‑Type very soon has me grinning like a kid in an import shop circa ’89.

R‑Type Dimensions III is arriving in three flavours, and each one feels like a small event. The digital edition lands on the 19th of this month, which means we’re only days away from diving back into Bydo‑blasting bliss. If you’re the sort who still likes something you can actually put on a shelf, the physical edition follows on 11th August.

But the real showpiece is the Collector’s Edition, due this winter. This isn’t just a fancy box with a sticker sheet, it comes with a proper centrepiece: a resin diorama of the R‑90 locked in battle with the iconic Dobkeratops, crafted by none other than Wētā Workshop. That’s the sort of thing that turns a collector’s edition into a conversation piece. More details are available right here.

More R‑Type is always welcome. This one feels like a celebration of the series’ legacy as much as a new release, and I’m absolutely here for it.