Akatori, the metroidvania that connects parkour, combat, and narrative progression, developed by Contrast Games, has officially revealed its release dates and will launch on PC via Steam on August 5, 2026. The PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S versions will follow on August 12, while the Nintendo Switch 2 edition is scheduled for release in 2027.

The adventure follows Mako, a young monk raised in the Firebird Temple, who embarks on a journey to save diverse realms from the Amber Storms, a corrupting force capable of twisting all living things. Accompanied by a mysterious red bird sealed within her staff, she travels across interconnected worlds, faces formidable enemies, and seeks to uncover the truth behind the corruption threatening to consume everything. The narrative combines environmental storytelling with memorable character encounters, exploring themes of growth, self discovery, and resilience.

Alex Kishchinskiy, CEO of Contrast Games, highlighted the studio's excitement for players to experience the game. "Players have been asking when they can fully dive into Akatori, and we're thrilled to share the dates finally. The team has poured years of care and consistency into crafting a metroidvania that respects the genre and ensures movement and combat are tremendous. We can't wait for players to experience the full adventure."

The progression system revolves around a mystical staff that serves simultaneously as a weapon, a traversal tool, and the key to uncovering the world's hidden secrets. Players are encouraged to chain together ground and aerial combos, throw and recall the staff while in motion, and perform actions such as gliding, wall hooking, sliding, and using parkour across highly vertical environments.

Encounters take place within living ecosystems where creatures interact with one another, trigger traps, and respond dynamically to environmental hazards. This design rewards observation and adaptability throughout exploration, creating situations that evolve according to both enemy behavior and the surrounding environment.

Among the game's highlights are pixel art characters set against stylized 3D environments, myth inspired biomes, unconventional boss battles featuring underwater escape sequences and rhythm based challenges, as well as a memorable soundtrack with unique themes for every location and major encounter. The experience pays tribute to the metroidvania genre with an emphasis on polish, consistency, and giving players the freedom to develop their own approach to exploration and combat.