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Retro hardware manufacturer Blaze Entertainment had forged an alliance with iconic gaming publisher SNK.
Blazing a path
Are you familiar with Blaze Entertainment? The company emerged a few years ago, releasing its impressive retro-handheld, the Evercade. Since then, Blaze has released multiple incarnations of that hardware, including a set-top box and even the just-launched bartop, the Alpha arcade. All of the above accept pretty much the full array of Evercade games too, all of which are released on cartridges.
Blaze formerly had an agreement in place with gaming giant Capcom, which was used to full effect, dropping that publisher’s classics onto Evercade EXP, and featuring two different Capcom themes on the Alpha units. But for 2025, there’s something brand new cooking in the form of a fresh initiative that includes SNK.
Casting just as massive a shadow as Capcom when it comes to gaming’s history, SNK created games like Metal Slug, The King of Fighters, Samurai Showdown, Fatal Fury, and a ton more. And while we’re not sure how many of those series’ will be coming to the Evercade line, there’s definitely some NeoGeo goodness coming up.
“This partnership with SNK is a milestone moment for Blaze. These games represent some of the most iconic and innovative titles in gaming history, and to bring them to our family of products is a privilege,” said Blaze Entertainment Ltd CEO, Andrew Byatt. “This partnership isn’t just about adding great games; it’s about celebrating the artistry and legacy of NEOGEO in a way that’s accessible to fans old and new. We’re thrilled to give these classics a new platform in 2025.”
Blaze Entertainment press release
So what exactly is en route? Blaze hasn’t revealed that just yet, though the company does make mention of its EvercadeEXP-R, VS-R, Alpha bartop arcade machines, and even the Super Pocket line in the press release. That might be just a little catalog of what the company offers, or it might hint at a full slate of incoming SNK offerings.
We’ll find out either way, and soon, as Blaze says that more reveals will be hitting at the close of quarter 1 of 2025. These announcements won’t be for far-off launches either, as the press release adds that there will be a “2025 product line-up”. Stay tuned.
