⚠️This page mixes confirmed information with industry rumors and speculation. We’ll keep it updated as new details and leaks come to light.
- The Escapist recaps
- When could Orbitals be released?
- Expected Orbitals price & pre-orders
- Orbitals platforms
- Orbitals trailer & gameplay analysis
- Ask The Escapist
- References
Anime lovers have a lot to look forward to in 2026, not least of all because of the Orbitals game’s upcoming release. First revealed at The Game Awards 2025, Orbitals showcased a fun, action-packed experience following the intergalactic adventures of Maki and Omura as they try to save their home.
Set in a “wholly new anime world”, Maki and Omura will need to keep their wits about them as they navigate the perils of space. This Shapefarm-developed title has only given us a quick peek into this delightful universe, yet we’re as curious as ever about the Orbitals game. With its release year now in sight, let’s take a look at everything we know.
The Escapist recaps
- Orbitals is a new adventure game developed by Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive, first announced at The Game Awards 2025.
- The Orbitals game developer, Shapefarm, is a new studio, with this title acting as its debut release.
- The Orbitals game release date is 2026, though no further specifics have been provided.
- This experience will be a co-op adventure, in which players help Maki and Omura as they attempt to save their “crumbling” home.
- Sporting a retro anime style, the Orbitals game trailer and the game itself have been heavily inspired by beloved classics, such as Cowboy Bebop.
When could Orbitals be released?
Orbitals’ game release date is 2026, which, granted, is quite a large window of time. Despite various details about the title being revealed at The Game Awards, a specific day wasn’t shared.
To keep abreast of all new information about the Orbitals game, you can register for updates via the Orbitals official website.
Expected Orbitals price & pre-orders
Orbitals’ price hasn’t been revealed yet, and likely won’t be until closer to the Orbitals game release date. Still, we can make an educated guess.
This is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive title, and so a price tag fitting of such a release will likely start at $60. Although some games cost as much as $80, these are typically major releases, such as Mario Kart World; smaller titles typically cost less, though the price is still considerable.
As for pre-orders, if they do become available, that too will be revealed closer to its intended launch date. For now, though, there’s no pre-order option nor any details regarding pre-order bonuses.
Orbitals platforms
Orbitals is a Nintendo exclusive, meaning only the Orbitals game Switch 2 version will be available upon launch.
Orbitals trailer & gameplay analysis
Orbitals is a cooperative adventure set in space, following the antics of Maki and Omura. With their home in dire need of saving, they brave a cosmic storm to try and get the answers they seek.
The power of friendship and teamwork is the main focus of the Orbitals game trailer. In the brief video, we see the dynamic duo flying spacecraft, utilizing a variety of tools, and simply toughing it out to get to the bottom of this supernatural storm.
Although vastly different in story and visuals, Orbitals is reminiscent of Portal 2 in that it has a split-screen interface. However, that’s where the similarities end, as Orbitals’ gameplay offers no single-player experience; it’s strictly a 2-player adventure, just like Split Fiction.
While it’s clear that local co-op is included, details about remote co-op play are proving trickier to obtain.
Several outlets have theorized that the Orbitals game has GameShare, a feature that allows others to play with you even if they’re playing via an original Switch. However, the official games website doesn’t state this, and thus, would-be players need to proceed with caution.
In addition to its gameplay, Orbitals’ game trailer also does a stellar job of introducing players to a new anime world, one which has been heavily inspired by 80s/90s anime.
These visuals run throughout the experience, rather than being cutscene-specific. It feels authentic to the shows it’s paying homage to, while also creating a unique presence all of its own.
Ask The Escapist
As already highlighted by Orbitals’ gameplay, this title is co-op only – there’s no single-player option.
The Orbitals game is a Switch 2 exclusive, meaning it’s only available on Nintendo’s newest device. That being said, due to the game reportedly having GameShare, those with a Switch should be able to access the game if a Switch 2 user shares it with them.
The reports regarding Orbitals online co-op are conflicted – many outlets say that the game supports both local and online play, yet the official game’s website doesn’t. It only states that it’s a “2-player co-op adventure”. Considering this is a 2-player experience, it would make sense for online co-op to be offered as well as local. What is more, with other co-op experiences, like Super Mario Party Jamboree utilizing GameShare, Orbitals also supporting the feature is logical.
Nintendo isn’t known for sharing its exclusives, and thus, it’s unlikely that the Orbitals game will ever launch on other platforms. Moreover, the exclusivity of Orbitals has been a significant part of its marketing since its announcement.
Much like Silent Hill f, players can choose whether to play the Orbitals game in either Japanese or English. As for other localization options, several languages are said to be supported, including French, German, and Polish. However, it’s unclear if full audio dubs will be provided.
References
- Coming to Nintendo Switch™ 2 in 2026 (Orbitals)
Last Updated On: Jan 9, 2026 9:29 am CET