Press release -
Engines ignite! GRADIUS ORIGINS launches globally today with SALAMANDER III and six classic titles; Including a version of GRADIUS never-before released outside of Japan
The collection takes players back to the origin of the franchise and features several quality-of-life improvements including Quicksave & Quickload features, competitive Online Rankings for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch™, and Steam®
WINDSOR, UK – August 7, 2025 – Konami Digital Entertainment, B.V. (KONAMI) today announced the GRADIUS ORIGINS collection is now available on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch™, and PC via Steam®. GRADIUS ORIGINS is the definitive collection of the earliest games from the GRADIUS series – 2D shoot ‘em up classics that embody nostalgic gaming from the 1980s.
* The launch time/date varies depending on the platform.
The collection also introduces SALAMANDER III, a new entry to this shooting game franchise in over a decade.
Launch Trailer: GRADIUS ORIGINS Launch Trailer
Staying true to the 1980s - 1990s aesthetics of GRADIUS titles, SALAMANDER III features 2D sprites and backgrounds as players traverse different stages using power-ups from the SALAMANDER series.
A total of seven games with 18 different regional versions are complimented with modern-day quality-of-life improvements, including competitive Online Rankings, Rewind, Quicksave & Quickload, Easy Mode, Training Mode, Invincible Mode, and a Visual and Sound Gallery.
The full GRADIUS ORIGINS title line-up:
*The following list of titles shows the names which were originally first released.
- GRADIUS
- GRADIUS JP ver
- GRADIUS Bubble System ver
- NEMESIS NA ver
- NEMESIS EU ver
- NEMESIS NA Proto ver
- GRADIUS II
- GRADIUS II Gofer no Yabou JP Early ver
- GRADIUS II Gofer no Yabou JP Mid ver
- GRADIUS II Gofer no Yabou JP Late ver
- VULCAN VENTURE NA ver
- GRADIUS III
- GRADIUS III Densetsu kara Shinwa e JP Old ver
- GRADIUS III Densetsu kara Shinwa e JP New ver
- GRADIUS III ASIAN ver
- GRADIUS III Densetsu kara Shinwa e JP AM Show ver
- SALAMANDER
- SALAMANDER JP ver
- LIFE FORCE NA ver
- LIFE FORCE
- LIFE FORCE JP ver
- SALAMANDER2
- SALAMANDER 2 JP ver
- SALAMANDER III
- SALAMANDER III
For more information visit: https://www.konami.com/games/gradius/
About Konami Group
Konami Group was established in 1973, starting as an amusement machine manufacturer for arcades. Over the years, the company has grown to include different business units across various markets. Currently, KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION includes the Digital Entertainment, Amusement, Gaming & Systems, and Sports Businesses. The company went public on the Osaka Securities Exchange in 1984, the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1988, and the London Stock Exchange in 1999. For more information, visit: www.konami.com/en.
About Konami Digital Entertainment
Konami Digital Entertainment, which is the core company of Konami Group, develops entertaining content for mobile, console and card games. The company is known for global franchises such as eFootball™, Metal Gear, Silent Hill, Castlevania, and Contra, as well as the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game series. www.konami.com/games/corporate/en/
KONAMI Media Contact:
Konami Digital Entertainment, B.V.
Will Lawes
PR Lead EMEA
