NIS America and IKINAGAMES have confirmed a release date for its upcoming sci-fi RPG Starbites, which is coming to both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch.
On Bitter, a harsh desert world still scarred by an interstellar war, young salvager Lukida dreams of escaping to the stars. When a giant robot erupts from the sands and attacks, it sets off a chain of events that will upend her life and reshape the fate of Bitter forever.
Traverse the sweeping dunes atop your trusty Motorbot and carve your path through a turn‑based combat system that’s simple to pick up yet deeply rewarding to master. Recruit allies, upgrade your Motorbots with powerful gear, and venture into Bitter’s deserts in search of answers.
Buried somewhere beneath the shifting sands lies the truth of what happened 45 years ago, and it’s waiting to be uncovered.
“For those of us who grew up in the late 1990s to early 2000s, especially in East Asia, it was almost impossible to escape the influence of Japanese animation and games. Anime captured our imaginations with wildly differing themes, captivating characters, and immersive storytelling,” IKINAGAMES game designer Lee Ji Young explained about his inspiration.
“Meanwhile, major JRPGs continually provided experiences of adventure, growth, and achievement. Memories of clearing numerous games that weren’t officially released or translated in my home country, Korea – relying only on game magazine information – still influence me as a game developer today.
“The unfamiliar yet deeply human world depicted in Akira, the beautiful dystopian landscapes in Future Boy Conan, the thrilling adventures and mysterious lost civilizations in Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, and the charming space setting of Cowboy Bebop. In those worlds, the world was broken and desolate, but there was always hope, adventure, and above all, a captivating world. This is the kind of world I wanted to create with Starbites.”
The publisher has outlined the game’s key features, which include:
- Fracture Your Foes: Learn your enemies’ weaknesses, then Fracture their guard and dish out the damage in classic, turn-based RPG gameplay that’s easy to pick up, and hard to put down. Take extra turns with Driver’s High to really turn the tables!
- Ride High on your Motorbot: Every character has a personal Motorbot that’s suited to their own personality and battle style. Lukida rides high in her slingshot-wielding robot, while Gwendoll cruises along in her flashy hoverbike.
- Secrets Beneath the Dunes: The sands of Bitter hide many secrets. Uncover the truth in this gripping story of regret, revenge, and forgiveness.
Starbites will be released at retail and digitally on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch worldwide on 21 May 2026.
