Sunsoft's Classic Racing Action Game Revives in the Reiwa Era! 'Hashire Hebereke EX' Joins Steam Next Fest with Playable Demo Now Available! Pre-orders Open for Limited and Standard Editions Ahead of September 3 Release

Gravity Game Arise Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo) is pleased to announce that its highly anticipated new racing action game 'Hashire Hebereke EX', set for release on Thursday, September 3, 2026, will be participating in the 'Steam Next Fest' starting today.

In conjunction with this announcement, a playable demo version is now available, allowing players to experience the game's charm ahead of launch. Additionally, pre-orders for both the 'Standard Edition' and the exclusive 'Limited Edition'—featuring collectible items available nowhere else—are now open across major storefronts. We encourage players to try the demo and secure their pre-orders early!

★ The demo is available now on the Steam store page ★

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3948110/EX/

◆ Demo Content Available in 'Steam Next Fest'

This demo offers early access to a selection of the game’s diverse gameplay modes, including core single-player experiences and select multiplayer modes designed for fun, chaotic group play.

・Story Mode (Stages 1 and 2 only): Experience the beginning of the main campaign, where each chosen character has their own unique storyline.

・Onigokko (Engacho) Mode: A surreal and intense tag game where the 'it' player has 'poop' on their head and chases others. This lively multiplayer mode is unlocked from the start, allowing players to enjoy chaotic group fun before launch.

・Option Settings: Adjust various game settings to suit your preferences.

※ Other menus and locked features will be available in the full release.

【Demo Availability Period】

JST: June 12, 2026 (Fri) –

【Supported Languages】

Japanese, English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Italian

【Important Notes】

・The demo is a work-in-progress version; some features may differ from the final retail release.

・Demo save data will not carry over to the full game.

・Even with compatible system requirements, gameplay may be affected by network conditions or other external factors.

◆ About 'Hashire Hebereke EX'

'Hashire Hebereke EX' is a modern remake of Sunsoft’s 1994 Super Famicom title 'Hashire Hebereke'. Players select from a cast of quirky, adorable characters and race through obstacle-filled courses packed with power-ups. The game supports up to 4 players locally and up to 8 players online, enabling lively and intense multiplayer battles.

Unique Characters Run Wild!

The game features over eight charming and eccentric characters, including Hebe, O-chan, Jennifer, Sukezaemon, Bobo Dori, Pen-chan, Utsujin, and Unyon. Victory hinges on mastering each character’s unique traits and special moves. Success comes from understanding these abilities and strategically using randomly dropped items on the course.

Dive Into a Variety of Game Modes!

From solo challenges to massive 8-player online battles, the game offers a wide range of modes to enjoy.

・Story Mode: Experience unique narratives based on your chosen character. Aim to complete all 10 stages, with instant retries after failure.

・Time Attack: A single-player mode focused on beating your personal best. Race against your own ghost data for extra challenge.

・Onigokko (Tag): A surreal tag game where the 'it' player, marked with 'poop' on their head, chases others in a heated pursuit.

・Battle Run: The classic split-screen racing mode for up to 4 players.

・Popun Battle: Throw 'popuns' to hit opponents. Land three hits to win a round; first to win two rounds takes the match.

・Rhythm Game: Input commands in sync with rhythm as 'popuns' scroll across the screen. Chain combos to enter Fever Mode—a must-play for music game fans.

・Online Battle: Join large-scale races with up to 8 players. Compete against rivals nationwide on randomly selected stages.

※ All gameplay footage shown is from a development build.

◆ Basic Information

Title: 'Hashire Hebereke EX'

Genre: Racing Action

Platforms: Nintendo Switch™, PC (Steam)

Subtitles: Japanese, English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Italian

Player Count: 1–8 players

Release Date: September 3, 2026 (Thu)

Suggested Retail Price:

Standard Edition / Digital Version: ¥3,000 (excl. tax) / ¥3,300 (incl. tax)

Limited Edition: ¥10,000 (excl. tax) / ¥11,000 (incl. tax)

※ Limited Edition is available as a physical package only.

Steam Store: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3948110/__EX/

My Nintendo Store: https://store-jp.nintendo.com/item/software/D70010000115882

Official Website: https://hashire-heberekeex.com/

◆ Company Overview

Gravity Game Arise Co., Ltd.

Company Name: Gravity Game Arise Co., Ltd.

(English: GRAVITY GAME ARISE Co., Ltd.)

Headquarters: 3-14-4-2F, Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Founded: July 1, 2019

URL: https://gravityga.jp/

◆ START with GRAVITY

'START with GRAVITY' is a project dedicated to planning, developing, and discovering fun and engaging consumer and indie games, delivering the most entertaining gaming experiences to audiences worldwide.

URL: https://startgravity.jp/

When publishing information or images, please include the following copyright notice:

©SUNSOFT Published by GRAVITY GAME ARISE Co., Ltd. Developed by CRT GAMES.

※ Nintendo Switch logo and Nintendo Switch are trademarks of Nintendo.

※ ©2026 Valve Corporation. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.