Gamescom had a few awesome reveals on day 1 and as we head into day 2 there will surely be more. But while the announcements of things like Warhamer 40K: Dawn of War 4 and a sequel to Black Myth: Wukong are cool, the most awesome reveal might have been He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction.
Ignoring that mouthful of a name for a moment, this new 2D side-scrolling beam-’em up is coming from Bitmap Bureau, the same team currently working on Terminator 2D.
The announcement trailer is absolutely glorious, a corny homage to the adverts I’d see on TV as a kid.
Coming to PS5, Xbox Series S/X, PC and Switch, it’s very reminscent of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge and Streets of Rage 4. You’ll play as He-Man, Teela, Man-At-Arms, and a mysterious unannounced fourth character. The aim is to stop Skeletor from performing an ancient ritual that threatens the world by beating the snot out of bad guys across 12 stages.
Four player local co-op action is being promised, too.
“A love letter to those who grew up with He-Man, combining nostalgic visuals with fast-paced, modern gameplay,” said Bitman Bureau. “Our goal is to honor the franchise’s legacy while introducing it to a new generation.”
Publishing is being handled by the slightly controversial Limited Run Games, so you can expect some tasty physical editions as well, although with that company there’s always a question of whether they’ll be delivered on time or months down the line.
No release has been announced yet, but there’s a new He-Man movie due in June of 2026 so common sense would say expect it around that time. However, the trailer does say “coming soon” so maybe it’ll be out this year?