Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is Getting a Switch 2 Cartridge Release

Clear River Games has announced that Taito’s 2019 platformer Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back is getting a physical release on the Nintendo Switch 2. It turns out that even next-generation hardware cannot escape the eternal pull of 1980s-style bubble popping.

According to the publisher, pre-orders are open now, with the physical cartridges scheduled to begin shipping in Spring 2027. If you prefer your cute dragons to exist purely as ones and zeros, a digital release on the Switch 2 is also planned for February 25, 2027.

The upcoming release is listed as a "Game on Card" package, confirming that physical collectors will indeed have another tiny piece of plastic to secure on their shelves. For those keeping score, the Switch 2 edition bundles the base 2019 game with the stages from its 2020 update, The Baron is Back!, which originally debuted on the first Nintendo Switch before eventually jumping to PS4 and PC.

The new port introduces a handful of platform-specific upgrades, including camera support, an increased 1080p resolution, and a vertical challenge mode called "Stardrop Mountain." And because Taito knows exactly why older players are here, the package also includes the original, notoriously difficult 1986 arcade classic—just in case you missed the feeling of losing virtual quarters to a pixelated dinosaur.

The details

• Publisher: Clear River Games
• Physical release window: Spring 2027
• Digital release date: February 25, 2027
• Format: Physical cartridge ("Game on Card") and digital
• Switch 2 upgrades: 1080p resolution, camera support, and exclusive "Stardrop Mountain" mode

Whether you opt for the modern 1080p overhaul or the retro authenticity of the 1986 original, the release ensures that one of arcade gaming's oldest partnerships will survive into another console generation.