Master of Monsters hits Switch 2 Console Archives

HAMSTER Corporation said on May 13 that it would release “Console Archives Master of Monsters: Disciples of Gaia” for Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5, extending its retro reissue line with a 1997 strategy game first published by Toshiba-Emi. The company’s English-language release page listed the title at $11.99 and said it would be available on both platforms as part of the Console Archives series. The game’s dedicated store page, however, shows different release dates by platform, with PlayStation 5 dated May 14, 2026 and Nintendo Switch 2 dated May 15, 2026. That discrepancy matters because some secondary reports had described the Switch 2 version as arriving on May 13 or May 14. ### Which date is on the official Switch 2 listing? The official Console Archives product page lists “Release date: May 15, 2026” next to the Nintendo Switch 2 purchase button and “Release date: May 14, 2026” next to the PlayStation 5 purchase button. HAMSTER’s May 13 news release said the game would be released on May 14, 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5, but the company also noted that titles available in each online store vary by country or region. NintendoEverything, in a May 13 post, said the game “comes out tomorrow, May 13,” a line that conflicts with both the dated post and HAMSTER’s official materials. (consolearchives.com) ### What exactly is being re-released? HAMSTER’s store page describes “Master of Monsters: Disciples of Gaia” as a simulation war game originally released by Toshiba-Emi in 1997 for a 32-bit home console. (hamster.co.jp) The company said the story follows Iros, “a boy granted power from the heavens,” on a journey to defeat Gaia with the help of a Master who commands monster armies. (nintendoeverything.com) Time Extension reported the game was originally a Sony PlayStation release in Japan and said it was later published in North America by ASCII and in parts of Europe by Agetec in 1998. ### What does Console Archives add to the old game? HAMSTER says Console Archives is built to bring home-console games to modern platforms with added convenience features. (hamster.co.jp) The series includes customizable button layouts, rapid-fire settings, multiple save points and a rewind function, according to the official Console Archives site. The same site says players also get screen layout adjustments and CRT-style visual filters. (timeextension.com) Those additions match the format HAMSTER has used to package older games for newer hardware through its Archives brands. ### How much does it cost and what languages are supported? The official product page lists the price at $11.99. It also says the game supports one to four players in local play. (consolearchives.com) The same listing says the release supports Japanese, English, French, Italian, German and Spanish only for option menus and manuals. Time Extension reported that the version being released appears to be the original Japanese edition rather than the later localized release, meaning the game itself is not fully translated. (consolearchives.com) ### Where does this fit in HAMSTER’s broader release schedule? (consolearchives.com) HAMSTER’s Console Archives homepage shows the company has been adding titles on a near-weekly cadence, including “MAGMAX” on May 7, “ROHGA: ARMOR FORCE” on April 30 and “NINJA GAIDEN III: THE ANCIENT SHIP OF DOOM” on April 23. Video Games Chronicle reported in February that Console Archives was launched as a companion to HAMSTER’s long-running Arcade Archives business, with an initial lineup spanning 8-bit and 32-bit console games for Switch 2 and PS5. (consolearchives.com) ### Where can players find it next? The official Console Archives page says Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 players can purchase the game through their regional online stores if it is offered in their country or region. (consolearchives.com) The Switch 2 listing currently shows May 15, 2026, while the PlayStation 5 listing shows May 14, 2026, both at $11.99. (consolearchives.com) (videogameschronicle.com)