Introducing Housemarque’s Nex Machina

Last night was massive for PlayStation fans, as SONY dropped one major announcement after another. With so many blockbuster reveals packed into a single presentation, not every title got the spotlight it deserved—something many sites will no doubt be making up for in the days ahead.

Amid the hype, Nex Machina was finally mentioned—but honestly, who could focus by then? A brand-new Uncharted and a new The Last of Us had already been revealed, stealing the thunder from just about everything else. Oh, and let’s not forget the return of WipEout, LocoRoco, PaRappa the Rapper, and more… It was a nostalgia-fueled overload, and Nex Machina, despite being a standout, barely had a chance to breathe in all the noise.

So, what exactly is Nex Machina?

Well, imagine a brand-new game from Housemarque—the masters behind Super Stardust and RESOGUN—delivering their signature twin-stick shooter magic in the style of classics like Robotron: 2084 and Smash T.V.. Sounds awesome already, right?

But here’s where it gets even more interesting: the legendary Eugene Jarvis is involved. Yes, that Eugene Jarvis—the arcade icon behind Defender, Robotron, and Smash T.V.. At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Wait a minute… I know that name!”—and you’d be absolutely right.

A LEGEND IN GAMING RETURNS…

Yes, he’s a legend from the golden age of arcades—the mastermind behind Defender, ROBOTRON: 2084, Smash T.V., and even a handful of classic pinball titles.

In other words, this guy lives and breathes arcade games—and so does Housemarque. That combination? It has all the ingredients to turn Nex Machina into pure gold. Well… at least that’s what I’m hoping for!

That Music, That Style, That Everything…

The announcement trailer oozes quality from start to finish, showcasing fluid, jaw-dropping gameplay paired with a synth soundtrack that catapults me straight back to the 80s—faster than I can even say “retro.”

Everything about it looks and sounds spot-on. Honestly, it had me hooked before the gameplay even kicked in.

So what are you waiting for?

Check out the video below.

So, can Housemarque’s Nex Machina beat the wonderful Assault Android CACTUS in terms of twin-stick shooter retro quality madness? Short answer, Yes 😀