Upcoming Scott Pilgrim fighter is being developed by the creators of the past Scott Pilgrim brawler and TMNT: Shredder's Revenge.

As an avid fan of the game genre, I'm thrilled at the rejuvenation of the side-scrolling brawler, all thanks to games like Castle Crashers and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game. Time might be a circle, but it's moving forward, and we're getting more Castle Crashers DLC and another Scott Pilgrim game - the cleverly titled Scott Pilgrim EX. This game is being developed by Tribute Games, the same crew that gave us the entertaining TMNT: Shredder's Revenge.

Scott Pilgrim EX looks to be the sequel to the original game, with a new narrative penned by Bryan Lee O'Malley, the original comic author (he also oversaw Netflix's recent Scott Pilgrim Takes Off series), and artwork by Paul Robertson, well-known for his anarchic, sometimes NSFW cartoon silliness like Jimmy & Baby on YouTube. Tribute Games is composed of developers from the 2010 Scott Pilgrim game itself, so you can bet the team is in tip-top form to create another excellent game.

Take a look at the reveal trailer - yep, that's Scott Pilgrim alright, all the way down to the soundtrack from the chiptune-rock outfit Anamanaguchi. The game seems to draw inspiration from River City Ransom, featuring an explorable town (Toronto, specifically), light RPG elements, and enemies that beat until they barf and drop coins for you to upgrade. The enemies also remix those from the original, with militant vegans, demons, and robots causing a ruckus.

Being somewhat tepid towards the original Scott Pilgrim brawler, I'm hoping Tribute has learned a lesson or two over the years. The first game was known for its problematic balance, which it inherited from the NES classic River City Ransom. RPG elements sometimes bogged down the action, leading to unbalanced gameplay that could favor either the player or the enemy based on character build optimization. The game looked and sounded fantastic, but its gameplay could be a bit of a grind.

But that was fifteen years ago, and Tribute has demonstrated their expertise in creating fast-paced arcade brawlers with Shredder's Revenge. The music and art are stellar, and this time around, the trailer only shows two-player action. The original supported up to four, but it occasionally led to a messy experience, so perhaps it's an indication of further restraint and lessons learned.

Scott and Ramona are the only playable characters showcased thus far, but others have been confirmed. I'm hoping for a diverse range of movesets to differentiate the characters. There's a lot of potential here, and while there have been plenty of brawlers released recently, those that stand out as genuine classics have been fewer.

Scott Pilgrim EX will be released in early 2026. Fans of Tribute Games can wishlist it on Steam right now. Those in need of an arcade brawling fix from the studio won't have to wait that long, either, as Tribute is also working on Marvel Cosmic Invasion, an appealing, fastbeat-em-up set for release later this year.

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Dominic TarasonA product of wasted youth, wasted prime, and wasted middle age, Dominic Tarason is a freelance writer, occasional indie PR guy, and techno-hermit frequenting the minds of many Internet users, rarely seen in reality. He resides deep in the Welsh wilderness, where food delivery dares not tread, and videogames provide a gritty, realistic escape from the idyllic views and fresh country air. If you're searching for something new and potentially strange to play, feel free to reach out to him on Bluesky — he's approaching socialization, most of the time.

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Overall:

Overview of Scott Pilgrim EX

Scott Pilgrim EX is a new video game entry in the Scott Pilgrim series, announced by Tribute Games in collaboration with series creator Bryan Lee O'Malley and Universal. The game is set for release in early 2026 and will be available on multiple platforms including PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch [1][2][3].

Key Features:

Storyline: Scott Pilgrim EX features a brand-new storyline co-written by Bryan Lee O'Malley and the team at Tribute Games. Players embark on an epic quest through a warped version of Toronto, battling enemies such as demons, vegan henchmen, and robots [1][3].
Playable Characters: The game includes seven playable characters, with Scott Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers confirmed. There are five additional playable characters, although their identities have not been fully disclosed [1][3].
Gameplay: It is a four-player co-op brawler that blends high-energy action with character progression. Each character comes with a full move set from the start, with options to customize through upgradeable stats and special items [1][3].
Music: The game features an all-new soundtrack by Anamanaguchi, combining 8-bit sounds with "hyper-melodic rock" [1][3].
Art and Collaborations: The game's art is assisted by pixel artist Paul Robertson, and Ben David Grabinski, director of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, serves as a creative consultant [1][3].

Platforms and Release Date:

Platforms: PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: Early 2026 [1][2][3]
Fans of the original Scott Pilgrim brawler may have reservations about its problematic balance and unbalanced gameplay, but Tribute Games, the developers of the upcoming Scott Pilgrim EX, have made improvements with their expertise in creating fast-paced arcade brawlers like TMNT: Shredder's Revenge.
The new game, Scott Pilgrim EX, will likely offer a more engaging experience with a diverse range of movesets to differentiate the characters, as demonstrated in their previous work.
Early 2026 marks the release date for this sequel, making it an exciting prospect for those in search of new gaming entertainment.
Scott Pilgrim EX is now wishlistable on Steam, while Tribute Games fans eager for an arcade brawling fix can also look forward to Marvel Cosmic Invasion, set for release later this year.