Antstream - neue Retro Gaming Plattform in den Startlöchern

Antstream, die neue Gaming Plattform für Retrospiele, kündigte heute an, dass es fünf legendäre Kultmarken als Partner für sich gewinnen konnte und bei ihrer Veröffentlichung eine Auswahl derer bekanntesten Titel anbieten wird.

Antstream wird Spiele der folgenden Hersteller anbieten:

- SNK (Ikari Warriors)
- Data East (Joe & Mac)
- Epyx (California Games)
- Gremlin Interactive (Zool)
- Technōs (Double Dragon)

Antstream bietet seinen Abonnenten auf einfache, legale und unterhaltsame Weise Zugriff auf Tausende Spieleklassiker, die den meisten Gamern bisher nicht zugänglich waren. Antstream wird im ersten Quartal 2019 für PC, Mac, Xbox One, Tablets und Smartphones veröffentlicht.

„Der sofortige Zugriff auf großartige Spiele ist das A und O unseres Projekts. Die Rechte zu diesen Titeln aufzuspüren und zu sichern ist nicht einfach und die Partner, die wir heute bekanntgeben, sind erst die Spitze des Eisbergs bei unserer Planung“, erklärt Steve Cottam, CEO von Antstream.

„Ein Manko der Branche war bislang, dass Spiele nach dem Verschwinden der Original Plattform, für die sie konzipiert wurden, nicht mehr gespielt werden können“, schildert Koicki Toyama, CEO von SNK. „Wir arbeiten gemeinsam mit Antstream daran, diesen Mangel zu korrigieren, damit sich Spieler gemeinsam mit ihren Freunden wieder an einigen der beliebtesten Kult Videospiele erfreuen können.“

Anfang nächsten Jahres will Antstream weitere Details zu deren Plan für die Wiederbelebung von Retro Spielen enthüllen. Ihr habt ab sofort schon die Gelegenheit, euch auf der Antstream Website zu registrieren, um als Erste informiert zu werden.

Retro ist Inn wie lange nicht, von daher hauche ich hier noch mal Leben rein:

Two very different titles join the Antstream library this week. Antstream, the leading retro streaming service, is pleased to announce the arrival of the classic Centipede (Atari 8-bit) and The Lords of Midnight (Spectrum). Get ready to shoot centipede segments and bring an end to winter by destroying Doomdark.

The challenge for this week is one for the best Double Dragon players. In "C'mon Then, If You Think You're Hard Enough" players must earn the highest score possible on the highest difficulty. Good luck!

Previously a VCS exclusive, the Atari 8-bit version of Centipede joins Antstream this week. An iconic game that proved incredibly popular in the arcades, Centipede originally launched in 1981 before being released on multiple platforms. The game is a fixed shooter where the titular centipede moves left and right across the screen, getting lower with each crossing.

The goal is to shoot all of the centipede segments before it reaches the bottom. Mushrooms litter the screen, increasing as the player advances through the levels, but they can also be shot and destroyed. The centipede will move until it hits the edge of the screen or a mushroom, and will then turn around. Shooting the middle segments of the centipede will cause it to split in two, and the player is scored depending on what they manage to shoot. A true classic from the golden age of arcade games, Centipede is not a game to miss.

The Lords of Midnight is a fantasy strategy/RPG hybrid game that launched originally for the ZX Spectrum in 1984, before being converted to other home computers. The game proved to be very well regarded by the players and spawned a couple of sequels in later years. In The Lords of Midnight, players are charged with destroying the Witchking Doomdark and bringing about the end of the perpetual winter that hangs over the Land of Midnight.

Played very much like a graphic adventure, The Lords of Midnight employed an innovative 3-D effect to immerse the player in the fantasy world. Players initially begin with four characters, but can recruit many other characters to their cause as they progress. The game has two different goals that change how the game is played. Players can either choose to destroy the source of Doomdark's power, which plays as an adventure, or raise enough armies to storm Doomdark's citadel, which is more wargame. For the most adventurous players, combining both objectives into one game is the way to go. The Lords of Midnight is a classic example of early strategy games and still has a devoted following even now.

Whether fighting to bring an end to the perpetual winter, or simply shooting that evil centipede, Antstream players will be able to use the cloud system to pause and resume the action whenever they choose. Newly added titles are coming to the service each and every week, ensuring there is always something new to discover in Antstream's massive library.

"When it comes to arcade games, it doesn't get much more classic than Centipede. The Lords of Midnight, on the other hand, is the sort of game that would give hours of thoughtful entertainment to home computer enthusiasts. Either way, these are both great titles and we are proud to have them both coming to the Antstream library this week." - Steve Cottam, CEO of Antstream.

Antstream Arcade is the world's largest official library of retro games to stream, with more than 1300 titles available to play on multiple devices, including PC, mobile, Samsung TV, Linux and Xbox. With local co-op, weekly tournaments, hundreds of challenges and a global leaderboard to climb, there are plenty of new ways to play classic games, and Antstream's cloud system instantly saves game progress so players can put down and pick up games at any time.

Antstream Arcade is available for £39.99, giving the player unrestricted access to all 1300+ games and all tournaments, challenges and more for an entire year. For a limited time, players can also purchase the lifetime subscription for a one-off payment of £99.99.

Schwups und nun also auch auf der PlayStation verfügbar!

The latest in Antstream's regular series of Connect Presentations is live and reveals some massive news. Antstream is coming to PlayStation!
The long awaited news that Antstream, the world's leading retro streaming service, will be coming to both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. During the presentation Steve Cottam, CEO of Antstream revealed they will be sharing the official launch date with our partners in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, make sure to follow us on social media for all the latest updates, and add Antstream to your PlayStation Wishlist starting today, August 14th.
Antstream PlayStation Edition will be available on PS4 and PS5 consoles from £39.99/ $39.99/ €39.99 for an annual pass or £99.99/ $99.99/ €99.99 for a lifetime subscription. PlayStation owners can sign up to the wishlist from today using this link.

Antstream is available on Xbox, Epic, iPhone, iPad, Android, Samsung TVs, PC, Mac, and soon, PlayStation. Climb global leaderboards to show off your skills, compete in world tournaments and take on mini game challenges, all while being able to save progress in any of the Antstream library's 1300+ games, at any point.
Of course, the Antstream August Connect presentation doesn't stop there. Antstream is celebrating the first anniversary on Xbox, with some incredible stats, such as more than 100 games added to the service in the past year, and nearly 2 million minutes played.
Last month’s launch on iOS as the world’s first streaming game partner on the platform gets even better with the introduction of a 7-day free trial, allowing potential players to try the service before commiting
CEO Steve Cottam, Studio Head Mike Rouse and Creative Director Karl D'Costa talk about the ongoing commitment to the modern retro indie scene, and the announcement that PlayStation 1 Net Yaroze games will soon be coming to Antstream. With the upcoming launch on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, it seems the perfect time to bring back the originality and creativity of Net Yaroze developed software.

The team also revealed that Pico-8 developers can now submit their games to be included on the Antstream service, and that Puzzles of the Paladin and Manbomber are already coming soon.

Further news of the upcoming Vision update is shared, discussing the new competitive features, modern slick interface, game rewards, new ways to play and fully customised player experience, along with a little more information on when players will likely be able to see the new Antstream, although the exact date is still TBA. Current players can enjoy the inclusion of a much requested feature on Antstream right now though: customisable controls.

Aside from the big news, plenty of great trailers for games coming to the Antstream service are on display. From the truly epic opening sizzle video, loads of excellent retro games are given the chance to shine during the presentation, from companies such as IREM, PIKO, Tatsujin and Team17, and from platforms including PS1, NES, Arcade and Amiga.

2024 has already been a huge year for Antstream, and there is still plenty more to come. With the launch for PlayStation on the horizon, more gamers will be able to enjoy their favourite retro titles through the Antstream service, making Antstream the best way to play classic games and retro indies.

As Summer gives way to Autumn, Antstream Arcade - the world’s leading retro gaming platform - continues to add titles to their extensive library of classic games for players to enjoy as the nights draw in. All while launching for the first time on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, and offering a free trial to players on Apple iOS.

The biggest news from September was the launch on PlayStation, giving retro gaming fans yet another way to play their favourite old-school classics. The launch has proven a popular addition and extended Antstream’s vision of allowing players to enjoy their games anywhere, anytime.

September also saw a constant stream of titles being added to the extensive Antstream library each week, giving players something new to discover and enjoy.

To celebrate the Playstation launch at the start of the month, Antstream has brought some great PS1 titles to the platform alongside a selection of iconic games from other retro platforms:

Worms Armageddon (PS1): Worms Armageddon was launched originally for Microsoft Windows machines in 1999 by Team17 and was the third instalment in the hugely popular Worms series. In this 2D turn-based game, players control a team of up to eight earthworms with the goal of wiping out the opposition with a wide array of different weapons and tools in a destructible environment.

Motor Mash (PS1): Motor Mash is a top-down cartoon racer from Eutechnyx that was originally released in 1997 for PlayStation. Players choose from a selection of different cars and drivers before racing against opponents over six worlds, each with eight courses.

Risky Woods (Mega Drive): Risky Woods, known as Jashin Draxos in Japan, is a side-scrolling platformer released by Electronic Arts in 1992. In Risky Woods the player will take on the role of Rohan, who is charged with ancient monks that have been frozen in stone by Draxos and his minions.

Wonder Planet (Arcade): Released to arcades by Data East in 1987, Wonder Planet is a vertically-scrolling shoot 'em up that stood out from the crowd with its bright colours and cartoon-style visuals.

Lode Runner II: The Bungeling Strikes Back (Arcade): Released to arcade by IREM in 1984, this sequel contains 30 levels and has the player avoiding or trapping enemies while collecting gold to complete the level and move onto the next.

Saboteur! Remastered (ZX Spectrum): Saboteur! was originally released on various home computers in 1985 by Clive Townsend and became something of a legend. Saboteur! Remastered takes the original game and imagines it had been developed with modern technology, resulting in a faster and more optimised game with additional graphics and new features. Infiltrate the warehouse and steal the floppy disc before time runs out.

Lode Runner III: The Golden Labyrinth (Arcade): The second Lode Runner game of the month, IREM’s Lode Runner III: The Golden Labyrinth came to the arcade in 1985. Again containing 30 levels taken from the original 1983 Lode Runner, players will continue to trap enemies and collect gold.

Super JetPak DX (GameBoy Color): The first GameBoy Color game to arrive on Antstream Arcade, Super JetPak DX is a modern re-imagining of the classic 1983 JetPac. In this single-screen platform shooter, help your astronaut repair and fuel their ship to blast off to the next level, all while avoiding pesky aliens.

“September has been an amazing month for Antstream and for our retro-loving players. The Launch on PlayStation was a big milestone for the service and introduced many new gamers to the continually-growing library of great retro titles. September’s new additions offer a great range of gameplay across several different genres and prove that there is always something new to discover and enjoy on Antstream Arcade.” - Steve Cottam, CEO of Antstream.

Heading into the spooky month of October, Antstream Arcade continues to add new games each week and is available from £32.99*, giving the player unrestricted access to all 1300+ games and all tournaments, challenges and more for an entire year. For a limited time, players can also purchase the lifetime subscription for a one-off payment from 72.99*. *Local currencies apply.

Antstream Arcade, the world’s leading retro gaming platform, is excited to look back at a retro packed 2024 as it sets its sights on making 2025 bigger and better than ever. In this latest blog post, the team shares how the service debuted on PlayStation and iOS, welcomed a selection of iconic Disney titles, added a staggering 120 new retro games to the Antstream Arcade collection, and hosted more than 50 tournaments for the community in the last year.

Steve Cottam, CEO, Antstream Arcade, said: “2024 was incredibly rewarding for Antstream, as we welcomed amazing new platforms, partners, and licensed titles to the family. 2025 is shaping up to be our biggest year yet and we can’t wait to share more with our community and the games industry in the coming months.”

2024 saw Antstream Arcade debut on three new platforms - iOS, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, bringing more than 1,300 licensed retro classics to new audiences, and making the service the most widely distributed retro cloud gaming platform in the world. Players also saw some beloved titles join the catalogue, including a selection of iconic Disney games (including Aladdin, The Lion King and The Jungle Book), Net Yaroze games, arcade titles, NES games, and many, many more.

2025 is already shaping up to be the biggest yet, with more indie games, more big IP’s, new systems (including Pico-8 this January), new tournaments, sponsored events, new social channels, and even more ways to play as Antstream Arcade adds even more platforms and ways to play.

Antstream kooperiert mit Xbox

Antstream Arcade is proud to announce its collaboration with Xbox to launch Retro Classics, a collection of over 50 iconic games now available for Game Pass members globally.
In collaboration with Activision and Blizzard, Retro Classics brings beloved titles such as Pitfall!, Kaboom!, Commando, and Mech Warrior 2 on Xbox consoles, the Xbox app on PC, or streaming on supported LG and Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, and Meta Quest headsets.

With innovative features including cloud saves, global leaderboards, new challenge modes, and multiplayer tournaments, Retro Classics restores the experience for today’s gamers on modern devices.

"We’re thrilled to bring decades of iconic gaming to modern audiences and proud that Xbox trusted Antstream’s proprietary platform to make this possible," said Steve Cottam, CEO of Antstream.

Xbox Game Pass members can also sign up to access Antstream’s full catalogue of 1300+ retro games for a limited-time offer from just £9.99 / $9.99 for their first year on console.

Jo, 50 für "lau", willst du mehr, musst du buchen!

Schicke Compitalion im Angebot (aktuell nur Steam)

Antstream are excited to share that Revolution Software’s Shadow & Steel compilation is now available on Steam and coming soon to GoG. The co-venture with Revolution, brings a collection of their iconic early adventure games together into a definitive retro collection for fans, including original game art, soundtracks, developer insights, and game saves.
The Shadow & Steel collection includes:

• Lure of the Temptress (Amiga Edition)
• Beneath a Steel Sky (Amiga CD32 Edition)
• Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars (PlayStation Edition)
• Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror (PlayStation Edition)
  

Shadow & Steel highlights Antstream’s new initiative to work with industry pioneers to create retro game experiences outside of streaming subscriptions. This new approach to retro games is centered around preserving classic retro games and giving players the opportunity to own some of the greatest titles of a generation in their original formats. Antstream will announce future collaboration projects later this year and into 2026.

“Working in partnership with Antstream, we are enormously proud to be able to offer our early adventure games to a modern audience. I am confident that fans of the genre will find the meticulous authenticity of the original games, combined with the modernised interface and bonus content, a real treat.” - Charles Cecil, CEO Revolution Software

Shadow & Steel is available now on Steam from £14.99, € 16.99, $17.99, with the GoG launch coming soon.