DAMON and BABY Adds Free 'RISE OF THE ORACLE' Story Chapter on February 18 Alongside Switch 2 Version and $34.99 Retail Box
Originally released in late March 2026 across consoles and PC, Arc System Works' top-down action-adventure shooter is gearing up for a substantial second act. The Japanese studio has officially announced DAMON and BABY: RISE OF THE ORACLE, a major story expansion arriving as a free update on February 18, 2027, alongside a retail physical edition and a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 version.
Nintendo Switch 2 Version and $34.99 Physical Release Set for February 18, 2027
Currently available digitally for $19.99 (or $24.99 for the Deluxe Edition) on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, the game will receive a physical packaged release on Thursday, February 18, 2027 for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. Priced at $34.99 (3,960 yen in Japan), the retail edition bundles the base game, the new RISE OF THE ORACLE story chapter, and a suite of quality-of-life improvements on a single disc or cartridge.
On the exact same day, the RISE OF THE ORACLE story expansion will roll out as a free update for everyone who already owns the digital version across PS5, PS4, Switch, and Steam. In its official announcement, Arc System Works also confirmed that a digital-only Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is in development. As the hybrid console's library expands with fast-paced indie releases like the action-roguelike CRYMELIGHT on the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop, existing Nintendo Switch owners of DAMON and BABY will be able to transition to the Switch 2 version via an upgrade path without repurchasing the full game, though a specific release date for the Switch 2 port has yet to be named.
Yomotsu-Hirasaka, Japanese Folklore, and the Three Sacred Treasures
While the main campaign set Demon Lord Damon and the cursed child bound to his side against a bleak world inspired by 1970s America, RISE OF THE ORACLE shifts the battlefield to a Japanese-style otherworld. After enjoying a brief moment of peace, Damon and his companions receive an urgent plea for help ("Please, save the person I owe everything to..."), prompting the demon protagonist to step through a mysterious door to protect his newfound family.
Beyond that threshold lies Yomotsu-Hirasaka (the slope to the underworld), a new region steeped in autumn leaves and the scent of sweet osmanthus. Blocked by the planetary barriers of Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter as well as a mysterious demon assuming the form of Japanese folklore monsters, players must perform a universe-defying ritual by tracking down the Three Sacred Treasures:
- Yata no Kagami (the Mirror of Eight Palms);
- Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi (the Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven);
- Yasakani no Magatama (the Eight-Slope Jewel).
The expansion also introduces three new characters who aid Damon throughout Yomotsu-Hirasaka:
- Yugeno Mikoto (Mei): an apprentice Onmyoji (exorcist) who accompanies Damon into battle and provides direct support on his journey;
- Izuna: an enigmatic being distinct from both angels and demons who serves as Mei's mentor and seeks the Three Sacred Treasures to escape Yomotsu-Hirasaka;
- Gedomaru: Yugeno Mikoto's loyal servant, who trades useful exploration and combat items in exchange for MANA.
Twin-Stick Gunplay, Custom Builds, and Couch Co-Op
For players who missed its spring debut, DAMON and BABY blends 360-degree twin-stick shooting with branching exploration. Combat revolves around swapping between handguns, machine guns, shotguns, and RPGs, each balancing distinct range, magazine capacity, reload speed, and movement mobility, while close-range melee strikes help conserve ammunition. By combining weapons, skills, rings, charms, and food buffs, players can tailor their builds to counter regional bosses or tackle the high-difficulty Lord Bloodedge's Trials.
Much like recent releases celebrating shared-screen multiplayer such as Rayman Legends Retold's focus on couch co-op, Arc System Works' adventure also features offline two-player cooperative play, allowing a second player to control a canine companion who gathers items and assists Damon in the heat of battle.
My Perspective
Watching Arc System Works step outside its 2D fighting game comfort zone to nurture a quirky twin-stick adventure like DAMON and BABY is genuinely refreshing. The base game already stood out in March with its gritty 1970s American aesthetic and tight weapon-switching loop, so pivoting into the autumn-draped Japanese folklore of Yomotsu-Hirasaka and the hunt for the Three Sacred Treasures feels like a bold contrast. Even better, delivering RISE OF THE ORACLE as a completely free update for digital owners while preparing a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 version shows real respect for early adopters. February 18, 2027 is shaping up to be the ideal excuse to jump back into Damon's boots.
Based on the outskirts of New York City, Chaya 'Chayane' spent five years studying software engineering in Montreal before returning to her home state. A Full-Stack developer and Deep Learning AI architecture researcher, she explores neural networks and algorithmic optimization while engineering data pipelines for Retrocharting and Gamescharting alongside Grimtag. A gamer for over 20 years and an avid collector of Nintendo history and The Legend of Zelda, she explored World of Warcraft's Azeroth before bringing her deep technical background to video game analysis.
