3-Item Inventory, Minimap, and 4-Player Split-Screen: 27 Years Later, Cult RC Racer Re-Volt Launches on PS5 and Switch
Originally released in the summer of 1999 for PC, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Dreamcast, Re-Volt is officially making its return to modern living rooms. Published by H2 Interactive in partnership with IP holder Throwback Entertainment, the beloved remote-controlled car racer launches worldwide today, November 5, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. Rather than shipping a barebones emulation wrapper, this console release introduces targeted quality-of-life upgrades and inventory tweaks designed to spice up local multiplayer battles.
Three-Item Inventory Slots and an On-Screen Minimap
In the original 1999 release, each radio-controlled car could only hold a single weapon or power-up at a time after driving through a lightning bolt pickup. For the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch editions, H2 Interactive has overhauled that core rule: racers can now carry up to 3 items simultaneously.
Expanding the item pocket changes the tactical flow of every lap. Instead of immediately firing off a firecracker or water balloon just to clear space before the next pickup row, drivers can now bank a turbo battery for the final straightaway while deploying oil slicks or electro-pulses against tailgaters. To make high-speed navigation easier for newcomers and veterans alike, the HUD now features a built-in minimap alongside accessible in-game help menus detailing every power-up.
Over 28 RC Cars, Oversized Tracks, and 4-Player Split-Screen
What made Re-Volt stand out decades ago remains intact: its miniature perspective combined with a surprisingly demanding suspension and physics model where a stray curb or marble can send a lightweight chassis tumbling. The console lineup brings back over 28 radio-controlled vehicles spanning electric, glow, and special classes, each tuned with distinct weight, top speed, and grip profiles, including fan-favorite speedsters like Toyeca and heavyweights like Bertha Ballistics.
Tracks transform ordinary locations into oversized obstacle courses, sending tiny buggies tearing through frozen supermarket aisles (SuperMarket), colorful toy store shelves (Toy World), dinosaur exhibits (Museum), suburban sidewalks (Toys in the Hood), and Wild West ghost towns. At a time when classic arcade racers are enjoying a major resurgence, following the recent native 120 FPS PC recompilation of Midtown Madness 3, this official console port leans heavily into couch competition.
Alongside single-player Championship cups, Time Trial runs, and the star-hunting Stunt Arena, both the PS5 and Switch versions support 4-player local split-screen multiplayer on a single screen.
Pricing, Digital Release, and Physical Collector's H2 Edition
In addition to launching digitally on the PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop (joining the PC edition available on Steam), physical collectors are getting a dedicated retail package. With Sony recently crossing 97.9 million PS5 consoles shipped worldwide alongside Nintendo's massive hybrid install base, H2 Interactive has rolled out a physical Re-Volt H2 Edition priced around $29.99 to $34.99 across specialty retailers.
The physical collector's package includes several nostalgic extras inside the box:
- The full physical game (Nintendo Switch cartridge or PlayStation 5 disc).
- A special collector's outer box paired with a protective metal slipcase.
- A 2-Disc Original Soundtrack (OST) featuring the classic high-energy electronic tracks from the 1999 release.
- A printed full-color English instruction manual and official sticker sheets.
My Perspective
Anyone who ever got launched into orbit by the giant basketball in Toys in the Hood or spun out on the icy floor of the supermarket freezer knows that Re-Volt has some of the most satisfying RC car physics ever programmed. Unlike modern kart racers that practically steer themselves around hairpins, driving these tiny buggies requires real throttle discipline so you do not flip over the nearest curb. Bumping the item inventory up to three slots while adding a minimap is a brilliant touch for four-player split-screen nights, turning frantic lead defenses into actual strategy. And seeing H2 Interactive pack a two-disc soundtrack, a metal slipcase, and an actual printed manual into a $30 physical box is the exact kind of tribute this 1999 legend deserves.
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.
