Ratatan Release Date, Time, Platforms and Price (2026)

The Ratatan release date is just two days away, and this is the game rhythm-action fans have been waiting for since the PSP era. The new rhythm roguelike from Hiroyuki Kotani, the creator of Patapon, reaches its full 1.0 release on October 15, 2026, leaving Steam Early Access and debuting on consoles on the same day.

Here is everything you need to know before launch: the release date and expected unlock timing, every confirmed platform, the price of each edition, and what is new in version 1.0.

Ratatan release date guide cover art: the Patapon creator's rhythm roguelike launches October 15, 2026

Ratatan release date and unlock time

The confirmed Ratatan release date is October 15, 2026, when version 1.0 releases worldwide. Developer Ratata Arts and publisher Game Source Entertainment have confirmed that all platforms launch on the same day, so there is no staggered rollout or early access window for consoles.

The exact unlock time has not been confirmed. None of the outlets covering the launch have reported a specific time, and neither the developers nor the storefronts have published a regional unlock schedule. In practice, digital releases like this usually unlock around midnight local time on each storefront, with Steam often going live around 10 AM Pacific, but those are norms, not confirmations for this game. We will update this guide if an official time is announced.

One confirmed timing detail: the developers plan to publish the full 1.0 update notes on October 14, the day before launch, via the game’s Steam community page. If you want the complete patch breakdown ahead of the Ratatan release date, that is when to look.

What is Ratatan?

Ratatan is a rhythm roguelike action game that mixes rhythm inputs with side-scrolling squad combat. You command an army of tiny cartoon soldiers called Cobun who march, attack, and power up in time with the beat. The tighter your rhythm, the stronger your army becomes.

The lineage is the selling point. Creative director Hiroyuki Kotani was one of the original minds behind Patapon, the cult PSP series from Sony Japan Studio, and composer Kemmei Adachi (also of Patapon and LocoRoco) returns for the soundtrack. This is widely treated as the spiritual successor to Patapon, rebuilt for modern hardware with a roguelite layer on top: each run generates fresh challenges, and more than 100 Cobun can be collected, customized, and taken into battle. Online co-op supports up to four players.

The project was funded on Kickstarter, where it raised nearly $1.5 million, and it has been in Steam Early Access since September 2025. The Early Access build earned around 90 percent positive reviews from close to 900 players, with consistent praise for the rhythm gameplay and its evolution of the Patapon formula. The full release was originally planned for July 16, 2026, but the team pushed the Ratatan release date back to October 15 to fix bugs, polish the game, and tighten multiplayer stability based on Early Access feedback.

Platforms

Ratatan 1.0 launches on four platforms:

Nintendo Switch 2
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X|S
PC via Steam

Note that this is a Switch 2 release, not an original Switch release. Physical buyers are covered: the developers confirmed that the physical Switch 2 edition ships on a game card containing all the game data with no extra download required, and the PlayStation 5 disc includes the full game as well. Both physical editions arrive at launch.

Price and editions

There are two digital editions, and both carry a 10 percent pre-order discount until launch day:

Standard Edition: $34.99, discounted to $31.49 with the pre-order discount
Deluxe Edition: $39.99, discounted to $35.99 with the pre-order discount

The Standard Edition is the full game. The Deluxe Edition adds a Special Weapon and Accessory Pack, a Cobun Pack, and a Supplies Set.

Both editions include the Early Purchase Bonus: the legendary weapon “Spirit Sword Banbansord.” Players who owned Ratatan in Steam Early Access get that weapon added automatically at launch. On Steam, the Deluxe Edition DLC will also be available as a separate purchase starting October 15. Your Early Access save data carries over into 1.0.

For Australian buyers, retailer listings put the physical PS5 edition at an RRP of $79.95 and the Switch 2 physical at $89.95, with digital editions cheaper: around $47.95 for the PS5 Standard and $54.95 for the Deluxe on the PlayStation Store, and $47.25/$54.00 on the Nintendo eShop. As always, check your local storefront at launch since regional prices shift.

Is there a Game Pass or PlayStation Plus day-one deal? Nothing of the sort has been announced, so plan on buying it separately.

What to expect in version 1.0

The 1.0 launch is a major milestone, described by the developers as Ratatan reaching its complete form:

Chapters 3 and 4, which bring the story to its conclusion with a final world and an ultimate boss encounter.
All Dark Ratatans assembled. The Dark Ratatans introduced throughout Early Access come together in the new content.
Live orchestral soundtrack. The team previously promised a live orchestra recording for the game, and those recordings are now finished and integrated at launch. The developers are keeping exactly where the tracks appear vague so players can discover the moments themselves.
Full patch notes on October 14, covering additional features and quality-of-life changes beyond the headline content.

If you played the Early Access build, the core loop is the same, just completed. If you are jumping in fresh on console, you are getting the finished story in one package with all four chapters from day one.

Is it worth buying at launch?

If you like rhythm games, Ratatan is one of the strongest bets of the year. The pedigree is real: this is not a game inspired by Patapon from a distance, it is made by the people who made Patapon. The Early Access reception suggests the formula works, and the delay from July to October was specifically spent polishing rather than cutting content.

The pre-order discount makes the decision easier. Ten percent off brings the Standard Edition to $31.49, which is a fair price for a full rhythm roguelike with four-player online co-op and a lengthy completion path. Just be aware that, per early reviews, there is no local co-op option, so multiplayer means online only.

The Ratatan release date falls on a busy day: October 15. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse launches the same day, and if your October gaming calendar also includes seasonal events, our Roblox Halloween 2026 event dates and codes guide tracks every major event going live this month.

Ratatan launch FAQ

What is the Ratatan release date?

The Ratatan release date is October 15, 2026, worldwide, across Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

What time does Ratatan unlock?

No official unlock time has been confirmed. Expect it on October 15 on your platform’s storefront, most likely around midnight local time, but treat any specific hour you see elsewhere as unconfirmed until the developers or a store says otherwise.

How much does Ratatan cost?

$34.99 for the Standard Edition and $39.99 for the Deluxe Edition, with a 10 percent pre-order discount ($31.49 and $35.99) available until launch day.

Does Ratatan have co-op?

Yes, online co-op for up to four players. There is no local co-op, according to early reviews.

Is Ratatan on Game Pass or PS Plus?

Neither Sony nor Microsoft has announced a subscription release, so expect to buy it separately at launch.

Do my Early Access saves carry over?

Yes. Steam Early Access players keep their save data in the 1.0 release and receive the “Spirit Sword Banbansord” early purchase bonus automatically.

Axee Davies

Axee Davies is the founder of AxeeTech, publishing gaming guides, codes, and Windows how-tos since March 2013. A tech enthusiast for 13+ years — starting with smartphones and Android rooting — he now runs a site that puts out a new guide every day for Roblox players, traders, and Windows users. More about AxeeTech

axeetech.com