During The Game Awards, developer Milestone showed off its new project, a resurrection of the classic arcade racer Screamer. While the trailer didn’t show off any gameplay, it did tease a darker take on the series set in a neon-light city straight out of old-school anime. Milestone says that it’s aiming to blend Screamer’s classic arcade driving with a deep storyline featuring multiple character arcs, and the game is currently scheduled to be released in 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Screamer draws inspiration from anime and manga from the ’80s and ’90s. Milestone says that the game’s narrative and visual framework will be enhanced by animated cutscenes created in collaboration with Polygon Pictures, the Japanese animation studio behind series such as Tron: Uprising, Transformers Prime, and Pacific Rim: The Black.
According to Milestone, the Last of Us voice actor Troy Baker is also involved, as he lends his voice to a ‘pivotal” character in the game. The storyline will feature themes of human will, revenge, love, and greed with classic sci-fi influences.
The first Screamer game was released back in 1995, and at the time, it was notable for its arcade-style gameplay and demanding system requirements. Three sequels followed in its wake–Screamer 2, Screamer Rally, and Screamer 4×4–with the series being developed by Milestone. If you didn’t have a PlayStation and Ridge Racer or a Sega Saturn with Daytona USA, this was the next best game to play on PC at the time.
For more, check out our roundup of all The Game Awards nominees and winners.