Cassette Beasts 2002: everything we know
Cassette Beasts 2002 is a retro-inspired, creature-collector, turn-based RPG — the follow-up to the acclaimed 2023 Cassette Beasts, from developer Bytten Studio and publisher Raw Fury. It is set in London in 2002, in a beast-world version of the city called Nodnol. Its signature mechanic sets it apart from traditional monster-taming games: instead of capturing creatures to fight for you, you record beasts onto cassette tapes and transform into their forms yourself in turn-based battle. The game was announced on 7 June 2026 at the PC Gaming Show, and is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (Steam, Microsoft Store and Linux). There's no release date or price yet; the first playable build is set for Gamescom in late August 2026.
This page is for returning fans of the original and newcomers alike. It tracks only what the studio has officially confirmed — features, platforms, and a running list of updates — with no leaks and no guesswork.
Last updated 9 June 2026 — a living tracker
The announcement trailer
Where things stand
Updates
First playable build at Gamescom
In a post-reveal interview, Bytten co-founder and director Jay Baylis said the studio will bring Cassette Beasts 2002 to Gamescom in Cologne (26–30 August 2026), and that it will be the game's first playable event — the public's first hands-on. Expect a fresh wave of impressions and possibly firmer timing around the show.
Director interview fills in the design
Speaking after the reveal, Jay Baylis confirmed several details: navigation has been reworked toward 3D — he likened it to "a 3D Zelda game," with a free third-person camera over sprite characters — while combat deliberately stays turn-based. He described a three-"origin" branching start, a "rogue" system of adaptive mini-boss beasts that learn from your battle techniques, and a roster of "over 240" beasts that includes returning forms. He also confirmed the soundtrack is by Joel Baylis with returning vocalist Shelby Harvey and Johnny Gioeli of Crush 40 on the trailer theme, and that the game has been in development for about three years. This entry is the citation for those points.
Raw Fury reveals Cassette Beasts 2002 at the PC Gaming Show
Raw Fury and Bytten Studio revealed Cassette Beasts 2002 with an announcement trailer, confirming PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 and PC (Steam, Microsoft Store, Linux). The Steam page went live and the game is wishlistable now. No release date or price was given. The studio said only that "more details are coming soon."
What's confirmed
240+
Beasts to record
57K+
Fusion forms
12
Companions
Aug 2026
First playable
The setting — a rabbit hole into Nodnol, a 2002 London
The studio sets up a brand new story. After arriving in a quiet neighbourhood of London in 2002, your character is pulled down a rabbit hole into Nodnol — "London" reversed — which Raw Fury describes as a land of beasts and high strangeness that exists in the shadow of our own. This is where worlds collide: you explore the worlds where man and beast collide to uncover an occultist's plot. When the past collides with the present, one question drives the occultist mystery — who is the enigmatic, mysterious occultist Westerley, and what are they planning for both worlds? The studio pitches it as an exciting journey for returning fans and a perfect entry point for newcomers.
Who you play, and the three origins
You can start fresh as a new character or import your character from the first Cassette Beasts to continue your creature-collecting journey; either way the studio frames the game as a clean way in. Director Jay Baylis has said you pick one of three "origins" at the start, and that choice shapes the quest as you progress, so two players can have meaningfully different runs. Companions met along the way carry their own stories and quests.
Recording, transforming and fusing beasts
The series' core loop returns: you record beasts encountered on the field and play them back to change forms in turn-based combat, taking on powerful beast forms. Any two beasts can be fused — the roster is "over 240" beasts, including returning forms and evolutionary lines (the Steam store rounds it to "250+"), and the store lists "over 57,000" fully-animated fusion forms (Raw Fury's press release phrases this as "over 50,000"). Plenty of unique beasts await players, and returning fan-favourite Pompomon has been confirmed.
Deep battle systems — turn-based combat, alchemy and rogue beasts
Raw Fury bills this as "deep battle systems." You seek out and record beasts to transform into powerful beast forms, then prepare utility, support and offensive attacks — leaning on elemental advantages to wear down even the fiercest opponent. Alchemy adds buffs, debuffs and on-the-fly elemental-type changes. The marquee new mechanic is the rogue system: rogue monsters break from their roles, learn from players' battle techniques, adapt, and return with new challenges. These rogue beasts learn from the tactics you use, take on a unique type, and come back as recurring mini-bosses — a kind of fierce vendetta that escalates the challenging battles over a run.
Diverse companions to befriend, recruit and romance
The studio invites you to adventure alongside diverse companions — twelve in all — to create the perfect team. You befriend, recruit and romance them, each with their own motivations, stories and quests, and deepening a bond unlocks even more powerful beast forms in battle. The game leans on extensive voice acting and more cinematic story scenes than the first game's fixed-camera approach.
Robust multiplayer mechanics from launch
Online multiplayer is in at launch rather than patched in later. The studio promises "robust multiplayer mechanics": explore the beast world of Nodnol alongside friends, trade cassettes, record beasts, and fight alongside other players in random encounters — including the story mode's battles — with cross-platform play. There's also 1v1 PvP with power scaling and timed objectives for fantastic rewards.
Look and sound
The hybrid visual style returns — pixel-art sprites over more detailed environments — but navigation is now 3D, which Baylis likened to "a 3D Zelda game," with a free third-person camera and some platforming. The soundtrack is composed by Joel Baylis; the trailer theme "Ages of Change" is a collaboration with returning vocalist Shelby Harvey and Johnny Gioeli of Crush 40, whose Sonic Adventure 2 work the studio tied to the game's 2002 setting.
The quick version
Everything Bytten and Raw Fury have nailed down, side by side with the big questions still open ahead of the Gamescom hands-on.
Locked in
- Turn-based creature-collector RPG
- Set in Nodnol, a 2002 London
- PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2 & PC
- Record, transform & fuse beasts (240+)
- Online co-op & PvP, cross-play, at launch
- Import your first-game character
Not confirmed yet
- Release date & price (no official window)
- Mobile (iOS / Android) version
- Switch 1 / last-gen versions
- Full companion & beast lists
- What an imported character carries over
- A public demo
Sources: the studio's PC Gaming Show announcement · the Steam store page · the announcement trailer · a post-reveal interview with director Jay Baylis. Studio marketing phrasing is attributed as such.
FAQ
Is Cassette Beasts 2002 confirmed?
Yes. Raw Fury and Bytten Studio announced it on 7 June 2026 at the PC Gaming Show, with a trailer and a live Steam page.
When is the Cassette Beasts 2002 release date?
There is no release date. The studio has only said more details are coming soon. The first playable build is at Gamescom (26–30 August 2026).
What platforms is Cassette Beasts 2002 on — PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, PC?
PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store, with Linux support.
Is it coming to mobile or the original Switch?
Neither has been announced. The first game reached iOS and Android in 2025, but no mobile or last-gen version of the sequel is confirmed.
Does it have multiplayer?
Yes — robust online co-op and PvP, cross-platform, available from launch. You can trade cassettes and fight alongside friends in any encounter, including story mode battles.
Do I need to play the first game?
No. The studio designed it as a perfect entry point for newcomers. If you did play the first Cassette Beasts game, you can import your character to continue your creature-collecting journey.
How many beasts and fusions are there?
Director Jay Baylis cites "over 240" beasts including returning forms and evolutionary lines (the Steam page rounds to 250+), and the store lists more than 57,000 fusion combinations.
When can I play Cassette Beasts 2002?
The first hands-on is at Gamescom in Cologne, 26–30 August 2026. No public demo has been announced. You can wishlist it on Steam now.