Highlights

  • A Tomba 2 remaster was confirmed by game developer Tokuro Fujiwara at LRG3 2024, with a release set for 2025 courtesy of Limited Run Games.
  • The Carbon Engine will bring the PS1 classic Tomba 2 to modern systems via emulation.
  • Limited Run Games is also releasing Tomba Special Edition, an enhanced version of the first game with new quality-of-life features and a remastered soundtrack.

At Limited Run's 2024 edition of LRG3, game developer Tokuro Fujiwara confirmed that a remaster of Tomba 2 is in development, and will be released in 2025. Fujiwara also stated that the upcoming remaster will be made with help from Limited Run Games, and will use the Carbon Engine to bring the PS1 classic to modern systems via emulation.

The news came nearly a year after the first Tomba game was confirmed to return. Originally released in 1997, Tomba, also called Tombi in Europe, is a 2D platformer developed by Fujiwara's independent studio, Whoopee Camp. In Tomba, players assumed the mantle of the titular, pink-haired protagonist and fought against a horde of Evil Pigs that stole his late grandfather's golden bracelet. A sequel, 1999's Tomba 2: The Evil Swine Return, included 3D graphics but retained similar gameplay mechanics. Tomba and Tomba 2 remained PlayStation exclusives for decades but were re-released in the PS3's "PSOne Classics" catalog during the console's lifespan.

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Though Tomba Special Edition will launch on August 1, Fujiwara confirmed that the sequel would receive a similar treatment. During the 2024 broadcast of LRG3, Fujiwara shared a message with fans of the Tomba games. Fujiwara said that Whoopee Camp remained hard at work to release Tomba Special Edition in August. Fujiwara subsequently confirmed that Tomba 2: The Evil Swine Return would get a remaster in 2025, but did not state any additional details. Fujiwara closed the message by sharing his hope that players would enjoy both Tomba remasters. Fujiwara's message was followed by the original opening trailer for Tomba 2, which was upscaled from the PS1 version.

Tomba 2 Remaster Is Coming in 2025

The trailer showed Tomba and his simian friend, Charles, fighting off some Evil Pigs. The trailer ends with a letter addressed to Tomba arriving from the sky, thus kicking off the story of Tomba 2. The letter stated that Tomba's childhood friend, a girl named Tabby, had gone missing. Assuming that the Evil Pigs kidnapped Tabby, Tomba crosses the seas to rescue her from his porcine foes. Like Tomba Special Edition, the remaster of Tomba 2 will utilize Limited Run's Carbon Engine, which has been used for other PS1-era remasters such as the Gex trilogy.

While Tomba Special Edition will include some quality-of-life changes such as save states, bonus artwork, and a remastered soundtrack, it is unknown what enhancements will be included in the Tomba 2 remaster. Only time will tell what bonuses Limited Run will offer to longtime Tomba fans.