Japanese publisher AUGUST revealed on September 3 that it will release Uta Macross, an offline remake of the discontinued “Uta Macross: Smartphone De-Culture.” The new game is set to debut around Spring 2027 for PC (Steam), iOS, and Android.
The original Uta Macross: Smartphone De-Culture was a live-service rhythm game based on the celebrated Macross sci-fi franchise. It featured music from titles including The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Macross Plus, Macross 7, Macross Frontier, and Macross Delta. As players progressed through rhythm challenges and met certain requirements, the game’s backgrounds would transform, showcasing anime and 3D visuals of various singers and pilots from the series. DeNa launched the game in Japan in August 2017, and it operated for nearly 5 years before shutting down services in June 2022.
The upcoming Uta Macross will revive the original game’s offerings in a reimagined, offline format. While maintaining the same content—including 3D live performance scenes and exclusive artwork—the new version will include UI and system enhancements such as keyboard and mouse support. The base game will contain 50 songs, over 20 costumes per diva, and more than 1,000 plates (collectible equipment cards) rated 4-star or higher. “Gacha” draws for enhancing plate rarity will be entirely free and unlimited. Beyond the base game, several DLCs are planned later, featuring additional songs, plates, and costumes from the previous live-service iteration.
AUGUST reports that after Uta Macross: Smartphone De-Culture’s services ended, numerous fans expressed a desire for its return. This enthusiasm prompted members of the original development team to regroup and initiate a project to resurrect the game. Development of the new Uta Macross is overseen by xeen (the original developer), with AUGUST president Kei Hirono (formerly a producer at Bandai Namco and Square Enix) directing the project as producer.
Ahead of its release, the team intends to launch a crowdfunding campaign on the domestic platform Campfire. With additional funding, the developers aim to expand to more platforms and incorporate new songs.
Uta Macross is scheduled to launch in Spring 2027 for PC (Steam), iOS, and Android. The crowdfunding campaign will commence on September 10 at 20:00 JST.