Steel Ranger 2 – development status and updates

Steel Ranger 2 has officially been added to Protovision’s 2026 “Gold Cartridge” lineup, which signifies a premium physical release on the platform.

Steel Ranger 2 is the sequel to the side-scrolling action adventure from 2018, inspired by Turrican and Metroid.

According to the game’s story, the player returns to the ruins of a dying Earth in an upgraded, second-generation Ranger suit, where they must face a new, deadly threat.

One of the key new features of the gameplay is the expansion of the combat system: in addition to the previous use of firearms, melee combat now plays a role as well, requiring players to effectively combine firearms with a new bladed weapon.

From a technical standpoint, the program pushes the limits of the C64:

• continuous 8-way scrolling,
• detailed, atmospheric background graphics,
• and highly story-driven gameplay.

The focus is therefore not only on action but also on narrative, promising the deeper storytelling characteristic of the developer’s (Covert BitOps / Lasse Öörni) previous works.

We are thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated sequel to Lasse Öörni’s masterpiece, Steel Ranger, has been selected as our 2026 Gold Cartridge release.

Based on the current status, the game is already well advanced in terms of content (a project aiming for a complete experience), however, the final release date remains unknown, and the release is following the usual “when it’s done” approach.

Features:

• Over 800 screens to explore
• Full-framerate multidirectional scrolling
• Tens of different and challenging enemy types
• Explosive boss battles
• An arsenal of upgradeable weapons consisting of your Ranger rifle (with multiple weapon modes) and blade, smartbombs and mines
• Upgrades for your 2nd generation Ranger suit, including improved recharge and capacity and new mobility options
• Secret areas to discover
• Story outcome affected by your decisions
• Three difficulty options
• Multiple save slot support; continue game from the last area entered
• 45-minute soundtrack with exploration, story event and boss themes
• Optional support for multiple fire buttons for jump and inventory control
• PAL and NTSC compatibility; on NTSC the game is toggleable between 50Hz and 60Hz speed
• SID filter adjustment to ensure 6581 and 8580 SIDs sound similar
• Digital version includes also disk images with wide device compatibility (including 1541, 1581, IDE64 and SD2IEC) and an EasyFlash cartridge image

According to official information, Steel Ranger 2 is not only technically ambitious but also features improved gameplay: new melee combat elements, a stronger focus on the story, and a special (Gold Cartridge) edition indicate that the project is one of Protovision’s most important upcoming titles.