Nitro Plus has confirmed that DRAMAtical Murder re:code NITRO ARCHIVE will launch on PC through Steam on December 25, 2026. The upcoming release brings the expanded, all-ages edition of Nitro+CHiRAL’s boys’ love visual novel to English-speaking players, featuring additional story content, improved visuals and support for three languages.
The December 25 release date was announced through the game’s official website on November 13, replacing its previously announced winter 2026 launch window. The Steam edition will support English, Japanese and Simplified Chinese text, while character voices will remain exclusively in Japanese.
The game will be priced at $29.99, according to Nitro Plus’s official English-language product information, and is listed for Windows 11.
DRAMAtical Murder re:code originally launched for PlayStation Vita in Japan in October 2014 before receiving a Nintendo Switch port in December 2025. Both versions were released in Japanese, making the upcoming Steam edition the first official English localization of re:code.
One of the edition’s most significant additions is Mizuki’s character route, which was absent from the original PC release. Mizuki is a friend of protagonist Aoba, and the expanded version allows players to follow a dedicated storyline involving him.
The game also includes additional material exploring another side of Aoba’s story that was not presented in the original PC game or its anime adaptation. Nitro Plus has confirmed that the Steam edition retains the story content introduced in the previous console versions rather than adding an entirely new expansion.
Beyond the additional narrative content, re:code features revised visuals and story adjustments developed for its console adaptations. The Steam release also brings the game’s presentation to modern Windows PCs, with full-HD visual improvements over its earlier handheld versions.
Unlike the original adult-oriented DRAMAtical Murder, re:code is designed for a broader age audience. Its console adaptations removed explicit adult scenes and adjusted some violent content, with the new Steam edition retaining those changes. Nitro Plus recommends the release for players aged 15 and older.
The distinction matters because the original DRAMAtical Murder is already available on Steam in English through publisher JAST. That version launched on the platform in April 2021 and retains the original game’s different content and presentation. The upcoming NITRO ARCHIVE release instead provides access to the console edition’s expanded story, including Mizuki’s route, without the original adult scenes.
DRAMAtical Murder takes place on Midorijima, an island where the powerful Toue Corporation has transformed much of the environment into an exclusive resort. Aoba lives with his grandmother and works at a local junk shop, but his ordinary routine is disrupted by mysterious incidents involving the island’s inhabitants and conflicts between virtual and physical worlds.
The story combines science fiction, romance and branching character relationships, with player decisions shaping the narrative.
The arrival of re:code adds another Japanese visual novel to Steam’s expanding multilingual catalog. Other upcoming releases include LunaReverse, a dark fantasy visual novel planned for PC and Nintendo Switch with English support.
DRAMAtical Murder re:code NITRO ARCHIVE is scheduled to launch on December 25, 2026, for PC via Steam. Nitro Plus has not announced additional content exclusive to this Steam edition beyond its language support and PC presentation.
