After lengthy delays, Chained Echoes physical copies are finally in stock for PS4 

The long-awaited “Regular Edition” of Chained Echoes – including the disc, a high-quality case, fold-out map, and lengthy manual– is now in stock for PS4, according to the game’s creator, Matthias Linda, as well as the publisher, 1st Press Games. The retro-style JRPG was available digitally in winter 2022 with physical copies slated for release the following summer. However, the collector’s versions of the game were beset by delays until finally revealed on Linda’s Kickstarter page and on 1st Press Games’ blog in September 2024. 

Chained Echoes, a turn-based “16-bit SNES style RPG” set in a fantasy world and featuring pilotable mechs, has been favorably received by players and publications alike (Metacritic). The game was initially funded through a Kickstarter campaign, and one of the “stretch goals” of the campaign was the publication of various physical copies of the game for backers who pledged additional funds, including a Regular and Limited “Retro” edition, both versions featuring manuals, maps, and more, and the latter contained in a box reminiscent of classic SNES packaging. The Kickstarter surpassed the milestone, and many fans pre-ordered and eagerly awaited their physical copies. 

However, for many backers, excitement soon became disappointment upon learning that 1st Press Games would handle publishing the physical copies, as the company had gained notoriety on Reddit forums and YouTube channels for their lengthy order backlog of numerous other titles and overall lack of transparency. With delays piling up, the game’s creator, Matthias Linda, explained in a Kickstarter announcement the need to postpone publication of the physical copies until critical features, such as New Game +, an updated crafting system, and various bug fixes were in place. He also collaborated with 1st Press Games to ensure the box art, 100-page game manual, and other assets were up to snuff. Finally, miscommunication and missteps from the various interdependent entities handling physical publication, from printing to packaging to the console companies themselves, also added to the delays, according to Linda. 

So, when the physical copies were finally on sale starting September 11th of this year, the announcement was met with skepticism rather than hype on the Chained Echoes subreddit, with one user asking if they will finally get their copy after 18+ months of waiting, and another hopeful that they will get it “some day.”  

As of this article’s publication, the PS4 copies of the Regular Edition are the only ones in stock on 1st Press Games’ online store, with various other versions for PC and PlayStation listed as “Sold Out” and Switch titles on pre-order.