Originally released for the PS2 in 2004, the Gradius series’ fifth entry Gradius V was re-released digitally in 2015 on PS3 via PlayStation Network. However, as of recently, the 2004 arcade-style shooter has been delisted and can no longer be purchased.
While those who have already downloaded Gradius V can continue to play it, the game’s PS3 release has unfortunately been discontinued indefinitely. In response to an inquiry from Game*Spark, Konami said that the delisting was unavoidable due to a license for software used in Gradius V expiring. Given that the re-release was in 2015 and the delisting happened in 2025, it is likely that the publisher had a ten-year license for software used in the game’s development.
When asked about the prospects of the game coming back in the future, Konami said that there are various issues blocking a potential re-release or port of Gradius V, so they currently have no plans for it.
Konami hasn’t forgotten about the Gradius series though, as they recently announced Gradius Origins – a compilation including past games in the series as well as one brand-new title. It’s scheduled to come out on August 7, 2025 on Steam and Switch. Sadly, the collection will not include Gradius V.
