Blaze Entertainment is bringing The Last Ninja, International Karate and James Pond to Evercade in two physical collections. Both release on 4 December 2026, with pre-orders opening today.
Evercade's December line-up has a distinctly British feel. Blaze Entertainment is releasing two physical cartridges with System 3 on 4 December 2026: The Last Ninja & IK Collection and James Pond Collection. Together, they bring 18 games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras to Evercade.
Two collections arrive
This is a pair of separate releases, not one oversized compilation. The Last Ninja & IK Collection contains 14 games from International Karate and The Last Ninja across Commodore 64, Atari ST and ZX Spectrum versions. James Pond Collection contains four 16-bit console games built around the aquatic secret agent.
Retailer listings first revealed the two-cartridge line-up. Total Video Games spotted the listings, and Time Extension later reported on them. This was not the result of a long public campaign. Time Extension's report confirms the 4 December 2026 release date, the 24 September 2026 pre-order date and prices of £24.99, €29.99 or $29.99 per cartridge.
Pre-orders open on 24 September 2026. Each cartridge costs £24.99, €29.99 or $29.99. Both releases include a physical cartridge and a full-colour manual. That keeps the format more tangible than a standard digital retro catalogue.
The release date and prices are the first details buyers need. Neither collection is available immediately, and each must be bought separately. RetroDodo also places the cartridges within Evercade's split-line format. One release belongs to the blue Home Computer range, while the other belongs to the red Home Console range.
The Home Computer line
The Last Ninja & IK Collection will be Evercade Home Computer Cartridge #12 in the blue Home Computer range. Its 14 games cover three original formats. On C64, the list includes International Karate, The Last Ninja, IK+, Last Ninja 2: Back With A Vengeance, Ninja Remix and Last Ninja 3. The ST selection includes International Karate, IK+, Last Ninja 2: Back With A Vengeance, Ninja Remix and Last Ninja 3. The ZX selection includes International Karate, IK+ and Last Ninja 2: Back With A Vengeance.
That makes the collection more than a simple run of franchise entries. The repeated versions show how the same home computer releases appeared on different hardware. The announcement does not say how accurate the emulation will be, or whether the package includes display options or changes to input latency. Those details will matter to collectors and returning players, but they have not been confirmed. Time Extension likewise describes the package as 14 games from The Last Ninja and International Karate, including multiple Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum/ST-era versions.
System 3's wider preservation work has also included another retro collection. The Evercade release fits a wider market for physical packages built around older games rather than new productions.
James Pond goes console
James Pond Collection takes a different route. It is Evercade Home Console Cartridge #54 and will use the red Home Console Collection packaging. The cartridge gathers four 16-bit console versions: James Pond: Underwater Agent, James Pond 2 - Codename: RoboCod, James Pond 3: Operation StarFI5H and The Aquatic Games Starring James Pond and the Aquabats.
The selection covers the series' platforming roots and its sporting spin-off. It does not include the computer versions mentioned elsewhere in System 3's catalogue. That matters to buyers. This cartridge is presented as a 16-bit console collection, while the companion release focuses on several home computer formats. The reported listings also name the four games as James Pond: Underwater Agent, James Pond II: RoboCod, James Pond in Operation StarFI5H and James Pond in The Aquatic Games.
System 3 also sells The Last Ninja Collection on Steam and Nintendo Switch. James Pond Legacy: The Pond is Not Enough is planned exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 with 12 versions of the four classic games. Those products are separate from the two Evercade cartridges announced here.
Compatibility and value
Both cartridges will work across the Evercade ecosystem. That includes the Evercade Nexus handheld, Evercade home consoles, other Evercade handhelds, Evercade Alpha and HyperMegaTech! Super Pocket devices. Blaze says Evercade now offers more than 80 physical cartridge collections and over 700 games across its hardware range. These releases are additions to an established platform, not standalone retro products.
The cartridges use emulation. The physical editions come in the familiar clamshell cases with manuals covering controls, hints, tips and facts about the games and developers. The announcement does not say whether either collection includes modern features such as save states, display filters or rewind. Buyers should not assume those features will be present before the cartridge details are published.
For players, the appeal is simple. One purchase provides a defined set of historically important British games. The format variations make The Last Ninja & IK Collection the more preservation-focused package, while James Pond Collection is the clearer choice for 16-bit console platforming. The £24.99, €29.99 and $29.99 prices match Evercade's standard physical model. The value will depend on whether buyers want the original versions themselves or the easiest way to revisit them.
Emulation recreates older hardware through software instead of reproducing that hardware inside the cartridge. Version differences can affect controls, timing and presentation as well as the game code. The confirmed game lists show what is included, but they cannot prove how every version will feel. Evercade's approach works best when the physical packaging and selected versions support real preservation. Based on the details available, these two cartridges are substantial additions for retro players. Their technical quality will have to wait for fuller details or hands-on testing.
