Coming to Nintendo Switch 2 / Nintendo Switch
Back to the Dawn
Pre-orders start today!
All pre-orders to include exclusive bonus DLC!
Clouded Leopard Entertainment Inc. (CEO: Yuen-Yuen Chen; hereinafter referred to as CLE) is pleased to announce that starting Thursday, February 12, 2026, pre-orders for Back to the Dawn, a suspense-driven prison break RPG developed by Metal Head Games, can be made on the Nintendo eShop.
Read on for the second of four installments of BTTD Express, which delivers a sneak peek at the game’s unique characters, its highly flexible gameplay system, as well as the latest information. This time, we’re focusing on the characters belonging to the Big Foot and Black Claw gangs, as well as introducing some in-game interactions with prisoners.
■Pre-Orders Now Open on the Nintendo eShop!
Pre-orders are now available on the Nintendo eShop starting today, Thursday, February 12.
If you pre-order the Digital Standard Edition on the Nintendo eShop by 11:59 PM (local time) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, you will receive the Nintendo Switch™ 2 / Nintendo Switch™ original DLC “Prison Skin” as a pre-order bonus, which will be available to download after purchase.
Be sure to place your pre-order during this period to receive this exclusive bonus!
▼Back to the Dawn Nintendo eShop Page・Nintendo Switch 2
・Nintendo Switch 2
United States：
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/back-to-the-dawn-switch-2/
UK & Ireland：
https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-2-games/Back-to-the-Dawn-3015380.html
・Nintendo Switch
United States：
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/back-to-the-dawn-switch/
UK & Ireland：
https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Back-to-the-Dawn-3015376.html
・Nintendo Switch™ 2 / Nintendo Switch™ Original DLC: “Prison Skin”
Receive a specially created original prison cell skin, “Fun World.”
※The original DLC “Prison Skin” is a shared bonus for first-run purchases of all package editions, as well as digital pre-orders.
※The digital version bonus applies to pre-orders placed by 11:59 PM (local time) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
※An internet connection is required to access bonus content.
※Content and specifications are subject to change without notice.
■Newly Recorded Voices for a Cast of Distinctive Characters!
Back to the Dawn is a suspense-driven prison break RPG developed by Metal Head Games, an indie game studio based in Shanghai. The title has received numerous game awards around the world.
The game features a wide array of memorable characters, including 47 inmates, prison guards, and allies operating outside the prison. For the Nintendo Switch™ 2 / Nintendo Switch™ and PlayStation®5 versions released by CLE, not only have the subtitle languages been further refined, but brand-new Japanese and Chinese character voice acting has also been recorded. The two protagonists will be voiced in Japanese by Shugo Nakamura, who plays Thomas the Fox (known for roles such as Ryota Miyagi in THE FIRST SLAM DUNK), and Yasuhiro Mamiya, who plays Bob the Panther (known for roles such as Jacob Kowalski in the Fantastic Beasts film series).
■Characters
【The Big Foot Gang】
●Jumbo the Elephant (VA: Ryuta Anzai)
The biggest inmate in the prison who rules over the Big Foot Gang.
He has absolute confidence in his own strength and makes no attempt to hide his condescending attitude toward others.
●Frank the Hippo (VA: Yohei Matsuoka)
Son of the legendary hitman “Tooth of the Mob,” also known as Frank Senior.
Born into a gangster family, he grew up living in his father’s shadow and carries the old-school look of a classic gangster.
●Ivan the Rhino (VA: Hikaru Yoshihara)
A rhinoceros with a sculpted, muscular physique.
Whenever he opens his mouth, it’s all about muscles and bodybuilding. He always carries protein with him, and his favorite pastime is lifting barbells in the yard to his heart’s content.
●Bill the Water Buffalo (VA: Tadaaki Doi)
A hot-tempered water buffalo with crescent-shaped horns and large nostrils.
He has strong opinions about how inmates should speak to one another, and since you never know what might set him off, extreme caution is advised when talking to him.
●Tony the Camel
A camel who peddles goods throughout the prison.
With secret supply routes, he can easily acquire rare items such as beer and even copies of Play World.
●Winston the Walrus
A stocky walrus.
Formerly a ship captain, he fondly reminisces about sailing the open seas and is perpetually grumpy about being stuck on land.
●Diego the Alpaca (VA: Sho Ueno)
An alpaca who is constantly drooling.
Before prison, he was an apprentice cook, but severe drug addiction has left him mentally unstable. Seeing hallucinations in broad daylight is routine, and he could only cook without sticking his hooves into the pot during moments of lucidity.
●Franklin the Zebra
Obsessed with building machines and always sketching blueprints in his head.
After overhearing him muttering to himself, someone once panicked, thinking he was building a time bomb—only to discover it was just a cleaning robot.
【The Black Claw Gang】
●Caesar the Gorilla (VA: Yoshihisa Hosokawa)
A gorilla named Caesar.
As the boss of Black Claw, he controls the prison’s underground finances. Rather than relying on brute force, he prefers elaborate schemes and manipulating others to his advantage.
●Richard the Babirusa
A babirusa who gets furious when mistaken for a boar.
His terrifying tusks, which pierce through his cheeks, cause immense pain as they grow—but they are a symbol of pride and manhood for his species. A coward who tries to escape that pain could never win the hearts of babirusa women.
●Raphael the Mandrill (VA: Tetsuro Miyata)
A mandrill who looks formidable at first glance.
With powerful arms, sharp fangs, and a demon-like facial pattern, he seems intimidating—but in truth, he dislikes conflict. A corrupt accountant by trade, he uses “special methods” to make Black Claw huge profits, pocketing a share for himself.
●Fernando the Anteater (VA: Yasutaka Tomioka)
An anteater with long, sharp claws.
Formerly a surgeon, he now works in the prison infirmary. If you need medicine or medical alcohol, he’s the one to ask.
●Phil the Otter
An adorable-looking otter.
He is obsessed with buying lottery tickets and firmly believes he’s destined to hit the jackpot.
●Max the Honey Badger
A honey badger sporting a white flat-top hairstyle.
True to his nickname “The Landmine,” he’s quick to start fights and extremely sensitive about his height. He claims he would never lose a fight, even against taller opponents.
●Noodle the Raccoon
A dexterous raccoon.
He learned sleight-of-hand card tricks from his rabbit roommate Whitey, supposedly to cheat at prison card games. Judging by his confidence, he seems well-versed in gambling.
●Whitey the Rabbit
A self-proclaimed magician.
He’s planning a magic show in prison and believes simple tricks won’t impress the inmates—he’s saving his “best” magic for the performance.
■Game System
【A Colorful Cast of Characters】
Everyone in this prison is haunted by their past.
Will you deepen relationships and support one another, exploit others for your own goals—or beat them into submission?
You may choose a solitary path, or try to survive between rival factions.
▼Rapport
Each inmate has a Rapport level that can be increased through conversation or by giving gifts.
Raising Affinity allows them to sell better items, and if your relationship deepens further, you may even be able to purchase their personal belongings—or learn about their past.
▼Trading
Trade with inmates inside the prison!
As Affinity increases, the range of items available for trade expands. Some inmates carry unique possessions, so keep an eye out for what you need.
▼Other Actions
By learning the appropriate skills, you can steal items from others’ pockets, extort money based on how much they’re carrying—or even start a fight.
You can also check details such as an inmate’s possessions and talents (skills), so choose your actions wisely based on the situation.
▼Gangs
There are three gang organizations within the prison: Big Foot, Sharp Tooth, and Black Claw.
To join a gang, you need 100 Gang Affinity points, earned by completing requests from the gang’s boss known as Gang Quests.
Joining a gang grants perks such as free access to entertainment and events in that gang’s territory, and the ability to purchase items from the gang store at half price.
However, you will lose access to other gangs’ quests and stores, won’t be able to befriend rival bosses, and persuading members of other gangs will become more difficult.
▼Affection
You can build Affection with women who care about you by chatting or sending love letters.
You may call upon that affection for help—but relying on it too much may cause the relationship to cool.
In the next update, we’ll introduce a lineup of exceptionally unique inmates who don’t belong to any gang, as well as the growth systems that hold the key to prison escape—so stay tuned!
Additionally, a demo is now available on the Nintendo eShop, allowing players to experience the game from the beginning of Thomas’s story through the end of his second day in prison. Save data created in the demo can be carried over to the full version of the game, so be sure to get a head start on the thrilling and unforgiving life behind bars.
▼Back to the Dawn Nintendo eShop Page
・Nintendo Switch 2
United States：
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/back-to-the-dawn-switch-2/
UK & Ireland：
https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-2-games/Back-to-the-Dawn-3015380.html
・Nintendo Switch
United States：
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/back-to-the-dawn-switch/
UK & Ireland：
https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Back-to-the-Dawn-3015376.html
■Back to the Dawn Product Details
| Name | Back to the Dawn | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Genre | Prison Break Thriller RPG | ||
| Platform(s) | Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 | |
| Release Date | March 5, 2026 (scheduled) | 2026 (scheduled) | |
| MSRP | 【Package Standard Edition】 $34.99 USD / €34.99 EUR 【Digital Standard Edition】 $34.99 USD / €34.99 EUR | ||
| Player(s) | 1 | ||
| Rating | IARC: 16+ | ||
| Languages | Audio | Japanese / Chinese | |
| Subtitles | English / Traditional Chinese / Simplified Chinese / Korean / Japanese | ||
| Developer | Metal Head Games / Spiral Up Games | ||
| Distributor | Clouded Leopard Entertainment Inc. | ||
| Copyright | ©2025 Metal Head Games. ©2025 Spiral Up Games. Licensed to and published by Clouded Leopard Entertainment Inc. | ||
※Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo.
※”PlayStation” is a registered trademark or trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
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※All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
※All information is applicable as of the date of this announcement and subject to change without notice.