Want to play rhythm games like a rally raider? Soon, you can.

Maimai DX, the latest installment in Sega’s maimai arcade rhythm game series, is set to receive an “advance release for all [Round1] locations” starting “this fall”. Sega had brought two cabinets to Anime Expo in Los Angeles last weekend, with the approximate rollout date confirmed at the end of the convention. The game was also showcased at Amusement Expo International in Las Vegas in March.

DX was first launched in 2019, after which it was gradually phased in over its predecessor as the year passed. Round1, a Japanese chain of arcades and bowling alleys with locations in the United States and China, began location testing in May 2024. It can also be played in the States beforehand via those who acquired them from overseas like independent arcades and vendors, the latter responsible for bringing them to conventions.

The version present at Anime Expo was DX PRiSM PLUS, which was released in Japan in March. Congoers also pointed out how the AX cabinets had beatmaps not yet available in Asia such as “-Psylent Crazy Night-” by aran & Kobaryo as well as the 104th class take on “On your mark” from Link! Like! Love Live!.

A global release for PRiSM PLUS is expected later this summer.

While those outside Japan will have to wait a bit longer, Tosha Schareina could at least say he got a whiff of it prior. In February 2024, he was in Japan for the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup’s season opener in Osaka when he decided to swing by Akihabara. Being the Otaku Capital of the World, the district is filled with game centers and anime shops so he decided to swing by a GiGO.

“This is outrageous,” Schareina quipped as he watched someone play the game (and Full Combo). “Incredible… of course, he needs his mineral salts to recover. Definitely needs Monster to keep up the energy.”

Schareina eventually tried it himself, running through songs like “HUMANBORG” by SARUKANI. While he didn’t pull off an FC, it seemed to give him good fortune for the weekend as he and teammate Francesca Nocera won the Osaka weekend overall for Honda HRC. The two then went on to win the championship. Due to their focus on E-Xplorer for 2024, he and Honda skipped the World Rally-Raid Championship’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge that took place a few weeks after Osaka.

He is currently fifth in the W2RC RallyGP standings. The Spaniard started 2025 by finishing second at the Dakar Rally and third in Abu Dhabi, but dropped to his current position after crashing in South Africa.

While we can’t comment too much on the benefits of rhythm games (though it certainly can refine your reaction skills), maybe a three-song round of maimai will help give him the juice to close the gap over the final two races?

Featured image credit: Tosha Schareina