Editing Zero Wing (section)

== Release ==
''Zero Wing'' was first released in arcades in October 1989<ref name="USCO"/> by Namco in Japan, and then by Williams Electronics for North America in April 1990.<ref name="ATVGL:JaO1971-2005">{{cite book|last=Akagi|first=Masumi|chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/ArcadeGameList1971-2005#page/n51/mode/1up|chapter=東亜プラン (Toa Plan); ナムコ（中村製作所）Namco; ゼ; Williams Electronics; Z|title=アーケードTVゲームリスト 国内•海外編 (1971-2005)|edition=1st|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement News Agency]]|date=13 October 2006|pages=50, 52, 84, 140, 172|isbn=978-4990251215|language=ja}}</ref><ref name="RePlay">{{cite magazine |title=Machine Catalog: Video Games |magazine=RePlay |date=October 1990 |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=78–88 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-1-october-1990-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%201%20-%20October%201990/page/88}}</ref> In 1989, an album containing music from the title was co-published exclusively in Japan by [[Scitron]] and [[Pony Canyon]].<ref name="VGMDB"/>

''Zero Wing'' was first ported to the Sega Mega Drive by Toaplan and was first published in Japan on 31 May 1991<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/md/soft_licensee.html|title=ソフトウェア一覧（ソフトライセンシー発売）&#124; メガドライブ|encyclopedia=SEGA HARD Encyclopedia|publisher=[[Sega]]|date=2020|access-date=2020-05-20|language=ja}}</ref> and later in Europe by [[Sega]] in July 1991.<ref name="CVGSMDzw"/> The game was later converted to the PC Engine CD-ROM² [[Video game accessory#Add-ons/Peripherals|add-on]] and was published exclusively in Japan by [[Naxat Soft]] on 18 September 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Zero_Wing.htm|title=Zero Wing|work=pcengine.co.uk|publisher=The PC Engine Software Bible|access-date=2020-05-20}}</ref> The Japanese release is able to play fine on American Sega Genesis consoles. Like most early titles it had no [[regional lockout|region protection]], nor had the European release been PAL-optimized.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}} To expand the plot, the Mega Drive version added an introductory sequence to the game.<ref name="ZWhg101"/> This introduction does not appear in the arcade original nor in the PC Engine CD-ROM² versions; rather, a different intro takes place with a blue-windowed ZIG.<ref name="ZWhg101"/> The PC Engine CD-ROM² added two new levels — 5th (Deeva) and 10th (Vacura).{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}

The Mega Drive port was later released in North America by independent publisher Retro-Bit in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=McFerran|first=Damien|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/09/retro-bit_is_republishing_some_of_toaplans_best_console_shooters_in_physical_form|title=Retro-Bit Is Republishing Some Of Toaplan's Best Console Shooters In Physical Form|work=[[Nintendo Life]]|publisher=Nlife Media|date=15 September 2020|access-date=2020-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925003054/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/09/retro-bit_is_republishing_some_of_toaplans_best_console_shooters_in_physical_form|archive-date=2020-09-25|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Zero Wing'' was included as part of the ''Toaplan Arcade 1'' compilation for [[Evercade]], released on 15 December 2022.<ref>{{cite web|last=McFerran|first=Damien|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/05/evercade-is-getting-an-exp-upgrade-complete-with-irem-and-toaplan-collections|title=Evercade Is Getting An "EXP" Upgrade, Complete With Irem And Toaplan Collections|work=[[Nintendo Life]]|publisher=Nlife Media|date=31 May 2022|access-date=2022-05-31}}</ref> On 30 June 2022, ''Zero Wing'' was re-released on the [[Nintendo Classics]] service.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nintendo Switch Online adds four more Mega Drive titles |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-switch-online-adds-four-more-mega-drive-titles |website=Eurogamer.net |date=July 2022 |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref>

On 18 August 2022, Bitwave Games and Toaplan jointly announced that ''Zero Wing'' would be releasing onto [[Steam (service)|Steam]] as a standalone title in 2022, and will also be available in a game bundle along with ''[[Twin Cobra]]'', ''[[Truxton (video game)|Truxton]]'', and ''[[Out Zone]]''. The Steam release will include a "range of quality-of-life enhancements, such as stunning pixel-perfect graphics, rewind, achievements, online leaderboards, sidebar indicators, and a brand new Very Easy mode".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/08/classic-toaplan-games-coming-to-pc-including-truxton-twin-cobra-out-zone-and-zero-wing | title=Classic Toaplan games coming to PC, including Truxton, Twin Cobra, Out Zone, and Zero Wing | date=18 August 2022 }}</ref> Following a delay, it was released on Steam and [[GOG.com]] on 14 February 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/12/out-zone-truxton-twin-cobra-and-zero-wing-for-pc-launch-february-14-2023 | title=Out Zone, Truxton, Twin Cobra, and Zero Wing for PC launch February 14, 2023 | date=13 December 2022 }}</ref>