Hori brings “real arcade” control to the Xbox 360

Compared to the PlayStation 3 and Wii, the Xbox 360 is the destination for arcade ports. Microsoft’s console is the home of vintage arcade games, the Castle of Shikigami 3, classic Soulcalibur, and Cave shmups. Arcade enthusiasts probably know Hori released a solution last year when Virtua Fighter 5 came out. However, the Virtua Fighter 5 fighting stick will no longer be sold in Japan. Hori is replacing it with the Real Arcade Pro EX.

The Real Arcade Pro EX rearranges the button layout with a two column, four button layout. The shoulder/bumper buttons are now placed to the left and right of the colorful face buttons. There is also a tiny Xbox 360 guide button on the top left hand corner. Cute. Hori’s revised arcade stick comes out on July 10, just in time for Soulcalibur IV (July 31 in Japan) and Street Fighter IV. You can pick one up for 12,000 yen ($114) plus the cost to ship over a solid Arylonnitrile Butadiene Styrene base brick.

Images courtesy of Hori and Impress Watch.