At long last, we finally know that Lode Runner is definitely coming the Xbox Live Arcade, having been rumoured for a long time. Joystiq got the scoop and things are looking very promising.

For those not familiar with Lode Runner, it was first released in 1983 and is a Platform game. The player controls a stick figure who needs to collect every bit of gold in each level, all the while avoiding enemy robots. Ladders and hand to hand bars connect multi-layered levels, and you can also dig holes in the floor to trap robots and temporarily eliminate them from the game.

The Arcade version has been revamped, bringing 3D environments as well as a whole load of new content, such as online multiplayer. The game was always known for its Level Editor, however that wasn’t confirmed when Joystiq met developers Tozai. Pricing and a release date also was not mentioned, although Tozai did say that 2008 was a safe bet.

It seems like it might be a long wait, as the code being shown was “Very early”, however the promise of a 2008 release window is something to cling onto. Hopefully it won’t be towards the end of this year, as that’s a damn long time to wait for such a classic. Here’s to hoping!

Thanks to thompsett for submitting.