Japan CTO Association to Hold AI Strategy Session at IVS2026
The session brings together prominent startup founders and CTOs to publicly debate compensation and governance issues that are usually discussed behind closed doors.
ASCII.jp
XGIMI TITAN and Elfin Flip Plus Win VGP2026 Summer Awards
The awards highlight XGIMI's continued recognition in Japan's audio-visual market, with its TITAN flagship and Elfin series receiving top honors from a major industry panel.
ASCII.jp
Rhythm Products Win Four Awards at VGP 2026 Summer
The awards recognize Rhythm's pivot from precision clock manufacturing into lifestyle audio and outdoor gear, with products like the CRANKSPEAKER combining emergency preparedness with everyday design.
ASCII.jp
Virtual Guitarist Chacha Draws Attention With High-Precision Mocap Guitar Video
The video shows a VTuber handling both performance and technical setup, and the band's upcoming live debut marks a concrete step for self-produced virtual acts.
KAI-YOU
Hardcore Space Salvage Sim Ostranauts Gets August 2026 Release Date
After six years of iterative Early Access development, the 1.0 launch bundles a narrative conclusion and a bounty hunter system, marking a transition from open-ended sandbox to a structured endgame for a niche sim that has sustained a loyal player base through complexity.
Automaton, Game Spark
Tales of the Unusual Gets Monthly New Episodes on FOD for First Time
This is the first time in the program's history that new episodes will be released monthly on a streaming platform rather than as seasonal television specials.
Eiga Natalie
Riot Games Announces League of Legends Classic Mode
The mode follows the trend of classic re-releases for long-running online games, letting players revisit specific past metas.
4Gamer.net
SORACOM Adds Handover Feature to Wisora AI Chatbot for Human-AI Collaboration
The handover function bridges AI and human customer support, letting the AI learn from human interventions to improve its own accuracy over time.
ASCII.jp
Masahiro Inoue to Perform Motion Capture for VRChat Hero Show
A major tokusatsu actor's direct involvement in a VRChat corporate booth signals a growing crossover between live-action special effects talent and social VR commerce.
KAI-YOU
Netmarble's Vampir Launches in Japan on July 22
VAMPIR brings a proven overseas hit to Japan with localized content and cross-region servers, expanding Netmarble's mobile and PC MMO footprint.
Automaton
Weekly Steam Square Issue #159: Plant Nursery Simulator and FISH Lead New Releases
The column offers a curated snapshot of the week's Steam releases, with Plant Nursery Simulator and FISH standing out as the most mechanically distinct entries in a slate heavy on simulation and atmospheric games.
4Gamer.net
Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 Cour 2 PV Previews adieu Ending Song
The second cour's new ending theme by adieu marks a musical shift midway through the season, as the story arc escalates around Rozemyne's magical power and noble conspiracies.
Anime News Network, Comic Natalie, Anime Corner
The Tower of Druaga Character Designer Reveals Namco's Mysterious Creative Center
The interview sheds light on a little-known Namco department that shaped the company's visual identity and produced character designs that remain in use 40 years later.
Denfaminicogamer
Skullcandy Japan Announces 4 New Audio Products for Summer 2026
Skullcandy expands its summer lineup with four new products, two of which have already won Gold Awards at a major Japanese audio-visual awards event, signaling a push into the open-ear and budget truly wireless segments.
ASCII.jp
Shuten Kyoudan Gets 40% Off Sale on Switch and Switch 2
The sale offers a significant discount on a recent multi-genre adventure from the creator of the Danganronpa series, making it a notable deal for Switch and Switch 2 owners.
ASCII.jp
Quintia Inc. Launches AI Business for Japanese Game IPs
The launch formalizes a service model that uses AI to lower the cost and complexity of translating, remaking, and marketing older Japanese game IPs for global platforms like Steam.
ASCII.jp
JLab Go Pods ANC Wins Gold Award at VGP2026 Summer
The Gold Award and three category wins give JLab a strong showing at a major Japanese AV award, reinforcing its push into the Japanese market after leading US sales in its price segments.
ASCII.jp
Street Fighter League Japan 2026 Starts August 25 With Riddle Order Joining
The league rebrands its Japan region and clarifies overseas regions, while the addition of Riddle Order and the two-division format set the stage for the fourth Street Fighter 6 season.
Automaton
Yobikomi-Kun Official 3D Model Sells at Virtual Market 2026 Summer
A real-world retail promotion character gets an official VRChat avatar, marking a crossover between physical sales tools and social VR platforms.
KAI-YOU
Xaion Data to Visualize Digital Plus Group Distribution Gross Profit Margin in Real Time
The partnership applies AI data structuring to a key financial KPI, aiming to close the time lag between profitability changes and management action as the group scales.
ASCII.jp
Jackery Unveils AI Home Energy System Ark AI EMS at Intersolar Europe 2026
The system shifts home energy management from passive consumption to active AI-driven optimization, targeting households that have graduated from feed-in tariffs and face rising electricity costs.
ASCII.jp
Free-To-Play Monster-Collecting RPG Aniimo Sets Closed Beta for July 9
The Link transformation mechanic distinguishes Aniimo from other monster-collecting RPGs by letting players explore and fight in creature form, and the cross-play free-to-play model targets a broad multiplatform audience.
Denfaminicogamer
Hinatazaka46, FRUITS ZIPPER, CANDY TUNE, and ≒JOY Lead IRC 2026 A/W Lineup
IRC continues to expand as a twice-yearly event fusing idol performance and fashion, with a new global outreach vision and a theme centered on growth.
ASCII.jp
Wizardry Gaiden: Five Trials Steam Keys Revoked After Unauthorized 90 Yen Sale
The incident highlights a recurring problem where keys sold by a store claiming to handle legitimate stock become unplayable after purchase due to publisher action.
Automaton