LEGO Ideas E.T. Set Pre-Orders Begin July 3, 2026
The set brings a beloved 1980s film character to the LEGO Ideas line, offering adult collectors a detailed display piece that recreates the iconic 'E.T. phone home' scene.
Dengeki Hobby Web
The Ninth Jedi Kicks Off Star Wars: Visions Presents With a Rushed First Episode
As the first series under the Visions Presents banner, The Ninth Jedi tests whether the anthology's short-form stories can sustain longer narratives, and its mixed early reception raises questions about the format's viability for future expansions.
Beneath the Tangles
PeerTube's Decentralized Video Platform Lacks Monetization for Creators
PeerTube's lack of a monetization system highlights the fundamental challenge decentralized video platforms face in attracting professional creators who depend on ad revenue.
GIGAZINE
Azur Promilia CBT Program Reveals Story Synopsis, Characters, and Kibo Creatures
The first day of the Azur Promilia CBT program gave players their first detailed look at the game's narrative premise and the Kibo creature system.
4Gamer.net
Azur Lane x NieR:Automata Collaboration Livestream Set for July 11
The livestream will deliver the first official details on the crossover between Azur Lane and NieR:Automata, pairing two major franchises with distinct fanbases.
4Gamer.net
Memory of Memorie: A Chill Story Releases 60-Minute Free Trial Video
The video format trial directly addresses user demand for longer sessions with the game's atmosphere, offering a low-commitment way to experience the story-linked work focus system before the full release.
Denfaminicogamer
Hoshimachi Suisei and Hatsune Miku Duet in Lotte Coolish × Sō TVCM
This marks the first time Lotte's two ice cream brands have collaborated on a single commercial, and the pairing of a top VTuber with Hatsune Miku signals a growing mainstream acceptance of virtual performers in national advertising campaigns.
Anime Anime, PANORA
Puzzle Adventure Game 'UNDERGROUNDED' Launches on Steam
The game blends a personal narrative with American historical and cultural motifs, using retro arcade-style mini-games as core puzzle mechanics tied to boss encounters.
Game Spark
VIPO Recruits Four Japanese Publishers for Busan Story Market 2026
The market reflects growing demand for Japanese original IP in global visual production, with last year's six participants conducting 165 business meetings.
GameBusiness.jp
Square Enix President Hints at Possible Foamstars Revival If Fan Demand Is Strong
The response marks the first official signal from Square Enix that Foamstars, a title widely considered dormant, could see new life through multiplatform expansion, monetization, or merchandise if enough players speak up.
Inside
Hololive Dreams, First Official Hololive Smartphone Game, Sets July 23 Release Date
The release marks Hololive's first dedicated mobile game, combining its music catalog and talent roster into a single cross-platform experience.
GAME Watch (Impress), 4Gamer.net, hololive production (JP), and 2 more
Rust Large Update Common Ground Adds Rentable Apartments and Shops
Common Ground introduces persistent player housing and a player-run economy within a single monument, shifting Rust's core loop from wilderness survival toward structured social interaction.
4Gamer.net, Game Spark
Ganbare Goemon Daishugo! Alters Grandma's Dialogue On Non-Switch Platforms
The re-release, the first console Ganbare Goemon collection in 21 years, shows how multi-platform ports of classic Nintendo-published games require careful handling of trademarked console names and imagery.
Automaton
Apple May Release MacBook Pro With M6 Chip in 2026
The M6 chip's shift to a 2nm process could mark a significant generational leap for Mac performance and local AI processing, with the MacBook Pro likely the first device to receive it.
ASCII.jp
Hololive Dreams Rhythm Game Gets July 23 Worldwide Release, Steam Version Announced
The simultaneous worldwide mobile launch and the addition of a PC version signal Cover's intent to broaden the Hololive rhythm game's reach beyond its core smartphone audience.
Inside
F-Droid Calls Android Developer Authentication a Threat Disguised as Protection
F-Droid's critique highlights a fundamental conflict between Google's security measures and the open-source Android ecosystem, where the new authentication system could severely limit the distribution of apps outside Google Play.
GIGAZINE
Niconico Chokaigi 2026 Cosplay Report Features Goddess of Victory Nikke Milk
The report is one of several Inside photo features from the convention, which this year saw more Hatsune Miku cosplay than usual and included game characters, anime, and VTubers.
Inside
Tanita Releases Hatsune Miku Blood Pressure Monitor With Voice Guidance
Tanita is using Hatsune Miku's broad fan appeal to make daily blood pressure measurement more approachable, marking the company's first voice-guided blood pressure monitor.
Dengeki Hobby Web
Digital Version of Final Fantasy X-2.5 Novel Released
The digital release makes Nojima's direct sequel to Final Fantasy X-2 widely accessible for the first time, giving fans a canonical continuation of the story.
Inside
Yacht Club Games Says 500,000 Sales Target Avoids Studio Dissolution
The studio publicly tied its survival to a specific sales number, and now confirms that threshold has been met, removing an existential risk that hung over the six-year project.
Game Spark
VSPO! Collaboration PCs on Display at Tokyo's GALLERIA Lounge
The exhibition gives fans a hands-on look at the renewed collaboration PC designs, reinforcing VSPO!'s expansion from streaming into real-world merchandise and events.
Inside
Toy Story 5 Opens in Japan With Record-Breaking Box Office
The fifth installment of the Toy Story franchise has achieved the series' biggest opening weekend both domestically and worldwide, signaling sustained audience interest in the property nearly three decades after the original.
Anime Anime
Steven Spielberg to Produce Film Adaptation of The Mandela Catalogue
The adaptation places an internet-born analog horror series under major Hollywood production, continuing a trend of online horror properties being picked up by the film industry.
KAI-YOU
Space Quarters Wins Startup Kyoto International Award at IVS2026 Launchpad
The win marks the first major public validation for Space Quarters' in-orbit construction robot system, a concept that has faced skepticism since the company's founding in 2022.
ASCII.jp