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2d ago
ANYCOLOR announced on July 9 that the Nijisanji unit ChroNoiR, consisting of livers Kanae and Kuzuha, will release a line of 8th anniversary goods on July 17 at 6 PM JST through the Nijisanji Official Store. The lineup includes 13 types of merchandise: acrylic stands, random can badges, random photo-style cards, charm keychains, mini tin can sets, acrylic magnets, canvas boards, glasses, posing plushie clothes, Nijipa pajama pouches, Kukking! mini figures, and produce goods for each member. The Kanae produce set costs 15,000 yen and includes a pancake maker and Roto plushie; the Kuzuha set costs 13,000 yen and includes a parasol and handy fan. A pop-up store, the ChroNoiR 8th ANNIVERSARY POPUP, will run from July 17 to August 5 at LIGHT BOX ATELIER in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, with free admission via lottery. Online purchases of 3,000 yen or more include a random clear coaster bonus (6 types). At the pop-up, venue-exclusive pancake-style baked sweets (3,300 yen) and an original shopper (550 yen) are available, with a random label-style card bonus per 3,000 yen spent. The pop-up also features key visual reproductions, life-size panels, and a smart photo service. Admission lottery applications are open from July 9 6:30 PM to July 11 11:59 PM via official LINE.
3d ago
Universal Pictures will release the erotic spin-off 'Soulm8te' digitally on August 1, after canceling its theatrical release. The film was originally scheduled for January 2026 but was dropped following the box office failure of 'M3GAN 2.0', which earned $39 million worldwide against a doubled budget. Lily Sullivan stars as the android Sara, with Kate Dolan directing.
4d ago
Takara Tomy announced two new figures in the Transformers Studio Series: TS-37 Starscream MTMTE Collection and TS-38 Prowl MTMTE Collection. Both are fully transformable figures based on the film series, set for release in late December 2026. Pre-orders open July 8, 2026.
5d ago
A special exhibition for the near-future hospitality adventure game 18TRIP will run from August 15 to September 13, 2026, at Yurakucho Marui. The exhibition looks back on the game's 2nd anniversary event, where ward mayors split into four teams promoted local attractions. New illustrations by artist Oyo will be displayed.
6d ago
Hasegawa is reissuing the VR-747 Temjin Type a8 White Knight Order 1/100 scale plastic model kit to mark the 30th anniversary of Cyber Troopers Virtual-On. The kit, designed by Hajime Katoki, features four-color molded parts, a Sleipnir Mk.6/w weapon, and White Knight Order decals. It is priced at 5,280 yen and ships October 1, 2026.
Jul 3
Mango Party announced on July 3 that the adult puzzle game '45th Train' has sold over 100,000 copies on Steam within a week of release. The 'Exit 8'-like spot-the-difference game, developed by Elniko, currently holds an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' rating from 1,074 user reviews, with 98% positive.
Jul 2
VTuber Konomi Amakami announced a junior high English vocabulary book titled 'Learn with Konomi Amakami and Love! Junior High English Words & Phrases 1800', releasing September 1, 2026, for 1,925 yen. The book covers 1,800 essential words and phrases through example sentences featuring Amakami. A special edition with limited goods is available for pre-order at Kadokawa Store until July 19, 2026.
Jun 30
Bandai Namco released a memorial video for the Ace Combat Zero port on June 30, the series' 31st anniversary. The PS2 classic is revived at 2160p/60fps and included as an early purchase and preorder bonus for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, which launches October 2, 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Brand director Kazutoshi Kono also issued a message marking the anniversary.
Jun 30
A ransomware group called World Leaks has published confidential data allegedly stolen from Apple supplier Tata Electronics, including logic board schematics, A20 Pro datasheets, and supplier lists for the iPhone 18 Pro series. The documents, verified by AppleInsider, reveal parts configurations and procurement sources, potentially exposing Apple's supply chain strategy.
Jun 29
Researcher and engineer David Noel Ng built a device that generates random numbers from photon detection and created a web app called A Quantum Magic 8-Ball. The app randomly selects one of 20 pre-written answers using the quantum random numbers. The device uses an ultraviolet LED, a beam splitter, and photomultiplier tubes to read photon paths as coin tosses.
Jun 29
Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed at EVO 2026 a gameplay trailer for Bob, the next Season 3 character for Tekken 8. Bob enters early access on August 19 with a full release on August 24. Other Season 3 characters include Kunimitsu, Roger Jr., and Yujiro Hanma from the Baki series.
Jun 29
Arslan Ash defeated Japan's Rangchu 3-2 in the Tekken 8 grand finals at EVO 2026 in Las Vegas, securing his fourth consecutive EVO championship and eighth official Tekken 8 tournament win.
Jun 29
SNK announced the SWC 2026 Finals will take place November 27-29 in Stockholm, Sweden, as part of DreamHack Stockholm 2026. The tournament covers five SNK fighting game titles with a combined $4.2 million prize pool across qualifiers and finals. A regional league for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves was also announced.
Jun 27
At Game Future Summit 2026, PLAYISM's Shunji Mizutani and STORY inc.'s Yuto Sakata discussed the Exit 8 phenomenon. The game has sold nearly 3 million copies, and the live-action film grossed over 5.1 billion yen domestically with more than 5 million viewers worldwide. The film released in over 100 countries and regions, opening 7th in North America. Both speakers noted the property's unusual cross-generational appeal.
Jun 27
Aoshima Bunka Kyozai-sha's SKYNET brand announced a 1/12 scale pre-finished model of the Yamaha TZR250 '89. Two color variations, Silky White/Fine Red and V-Max Blue/Star Silver, are scheduled for release in November 2026 at 4,620 yen each. The model features a die-cast tank, movable steering and rear suspension, and a display stand.
Jun 27
Square Enix has launched a Steam sale for the Paranormasight series, with FILE38: The Ise Mermaid Tale at 30% off and FILE23: The Honjo Seven Mysteries at 50% off. LINE stamps for FILE38, featuring 40 types of character expressions including newly drawn art, are also now available for 120 yen.
Jun 27
Good Smile Company and Max Factory are adding Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley Shikinami from the "Rebuild of Evangelion" films to their PLAMATEA line of movable plastic model kits. Both figures stand approximately 170mm tall and are scheduled for release in December 2026 at 7,700 yen each. The Rei Ayanami kit includes three expression parts-serious, smiling, and glaring-with decals for eye direction, plus a glasses case accessory. The Asuka Langley Shikinami kit includes smiling, embarrassed, and "Are you stupid?" faces, along with a puppet accessory. Both models feature movable joints, pre-painted parts, and color-separated molding. They come with a base that has a movable support arm and can hold weapons from the separately sold MODEROID Evangelion Unit-01 kit. Prototype production is by SELECT D.
Jun 23
4Gamer tested the MSI Claw 8 Ex AI+, a handheld gaming PC with Intel's Arc G3 Extreme SoC, against the AYANEO KONKR FIT with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470. In multiple benchmarks, the Intel-powered device showed higher frame rates, particularly with XeSS enabled. The unit is a pre-production sample, and driver issues prevented testing Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. The final product's release date is not yet announced.
Jun 23
Bandai Namco confirmed that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a standalone title, so new players can enjoy it without playing previous games. The game is set in the Strangereal world on the Usea continent, 10 years after Ace Combat 7. It launches October 2, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows.
Jun 23
Epic Games Japan announced the release of Unreal Engine 5.8, focusing on performance improvements and enhanced core functionality. The update strengthens world building, character and animation creation, virtual production, and real-time rendering. Live Link Hub becomes official, and new features include Mesh Terrain, MetaHuman Collection for crowds, and MegaLight for dynamic lighting.
Jun 22
Bandai Spirits has announced a new prize figure in its Limit Break series: the RX-78-2 Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam. The figure stands approximately 28cm tall and is designed to capture the essence of the original mobile suit. It will be released sequentially starting June 23.
Jun 22
Bandai Spirits will hold THE GUNDAM BASE POP-UP WORLD TOUR in YOKOHAMA from July 10 to August 31, 2026, at Yokohama Sky Building. The event is the last domestic Japan stop of the global tour commemorating Gunpla's 45th anniversary. It will sell limited Gunpla kits, merchandise, and snacks, display a 2-meter Gundam statue, and offer purchase bonuses including a Gundam Card Game promo card and an original shopper bag.
Jun 19
Gotcha Gotcha Games has announced RPG Maker U2U, the latest version of its game-making suite, featuring a new Perspective 2D graphical option that mimics HD-2D style. The engine was teased in March and has no confirmed release date yet. Steam has also removed the RPG Maker tag, which developers hope will reduce prejudice against engine-made titles.
Jun 19
Epic Games released Unreal Engine 5.8 on June 17, 2026, with a new feature that connects the engine to conversational AI models via MCP server support. The tool lets AI generate terrain and buildings from rough sketches directly inside the engine. The update has drawn both praise for efficiency gains and criticism over fears of job displacement and mass-produced content.
Jun 17
Hori announced on June 17 that it will release the "ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Flight Stick for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows PC" (model SPF-034) on October 2 at a price of 21,980 yen. The stick uses magnetic hall-effect sensors for high precision and durability. It features a symmetrical grip for ambidextrous use, independent throttle and brake levers for quick operation, and a dedicated button for the High-G turn mechanic from the Ace Combat series. The base includes eight customizable free buttons and blue LED illumination. On PC, it supports both XInput and DirectInput. The stick connects via USB (Type-C to Type-A) and weighs about 1.1 kg. A twin-stick configuration requires purchasing two units. The product is licensed under the PlayStation Official License Program, though it lacks adaptive triggers, motion sensing, vibration, and audio functions.
Jun 17
HORI opened product pages for a flight stick compatible with Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on June 17. The peripheral launches in October 2026 for 21,980 yen on PS5, PS4, and Windows PC. It uses a Hall sensor, a High-G button for instant turns, and supports twin-stick mode with two units.
Jun 17
Orange Cat Industry and Wave jointly developed a 1/35 scale plastic model of the ARX-8 Laevatein with the XL-3 Emergency Deployment Booster from Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory. The kit has over 1,300 parts, LED lighting, and a special first-press price of 14,300 yen. It releases in July 2026.
Jun 16
Tezuka Productions' official YouTube channel began free distribution of all 52 episodes of the 1980 'Astro Boy' TV anime on June 13. The offer is limited until 14:00 on June 23. The 1980 series is a color remake of the original 1963 monochrome series, produced by Tezuka Productions. The channel notes that the series includes nine episodes featuring a clear conflict between good and evil, such as 'Atom vs. Atlas,' characteristic of Osamu Tezuka, while also showing that both sides have weaknesses and worries. The single video compiles all 52 episodes, resulting in a playback time of approximately 21 hours. Viewers can jump to specific episodes using timestamps in the video description.
Jun 16
ALPSE released the smartphone game "Captain Tsubasa: My Golden XI" on June 16, 2026, for iOS and Android. The training simulation game is based on the "Captain Tsubasa (2018)" anime and its sequel "Captain Tsubasa Season 2: Junior Youth Arc." Players train characters from the series, including Tsubasa Ozora and Kojiro Hyuga, to build a custom "Golden Eleven" team. The game reproduces signature moves like the Drive Shot and Tiger Shot. Andrés Iniesta, the former FC Barcelona and Japan national team midfielder, has been appointed as the game's official ambassador. A television commercial featuring Iniesta has also been released. The game is free to play with in-app purchases and is available globally, excluding some regions.
Jun 12
Hobby Japan is reprinting the Hirotoshi Sano Gundam Art Collection: EDGE of GUNDAM on August 7, 2026. The book, featuring mechanical animation director Hirotoshi Sano's Gundam illustrations, was originally released 25 years ago. Pre-orders are open now at the Post Hobby Web Shop and Yodobashi Camera stores.
Jun 11
AmiAmi released its May 2026 figure pre-order ranking, with Lian Lian's 'Lian Lian -Sakura- Kaise Aoba' 1/6 scale figure taking first place. The top five also include MegaHouse's Mai Shiranui from 'KOF98', a second Lian Lian entry, X-Plus's Roll from 'Rockman', and Union Creative's Yami from 'To Love-Ru'.
Jun 11
Good Smile Company has opened pre-orders for the BRICKROID Type 99 Labor Carrier from Mobile Police Patlabor. The 11 cm figure features a deck-up gimmick and rotating wheels, and can store the separately sold Ingram Unit 1 and 2 figures. Pre-orders are available at Rakuten Books for 3,600 yen.
Jun 9
Square Enix announced during the June 9 Nintendo Direct that the Kingdom Hearts series will receive native Nintendo Switch 2 ports, releasing on October 8. The lineup includes KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX-, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind, as well as a collection bundling all three titles, KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I~III]. The first title will also be available on the original Switch. Concurrent with the announcement, Square Enix discontinued sales of the cloud versions of these games on Switch as of June 9. Owners of the cloud versions can transfer their save data to the new native ports and purchase the corresponding downloadable versions at a discounted price. The cloud versions will remain playable until June 9, 2027, after which the service ends. The announcement also confirmed that the upcoming KINGDOM HEARTS IV will launch on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
Jun 9
Square Enix's Paranormasight FILE38: The Ise Mermaid Story is getting a month-long collaboration event at the miniature museum Small Worlds Tokyo starting July 1. The event includes eight programs: 3D dioramas of four game scenes, a mermaid mummy model display, character search games, a digital stamp rally, a figure-dropping activity, a photo spot, and a coloring workshop. Limited food and merchandise will also be available.
Jun 9
Kotobuki Solution will release physical packages of Kemco RPG Selection Vol.8 for PS5 and Vol.15 for Switch on September 24, each containing four RPGs. The bundles are priced below the combined cost of the individual digital versions, with pre-orders starting today.
Jun 7
Automaton's 85th weekly roundup highlights seven notable game articles, including the October 2 release of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve with a pre-order bonus port of Ace Combat Zero, the announcement of Monster Hunter Wilds large DLC Ascendance featuring Kushala Daora and Lao-Shan Lung, and Palworld's official release on July 10 with its biggest update.
Jun 6
Bandai Spirits has announced the RG 1/48 scale plastic model kit of the AV-98Plus (Ingram Plus) from the film "Mobile Police Patlabor EZY." The kit is scheduled for release on June 6, 2026, priced at 6,050 yen including tax. The Ingram Plus is an upgraded version of the Type 98 AV Ingram that first entered service in 1998. In the film, set in the 2030s, the unit has been repeatedly overhauled over nearly 40 years, leading some police officers to mock it as a "junker." The RG kit includes gimmicks such as an opening and raising cockpit hatch, a revolver cannon stored in the legs that can be drawn out, and a stun stick that can be pulled from the shield. It also features an internal frame, real metallic gloss injection for silver parts, a deployable chest floodlight, and a pilot figure. The package illustration was revealed on June 3, drawing positive social media reactions about the box art and the mecha's profile. Some fans expressed hope for a future kit of the Type Zero from the same film.
Jun 4
Fuji Television announced on June 4 its full entry into the Webtoon industry with the launch of a new label called TOON8. The label will produce original vertical-scroll, full-color comics in collaboration with four companies: Number Nine, Fumoa, LOCKER ROOM, and C-Route. The first title, "報復の暗殺人形" (Assassin Doll of Revenge) by Subesubemanjuu and produced by Fumoa, began distribution on LINE Manga on June 5. Three additional works are scheduled for monthly releases through September 2026: "刀神ハイスクール" (Blade God High School) from Number Nine in July, "人質妻は離婚したい" (The Hostage Wife Wants a Divorce) from LOCKER ROOM in August, and "対価を払ったら未来が変わりました" (Paying the Price Changed the Future) from C-Route in September. Fuji TV IP Division's Masamichi Sakagami said the label combines the broadcaster's storytelling experience with the production capabilities of the four partner companies. He described TOON8 as a project that will deliver stories across multiple formats including music, television programs, and events.
Jun 4
The character Tasha Seversky from the upcoming flight shooter Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has become a trending topic on social media, with fans calling her 'too cute' and expressing excitement to meet her in the game. Tasha is a female pilot from the Joker squadron's 3rd aircraft, a star pilot of the acrobatic team Zvezda, who gets caught up in a war during a promotional video shoot. The game launches October 2, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Jun 4
Bandai Spirits Hobby Division has released new product images of the RG 1/48 AV-98Plus (Ingram Plus) plastic model kit from Mobile Police Patlabor EZY. The kit features an internal frame for wide articulation, metallic gloss injection on silver parts, a deployable chest searchlight, a stun stick that stores in the shield, and detailed cockpit hatches with a lift mechanism. The legs include a revolver cannon drawer gimmick and deployable spare ammunition. It is scheduled for release on June 6, 2026, priced at 6,050 yen.
Jun 3
Voice actor and ADR assistant director Ben Stegmair appeared on the podcast Something Genuine Season 2, Episode 2. He discussed his early focus on voice acting, the mentors who shaped his career, and his role as Yuru in Daemons of the Shadow Realm. Stegmair also shared his Mt. Rushmore of manga and his ambition to create original comics.
Jun 3
G-MODE Corporation announced on June 3 that Toudou Ryuunosuke Detective Diary Vol.8: The Violet Birdcage ~The Doll Mansion Serial Murder Case~ will be released for Nintendo Switch on June 4 as part of the G-MODE Archives+ revival project. The game was previously only available on feature phones, making it a rare title in the series. Set in Taisho 14 (1925), the story follows private detective Toudou Ryuunosuke as he investigates a missing person case that leads him to a Western-style mansion haunted by rumors of people being kidnapped and turned into dolls. The game is priced at 1,200 yen (tax included), with a 20% off sale running from June 4 to August 2, reducing the price to 960 yen. A hint collection is available on the official website to assist players when investigations stall. Previous titles in the series, Vol.1 through 7, are already available on Nintendo Switch.
Jun 3
G-Mode announced the June 4 release of "Toudou Ryuunosuke Detective Diary Vol. 8 'The Violet Birdcage ~The Doll Mansion Serial Murder Case~'" for Switch under its G-MODE Archives+ revival project. The mystery adventure, originally a feature phone game, costs 1,200 yen with a 20% launch discount until August 2. A hint collection is available on the official website.
Jun 3
Bandai Namco Entertainment opened pre-orders on June 3 for two special editions of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve at Premium Bandai. The Collector's Box costs 15,730 yen and the Ace of Aces Box costs 39,600 yen, both shipping in September ahead of the game's October 2 release.
Jun 2
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced during Sony's State of Play livestream on June 3 that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will launch on October 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game is the latest entry in the Ace Combat series, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Players take the role of a fighter pilot rescued at sea by the aging aircraft carrier Endurance, belonging to the Federation of Central Usea. The player is entrusted with the legendary ace known as the Wings of Seave, a symbol of hope, and must reclaim lost territory alongside three new companions. The game is developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc., a studio formed in July 2022 by Bandai Namco Entertainment and ILCA, and is built on Unreal Engine 5. A port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War will be included as a pre-order bonus for the digital version and as an early purchase bonus for the physical version. Early access for the Deluxe Edition begins on September 29.
Jun 2
The Golden Trailer Awards, honoring the year's best film marketing, announced winners on May 28. Konami's Silent Hill f won Best Video Game Trailer. Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animation/Family Poster. The live-action film of the horror game Exit 8 won Best Foreign Horror. Several anime and game-related nominees, including Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, lost in their categories.
Jun 2
Kohei Ikeda, game director for Tekken 7 and Tekken 8, announced on Monday that he has left Bandai Namco Entertainment after 20 years at the company. His departure follows that of former Tekken project producer Katsuhiro Harada, who left at the end of 2025 and now leads SNK's new studio.
Jun 2
Experience announced that internal stock of the Nintendo Switch dungeon RPG Demon Kill Demon: Yomi 1984 has sold out due to additional orders. The game, released May 28, is also sold out at many Yodobashi Camera stores. A restock is expected in about 20 days. The game ranked second in the Nintendo Store's download rankings.
Jun 2
Game Spark reports that the third installment of Final Fantasy VII Remake, along with Persona 4 Revival and Ace Combat 8, may receive updates at June 2026 game events including Summer Game Fest, State of Play, and the Xbox Games Showcase. Director Naoki Hamaguchi said in February that the team plans to share more information this year.
Jun 1
A new review of Kaiju No. 8 THE GAME, a free-to-play turn-based RPG based on the hit manga and anime, highlights how the game expands the world through an original plot and original characters. The game has been available since August 2025 and held half-anniversary events in February 2026.