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ARCH
ARCH is an active studio co-producing the Sekiro: No Defeat anime adaptation, which premieres in Japanese theaters on September 4, 2026, for a three-week run, with Crunchyroll handling global streaming later in 2026.
Synthesized from 29
Yomimono stories · updated
Jul 12
ARCH is one of the co-producers on the Sekiro: No Defeat anime adaptation, alongside Kadokawa, Crunchyroll, and Qzil.la. The project was first announced with a September 4, 2026, theatrical premiere date and a three-week run in Japanese cinemas, followed by a worldwide Crunchyroll stream later in 2026. A subsequent trailer and ticket presales in Japan confirmed the schedule is on track. The production committee released a statement that no generative AI is used in the adaptation, a response to audience concern after studio Qzil.la was chosen.
The Sekiro anime is the only project explicitly tied to ARCH across the provided stories. The studio is not mentioned in connection with any other anime, game, or merchandise announcements in the coverage. The stories about Blue Archive figures, Ascendance of a Bookworm episodes, and other properties do not involve ARCH.
ARCH's role is limited to co-production on this single title. The studio has no other announced projects or activities reflected in the available stories. The Sekiro adaptation remains the sole data point for the studio's current status and output.
Key facts
- Co-producer on Sekiro: No Defeat
- ARCH is a co-producer on the Sekiro: No Defeat anime adaptation alongside Kadokawa, Crunchyroll, and Qzil.la. ↗
- Theatrical premiere date
- The anime premieres in Japanese theaters on September 4, 2026, for a three-week run. ↗
- Global streaming platform
- Crunchyroll will stream the series globally later in 2026. ↗
- No generative AI statement
- The production committee released a statement that no generative AI is used in the adaptation. ↗
- Director
- Kenichi Kutsuna directs the adaptation. ↗
- Screenwriter
- Takuya Satou writes the screenplay. ↗
- Character designer
- Takahiro Kishida designs the characters. ↗
Timeline
- Jul 12, 2026 Sekiro: No Defeat Trailer Launches With Ticket Presales in Japan
- Jul 8, 2026 Märchen Kingdom: The Puppet Princess Joins Console Archives on Switch 2 and PS5
- Jul 7, 2026 Blue Archive's Kisaki Gets 1/7 Scale Figure from Good Smile Company
- Jul 4, 2026 Wonder Festival 2026 Summer Pre-Info Part 3 Lists KanColle, Medalist, Vigilante Figures
- Jul 3, 2026 Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.4 Launches July 15, Fate Collaboration Part 2 Starts July 24
- Jul 3, 2026 Blue Archive's Seia Gets a 1/7 Scale Figure From Good Smile Arts Shanghai
- Jul 3, 2026 Blue Archive Chiaki Gets a 1/7 Scale Figure From F:NEX
- Jun 29, 2026 Frieren's Aura Figure Ranks 2nd in Amazon Hobby New Arrival Ranking
- Jun 27, 2026 Blue Archive Nendoroid Surprise Box Preorders Open at Rakuten Books
- Jun 25, 2026 Blue Archive Gets Two New Figures: Shiroko Scale and Shiroko*Terror Figma
- Jun 23, 2026 Bandai Namco Music Live and Bandai Namco Research Form VTuber Business Alliance
- Jun 22, 2026 Blue Archive Mari 1/7 Scale Figure Gets Re-Release in July 2026
- Jun 19, 2026 Chrono Restaurant: In Search of Memories' Recipes Launches June 23 on iOS and Android
- Jun 18, 2026 Blue Archive TTS Model Gets Natural Voice Upgrade With Style-Bert-VITS2
- Jun 16, 2026 Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 Episode 10 Rushes a Festival Then Finds Its Action
- Jun 16, 2026 Treyarch Studio Head Mark Gordon Steps Down After 22 Years
- Jun 15, 2026 Zlin City: Arch Moderna Making-Of Video Shows Handcrafted Miniatures
- Jun 10, 2026 Konami's The Hustler Joins Arcade Archives on June 11
- Jun 8, 2026 Ascendance of a Bookworm Episode 9 Reveals Wilfried's Illiteracy
- Jun 5, 2026 Blue Archive Nendoroid Takanashi Hoshino (Battle) Opens Pre-Orders on Amazon
- Jun 4, 2026 Good Smile Fest 2026 Reveals Nendoroid Lineup Including K-On!, Fate, and Yu-Gi-Oh!
- Jun 4, 2026 Moderoid Announces Da'at Model Kit From Blue Archive
- Jun 4, 2026 Blue Archive's Saori Jōmae Gets a figma Figure With Articulated Coat
- Jun 2, 2026 Bandai Spirits Reveals New Prize Figures for Ranma 1/2, Blue Archive, Gintama and More
- Jun 1, 2026 Island Architect Lets Players Build Seaside Towns Without Grid Constraints
- Jun 1, 2026 Ascendance of a Bookworm Episode 8 Pushes Rosemyne Into Darker Political Waters
- May 31, 2026 Anime Expo 2026 Hosts World Premieres of Black Torch and Magic Knight Rayearth
- May 19, 2026 Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 Episode 5 Advances Printing and Concert Prep
- May 16, 2026 Sekiro Anime Sets Three-Week September Theatrical Run in Japan
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Claim activity
When a claim about ARCH was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against
open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.
- Confirmed arch produces sekiro no defeat May 28 · source
All coverage
6d ago
Empty Exhibit's sci-fi detective puzzle game Locator: The Search for Abigail Lidari was playable at gamescom 2026. Players act as a cartographer, matching photos left by a missing archaeologist to locations on a map, using terrain and journal clues. The Steam wishlist count exceeds 41,000, and release is planned around 2027.
Aug 31
Banpresto is releasing Blue Archive sitting figures of the Gehenna Discipline Committee's Hina and Chinatsu. Hina appears sequentially from September 8, 2026, and Chinatsu from September 10, 2026. Each crane game prize measures about 11 cm and comes in a chibi-style flat seated pose. Ako and Iori are scheduled for the following month.
Aug 30
Ueni Trading will open orders on August 31 for the third 'Blue Archive Original Watch' installment, a mechanical watch inspired by Hikari and Nozomi of Highlander Railway Academy. It works as both a wristwatch and a pocket watch, priced at 29,800 yen with shipping scheduled for May 2027.
Aug 29
David Heinemeier Hansson, creator of Ruby on Rails, has founded the Omacom Foundation, a non-profit supporting his Linux distribution Omarchy. The foundation launched with $8 million in donations, including $1 million each from eight tech figures such as Jack Dorsey, Michael Dell, and Patrick Collison. The foundation holds Omarchy's trademark, funds infrastructure, and supports dependent open-source software.
Aug 29
The Blue Archive 5.5th Anniversary POP UP STORE opened August 28 at Akiba CO Gallery in Akihabara, Tokyo, running through September 13. The venue displayed the first 1/7 scale RAISE Memorial Lobby Ver. prototype and a figma Tendo Aris prototype. New announcements covered figma figures of Asuma Toki (Combat), Arona, and Plana, a Hasumi (Swimsuit) scale figure, and a Tendo Kei Nendoroid.
Aug 29
Good Smile Company is releasing a figma of Noa Shioi, secretary of the student council Seminar and a Millennium Science School member from Blue Archive. The figure includes face parts for composed, wink, and glaring expressions, plus optional parts like a handgun called Secretary's Decision, notebooks, pen, and an action skirt. It is scheduled for release in August 2027 at 11,800 yen. A smile face part is available as a bonus from the official shop.
Aug 29
BANDAI SPIRITS updated the Ichiban Kuji Club page for Ichiban Kuji Blue Archive vol.4, revealing the figure prizes. The 1/7 scale Gracemaster figures of Al, Kayoko, Ako, and Saori in dresses are set as the A through D Prizes, with Hina (Dress) as the Last One Prize and Double Chance Campaign prize. Draws cost 850 yen each, with store sales starting December 26, 2026.
Aug 28
Wing is releasing a 1/7 scale figure of Neru from the game Blue Archive, based on her uniformed appearance in the game's Memorial Lobby. The figure depicts Neru, the leader of C&C at Millennium Science School, wearing a Millennium uniform she is unaccustomed to, while enjoying an EXPO with a big smile and a large cream-filled crepe. The figure includes a swappable part for an open-eyed smiling face, allowing collectors to display her with either expression. It stands about 220mm tall and comes with a dedicated base. The prototype is by CKB, with coloring by Akimoto Hajime, and illustration and design by namoga. Pre-orders are open on Amazon.co.jp at 25,300 yen including tax, with a scheduled release date of March 31, 2027. Wing's official X account also announced that a shy face part will be included for orders placed through the WING HOBBY STORE.
Aug 28
Ueni Trading will start taking orders on August 31 for a mechanical watch inspired by Hikari and Nozomi from the smartphone game Blue Archive -Blue Archive-. The product is the third entry in the Blue Archive Original Watch series and is designed to evoke a gift from the two Highlander Railway Academy characters. It can be used as a wristwatch or, by switching to an included attachment, as a pocket watch reminiscent of a railway clock. The watch features a Japanese-made automatic movement, the MIYOTA 82S5, with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. The case is about 38 mm, made of stainless steel, and offers 10 ATM water resistance. The dial includes an open heart design at the 8 o'clock position, a small second hand with a halo motif, and an applied logo incorporating the Highlander Railway Academy school crest. The case back also carries the school crest and has a see-through back. As a purchase bonus, buyers receive a microfiber cloth with newly drawn art by illustrator Dan Tateda and a PVC warranty card styled like a railway ticket. The watch is priced at 29,800 yen including tax. Orders will be accepted until October 5 at 15:00, with delivery scheduled after May 2027. Shipping is limited to Japan.
Aug 27
At gamescom Opening Night Live 2026, Wizards of the Coast announced that Archetype Entertainment's sci-fi action RPG 'EXODUS' will launch on April 7, 2027. The game is the debut work of Archetype Entertainment, a studio founded by veterans from BioWare, known for the Mass Effect and Baldur's Gate series. Set 40,000 years in the future, the single-player action RPG follows the protagonist Jun Aslan, a scavenger fighting to save humanity as it attempts to migrate to Alpha Centauri. The new release date trailer shows Jun adventuring alongside Salt, an intelligent octopus-like alien called an Octopod Awakened, who rides a mech and fights with the player. The game will be available on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. In Japan, the release date falls on April 8 due to the time difference. The game was previously slated for an early 2027 release, and this announcement solidifies the date.
Aug 20
NEXON Games IO division head Kim Yong-ha delivered the opening keynote at BIC2026 in Busan, tracing how subculture games grew from niche to a market larger than any single major game. He detailed Blue Archive's IP design around lifestyle, repeated actions, symbols, and relationships, then asked what human aesthetic judgment remains in an AI era.
Aug 17
SuperGroupies is selling Blue Archive collaboration goods modeled on five Arius Branch School students: Saori, Atsuko, Hiyori, Misaki, and Subaru. The lineup totals 10 items, with body bags at 18,700 yen and long wallets at 15,400 yen each. Reservations run from August 17 at 16:00 to September 14 at 12:00, with delivery scheduled for early January 2027.
Aug 15
Sega's XStellar figure line is adding two Blue Archive prize figures, Mika and Seia, both in swimsuits. The figures use clear materials and gradient painting for a translucent finish, include sandy beach bases, and release sequentially from August 21, 2026.
Aug 13
NEXON Korea announced on August 13 that it permanently suspended 122,046 accounts in the global version of Blue Archive. The stated reason is that these players were found to be abusing in-game mechanics to gain an unfair advantage over others. The restriction period is permanent. NEXON said unauthorized programs can harm the game environment and other players and will not be tolerated under any circumstances, and it urged players to report suspicious behavior. The specific methods used and how the scale reached this level were not disclosed. This is not the first such action: the global version saw 23,268 accounts banned in May 2025 and 17,712 accounts in March 2026, both for unfair play. The current ban applies to the global and Korean versions operated by NEXON Korea. The Japanese version of Blue Archive is run by Yostar and is a separate service. Blue Archive is a school-themed RPG developed by Nexon Games, set in the academy city of Kivotos, where the player acts as Sensei guiding students. The global version is available on iOS, Android, and PC via Steam.
Aug 12
Apple TV+ has added Connie Nielsen and Stana Katic to the cast of its Monarch: Legacy of Monsters spinoff prequel, set in 1984. Wyatt Russell stars as young Lee Shaw, infiltrating the Soviet Union to stop a Titan from being used in the Cold War. Joby Harold is showrunner.
Aug 10
Orange Inc. announced that its emaqi e-bookstore is adding seven exclusive manga titles this month, six of which are available through the emaqi Premium subscription. The service also added 18 Viz Media titles to emaqi Premium, including Komi Can't Communicate, Ranma 1/2, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, and Fly Me to the Moon.
Aug 10
ZOZO will sell the second Blue Archive collaboration collection with ZOZOTOWN starting August 13. The lineup features Gehenna Academy's disciplinary committee members Hina, Ako, Iori, and Chinatsu in original black military-themed designs. Eight items include apparel and goods, with illustrations by nijihashisora.
Aug 10
Max Factory is releasing a 1/7 scale figure of Kirara from the game Blue Archive. The figure is now available for pre-order on Amazon.co.jp. Kirara is a member of the Kirakira Club at Gehenna Academy. The figure captures her confident smile and trendy outfit, including a deliberately disheveled shirt collar and a tight miniskirt. It stands about 255mm tall and comes with a dedicated base. The prototype was sculpted by Tachibana of Max Factory, with coloring by Ekoshi, design by Hino Hinako, and illustration by Mx2J. The figure is priced at 28,800 yen including tax and is scheduled for release on September 30, 2027. The product page notes that the photos may differ slightly from the actual product.
Aug 8
Anime News Network reviews episodes 16 and 17 of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke, calling episode 16 a workaday recap of Rosemyne's to-do list. The review notes the episode's highlights, including the spin-off of the bookmaking business and the reveal of the working printing press, but criticizes tangentially connected subplots like Hugo's potential role as chef.
Aug 8
Good Smile Arts Shanghai is re-releasing its 1/7 scale figure of Blue Archive's Hina in a swimsuit. The painted PVC figure stands about 235mm tall, includes a dedicated base, and is available for pre-order on Amazon Japan at 21,900 yen. It is scheduled to ship on March 31, 2027.
Aug 8
Good Smile Arts Shanghai is producing a 1/7 scale figure of Rio, the Seminar student council president from Blue Archive. The figure stands about 256mm tall and includes a dedicated base. Reservations are open on Amazon.co.jp at 22,200 yen, with release scheduled for May 31, 2027.
Aug 8
Anime News Network's weekly release list for August 2-8 covers one anime title and dozens of print manga volumes. The anime release is Rooster Fighter in a limited edition Blu-ray set from Viz Media. The manga slate includes new series debuts like Crescent Moon Marching, Girl Meets Rock!, and The Princess Groom, alongside ongoing series such as Kagurabachi and D.Gray-man.
Aug 6
Good Smile Company announced the Nendoroid Basic Sorasaki Hina (Dress) figure from Blue Archive, releasing in December. Pre-orders are open at 4,400 yen. The Basic series omits interchangeable parts for a lower price and faster release, while retaining standard Nendoroid articulation. The official shop adds a music sheet and hand part bonus.
Aug 6
Yostar announced the Blue Archive VR event "Kaettekita! Blue Archive VR! +" will run from October 30 to November 3 at TOC Ariake in Tokyo. Tickets cost 5,500 yen, with a lottery application window open from July 26 at 11 p.m. through August 2. Details are on the special site opening July 26 at 11 p.m.
Aug 5
Hamster Corporation will release the 1986 Doraemon Famicom game for Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 on July 30 as part of its Console Archives series. The action game, originally by Hudson Soft, follows Doraemon using Secret Gadgets to find Nobita and friends. It never received a Western release.
Aug 5
The global Steam version of Blue Archive, the action anime RPG developed by NEXON Games, has fallen to an 'overwhelmingly negative' review rating. As of July 28, the Steam store page showed that only 10% of the 3,883 reviews posted in the last 30 days were positive. Most recent reviews cite the student recruitment system overhaul announced during the Blue Archive 5.5th Anniversary Live Broadcast on July 26. The change abolishes the old 'Recruitment Points' system, which let players exchange for a target character after 200 pulls, and replaces it with 'Recruitment Charge' and 'Recruitment Count Bonuses.' Under the new system, reaching 100 pulls gives a 50% chance to obtain the pickup character, and 200 pulls guarantees it. However, the count resets if the pickup character is obtained in any pickup recruitment, unlike the old points system which did not reset when the gacha changed. Critics on social media argue that players aiming for two pickup characters may be worse off depending on reset timing, while some claim the expected value has improved. The renewal is scheduled to go live after maintenance on July 29, 2026. The overseas Steam version has delayed update timing, so reviews appear to come from users concerned the same system will reach them later.
Aug 4
Spike Chunsoft cut download prices for Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE on July 29, 2026, and lifted the restriction on sharing gameplay videos, allowing full playthroughs up to the ending. The Nintendo Switch version of RAIN CODE drops from 6,980 yen to 2,420 yen, a 65 percent reduction, while the Digital Deluxe Edition falls from 9,980 yen to 3,850 yen. The PS5 and Steam versions of RAIN CODE Plus are now 3,300 yen, down from 6,985 yen, and its Digital Deluxe Edition is 3,850 yen, down from 7,920 yen. The price revision also covers additional content and bundle editions. The Xbox Series X|S version of RAIN CODE Plus will get its price change at a later date. To mark the revision, Spike Chunsoft is running a limited-time sale on the Switch version from July 29 to August 3, offering an extra 17 percent off the new price, bringing it to 2,000 yen. The company had previously restricted gameplay video sharing to the first two chapters to prevent spoilers for the mystery game. The new policy applies to personal use only; businesses and sole proprietors must still inquire separately.
Jul 26
Yostar will release two new ASMR works for the mobile and PC RPG Blue Archive on July 27 at 0:00 JST. The 10th volume, "Sun, Moon, Words, and You (Seia ASMR)," features Seia voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki. The 11th volume, "It's Sensei's Fault, You Know? (Miyo ASMR)," features Miyo voiced by Kana Hanaishi. The announcement was made during the Blue Archive 5.5th Anniversary Live Broadcast on July 26. A 10% discount sale on both new and existing ASMR works will run on DLsite until August 23. The ASMR series has been expanded approximately every six months since its launch.
Jul 22
Developer Black Lantern Collective announced on July 22 that its excavation simulation Alien Archeologist will launch on Steam on October 12, 2026. The game is set on Mars in the far future, where players dig through the planet's crust with a shovel and TNT to extract ores and ancient artifacts. Ores can be sold at a machine called the Grinder to fund tool upgrades and new equipment. Artifacts are brought to a cleaning station where players remove dust and rock with specialized tools and polish them to a restored state. As players dig deeper, buried secrets such as bones of past workers and ancient solar panels are gradually revealed. A small vacuum cleaner robot named GOOBER accompanies the player, handling chores like searching for spare materials and crafting extra TNT. GOOBER's appearance can be customized with accessories including bow ties, mustaches, and top hats. A gameplay trailer has also been released. The price has not yet been announced.
Jul 16
The 1/7 scale figure of Marie from Blue Archive is being re-released. Pre-orders are now open on Amazon Japan. The figure stands approximately 215mm tall (230mm with halo) and includes a dedicated base. It is priced at 21,500 yen and is scheduled to ship on January 31, 2027. The figure was sculpted by Ikurie with coloring by Matsuda Model.
Jul 15
Furyu's premium figure brand F:NEX has opened pre-orders for a 1/7 scale figure of Blue Archive's Chiaki based on the in-game Memorial Lobby visual. The figure is available at Rakuten Books for 19,800 yen and features detailed sculpting of her casual pose, camera, and hair.
Jul 14
NEXON Games' IO Division, the team behind Blue Archive, showed its new game Project RX to the public for the first time at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles. A booth featured voice-recognition rock-paper-scissors interactions with characters. A vlog captured producer interviews where they said the team aims to avoid competing with Blue Archive and is not leading with combat content. Project RX is also scheduled for Tokyo Game Show 2026 in September.
Jul 13
3Li¥en and ANARCHY released the single "Mooove Bitch (feat. ANARCHY)" on July 13, with a music video premiering the same day. The track, produced by Foux, carries a message from 3Li¥en expressing discomfort and conflict with the current state of hip-hop. 3Li¥en, who gained attention through ABEMA's RAPSTAR 2025, said he will "spit for the HIPHOP I love." The release follows recent Instagram hints about quitting the scene.
Jul 12
Kadokawa, Crunchyroll, Qzil.la, and ARCH released a new trailer for the Sekiro: No Defeat anime adaptation and began ticket presales in Japan. The series premieres in Japanese theaters on September 4 for a three-week run, with a worldwide Crunchyroll stream planned later in 2026.
Jul 8
Hamster Corporation will release the 1998 musical RPG "Märchen Kingdom: The Puppet Princess" as part of its Console Archives series for Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 on July 9, 2026. The game, originally developed by Nippon Ichi Software for 32-bit home consoles, is priced at 1,500 yen. The story follows a girl named Cornet who has the mysterious ability to befriend dolls, and she sets out to rescue a prince kidnapped by villains. Players cooperate with dolls that fight alongside Cornet as they progress through the adventure. The Console Archives series aims to faithfully reproduce classic titles on modern hardware, adding features such as button and screen customization, anywhere save and load, and CRT-style screen filters. This marks the first Nippon Ichi Software title to appear in the Console Archives lineup. The game was followed by two sequels, and a 25th anniversary collection containing all three titles was released in 2024 for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
Jul 7
Good Smile Company announced a 1/7 scale figure of Kisaki from Blue Archive, based on her Memorial Lobby scene. The figure depicts the character leaning back in a chair with a gentle smile, wearing a Chinese dress with detailed embroidery. It stands approximately 160mm tall, sculpted by Chikai and colored by Yukichi. Priced at 19,800 yen, release is scheduled for August 2027.
Jul 4
Dengeki Hobby Web published the third installment of dealer information for Wonder Festival 2026 Summer, three weeks before the July 26 event. The roundup covers figures from KanColle, Medalist, Vigilante -My Hero Academia ILLEGALS-, Blue Archive, Uma Musume, Tsukihime, Made in Abyss, and more, with sculpts by Okiraku-dou, Būrian-Wa-Sa-Seki, Atelier ITO, and others.
Jul 3
HoYoverse announced that Honkai: Star Rail version 4.4, titled "The Whistle Roars Amidst the Return to Silence," will release on July 15, 2026, for PC, iOS, Android, and PS5. The update adds a new story arc where the Trailblazer searches for Himeko and confronts the Emanator of Destruction "Return to Silence." A limited 5-star version of Himeko called "Himeko: Departure" (Fire, Erudition) will appear in the event warp. The second collaboration with Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] begins July 24, introducing limited 5-star characters Rin Tohsaka (Quantum, Erudition) and Gilgamesh (Lightning, Destruction). Rin Tohsaka's kit includes the Jeweled Sword Zelretch and a bow attack referencing Ishtar, plus a coordinated attack with Archer. Gilgamesh uses Gate of Babylon, Chains of Heaven, and Enuma Elish, with a coordinated attack featuring Saber. Players who log in between July 24 and the end of version 4.6 can choose one free 5-star character: Gilgamesh or Archer from the first collaboration. Version 4.4 also adds a Sparkle costume, a new pet, and expands the Money Wars: Zero-Sum Game mode.
Jul 3
Good Smile Arts Shanghai is releasing a 1/7 scale painted figure of Seia from Blue Archive. The figure features the Tea Party member with a quiet pose and long-tailed tits perched on her hand and head. Pre-orders are open on Amazon Japan at 24,300 yen, with a scheduled release of June 30, 2027.
Jul 3
Furuya's F:NEX brand is releasing a 1/7 scale figure of Chiaki from Blue Archive, based on her memorial lobby visual. The figure is scheduled for June 2027 and priced at 19,800 yen. A FURYU HOBBY MALL exclusive bonus includes an interchangeable expression part.
Jun 29
Dengeki Hobby Web published the Amazon Hobby New Arrival Ranking top 10 for the Figure & Collector Doll category as of June 29, 2026. The top spot is the GUNDAM UNIVERSE Mighty Strike Freedom Gundam, followed by Good Smile Company's POP UP PARADE Aura from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End at 2nd place, and the Blue Archive figma Shiroko*Terror at 3rd.
Jun 27
Preorders for the Nendoroid Surprise Blue Archive box opened at Rakuten Books on June 25, 2026. The box includes all six character types: Shiroko, Hoshino, Nonomi, Serika, Ayane, and Shiroko*Terror, plus 18 random surprise parts. Each box contains six pieces and costs 10,497 yen tax included.
Jun 25
Dengeki Hobby Web reported two new figure announcements for the game Blue Archive on June 25, 2026. A 1/7 scale figure of Shiroko of Abydos High School will be released by Phat Company in June 2027. The figure stands approximately 260mm tall including her halo, and features her Abydos uniform, blue scarf, school bag, and the rifle WHITE FANG 465. It also includes a swap part to display her as No. 2 'Blue' of the Masked Swimsuit Club. The price is 27,800 yen. Separately, a figma of Shiroko*Terror, the alternate version of the character, was announced by Good Smile Company for release in April 2027. The non-scale movable figure stands about 150mm tall and comes with three expression parts: cool face, smiling face, and crying face. Optional parts include an Assault Rifle (BLACK FANG 465), a Drone, and a Mask. The figma is priced at 11,800 yen. Both figures are based on character designs by Hwansang and Doremsan2j respectively.
Jun 23
Bandai Namco Music Live and Bandai Namco Research Inc., both part of the Bandai Namco Group, announced a business partnership agreement for the VTuber business on June 23. The alliance combines Bandai Namco Music Live's content production capabilities, including its VTuber project MEWLIVE PROJECT, with Bandai Namco Research's advanced technologies, such as the portable motion capture system ELMIRAIVE CX. As the first initiative under the partnership, a 3D fishing location video featuring MEWLIVE PROJECT VTuber Kumanō Beatrice was produced. The shoot took place at Asakawa International Trout Fishing Ground in Hachioji, Tokyo, using ELMIRAIVE CX to fuse 3D footage with real-time live-action backgrounds on-site, rather than the conventional method of compositing separately recorded 3D footage later. The video is scheduled for release on Kumanō Beatrice's YouTube channel on June 23 at 12:00. The partnership aims to create next-generation virtual experiences as the VTuber market matures and demand for immersive technology grows. New developments for MEWLIVE PROJECT based on this alliance are expected to begin this summer, with details on content updates and events to be announced later.
Jun 22
Miyuki announced on June 20 that its 1/7 scale figure of Mari from Blue Archive will be re-released, with pre-orders starting in July 2026. The figure captures Mari's blue eyes, gentle smile, and elegant pose. Separately, Furyu revealed the painted sample of a Chihiro Memorial Lobby Ver. 1/7 scale figure from the same game, with pre-orders beginning July 3, 2026. Both announcements were made via the companies' official X accounts. The Mari re-release follows the original release and gives collectors another chance to purchase the figure. No pricing or exact pre-order date beyond the month was provided for Mari, while Chihiro's figure has a confirmed July 3 start date.
Jun 19
Tokyo Hammock announced the smartphone game Chrono Restaurant: In Search of Memories' Recipes will release June 23 on iOS and Android. The free-to-play simulation game features over 600 dishes and tasks players with managing a restaurant transported to another world to satisfy six princes.
Jun 18
At NEXON Korea's NDC26 conference, NEXON Games engineer Kim Myeong-ji detailed the development of a new TTS model for Blue Archive. The team adopted Style-Bert-VITS2, an open-source Japanese-focused model, to improve emotional expression and naturalness in character voices. The upgrade targets better reproduction of nuances like distress and joy, addressing specific feedback on long vowels and pitch in Japanese lines.
Jun 16
Episode 10 of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke moves quickly through the Harvest Festival, then shifts focus to Rosemyne's material-gathering expedition. A Crunchyroll audio glitch mars an early conversation. The back half gives Wit Studio action sequences with feybeast attacks.
Jun 16
Mark Gordon, the head of Call of Duty: Black Ops developer Treyarch, has stepped down after 22 years at the studio. The announcement was made via official social media channels. Gordon had led the studio since May 2005, overseeing the development of numerous Call of Duty titles including Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, Call of Duty 3, Call of Duty: World at War, and the entire Black Ops series. Under his leadership, Treyarch introduced technical innovations such as the Super Terrain system in 2018's Black Ops 4, which supported up to 100 players on a single map, and the OmniMovement system in 2024's Black Ops 6, which enabled smooth movement in all directions. The studio's new leadership will be co-studio heads Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller, both longtime Treyarch veterans with over a decade of experience as Chief Operating Officer and Production Director, respectively. The studio's message thanked Gordon for his leadership and friendship. As of the time of reporting, Gordon's LinkedIn profile still lists him as Treyarch studio head, and his next role has not been disclosed.
Jun 15
Polyperfect released a making-of video for Zlin City: Arch Moderna, a miniature city-building game modeled after the Czech city of Zlín. The game blends peaceful building with classic city-building elements, uses scanned real miniatures, and is set in a 1920s-1930s-inspired world. It is scheduled for release on PC via Steam, with an alpha version available for Patreon supporters.