Arena is the name shared by several separate works across games and manga: a 1990s strategy RPG being remade for PC and Switch, an FMV RPG remake, a smartphone card game, a two-player co-op brawler, and an idle RPG. There is no single ongoing series, but each project is in active development or promotion.
The name Arena attaches to multiple unrelated projects covered across Yomimono. The most prominent is Dat Japan's remake of a 1990s PC strategy RPG originally bundled in GAMEPACK and preinstalled on Fujitsu FMV computers. Announced for Nintendo Switch in winter 2026, the remake adds an Arrange Mode with roguelike elements and a new story that connects to other Dat Japan remakes, including Lamy and Air Hockey. A later announcement confirmed the remake also launches for PC in the same window, with a Legacy Mode preserving the original experience.
Separately, BOUNTYKINDS SOLUTIONS INC. is releasing EXE ARENA, a real-time card action game for iOS and Android in October 2026. Pre-registration began in June, offering in-game currency ARK and guaranteed tickets. The studio is bringing the game to Tokyo Game Show 2026 with a trial play booth in Hall 11, booth 11-E08, running September 17-21. In another corner, independent developer GasaiGames opened a Steam page for PomoIdle Arena, a Pomodoro timer idle RPG with command battles and online matches, with a free browser version available.
Two smaller projects also use the name. Split Circuit Arena, a two-player co-op robot brawler for PC, is in prototype with playtests planned. The Arena, formerly Arena SNK, is developing the South Town Saga, a connected universe of SNK adaptations including an Art of Fighting webtoon. 1047 Games announced the end of development for Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, with servers shutting down September 3. The various Arenas have no shared continuity or developer.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.
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Independent developer GasaiGames opened the Steam store page for PomoIdle Arena on September 4. The game blends a Pomodoro timer with idle and command battle elements. Resources accumulate while the timer runs, funding character growth and online battles. A browser version is available for free.
BOUNTYKINDS SOLUTIONS INC. will bring its upcoming smartphone game EXE ARENA to Tokyo Game Show 2026, the company announced. The game, set for a full release in October 2026, will have a booth in the Smartphone Game Corner of Hall 11 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, booth number 11-E08, during the event running September 17 through 21. The booth will include a trial play corner where attendees can try the game ahead of its October launch. The company also detailed the giveaway lineup for the booth. Visitors who stop by receive an original squeeze, while those who complete a trial play session get a mesh eco bag and a special sticker. The company noted the freebies are limited in quantity and will stop being handed out once supplies run out. Tokyo Game Show 2026 runs at Makuhari Messe in Chiba from September 17 to 21. EXE ARENA is a new smartphone title from BOUNTYKINDS SOLUTIONS INC., and the TGS booth gives players a hands-on look at the game before its October release.
The 2026 Comic Exhibition ran July 23-27 at the Taipei World Trade Center, its 25th edition, drawing about 635,000 visitors over five days. The event was held jointly with a gaming and esports industry exhibition and a film toy and toy creation exhibition, with more than 120 companies and over 1,200 booths. Among the game company booths, Sangokugunenden: Arena had one of the larger presences, offering cosplay photo sessions and playable demos. Two of its characters drew attention in photo features published by Inside. Cosplayer Li appeared as Sun Shangxiang in a white and navy costume with gold embroidery, holding a large bow, with flower ornaments and a sharp gaze. Cosplayer Zoey appeared as Xiao Qiao in a vermilion outfit with gold thread embroidery and delicate hair ornaments, pairing a soft smile with a dignified look. Both sets of photos were taken by photographer Nogi Akira.
1047 Games announced on August 27 that development of both EMPULSE and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded is ending. Dedicated servers and matchmaking for both titles shut down on September 3, with peer-to-peer play replacing them. Co-founders Ian Proulx and Nicholas Bagamian cited insufficient revenue to cover server costs, saying self-funding is no longer sustainable. The studio will pivot from live-service shooters after a decade, carrying lessons into its next project.
PLAYISM announced 'Card Make Arena' on August 18 for PC via Steam, with early access planned within 2026. Developer Lizardry revealed the game includes a shakapachi function. Players flip through their hand with crisp sound effects, and well-timed shakapachi triggers a SUPER variant, with better timing producing an EXTREME shakapachi featuring spinning cards. Since opponents cannot see it, players can shakapachi freely without bad-manner concerns.
Publisher PLAYISM announced on August 18, 2026, that it will release Card Make Arena, a competitive card game by independent developer Lizardry, known for 7 Days to End with You and Refind Self: Personality Diagnosis Game. The game is scheduled to enter Steam Early Access within 2026, and a closed beta test is planned from August 27 to September 7, with applications accepted until August 25 at 23:59. In Card Make Arena, players create their own cards, setting stats, over 60 types of effects, activation timings, conditions, names, flavor text, and illustrations. Cards fall into three types: Servants, Spells, and Lands. Battles use mana each turn, and the goal is to reduce the opponent's leader HP to 0. To keep player-made cards balanced, the game limits total deck cost, with stronger cards costing more. If a deck costs less than an opponent's, the player earns a bonus based on the difference. Effects with low usage rates also grant bonus points on victory, encouraging creative but weak card design. Modes include Ranked Battles, Room Matches with unrestricted cards, and Random Card Battle using decks randomly selected from shared cards. An in-game SNS lets players share cards and compete for likes and copies. Participation in the beta requires a Steam account and a Discord account.
Frontier Works announced on August 15 that a new game based on the anime "Zombie no Afureta Sekai de Ore Dake ga Osowarenai" is in development. Titled "Zombie no Afureta Sekai de Ore Dake ga Osowarenai: Rakuen e no Michi," the RTS tower defense game will launch on Steam in 2027. Players control protagonist Yusuke Takemura, who has the special ability to not be attacked by zombies, as they gather weapons and defend their base.
Battlestate Games aired a special Tarkov TV KORD BREACH stream, announcing a league system with weekly 50-player leaderboards, a Lighthouse map rework, new apparel, and a reworked match reconnect system. The stream also showed Arena Season 3 rewards, a new location, and a BlastGang 2.0 teaser. A documentary on the game's development, episode 1, is now on YouTube with Japanese subtitles.
Dat Japan announced Arena Remake, a modernized version of the 90s PC strategy RPG that was bundled in GAMEPACK and preinstalled on Fujitsu FMV computers. The game includes a faithful Legacy Mode and a new Arrange Mode with roguelike elements and added story. It launches for PC and Switch in winter 2026.
Dat Japan announced Arena Remake, a turn-based RPG for Nintendo Switch, releasing in winter 2026. The game remakes ARENA, a title from the early 1990s PC collection GAMEPACK that was preinstalled on Fujitsu's FMV series. It includes Legacy Mode and Arrange Mode, the latter adding a new story and roguelike elements.
Garena announced on August 3 that it is developing Palworld Online, a mobile MMORPG based on Pocketpair's Palworld IP, with a release planned within 2026 for iOS and Android. The game is being made under an official license from Pocketpair and will rebuild the original survival crafting experience for smartphones, introducing a new story setting and original side stories alongside the core elements of capturing and raising Pals, exploration, and base management. As an MMORPG, Palworld Online features a seamless open world where players can form groups, build joint bases, engage in PvE and PvP content, challenge bosses in the open world, visit other players' bases, and search for rare Pals together. The mobile version optimizes the UI and controls for touch operations, supporting one-touch play across a range of device specifications. Garena's president, Terry Zhao, said the company aims to maintain the depth, immersion, and freedom of Palworld while delivering a mobile-optimized experience. Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, noted Garena's experience in global expansion, localization, and live service operations for mobile games. Palworld Online is scheduled for release on mobile in 2026, with further details on the service start date to be announced later.
Kadokawa and Garena Online Private Limited revealed the first trailer and key visual for Free Fire Daybreak, the television anime adaptation of the Garena Free Fire battle royale game, on Saturday. The anime is scheduled to premiere worldwide, including in Japan, in spring 2027. The story is set in the near-future city of New Dawn, controlled by the Horizon Corporation. The protagonist is Kelly, a 16-year-old girl who loses her memory and awakens an ability called "Limit Break" through an experimental program called "Project Bloom." The key visual features Kelly alongside the game characters Hayato and Moco. Ken Takahashi, known for Ragna Crimson and Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya, directs the anime. Japanese studio Candy Box, which produced Blue Archive The Animation and Azur Lane: Slow Ahead!, handles animation production. Sus4 Inc. is producing the music. Kadokawa and Garena are co-producing the anime, with Kadokawa's Kadokawa Qingyu subsidiary serving as production manager. The anime was first announced in May 2024, with a teaser arriving in July 2025. Garena Free Fire originally launched in December 2017 and has been the most downloaded mobile battle royale game for seven consecutive years since 2019, according to Garena.
Manga creator Nyoijizai, known for Harukana Receive, launched a new series on Kadokawa's Dra Dra Sharp# magazine. The story follows newlyweds Yuto and Asuka, a professional volleyball player and team captain who agrees to abstain from sex until a tournament ends. The series began last Saturday, shortly after Nyoijizai ended Cinderella Athletes in February.
Developer Knifing Mantis announced 'Split Circuit Arena', a two-player cooperative action game for PC via Steam. Two players each control one side of a single combat robot, coordinating movement and attacks to survive waves of enemies. The game is in prototype stage, with future playtests planned.
Bountykinds Solutions Inc. has launched a pre-registration campaign for the real-time card action game Exe Arena, set for release on iOS and Android in 2026. Rewards including in-game currency ARK and Platinum or higher guaranteed tickets will be distributed based on the number of registrants.
The Arena, formerly Arena SNK, is developing the "South Town Saga," a series of media adaptations based on SNK's Fatal Fury and The Art of Fighting franchises. The slate includes live-action films, a webtoon, and an animated series. The first project is an Art of Fighting webtoon, intended to set up the saga.