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6m ago
During the Nintendo Direct 2026.9.9 broadcast on September 9, Nintendo announced Pikmin 4 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Everyone's Challenge! Dandori Exam for release on November 12, 2026. The Switch 2 version of Pikmin 4 supports the console's built-in microphone, letting players issue commands to their Pikmin by voice. The release adds a new mode called Everyone's Challenge! Dandori Exam, in which players race to see how quickly they can carry treasure. The full title of the package is Pikmin 4 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Everyone's Challenge! Dandori Exam, and it arrives on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Nintendo's official Japanese account teased the announcement with a question about testing planning skills, and the broadcast confirmed the game will appear on the Nintendo Switch 2 platform. The original Pikmin 4 launched on the original Switch in 2023, and this edition brings the strategy title to the newer hardware with the added voice command feature and the timed treasure-carrying challenge mode.
6m ago
During the Nintendo Direct 2026.9.9 broadcast on September 9, Nintendo announced that two new amiibo for the Nintendo Switch 2 software Kirby Air Riders will launch on November 12. The figures, Sword Kirby & Dragoon and Noir Dedede & Hydra, will each be priced at 8,250 yen including tax at the Nintendo Store. According to the broadcast, the amiibo can be called up as figure players that can be raised as legendary machines, and they can also be swapped onto other amiibo machines to be summoned in the game. In addition to the amiibo release, the Direct revealed that an in-game event is planned for Kirby Air Ride. During this event, the menu screen and paddock will receive special specifications, and players will be able to obtain special rewards. Further details about the event were not provided during the presentation. The announcement adds to a slate of new amiibo tied to the upcoming Kirby Air Riders title, which is expected to build on the mechanics of the original Kirby Air Ride for the GameCube.
6m ago
Nintendo announced during its September 9, 2026 Nintendo Direct that the hide-and-seek game Meccha Chameleon, created by solo developer LEMORION, will be released for the Switch 2 immediately after the broadcast ends. The game launched on Steam on June 10, 2026, and several outlets report it sold over 20 million copies, with 4Gamer.net specifying sales of 15 million in less than a month. The Switch 2 version's surprise drop follows the game's rapid rise among streamers. Sources describe Meccha Chameleon as a drawing and hide-and-seek game with simple rules that is fun to play in large groups. The Nintendo Direct also revealed the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, scheduled for December 3, 2026, which adds the new hero Kaguya and the roguelike-style mode Heroes Record.
16m ago
Koei Tecmo Games and Team NINJA are adding Minato, a fully new character, to the fighting game DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round on September 10, 2026. Minato is a modern Japanese high school student who won a global dance competition, earning the nickname Tokyo JK. In battle, she uses a contact lens-type device called R-MN-T, developed by the character NiCO, to copy techniques from other fighters and combine them with her own dance moves. Her unique stance, the Minato Shuffle, lets players launch powerful throws or kicks that can cause a Fatal Stun, and she can switch to defense mid-attack, offering depth for advanced players. The character is designed to be easy for beginners, with clear and eye-catching moves, while still having a high skill ceiling. Producer Yosuke Hayashi and main planner Takeshi Inai explained that Minato was created to attract newcomers and bring a current, relatable feel to the series, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The update also includes three unlockable costumes for Minato, and the developers have announced plans for a global tournament series called the DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round Championship.
16m ago
Future Friends Games released the climbing action game Sunset Summit on Steam on September 9, 2026. Developed by Joe Fender and Andrew Fender, the PC title supports solo play and online co-op for up to eight players. Players control a grandpa and grandma who must reach the summit before sunset across 16 climbing courses spread over four floating islands. Each course offers multiple routes, and players need to pick a path they can finish within the time limit. Standard gear includes an ice axe and rope, while drone delivery can bring odd items like parasols, pogo sticks, suspicious medicine, and canned boiled beans. Falling is not the end, as checkpoints allow players to resume, and the game encourages a climb hard, fall hard approach. Communication tools include proximity voice chat and radio transceivers, and a photo mode lets players take selfies. The game supports Japanese and is priced at 580 yen. Joe Fender noted that the game began development in 2021 after DEVOUR, and that seeing the success of PEAK restored his confidence to finish the project.
21m ago
Square Enix announced during the September 9, 2026 Nintendo Direct that a trial version of Dragon Quest Monsters 4: Bianca and Flora of the Withered Land will be released after the broadcast ends. The demo covers the early story and supports partial data transfer to the full game, which is scheduled for release on December 3, 2026. The game stars Bianca and Flora from Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, who become Monster Masters capable of communicating with monsters. The Direct also introduced new gameplay systems, including field scouting where players can give meat to monsters to recruit them, and co-op battles for up to four players against powerful foes. Dragon Quest Monsters 4 is planned for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Windows. The trial version's immediate availability contrasts with the full release's later date, giving players a chance to sample the opening content and carry progress forward.
21m ago
During the Nintendo Direct 2026.9.9 broadcast on September 9, SNK announced that the Switch 2 version of the fighting game Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves will launch as a digital download on October 22, 2026, with a physical package version following on January 21, 2027. The game originally released in February 2025 on other platforms. The announcement also revealed that Season Pass 3 will add Manjiro Sano and Ken Ryuguji from the TV anime Tokyo Revengers to the roster. The two characters are described in the sources as the strongest duo from the series. The base game includes 17 characters, with additional characters available through Season Pass purchases. The Switch 2 version was confirmed during the same Direct that featured other third-party announcements. The sources note that Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves has been integrating characters from various companies' IPs, and this collaboration continues that pattern.
36m ago
Game Spark played the demo for Forever Ago, a road trip adventure releasing October 8. As elderly Alfred, players find flowers, sit in a special window seat, and play a nostalgic song on a worn jukebox. The demo shows how small wishes meet modern obstacles, like QR code registration without a smartphone.
36m ago
Yoshiki Takaya, creator of Bio-Booster Armor Guyver, said in a message included with a Blu-ray release that he suffered a cerebral infarction and has partial paralysis. He apologized to fans, saying he does not believe he will ever be able to draw manga again.
36m ago
Capcom announced during the Nintendo Direct 2026.9.9 stream on September 9 that the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Monster Hunter Wilds will launch on December 4. The Switch 2 edition includes all previously released title updates and supports local wireless multiplayer, allowing players to gather with their consoles for cooperative hunts. A bundle set, described as Japanese domestic only, pairs the Switch 2 console with a downloadable copy of the game and a three-month Nintendo Switch Online individual membership voucher, releasing the same day. Pre-orders open after the Direct broadcast ends. The software carries a rating for ages 15 and up. Separately, Capcom confirmed the large expansion Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance is scheduled for a 2027 release on Nintendo Switch 2. The announcements were part of a broader Nintendo Direct lineup that also included other titles for the platform.
1h ago
Hello Games began distributing No Man's Sky's COSMOS update, version 7.0, on September 9. The anniversary update focuses on space exploration, adding massive explorable debris, inhabited outposts with special missions, new asteroid belts, modular space bases, and a player-guild alliance system. The developer said it adds some of the largest content compared to past updates.
1h ago
Beneath the Tangles published a video interview with Madeleine Morris, the English voice of Rudeus Greyrat in Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3. Morris discusses Rudeus's humanity, the challenge of voicing him as he ages, and the difficult conversations the series prompts. The interview is part of a three-part Season 2 finale feature.
1h ago
Coffee Stain released Valheim's 1.0 update 'Deep North' on September 9, 2026, ending roughly five years of early access. The full release adds the final biome, an animated opening movie, achievements, and crossplay across all platforms, with PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 versions launching alongside the PC version.
1h ago
Ahead of the final film's September release, chief director Tatsuya Ishihara discussed the Sound! Euphonium conclusion at Anime Expo 2026. He spoke about the decision to show full-length performances in the movie, the challenge of shrinking attention spans, and how his lack of band experience shaped an objective view of the story's world.
2h ago
The final episode of Science SARU's Ghost in the Shell adaptation wraps the series, covering Masamune Shirow's first volume in a concise runtime. The review highlights the collaborative soundtrack from Taisei Iwasaki, Ryo Konishi, and Yuki Kanesaka, alongside the episode's closing track by Yuki Kanesaka, as a highlight of the production.
2h ago
N LITE is developing original anime inspired by African stories, including the film Mfinda, with public pre-production to build audience interest. CEO Christiano Terry says early sharing helps original works compete in a market where only one in seven new anime series in 2024 was not based on a prior work.
2h ago
Cygames announced it will serve as a premium partner for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, making it the first Japanese company in that role. The Group 1 race runs October 4 at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris. Life-size Uma Musume figures of Orfevre and Gold Ship will be on display, and the Cygames logo will appear on race programs and track boards.
2h ago
Very Cool has announced a 1/6 scale articulated action figure of Blue Mary from 'THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV'. The figure features a platinum silicone body with detailed sculpting and a special surface treatment for a soft, smooth texture. Reservations are open at AmiAmi for 54,880 yen, with release scheduled for March 2027.
2h ago
The final performance of Suisei Hoshimachi's arena tour 'Once Upon a Stellar' will be broadcast live in theaters in Japan and overseas. The Fukuoka show on November 12 will screen at 51 Japanese theaters and venues in Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau, Seoul, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Melbourne. Domestic tickets are 5,000 yen.
3h ago
Metasla announced it will exhibit Mana Alchemy at Tokyo Game Show 2026 from September 17 to 21 at Makuhari Messe. The Vampire Survivors-like open-world RPG will feature its first playable demo at the booth. Visitors who show a wishlist registration screen will receive an early development prototype in an original DVD package as a novelty item. The game targets PC via Steam and console, with release planned for 2027.
3h ago
Episode 11 of The World Is Dancing, titled "The Moon Before It's Full," finds Oniyasha still trapped in the same indecision, now compounded by years of isolation and burnout performing for the shogun. The anime depicts his physical symptoms of distress, yet the reviewer finds the execution unconvincing. The formula of inspiration striking Oniyasha is wearing thin, bordering on self-parody.
3h ago
The teaser trailer for the film 'Artificial,' about Sam Altman's 2023 ouster from OpenAI and reinstatement, has been released. Neon acquired distribution for an estimated $20 million after Amazon MGM Studios withdrew. The film is set for a limited U.S. release on December 25, 2026, with wide release expected in January 2027.
3h ago
Sega updated PSO2 New Genesis ver.2 on September 9, 2026, adding the high-difficulty permanent quest Suppression of the Spectral Tower: Northern Frozen Wastes. The four-player quest takes place in a tower in Alterelum. The update also introduced the Riiz weapon series, which upgrades from the Kaiz series using Kaiz Cube items.
3h ago
The TV anime adaptation of Reno Lemaire's French manga "Dreamland" has added three new cast members ahead of its October 17 premiere. Takuya Eguchi will voice Savana, a foul-mouthed, quick-tempered charismatic fighter; Hiroyuki Yoshino plays Saba, an easygoing art college student; and Masahiko Tanaka voices Yung, a mysterious old man who knows Dreamland's secrets. The series follows Terrence, a boy who lost his mother in a fire and, after overcoming his fear of fire within a nightmare, awakens as a Dreamer who travels the dream world. The original manga is a cult favorite in France with over 800,000 copies in print. The anime will air in the ANiMAZiNG!!! slot on ABC TV and TV Asahi affiliates across 24 stations nationwide. Production is handled by Ellipse and La Chouette Compagnie, with directors Juan Pablo Machado and Joe Celse at the helm. The Japanese localization features sound direction by Soichiro Kubo and production by Tohokushinsha and Amuse Creative Studio.
3h ago
Nestopi announced on September 9, 2026, the next entry in its work-focused adventure series, 'Chill with You: SHIOI's Sparkling Scenes,' and opened the Steam store page. The game follows the previous title 'Chill with You: Lo-Fi Story,' which has sold 450,000 copies, but tells a completely independent story. The new heroine, Shioi, is a bright, fashionable gyaru who is popular in class but tends to slack off when alone, often suggesting skipping study for cafe hopping. The player works alongside Shioi as she studies toward her dreams. This entry introduces real-time linkage: Shioi's location and time of day change in sync with the player's actual call time, shifting from a school classroom to an after-school library or her room at night, with the possibility of unexpected connection scenes. The game retains the previous title's tools, including a Pomodoro timer, to-do lists, and customizable lo-fi music and ambient sounds. The emotional distance between player and Shioi narrows as they accumulate work time together. The game is scheduled for release in 2026 on Steam for Windows and Mac, with the price undecided. A sale for the previous game runs from September 10, offering 25% off on Steam and 20% off on smartphone versions.
3h ago
Travis Japan members Shizuna Yoshizawa and Kaito Matsukura performed a one-night-only "Death Eater Demonstration" at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo on September 9. The special show opened the "Dark Magic Halloween" event, which runs from September 10 to November 8 at the Great Hall.
3h ago
Kemono Friends and NHK nature documentary Darwin Comes! announced a collaboration, the first since 2019. Original goods, including acrylic keychains featuring a Friends-ified Higejii, will sell early from September 12, 2026 at the Ikimono Super World Exhibition in Tokyo.
4h ago
Red Merle Games has begun a playtest for Little Crossroads, a cozy life sim where animals live in peace. The playtest runs until September 11 local time and is PC-only in English. The build is at alpha stage, testing P2P multiplayer and early gameplay like mining, bug catching, woodcutting, and fishing. The game is scheduled for Steam release on PC in 2027.
4h ago
Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro issued a statement on September 9 regarding social media posts, confirming it is investigating the content and has consulted lawyers. The theater faces suspicion that visitor gifts for the Chiikawa movie were improperly taken by staff. The theater has not confirmed the posts as factual and outlined response policies for both possible outcomes.
4h ago
Emotional Technologies and Robutler announced that the KDE emotion analysis AI engine will operate as an AI agent on the Robutler platform. The deployment removes the need for specialized knowledge or development environments, letting all Robutler users call KDE and build or remix apps that use it. KDE is free to use on the platform.
4h ago
The anime adaptation of Nazuna Miki and Tsukasa Araki's So What's Wrong with Getting Reborn as a Goblin? manga revealed its main promotional video, more staff, theme songs, and an October 5 premiere on Tokyo MX. Sou performs the opening song "Hello," while AHUB performs the ending song "Chiisana Bokura."
4h ago
Advance scene cuts for episode 12 of TV anime Mushoku Tensei III have been released. Titled The End and the Beginning, the episode reveals the identity of a mysterious old man who tells Rudeus he came from the future and speaks of tragic events about to befall him. The released photos show Rudeus's surprised expression.
4h ago
Game Spark published a feature aimed at Steam newcomers drawn by Super Real Mahjong VR, recommending adult games on the platform. The list includes hit titles such as Densha 45 and works from Taiwanese publisher Mango Party, framing Steam as a growing market for adult games beyond traditional Japanese storefronts.
4h ago
The Australian government led by Anthony Albanese is preparing legislation requiring social media platforms to let users disable personalized recommendation algorithms. The bill, part of a digital duty of care initiative, also sets minimum standards for protecting under-18s from harmful content, with fines up to 109.2 million dollars.
4h ago
Belarus-based developer Frogstorm announced Hemlotrion: Broken Mirror on September 8. The action-adventure game casts players as a student at a secret magic school, learning spells and exploring to uncover mysteries. Frogstorm says it carries on the legacy of early 2000s Harry Potter-style games, drawing reactions of nostalgia and concern over similarities.
4h ago
Game company G-Mode started selling the 'Hey Wait! Nippon Sushi Game Bundle' on Steam on September 9. The bundle collects four games from different developers and genres, unified only by a sushi theme: Ganso Otoshi Sushi Mebius, Kaisen!! Sushi Kaido, Wan Ope Sushi, and SushiCup Legend. The bundle applies a 10% discount to the combined individual price of 2,682 yen. The collaboration was formed after a call on G-Mode's official X account.
4h ago
Brave group's DOMINEX event series will hold its second tournament, DOMINEX ~ETERNAL RETURN~, on September 16, 2026. The event features ETERNAL RETURN, Nimble Neuron's battle royale MOBA survival game, with 24 VTuber and streamer participants competing under DOMINEX-exclusive rules for DOMION points. OooDa hosts and Yomu comments.
4h ago
Chitose Yoshino has been appointed assistant MC for Mahjong Saikyo-sen 2026. The announcement came at the release event for her 25th BD and DVD, Yukidoke made Taiki-chu, which features her first snow location shoot for an image work. She also discussed recent wrestling training with Marigold.
4h ago
TURTLE BEACH's Afterglow wired controller, an Amazon.co.jp exclusive, is on sale for 6,800 yen. It carries an official Xbox license and works with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. Features include a transparent body, four RGB modes, Hall effect thumbsticks, mappable rear buttons, a D-Pad with audio adjustment, and dual rumble motors. User reviews praise the design and near-zero stick drift.
4h ago
A stage greeting with Tomoko Yamaguchi, Etsushi Toyokawa, and director Shunji Iwai will follow the September 26 screening of the Undo 4K remaster at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku. The event marks the double feature of Undo and PiCNiC. Trailers for both films and a comment video from Iwai were also released.
4h ago
Futarime no Giant will host a special two-hour edition of TBS Radio's CITY CHILL CLUB on September 29 from 27:00 to 29:00. The 15th anniversary special brings in four guests who know the band well: DOES vocalist Wataru Ujihara, dancer-singer Tooshi, drummer mika, and music producer Akihiro Tomita as a comment guest. They will trace the party funk band's history and talk about what comes next.
4h ago
Konami Digital Entertainment will give away original mineral water named Gensui at its Gensou Suikoden booth during Tokyo Game Show 2026, which runs from September 17 to 21 at Makuhari Messe. The water shares its name with the series' common abbreviation and is presented as the renowned water of Taiju Village, the home of the protagonist in the upcoming title Gensou Suikoden STAR LEAP, referred to as Gensui SP. Attendees can receive Gensui by following the official Gensou Suikoden and Gensui SP X accounts and reposting the pinned post. Social media reactions quoted by the sources include 'Laughed at Gensui' and 'I want to try it.' The booth will also hand out an instruction manual for Gensui SP containing story information, world maps, and rune details, plus clear stickers featuring chibi characters from the Gensou Suikoden anime, distributed randomly in eight types under the same conditions. Exhibitions will commemorate Gensui SP and the series' 30th anniversary, including a main visual for Gensou Suikoden I newly drawn by Junko Kawano. A live stage event on September 20 from 12:00 to 13:30 will feature producer Rui Naito, Gensui SP producer Shinya Fujimatsu, and director Yoshiki Takeyama.
4h ago
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on September 9 that it will lower the suggested retail price of the PULSE Explore Wireless Earbuds in Japan from 34,980 yen to 22,980 yen, a cut of 12,000 yen, effective September 15. The Midnight Black version gets the same reduction. The earbuds are PlayStation's first wireless earbuds and the first PlayStation audio device with custom-designed planar magnetic drivers, a component usually found in professional-grade headphones. They support lossless audio over PlayStation Link and can connect to Bluetooth devices at the same time, so a user can play on a PS5 with the USB adapter while taking a call on a smartphone. The built-in dual microphones use AI to filter background noise. The price change applies to model numbers CFI-ZWE1J, CFI-ZWE1JC, and CFI-ZWE1J01. The package includes the PlayStation Link USB adapter, a charging case, eight ear tips, and a USB cable.
4h ago
Hamster will release Console Archives Nobunaga's Ambition: Sengoku Gunyuuden on September 10 for Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5. The download costs 800 yen and supports one to four players. The game is a re-release of the 1990 Koei 8-bit simulation war game, the third entry in the Nobunaga's Ambition series. The player takes the role of a feudal lord and works to unify all 38 provinces, including Kanto and Chubu, by commanding warlords through war and diplomacy. The re-release builds on the previous game, Nobunaga's Ambition: National Edition, and adds a two-scenario multi-scenario system, field battles and siege battles on HEX maps, and roughly 400 real warlords. Hamster announced the release on September 9. The title is the second Nobunaga's Ambition game in the Console Archives line, following National Edition, which arrived on March 5. The Console Archives series reproduces classic console games on current hardware with features such as button and screen customization and save and load anywhere.
4h ago
Medicos Entertainment marked September 9, Attack on Titan Day, by revealing the prototype for the Chozo Kado BIG Attack on Titan (Eren Yeager) figure. The company also confirmed that the Armored Titan and Female Titan will be made into figures in the same line. The Eren Yeager figure is still in development, with the prototype shown as a work in progress.
5h ago
The National Institute for Environmental Studies will exhibit at Tokyo Game Show 2026 for the first time, running September 17-21 at Makuhari Messe. The institute will unveil Project: Leaves, a project that turns its accumulated research and simulation technology into games. The planned game has players conduct investigations and conversations within limited time, complete inventions, and send them to society, with choices branching into different futures. The game remains in concept stage with no playable demo.
5h ago
Rapper LEX released the unreleased track "So Sad" on September 9. He wrote the song when he was 18, and it first aired August 29 on the NHK E-tele documentary PASS THE MIC, where LEX and his sister LANA spoke with teenagers facing loneliness. Australian composer In Bloom wrote the music. LEX plays TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO on October 30.
5h ago
astragon Entertainment and Simteract released Bus Simulator 27 today for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S with Japanese support. The game combines bus operation management with realistic driving, letting players plan routes and expand a bus company, with cross-platform four-player co-op. It introduces long-distance buses for the series, set in Felicia Bay, a new region inspired by Spain and Portugal. The roster covers 13 manufacturers and more than 45 vehicles.
5h ago
The live-action Look Back, directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, received a standing ovation lasting more than 12 minutes after its screening at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on Sep 7. The film, one of 21 competing for the Golden Lion, stars Natsuki Deguchi, Aju Makita, Furi Nanase, and Rokka Okada. It opens in Japanese theaters on Sep 11.
5h ago
The KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST 2026 held its award ceremony on September 7, drawing 1,959 entries from 118 countries and regions. Gold Prizes went to Vietnam's Syo.Era in the Manga Category and Taiwan's Eli Lin in the Wordless Manga Category, with a French unit taking the Silver Prize.