C4 Connect's Houchishoujo is holding a collaboration with the TV anime That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime from September 8 to September 28. Rimuru (CV: Miho Okasaki), Milim (CV: Rina Hidaka), and Shion (CV: M・A・O) appear in Houchishoujo-original bunny girl costumes with newly recorded voices. In the event "Longing and Watching Over," Shion can be obtained for free.
Level-5 announced on September 10 during its online presentation LEVEL5 VISION 2026 II Dream that the paid large-scale DLC Celestial Train and the Happy Final Station is coming to Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time. The game is a slow life RPG available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam, Android, and iOS. Release timing for the DLC is undecided. The expansion adds the new ranks Kami Minarai and God. Crafting gains new modes, letting players make items with different appearances from a single recipe, and items made from God Recipes may carry God Skills. New weapons and armor are also included, plus the Otomobile, which flies around the avatar and provides support. A Shinzo Mount changes appearance and performance when players attach parts made through God Crafting. Furniture and other elements are also planned.
SNK announced METAL SLUG ULTIMATE COLLECTION during the Nintendo Direct 2026.9.9 livestream on September 9, 2026. The collection gathers 10 titles from the side-scrolling action series and is scheduled to launch in 2027. The lineup runs from the 1996 original through METAL SLUG 2, METAL SLUG X, METAL SLUG 3, METAL SLUG 4, and METAL SLUG 5, plus METAL SLUG ADVANCE, METAL SLUG 6, and METAL SLUG 7. The tenth entry is a location test version that sources describe as rarely shown to the public and never officially released. The package adds online two-player co-op with a friend invite feature, a rewind function that rolls back play by several seconds, quick save and load, and a gallery and museum feature covering series logos and visual material. Porting work is handled by M2. The release is planned for packaged and download versions, and Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 owners get it alongside PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Nintendo announced The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 at the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct on September 8, with a release date of November 5, 2026. The remake costs 8,980 yen for the package version and 7,980 yen for download. Producer Eiji Aonuma demonstrated the game live, showing a free camera, button-based jumping, faster combat, dash movement, and fully voiced event scenes.
Manga Up! Global added three manga to its service this week: Dragon and Flower: The Timid Princess and the Ice Sword's Loyalty, I Was Sacrificed to a Vampire, But He Spoils Me Instead!, and Wildcard Alchemist: Building the Ultimate Guild With a Divine Fluffy Beast and Random Alchemy Skill. The titles arrived on Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday, and all three already have compiled volumes shipping in Japan.
Nintendo revealed gameplay and new features for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake during a 40th Anniversary Direct on Tuesday, announcing a November 5 launch for the Nintendo Switch 2. The footage previewed revamped visuals in Kokiri Forest, combat in The Great Deku Tree, and exploration across Hyrule Field, Hyrule Castle Town, and Lon Lon Ranch. The remake adds traditional camera controls, motion controls, a jump button, a roll dash action, and a pop-up item menu with ZR button equipping. A Threads of Time menu recaps the story and highlights the next objective. Time now passes in town, and players can hum into the Switch 2 microphone to play music, with ocarina recognition for purchased instruments. Added dialogue expands the original script. The game pairs with the Zelda Notes app, featuring Today's Record progress recaps, Gossip Quests scavenger hunts, and a quiz with over 2,000 questions. Rupees transfer between app and game. New Young Link and Young Zelda amiibo, planned for 2027, unlock in-game masks. A 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 console, Pro Controller, and carrying case ship October 29.
Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch 2 "The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition" during its September 8 Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct, with a release date of October 29. The special edition console has a green and gold color scheme with Triforce designs. A Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller and a Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case release alongside it in the same design. The roughly 30-minute stream also covered the Nintendo Switch 2 action-adventure game "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time," which is scheduled for release in 2026, and non-game anniversary projects. Those include two amiibo, Child Link and Child Zelda, set for 2027; a Nintendo Museum admission pass with a special anniversary design distributed for about one year from September 9; a series history board inside the museum; a Super Famicom Restaurant with a Link figure opening this autumn; a new photo spot from November 5; and a Nintendo Today! app update with Zelda Collection Cards, more than 300 types received one per day from September 9. Nintendo also scheduled a main Nintendo Direct for September 9.
HORI will release the Electric Ocarina of Time in November for 7,980 yen. It is an electronic instrument modeled on the ocarina Link plays in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The Nintendo Switch 2 console picks up the instrument's sound and links it to some in-game effects in the Switch 2 version of the game. It is not played by blowing and cannot be used as a game controller. It has free play and auto play modes, a volume dial, and an earphone jack.
C4 Connect's idle RPG Houchishoujo began a collaboration with the anime That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime on September 8. Rimuru, Milim, and Shion appear in original bunny girl designs with newly recorded voice lines. MR Shion is the headline reward, earned free through the collab event running September 8 to September 28, with item exchange open until October 1. An X campaign and a gift code are also live.
C4 Connect will run a That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime collaboration in Houshou Shoujo from noon on September 8 to 23:59 on September 28. Rimuru, Milim, and Shion appear in bunny outfits and open a bar in the game's world. A new PV is out, and a TV commercial began airing on September 4. More character details arrive on September 8.
Bandai Namco Entertainment America revealed a trailer during Sony's State of Play livestream on Thursday for the Digimon Story Time Stranger DLC expansion "A Hero's Eternal Legacy." The expansion is set three years after the base game, features a new hero, and adds over 50 Digimon. It launches in 2027.
Bandai Namco Entertainment unveiled a new trailer for the large DLC "Legacy of Heroes" for "Digimon Story: Time Stranger" during the official "State of Play 2026.9.3" broadcast on September 3, 2026. The DLC is scheduled for release in 2027 on PlayStation 5, as announced during the program that introduces new PlayStation-related information. The expansion depicts a world set three years after the events of the main game. The trailer shows a boy adventuring across a vast world, exploring a new map while riding Digimon, and fighting alongside new partners. A completely new narrative unfolds with a new protagonist. The DLC adds approximately 50 new Digimon, with further details scheduled to be revealed at a later date. The beginning of the trailer includes content from the main game, prompting the official Digimon Game account to caution players who have not yet finished the main story. The base game is available on PC, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, and is an RPG where the player becomes an agent of a secret organization adventuring across the human world and the digital world of Ilias.
Maison de FLEUR will release nine items inspired by Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas on September 11, 2026, at stores nationwide and the STRIPE CLUB web store. The EC site opens the night before at 8:00 PM. The lineup spans bags, a tippet, pouches, scarves, and accessories themed around Jack, Sally, Zero, and Oogie Boogie.
Inforenz will run an INFOLENS GEEK SHOP merchandise booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026, selling new Fallout, Cyberpunk, and Poppy Playtime items. Newly handled lines include Pragmata, Ender Lilies, and Ender Magnolia. The booth is at 11-W01 in Hall 11, with a purchase bonus fan.
Netflix has released 10 scene photos from its upcoming series "Downtime," which stars Mayu Matsuoka and Riisa Naka in lead roles and depicts the light and shadow of the cosmetic surgery industry. The series is set to stream worldwide on September 17. The released photos show Matsuoka as plastic surgeon Fumi Numata and Naka as charismatic cosmetic surgeon Rin Toyama performing surgery, alongside appearances by Shotaro Mamiya, Minami Tanaka, Reiji Nakagawa, Kōki, Hana Amano, Yumi Adachi, Naoko Ken, and Shunsuke Kazama. The special makeup for patients is handled by a team led by Amazing JIRO, known for work on the Netflix series "I'll Fall into Hell." Custom-made prosthetics applied to each actor reproduce the process from immediately after surgery through the recovery period to the final result. The production is supervised by Takasu Clinic, with detailed fact-checking and guidance conducted for all cosmetic surgery depictions. Director Yuki Saito, known for "Unmet: A Neurosurgeon's Diary," teams with screenwriter Junya Ikegami, who worked on "The Blood of Wolves" and "The Queen of Villains." Producers include Harue Miyake of "Tokyo Swindlers" and Katsuhito Motegi, who directed "The Queen of Villains." The series also published a keyword list explaining industry terms such as "Chokubi" and "Shadow Doctor."
NC announced the Steam playtest schedule for TimeTakers, its free-to-play 3v3v3v3 team survival shooter where time is a resource. The playtest runs from September 5 to September 8, 2026, and anyone who requests access on the Steam store page can join. Pre-download begins September 3. Past closed beta participants can join automatically. Servers cover North America, Europe, and Asia.
DRECOM CREATORS STUDIO, the indie publishing arm run by Drecom, announced its first three titles: TIMEMOON, Beautiful Life Show, and Chill Planet. All three will be exhibited at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held September 17-21 at Makuhari Messe. The studio also renewed its official website and plans to announce a fourth publishing title in October 2026.
Tim Cook's final day as Apple CEO was August 31, 2026. He posted on X that his title changes the next day but his love for the Apple community never will, thanking the community for being a constant source of inspiration. Cook steps down September 1 and becomes chairman of the board. John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, succeeds him as CEO.
TiMi Studio Group will add Japanese voice acting for all 17 Delta Force operators on September 8, the same day the 2nd anniversary season Reorientation begins. The cast includes Lynn, Yuma Uchida, Ryohei Kimura, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Akari Kito, Yuichiro Umehara, and Sumire Uesaka. The season adds support operator Rover, who fights alongside dog partner Clover, a new Warfare map, and a fishing activity. A login campaign on September 26 grants an anniversary voice.
Fathom Entertainment and Hasbro revealed the cast, staff, and additional screening regions for the 12-minute Optimus Prime: Awakening animated short, which plays with select anniversary screenings of the 4K re-release of The Transformers: The Movie. Peter Cullen stars as Optimus Prime in his final performance, days after his death on August 26. Frank Welker voices Megatron and Soundwave. Josh Wassung directs from a script by Ryan Parrott, with music by Bobby Krlic and animation by The Third Floor. The short opens September 17 in ten new regions.
Atlus began early distribution of the new battle song "Prime Time Golden Hour Show" from "Persona 4 Revival" on August 31. The track is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, with a lyric video on the Atlus Game Music YouTube channel. Shiori Sasaki performs vocals, with composition by ATLUS Sound Team and lyrics by ATLUS. A second battle song, "Reach Out To The Truth -Revival-", is scheduled for distribution soon.
Muhansho Records announced a talk event 'CROSSOVER' on September 7 in the VRChat world 'AdHoc,' run by RIOT MUSIC, to commemorate Matsunaga Iori's final EP 'Timeless Beats.' Guest Jin, who produced the track 'NAMED,' joins for a two-person talk. The EP releases September 9.
Inforenz will release the Poppy Playtime Iron Studios Statue 'Art Scale' 1/10 Scale Huggy Wuggy. The polystone statue captures Huggy Wuggy's distinctive fur and eerie expression with bared sharp teeth. A dedicated display base inspired by the game's world is included. It is priced at 70,000 yen (tax included) and scheduled for release in late September 2027.
Sega and Colorful Palette have begun the Mix&Make Party Time!! in-game event for Project Sekai Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku, running from August 29 to September 4. The event introduces three new ★2 members and is paired with the Unspoken Code Gacha, which adds three ★4 members with live costumes until September 6.
Good Smile Company's MODEROID DX-SCALE line is adding Evangelion Unit-01 from 'Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition.' The kit stands about 260mm tall, includes interchangeable hands for each weapon, and comes with the Lance of Cassius, Pallet Rifle, and Progressive Knife. It reproduces the Evangelion's unique movements and mouth-opening gimmick. Reservations are open at Rakuten Books.
Double Fine Productions announced on August 27 that the itch.io version of Brütal Legend is free for a limited time of 666 minutes, a tribute to Tim Curry, who died on August 25. Curry voiced Emperor Doviculus, the game's antagonist. The free window runs until around 7:00 p.m. Japan time the same day.
Timi Ocean announced the PC incremental game Disco Ball Simulator 2000 and opened its Steam store page. Players spin a disco ball to raise Hype, earn money to repay a $1 million debt, and upgrade equipment like the ball, lights, and fog machine. Release timing is undecided and Japanese is not supported.
Tim, operator of itch.io's official YouTube channel, announced the platform's first showcase, 'itch.io Showcase,' to be held in Q4 2026. Submissions are free for any game currently on itch.io, from small indies to large works. Entries close September 15, 2026, 0:59 JST, with successful applicants contacted by mid-October.
Actor Tim Curry died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles at age 80, TMZ reported. Curry was known for roles including Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Pennywise in It. He also voiced the Cat King in the English dub of Studio Ghibli's The Cat Returns.
The Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind anime film drew an 8.3% household rating when it aired on NTV on August 14. Among regular anime series, Sazae-san led with 7.6%, followed by Chibi Maruko-chan and Detective Conan. Ratings are Kanto-region estimates from Video Research.
Capcom unveiled a new trailer for Monster Hunter Outlanders during this year's gamescom Opening Night Live event, introducing a new Elder Dragon monster named Ruger Aidal. The game is an open-world survival title for iOS and Android devices, scheduled for release in 2026. Pre-registration has begun on the App Store and Google Play. Chinese developer TiMi Studio Group, a subsidiary of Tencent, is developing the game under license from Capcom. The trailer shows Ruger Aidal appearing with a mysterious aurora phenomenon, spreading its large wings, and transforming into a sun-like mass of flames that burns everything around it. The game features multiplayer support and a system to switch between characters. Franchise composer Tadayoshi Makino is handling the music. TiMi Studio Group announced in November 2022 that it was working on a new mobile Monster Hunter game. The studio is known for developing Call of Duty Mobile and Pokémon Unite. In the ongoing third closed beta test, events such as "Nergigante Invasion" and "Hunting Dash" are scheduled to run from August 28.
GKIDS announced on Saturday that it has acquired North American rights to two films: the Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust anime and the live-action adaptation of Makoto Shinkai's 5 Centimeters per Second. The distributor will screen the Japanese-language version of Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust with English subtitles in select theaters this fall, ahead of theatrical and home entertainment releases planned for 2027. The 2000 film, directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri at Madhouse, is based on Hideyuki Kikuchi's novel series and follows D, a half-vampire hunter hired to rescue a woman abducted by the vampire Baron Meier Link. Cartoon Brew notes the film was developed with an international audience in mind, with its English soundtrack recorded in Los Angeles before Japanese dialogue was completed. GKIDS will also screen the live-action 5 Centimeters per Second in North American theaters. That film opened in Japan in October 2025, ranking second in its opening weekend with 278,000 tickets sold and 420 million yen earned in three days. SixTONES member Hokuto Matsumura stars, Yoshiyuki Okuyama directs, and Kenshi Yonezu performs the theme song.
Mob Entertainment announced 'Escape from Playtime' during the Future Games Show at gamescom 2026 broadcast on August 27, 2026. The game is a survival horror title with up to 4-player co-op, set in the world of 'Poppy Playtime.' It supports single-player and online co-op. Players control the Smiling Critters, first introduced in 'Poppy Playtime' Chapter 3, as they crouch, jump, and climb to escape from failed experiments created by Playtime Co. They explore locations such as classrooms, warehouses, and laboratories, following a mysterious voice to collect parts and resources and bring them back to a safe place. The facility changes with each playthrough via auto-generated layouts, and the game supports proximity voice chat. The initial early access release will include 8 characters, one area, and multiple enemies, with plans to add new areas and features based on feedback. The supported platform is PC (Steam), with Japanese language support planned. A trailer and Steam store page were released alongside the announcement.
The TV anime The Vampire Dies in No Time 2 is holding a collaboration with internet cafe DiCE from September 4 to October 4, 2026, at three locations. Newly drawn art shows Draluc, Ronald, and John lounging in gaming chairs. The event offers three drinks, including one named after a John-related gag, plus eight merchandise items and random coasters.
The smartphone game KOF '98 UMOL is celebrating its 10th anniversary. A new anniversary-limited fighter, Ash, appearing in a form described as gone mad in a spiral of blood, has made his debut. The game is also running several concurrent events, including the 10th Anniversary Time Machine, Lucky 7, Lucky Festival, and Competition Grand Ceremony, which run through late August and early September.
A24's PRIMETIME, starring Robert Pattinson as journalist Chris Hansen, will release in Japan in 2027. The film depicts the behind-the-scenes of the reality TV show To Catch a Predator, which used sting operations to expose adults targeting minors online. It premieres in North America on September 25, 2026, and is in competition at the Venice Film Festival.
AtHeart released the second single '3!4!' from the TIME TRAVEL PROJECT on August 19. The song is a remake of Roo'Ra's 1996 hit, with original author Lee Hyun-do participating in the arrangement. The track reinterprets the original's new jack swing base with electric piano and guitar arpeggios. A music video featuring the group in Y2K style also debuted.
GOG released a Preservation Program update for Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, adding ultra-wide support, FOV adjustment, an FPS limiter, and a real-time overlay. The update follows the remake's cancellation and aims to make the classic run on modern hardware. The game is available for $9.99 with a 70% discount until August 23.
Warren Spector, the producer behind "Ultima Underworld," "System Shock," and "Deus Ex," announced his retirement from game development in a LinkedIn post. Spector entered the tabletop RPG industry in 1983 and joined Origin Systems in 1989, where he worked on "Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss" (1992) and "System Shock" (1994). He later moved to Looking Glass Studios for "Thief: The Dark Project" (1998) and then to Ion Storm, where he released "Deus Ex" in 2000. His career also includes "Epic Mickey" (2010) at Disney Interactive Studios and work on the unreleased "System Shock 3" at OtherSide Entertainment, where he served as co-founder and Chief Creative Officer. Spector said his career spans 44 years, with 17 games and 9 expansion packs, and his final work is "Thick as Thieves." He cited age, health issues, and a changing game business as reasons, saying he no longer finds it enjoyable. He plans to focus on writing, reading, lecturing, consulting, and practicing piano, while remaining involved in the industry through consulting.
Anime! Anime! reader poll for 2026 summer anime ending themes ran July 16-23, with sequels and second cours drawing the most votes. The ED for "Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! 2" took first place, followed by "Yomi no Tsugai" second cour and "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4" second cour.
Inforenz will release a 1/10 scale statue of Huggy Wuggy from the horror game Poppy Playtime. The polystone figure reproduces his fur and eerie expression with bared teeth, and includes a display base inspired by the game. It is priced at 70,000 yen and scheduled for late September 2027.
Developer Eye Blink Twice announced console versions of the psychological horror game Time To Wake Up, with Serafini Productions handling publishing. A new trailer shows the game's blink mechanic, where the world shifts with each blink. The game is set for PC via Steam in Q3 2026, with PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions in development.
The Secret World of Arrietty led the Japanese animation TV rankings for August 3-9 with a 7.4% household rating, followed by Sazae-san at 6.2% and Detective Conan at 4.9%. The list includes ten programs, with ratings ranging from 7.4% down to 1.5%.
COSPA has opened reservations for a new line of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime apparel and goods featuring Rimuru Tempest and his slime form. The lineup includes a T-shirt, a thermos stainless steel mug, smartphone cases, pass cases, a towel, a metal carabiner, and two sticker designs. Most items are available for preorder until September 6, 2026, with some sold early at a pop-up shop.
Retailers list the 13th volume of Honobonoru500's Flung into a New World? Time to Lift the 200-Year Curse! light novels as the final volume. The novel ships on October 15. J-Novel Club publishes the series in English. The web novel began on Shōsetsuka ni Narō in May 2018, and TO Books published the first novel in January 2020.
The live-action series Love is Better the Second Time Around revealed three new cast members for its second season, all playing Takashi's ex-boyfriends. The season will premiere on September 1 on MBS, TBS, CBC, RKB, and HBC. The opening theme song "Scenario" by artist Mel was also previewed in a new trailer.
Polden Publishing and Pitstop Panic announced Timber Truck: Chaos Coop, a physics-based co-op adventure for PC via Steam. Players take on the role of the world's worst lumberjack team, drowning in debt, and must work together to cut trees, load logs onto trucks, cross rivers and crumbling bridges, and deliver them to the sawmill to earn money. Geese that aim to do away with the players appear along the way, resulting in utter chaos.
DMM TV released its 2026 spring anime completion ranking, measuring which series viewers watched to the end without skipping episodes. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime took first place, also leading the play count ranking. Re:Zero placed second, with several new titles outperforming their play counts.
4Gamer.net spotlights Crushed In Time, a point-and-click adventure where players solve puzzles by grabbing objects, stretching them like rubber bands, and releasing them. The game is set in its own development studio, with Sherlock Holmes and Watson investigating a character's disappearance across prototype, alpha, and beta stages. A free demo is available.
GAME Watch rounds up notable Nintendo Switch 2 titles slated for the second half of 2026, prioritizing console exclusives while also picking multiplatform releases. The list includes ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Fire Emblem: Banshi Senkou, Minecraft Dungeons II, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, and Final Fantasy Resonance, with release dates from August through October.