Second Ichiban Kuji for Illustrator and VTuber Shigure Ui Announced
The quick follow-up to the August 2025 lottery shows sustained demand for Shigure Ui merchandise, with the figure prize directly tied to her own artwork.
Inside
Chinese AI Company MiniMax Releases Open Model M3
MiniMax M3 is the first open model to combine frontier coding performance, a 1 million token context window, and native multimodality, directly challenging the capabilities of leading closed-source models.
GIGAZINE
Meta's MCI Employee Data Tool Draws Internal Backlash and EU Privacy Concerns
The internal backlash and privacy questions highlight the tension between Meta's AI training ambitions and its workforce's trust, with potential regulatory exposure under GDPR.
GIGAZINE
Rabi Pare!! Member Kanon Aozora Writes Lyrics for First Original Song 'Dear Blue'
The release marks the first time a Rabi Pare!! member has written her own lyrics, giving the unit a more personal creative direction ahead of a live debut that is already drawing strong ticket demand.
PANORA
Ensemble Novel Game Trinity Singularity Announced, Inspired by 428
Trinity Singularity adapts the ensemble format of 428 to a sci-fi AI theme, shifting the focus from chains of action to chains of ideas.
4Gamer.net
Sodaman Shooting Game Launches on Steam
Sodaman expands the indie shooter space with a soda-themed skill system and deep customization, now available with a launch discount.
Denfaminicogamer
Final Fantasy Vii Remake Third Installment Update Expected at Summer Game Fest
The third installment of the Final Fantasy VII Remake project is the most anticipated unannounced title in Square Enix's pipeline, and a reveal at Summer Game Fest would mark the first concrete update since Rebirth's 2024 release.
Game Spark
Wuthering Waves 2nd Anniversary Event Draws Crowds at Makuhari Messe
The move to a larger venue and the range of interactive exhibits and stage programming show Kuro Games is investing more in physical community events as Wuthering Waves enters its third year.
Inside
PeakyHikers Ikaho Onsen Walking Event Launches With 20 Facility Cards
The event turns a VTuber fan activity into a physical tourism driver, requiring actual visits to 20 facilities across a hot spring town to collect the full card set.
PANORA
Ai Pet Fuzozo Hits #1 on Makuake on Day One, Tops 35 Million Yen in Three Days
The rapid crowdfunding success signals strong consumer interest in tangible, personality-driven AI companions that blend conversation and physical interaction, moving beyond screen-only virtual pets.
ASCII.jp
Unreleased Google Pixel Watch 5 Found at Bottom of Ocean, Borderlands Developer Reports
The Pixel Watch 5 leak continues a pattern of unreleased Google hardware surfacing in unusual real-world settings, with this instance adding a scuba-diving discovery to the series' history of lost-item leaks.
GIGAZINE
Kenjiro Tsuda Joins 2026 Anpanman Film as Nyakkuru
Tsuda's first role in the decades-old franchise brings a high-profile voice actor to a key new character in the latest summer film entry.
Anime News Network
Streets of Rage Live-Action Film Lands Director Jeymes Samuel and Sonic Writers
The attachment of the team behind the Sonic the Hedgehog films and The Harder They Fall gives the long-gestating Streets of Rage adaptation a clear creative direction after a change in leadership.
Anime News Network
Taskbar Hero Update Deletes Items, Restricts Trading to Address Cheaters
The update shows the developer prioritizing market integrity over player convenience, deleting items and restricting trade to stop exploit-driven inflation that broke core gameplay.
Game Spark
Black Butler: Book of Circus Now Streaming on Netflix, Disney+, and More
The wide availability on major platforms, including Netflix and Disney+, makes the 2014 season more accessible to new viewers and completes the streaming picture for the Black Butler franchise.
Anime Anime
Nintendo Music Browser Version Launches on PC and Tablet
By adding a browser version and car support, Nintendo Music becomes usable without a smartphone or game console, lowering the barrier for subscribers who want to listen on a PC or while driving.
4Gamer.net, GAME Watch (Impress), KAI-YOU, and 3 more
Yoko Yamanaka and SYO Discuss the Austerity of 'DIE MY LOVE'
Yamanaka frames the film as an intentionally alienating 'sensory film' about postpartum mental distress, and her comments suggest a shift away from the ambiguous relationship drama of 'Desert of Namibia' toward a more direct, even 'pure,' love story in her next work.
Eiga Natalie
Hackers Tricked Meta AI Support Chatbot to Steal Celebrity Instagram Accounts
The exploit, described as a simple prompt injection attack, reveals a critical flaw in Meta's AI support system that allowed unauthorized account takeovers without verification, raising questions about the safety of deploying AI agents with high-level permissions.
GIGAZINE
Russo Brothers Tease 'Avengers: Doomsday' Surprise at SXSW London
The post strongly suggests the first public trailer for 'Avengers: Doomsday' may drop at SXSW London, after being held exclusively for CinemaCon in April.
Cinema Today
Magical Sisters Lulutto Lilly and Mr. Osomatsu Reveal Collaboration Illustration
The crossover connects two Bandai Namco Filmworks properties at different stages of release, with the new magical girl series mid-run and the returning comedy franchise about to launch its fourth season.
Anime News Network
Titanium Court Wins IGF Grand Prize, Launches to Overwhelmingly Positive Steam Reviews
Titanium Court is a rare indie title that won the IGF's top two awards before release and then earned a near-perfect Steam rating, establishing it as a standout in the roguelite genre despite its lack of Japanese localization.
4Gamer.net
Weekly Pro Gamer File Features Pokemon UNITE Pro Serata
The profile offers a rare direct look at the mindset and daily routine of a top-tier Pokémon UNITE competitor from a major Japanese esports organization.
4Gamer.net
Amicis Opens Orders for Third Aoi Sakura Collaboration Gaming Keyboard
The third collaboration device extends Aoi Sakura's branded merchandise line beyond her VTuber activities and her own production company re;BON.
Brave group
Galaxy Express Milky Subway and WEGO Collaboration Goods Revealed
The collaboration brings the retro-styled Milky Subway aesthetic into wearable merchandise, expanding the series' presence beyond print and into fashion retail.
Inside