TENGA released two collaboration items with the anime New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT on August 20 in Japan and the United States. The items are a TENGA CUP based on the standard Vacuum Cup and a TENGA TISSUE CASE, both featuring artwork inspired by the anime. They were previously sold at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles on July 2 and now get a general release.
Sega updated PSO2 New Genesis ver.2 on August 19, 2026, adding the limited-time quest "Beach Wars '26" set in a summer-themed West Aelio. Up to 12 players can participate, with trials that may change over upon clear and spawn the enemy Luino Anga. The update also adds a new special ability, refreshed seasonal exchange items, and two revival AC Scratch lines running until September 2.
Kotobukiya is re-releasing its 1/35 scale plastic model of the Tachikoma from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. The kit includes unpainted figures of Motoko Kusanagi in a riding position, Batou, and Miki, the girl the Tachikoma met. It is scheduled for release in April 2027.
Software engineer Sahaj Jain announced Highways & Co., a PC (Steam) simulation game focused solely on road traffic networks. Players build roads, observe usage, and correct congestion without constructing buildings. The game offers 10 road types, adjustable lanes, 7 height levels, and railways. Playtesting is expected to begin within August.
TELASA will exclusively live-stream the final performance of TREASURE's 'TREASURE THE STAGE 2026 NEW WAV: LIVE IN JAPAN' on September 6 from Ariake Arena. The concert series ran 17 performances across 7 cities, starting July 8 at Osaka Castle Hall. The stream begins at 3:00 PM, with archive distribution planned later.
ANIMAX MUSIX 2026 announced its third batch of artists for the two-day Yokohama Arena event on November 20 and 21. Day 1 adds Taisei Miyagawa and Mori Calliope. Day 2 adds Utahime Dream All Stars and Yoshino Nanjo. Ticket sales for early bird and lottery advance begin August 19.
Hypergryph's COREBLAZER brand held its fourth offline Game Fest in Shanghai, drawing over 1,000 attendees and nearly 100 playable demos. The event showcased 10 investment projects, including Mechanimal Oasis and The Holdouts. Teams described funding that covers at least one development cycle, free office space, and market advice that never overrides creative control.
HIKKY announced the 17th Virtual Market 2026 Winter, held on VRChat from December 5 to December 20, 2026. Applications are open for exhibiting companies and general creators. Corporate venues are themed Spain and Yokohama, and 20 general creator worlds are planned, including the return of Vket Invited Worlds with Murder4.
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026, the international music award in its second edition, has started worldwide streaming on YouTube of its Grand Ceremony and Premiere Ceremony, held June 13, 2026. The ceremonies, hosted at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO, featured performances by Fujii Kaze, Mrs. GREEN APPLE, M!LK, and others.
ABEMA live-streamed free catch-up broadcasts of select performances from the outdoor festival LuckyFes'26, held August 8-10 at Hitachi Seaside Park. The stream covered the RAINBOW, WING, and GARDEN stages across three days, featuring acts including AKB48, ATARASHII GAKKO!, ILLIT, NiziU, and FLOW. The fourth day was canceled due to Typhoon No. 15.
Universal Studios Japan's official X account posted a photo from 'One Piece Premier Show 2026' on August 18, 2026, showing Boa Hancock, who leads the Kuja Pirates. The character appears in the main show for the first time in 12 years, and fans have flooded social media with comments praising her beauty, such as 'too beautiful' and 'oh beautiful.'
Taku Takeuchi's teamtaku CUP TAKE AIR 2026 will be held October 12 at Iiyama Schanze in Nagano Prefecture. The event features seven ski jumping categories, a talk show with Noriaki Kasai, Sara Takanashi, and others, plus music and activities. Advance tickets go on sale August 18 at 6 PM.
Walt Disney Japan announced that the movie Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu will stream exclusively on Disney+ starting September 2. The film opened in Japan and the U.S. on May 22, topped weekend charts domestically and worldwide, and finished its theatrical run with over 3.6 billion yen and 2.1 million attendees.
G-MODE released the puzzle action game Nero & Sci Integral Edition on the Nintendo eShop on August 18, 2026, priced at 2,200 yen, with a 10 percent discount to 1,980 yen until October 4. Souris-Lab distributed the PC version on Steam the same day. The game was developed with supervision from the Lyon Institute of Mathematical Education.
Epic Games Japan announced on August 18 that it will hold Unreal Fest Tokyo 2026 on November 3 and 4 at the TFT Building West Wing (TFT Hall) in Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo. The event is the Japanese edition of Epic Games' official developer conference, where creators and developers from game development, video, film, automotive, architecture, manufacturing, and simulation gather to learn about Unreal Engine and Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) technologies and use cases, and to network. Participation in the main event is free, with a first-come, first-served capacity limit. The November 4 schedule includes the official networking party "Unreal Fest Closing Party," which requires a separate ticket priced at 7,700 yen including tax. Registration for participation opened the same day, August 18. Speaker and session details are scheduled to be announced sequentially from around September. The event will also feature an exhibition area, an indie game corner, and "Unreal Hub," a community space where attendees can interact directly with speakers. As in the previous year, applications are being accepted for satellite venues that will broadcast the event live for those who cannot attend in person.
Developer Quantum Vial Games announced Pill & Chill, a physics-based pill sorting game for PC via Steam, scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of this year. Players sort hundreds to 1,000 tablets and capsules by color using a spatula, with no time limits or scores. The game features ASMR-conscious sound design and an open beta and demo before launch.
Sega announced a special collaboration between the short anime Sonic & Friends and illustrator Kanahei's Kanahei's Small Animals to celebrate the series' third anniversary in August 2026. The collaboration illustration and new concept art were unveiled, and a pop up store will run at Shibuya MODI from October 2 to October 12.
Dentsu Group, with GeekOut and Studio Koi Koi Inc., announced on August 3 that it will handle planning and production for the Roblox adventure RPG Egg Hunt 2026: The Grand Eggspress. The game inherits the spirit of the community event Egg Hunt, sending players aboard a train through six worlds to find over 100 eggs.
The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) opened the Tokyo Game Show 30th anniversary special site on August 17, one month before TGS2026 runs from September 17 to 21 at Makuhari Messe. The site will post a timeline of the show's 30-year history, past posters, and details of anniversary initiatives. CESA, which also turns 30 this year, will open its own anniversary site on August 26, featuring an interactive online quiz about Japan's game industry history. The anniversary projects include a premium ticket with a pure gold medal, a talk stage with producers of milestone titles, a panel exhibition tracing the industry since 1996, and a support message board. The show also announced new sponsors, including Razer for the Creator Lounge and LINE Yahoo as communication partner, plus the appointment of eight new TGS BOOSTERZ ambassadors. The first episode of the official information program "TGS NEWS STUDIO" aired August 17 at 19:00 on YouTube, Twitch, and X.
TicketMe has begun selling tickets for Tokyo Comic Con 2026, set for December 11-13 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. The platform offers a 3DAY PASS and advance one-day tickets for each day, with sales opening July 27. The event covers movies, comics, games, and cosplay.
BANPRESTO is releasing monitor-top prize figures of Scanty and Kneesocks from New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. The two demon sisters arrive as crane game prizes on August 27, 2026. Each figure stands about 12 cm tall and recreates the characters' demonic expressions.
To mark the 2026 Awa Odori, collaboration merchandise featuring Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Witch on the Holy Night will be sold from August 11 to 15 at ufotable Cafe Tokushima, Machi★Asobi CAFE Bizan, ufotable Cafe TOGO, and other locations. A stamp rally with ufotable's past Awa Odori illustrations runs concurrently, with a postcard reward for collecting all stamps.
ABEMA will hold a Nijisanji collaboration week on its voice actor program "Seiyuu to Yoru Asobi 2026" from August 17 to 21, 2026. Two Nijisanji livers will appear as guests each night for five consecutive nights, totaling ten livers. The program is in its ninth year and airs nightly on the Anime LIVE Channel.
jig.jp released the official report for Palette Project's fourth Thanksgiving Festival, held August 2, 2026, at Kanda Square. The event was the first under the new system since operations transferred to jig.jp. Eight members appeared, including trainee Natsunami Maharo, who was promoted to full member. The festival featured fan meetings and a 3D live. A sixth one-man live was also announced.
RTA in Japan announced on August 15 that its offline speedrunning event, RTA in Japan Winter 2026, will run from December 25 to 31 at Bellesalle Iidabashi First in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward. The event will be primarily offline with some online components. Game applications open August 22, with selected titles announced October 18.
Mass Creation announced that the roguelite action game Swords & Slippers has surpassed 200,000 Steam wishlist registrations. The store page went public on August 6 and passed 100,000 wishlists in under 100 hours. Five days later, the count reached 200,000. The milestone post featured the heroines in a hot spring.
Mass Creation reported that its stylish roguelite action game Swords & Slippers reached 100,000 Steam wishlists on August 10, four days after its store page opened. The developer also noted that its official X account surpassed 100,000 followers three days later. The game features fairy tale heroines fighting evil stepmothers.
Busan Indie Connect Festival 2026 opened August 14 at BEXCO Hall 2, running three days with a business day and two festival days. The event drew a record 856 submissions from 57 countries, up about 44 percent from last year's 592. Around 180 works from 41 countries were selected. The conference featured keynote talks by Nexon Games' Kim Yong-ha and yosp CEO Shuhei Yoshida. Grand Prix finalists include Japan's Finding Polka.
Developer Kiichi published the Steam store page for Chrona & Sirona on August 12. The turn-based RPG follows Chrona, a magic school student, and Sirona, her lookalike, as they investigate a tea party incident. Chrona's TP resource rises with tension, boosting stats, or falls negative, lowering them. A demo is planned.
Game Spark and GameBusiness.jp published a Japanese play report for Egg Hunt 2026: The Grand Eggspress, a paid 3D platform adventure on Roblox released on July 29, 2026. The game is billed as a spiritual sequel to Egg Hunt 2018: The Great Yolktales. Players explore six chapter-based worlds, from a thorn-covered mushroom realm to a blizzard-swept glacier, collecting over 100 unique eggs created by top UGC creators. The story follows the player and a whistle-shaped companion named Pip, who guards the broken Century Egg, as they restore a derailed train called the Grand Eggspress. The review praises the cartoon-style NPCs, dense world design, and a transformation ability that unlocks new areas, evoking classic 3D action games. It notes the rolling dash is the fastest movement option, which may require adjustment for precise platforming. The Japanese localization, using Roblox's translation service, is generally competent with humorous egg-themed dialogue, though some character tones and untranslated spots remain. The reviewer concludes the game is a solid, well-crafted adventure that challenges preconceptions about Roblox, best enjoyed in multiplayer.
Developer BusFactorOne announced Knode: Untangle & Connect, a physics-based puzzle game for PC (Steam) releasing September 12. Players untangle giant cables and plug them into matching racks across more than 12 stage types floating in the sea. Stages grow more complex as they clear, with multiple plug shapes and tangled cables. A shop terminal offers tools like flashlights, and an AI companion speaks over 140 lines of dialogue.
The KYOMAF MUSIC LIVE 2026 committee announced that vocal group Kalafina will headline a special one-man stage on September 19 at ROHM Theatre Kyoto, running alongside the anime festival Kyomafu. The event spans two days, with T.N.T performing on September 20. Tickets for the Kalafina stage go on general sale September 5.
Tamiya announced the 1/10 RC Clod Buster (2026), an electric RC car assembly kit scheduled for release on September 19, 2026. The monster truck features a twin-motor full-time 4WD drivetrain, 165 mm diameter tires, a resin body with plated grille and supercharger parts, and opposite-phase 4-wheel steering. It is priced at 46,200 yen and requires a radio, receiver, servo, batteries, and charger separately.
The Idolmaster series' first cross-franchise xR live event, IDOL WORLD SUPER FESTIVAL 2026, held its final day on July 26 at Keio Arena TOKYO and ASOBI STAGE. The day three performance, themed ALL call and response, featured 15 idols across agencies performing songs designed for audience participation.
StoryHub Inc. announced the first wave of speakers for its conference StoryHub Ensemble 2026, set for November 5 at Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall in Tokyo. The theme is storytelling in the AI era. Lottery applications for participation opened August 5, with an October 15 deadline.
VketReal 2026 Summer, held July 25-26 at Bellesalle Akihabara, introduced a numbered ticket system and revamped avatar check registration, easing last year's crowding complaints. New features included a real-time message board linking VRChat and the venue, plus first-time exhibitors like NuNuPC and Ichikara.
Universal Studios Japan opened One Piece Premier Summer 2026 on July 30. The limited event runs through November 19. It features the Straw Hat Banquet Restaurant with new festival-themed dishes, including Luffy's beef and sausage burger set and Law's chicken and curry rice burger set. A glowing drink cup and a straw hat are among the new merchandise.
AMERICAN HOLIC is releasing a retro-cute Mickey & Friends apparel collection on August 7, 2026, at stores nationwide and online. The 8-item lineup includes tote bags, cable knit polos, vintage-style T-shirts, a denim shirt, a drawstring bag, and character face charms. An early sale runs August 5-16 at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store.
KLab's AI VTuber agency Yumekairo Production will hold its first company-hosted event, Yumekairo Summer Party 2026, from August 1 to August 31. The month includes weekly streams, event goods, and new music content. Full details arrive August 1 at 8 p.m. on the official YouTube channel.
The Game Awards 2026 will take place at 4:30 p.m. local time on December 10, broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The official X account announced the date on August 11, with more details and tickets planned for the fall. Last year's event saw Expedition 33 win nine awards including Game of the Year.
Gamescom 2026 will run from August 26 to 30 in Cologne, Germany, with the opening night event scheduled for August 25 at 3:00 AM Japan time (August 26 local). The German Games Industry Association (game) and Koelnmesse report that this year's exhibition space sold out entirely through reservations for the first time, despite last year's expansion, making it the largest gamescom to date. Exhibitors include Japanese companies Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Sega, and Konami, alongside EA, Ubisoft, Xbox, CD PROJEKT RED, Deep Silver, Focus Entertainment, KRAFTON, NC, HoYoverse, NetEase, and Tencent Games. Several titles will offer their first public playable demos, including Capcom's Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, Konami's Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, and Sega's Stranger Than Heaven. The event will also feature a dedicated Games Done Quick speedrun stage, with live programs running about ten hours daily from Friday to Sunday. Opening Night Live, hosted by Geoff Keighley and Eefje "sjokz" Depoortere, will include new trailers, gameplay reveals, and information on Metro 2039 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt expansion "Melody of Memories."
CESA announced Pocky-san as the official ambassador for indie games at Tokyo Game Show 2026, marking the fifth consecutive year. The eight finalists for Sense of Wonder Night 2026 were also revealed, with the Platinum Award going to Ridlox's Finding Polka. Pocky-san will serve as a judge and present the Pocky Award during the event.
Bang & Olufsen Japan launched its Summer Travel Campaign 2026, with seven artists and creators curating playlists on the theme of music for summer trips. The playlists are available on Spotify from August 10 through September 30, 2026, accompanying the campaign's special gift offer for eligible purchases by August 31.
Manga creator Ryuta Amazume announced on August 6 that they have been diagnosed with cancer. Amazume will undergo treatment and aim for a complete recovery, but will pause commercial manga serialization for a while. The announcement follows the recent conclusion of their Sefure series.
GeekOut will run an Egg Hunt 2026: The Grand Eggspress booth at the STAGE:0 eSPORTS High-School Championship 2026 public viewing venue in Osaka on August 15 and 16. The booth offers free hands-on play and appearances by YouTuber Ririchiyo, who will play the Roblox game with visitors.
GeekOut, with the Dentsu Group and Studio Koi Koi, released the 3D adventure RPG Egg Hunt 2026: The Grand Eggspress on Roblox on July 30, 2026. The game revives the community event series that ran from 2008 to 2020, reuniting the main developers of the 2018 version, which recorded over 37 million plays. Players explore six worlds to collect over 100 limited Eggs, with chapters 0-2 free and chapters 3-6 paid.
Connect Hearts announced on July 31 that the drama CD Ys Ancient Ys Vanished, based on Nihon Falcom's Ys I and II, will release on November 25. The cast includes Yuki Kaji as Adol, Soichiro Hoshi as Dark Fact, and Akio Otsuka as Darm. Preorders are open now.
Wonder Festival 2026 Summer, held July 26 at Makuhari Messe, featured a wide range of figures from Hololive talents, independent VTubers like Amami Luka, and original characters by popular illustrators. The event included garage kits, pre-sales, and original sculpts across many genres.
ABUTTON announced Guns & Dragons, a PC roguelite FPS for solo or up to 3-player co-op. Players fight through dungeons in a magical engineering fantasy world, collecting runes and relics to build loadouts. Between runs, they expand a base and develop equipment using materials earned in combat. The game is slated for Steam and Epic Games Store, with playtest sign-ups open.
Sanuki VTuber Fest 2026 will be held November 1 at Rexam Hall in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. The regional collaboration event features exhibition booths, stage events, and live streaming, with free admission. Crowdfunding runs until July 31, and exhibitor applications close August 31.