The third Niconico Old-Timers RUST event, a survival game gathering for streamers and video creators active on Niconico for over a decade, announced its full roster of 83 participants on July 31. New names include Shaka, Kizuna AI, and kson. The event runs August 7-9.
Sega implemented Ver.4.6 for Persona 5: The Phantom X on July 31, adding the summer event "Summer Shark Possession!? Terror!? Shadow Shark vs. The Phantom Thieves of the Sea Breeze" and the new ★5 character "Miyu Summer Wave." The event runs until August 13, 2026, at 10:59 and includes beach house management, sea fishing cruises, and boss battles. A new synergy character, Ichigo Kano, also appears with her own story.
On July 29, The Weeknd's official X account posted what appears to be a tattoo of Persona 5 character Tae Takemi, sparking reactions from fans and Crunchyroll. The authenticity is unconfirmed since the image was previously posted. The Weeknd has shown support for Persona 5 Royal, visited Atlus, and played early builds of Persona 4 Revival and Persona 6.
GeForce RTX 50 series GPU prices are rising in Japan, following increases in China. MSI's VENTUS GeForce RTX 5070 now sells for 121,010 yen, up nearly 20,000 yen, while the RTX 5080 is 242,222 yen, up nearly 30,000 yen. NVIDIA has not made an official announcement.
AMD released the RDNA 4 entry-level Radeon RX 9050 graphics card for sale in Japan on July 31, 2026. The card is positioned below the RX 9060, which is itself the lower model of the RX 9060 XT. All RX 9050 models currently on sale are 8GB VRAM versions, with the 4GB version being OEM-only. The expected street price is around 55,000 yen, but the cheapest RX 9060 XT 8GB model is available for 54,000 yen, creating a price inversion that the review notes makes the RX 9050's initial price hard to justify. The card has a board power of just 92W and uses a single 8-pin auxiliary power connector. It features 16 compute units, 1,024 stream processors, and 32MB of Infinity Cache. Because it is RDNA 4, the RX 9050 can use FSR 4 and features included in FSR "Redstone," including Ray Regeneration and AI-enhanced frame generation. The review tested the ASRock Radeon RX 9050 Challenger 8GB, available for 54,800 yen, against the GeForce RTX 5050 and the re-released GeForce RTX 3060 12GB.
At the first anniversary fan meeting for Persona 5: The Phantom X, the full results of a character popularity poll were announced, ranking all 63 characters from last to first. Motoyoshi Kitazato took first place, with the top 10 including several playable characters and notable story figures. The event also featured behind-the-scenes development stories and talks from the production team.
Sega released Ver.4.6 for Persona 5: The Phantom X, adding the summer event "Otsukare SUMMER Shark! Terror!? Shadow Shark VS Shiosai Phantom Thieves" and the new 5-star character "Miyu Summer Wave." The update also introduces synergy character "Ichigo Kano" and runs until August 13, 2026.
Sega released the first gameplay footage for the Farming Simulator 25 content expansion pack Beans & Alpacas. The pack adds the South American farm region Catuaí, coffee cultivation, alpaca and Brahman cattle raising, and over 25 new machines including vehicles from the new brand Colombo Industries. More details are planned for the FarmCon 26 event in Germany on August 1 and 2.
Gravity Game Arise announced the final 12 titles for Jaleco Arcade Collection Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 on August 6, 2026, completing the full 32-title lineup. The most notable addition is Chimera Beast, a side-scrolling shooter that never received a commercial release and appears here for the first time. In the game, the player evolves their body by eating enemies, with the evolution path changing based on which prey is consumed. Vol. 1 gains six titles: P-47 ACES, a 1995 shooter featuring real fighter planes; 64th Street, a 1991 belt-scrolling action game set in 1930s Chicago; Best Bout Boxing, a 1990 versus boxing game; Baltrilick, a 1986 sci-fi tank action game; Pinbo, a 1984 video pinball game; and Chameleon, a 1983 fixed-screen action game. Vol. 2 adds Big Run, a 1989 3D racing game; Psychic 5, a 1987 exploration action game; Second Earth Gratia, a 1996 sci-fi shooter; Chimera Beast; Exerizer, a 1987 sequel-like title to Exerion; and Kick Off, a 1988 arcade soccer game. Both volumes are planned for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam, with release dates and prices to be announced. A playable demo will be available at Tokyo Game Dungeon 13 on August 8, 2026, where attendees can receive a half-cut sticker.
505 Games released the first Q&A video for ION LANDS' life simulation adventure Nivalis Nights. The video introduces the game's relationship system and reveals a serial killer lurking in the city of Nivalis. Players can build relationships that become friendships, partnerships, rivalries, or romance. The game supports Japanese and launches September 30.
505 Games and Leenzee announced that the soulslike action RPG Mingmo: Wings of Despair has surpassed 5 million cumulative sales worldwide. The announcement came as the game marked its first anniversary since its official release on July 24, 2025. A 30 percent discount sale is currently running on Steam and other storefronts.
The first offline fan event for Persona 5: The Phantom X was held in Tokyo on July 18, celebrating the game's first anniversary. The event revealed the results of the character popularity vote, with Kitazato Kiyoshi taking first place. An ASMR production featuring Kitazato was also announced.
Developer DEADBODY Games released a demo for the roguelite horror game '500 FINGER FILLET' on August 5, available on PC via Steam. The game is based on the knife game, where a player stabs a knife between fingers on a table. In this title, the protagonist is captured and must stab their own restrained hand 500 times within a 20-minute time limit to escape. Exceeding the time limit or losing all blood results in a game over. The knife is mounted on a shaking mechanical arm, and mistimed button presses cause finger stabs, reducing blood. Each stab earns money, which can be spent at a shop after 25 stabs on rings that provide effects like increased earnings or added time. Clearing a round of 50 stabs grants upgrades with trade-offs, such as faster knife descent but more shaking, or items that pause the timer or restore blood. Before each round, players choose from three knives, including butter knives, butterfly knives, letter openers, and forks, each with unique traits and a chance to sever a finger. The demo includes 20 knife types, 20 rings, and 5 of the 10 difficulty levels, plus multiple endings. The full version is scheduled for release on Steam within 2026.
Good Smile Company has opened reservations for the MODEROID Evangelion Provisional Unit-05, a plastic model kit of the four-legged Evangelion piloted by Mari Makinami Illustrious in Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition. The kit is based on the unit's appearance at the start of Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, where its non-humanoid form, running on four wheeled legs with pantographs on its shoulders, left a strong impression on viewers. The model stands approximately 160mm tall and measures about 270mm in total length, making it one of the largest in the MODEROID series. It uses molded colors, pre-painted parts, stickers, and decals to achieve color separation close to the film's look with assembly alone. The kit includes decals for markings, and several parts are swappable: the head can be posed open-mouthed, the right arm can carry the simplified Longinus spear (pseudo-restored type) or go without it, the shoulder pantographs are removable, and the large and small drills under the waist are reproduced with replacement parts. The leg tip connectors come in movable and fixed variants. The prototype is by Kenji Miyashita. The price is 11,000 yen including tax, with shipping scheduled for April 2027. Reservations at the Good Smile Company official shop run from July 31 to September 9, and partner shops will also handle orders.
Sony Group reported its consolidated results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 on July 31, revealing that cumulative PS5 shipments reached 95.3 million units as of June 30, 2026. This figure adds the 1.6 million units shipped from April to June 2026 to the 93.7 million units shipped as of March 31, 2026. The quarterly shipment total represents a decrease of 900,000 units from the 2.5 million units shipped in the same period last year. Sony also disclosed that PS4 and PS5 software sold 66.1 million copies in the quarter, with the digital download ratio at 82%, roughly equivalent to 54.2 million copies. The download ratio was 83% in the same period last year, 85% in the previous quarter, and 78% for the full fiscal year 2025, maintaining a level around 80%. Regarding memory market conditions, Sony stated that it has secured the memory required for its planned sales volume for fiscal year 2026, with no change to its plan to keep hardware profit or loss in line with the previous fiscal year. The announcement follows concerns over rising memory and storage prices, which had led Sony to plan sales based on memory procurement at reasonable prices.
Edia released "Aretha Collection 1993-1995" on July 30, 2026, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. The collection bundles three Super Famicom RPGs from the 1990s: "Aretha: The Super Famicom" (1993), "Aretha II: Ariel's Mysterious Journey" (1994), and "Rejoice: Beyond the Aretha Kingdom" (1995). The games were originally published by Yanoman, and Edia licensed the IP from the company. The regular edition and download version cost 8,580 yen, while the special edition costs 16,280 yen, both including tax. The PS4 version is available only as a download. The collection adds a viewing mode that lets players browse setting materials and videos from the 1990s. The special edition includes a large acrylic stand, a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle, an illustration booklet, and an original soundtrack CD with unreleased demo tracks. The Aretha series ran six titles from 1990 to 1995 and was noted for its female protagonist, a rarity at the time.
Level Infinite announced on August 2, 2026 that Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, the gun-girl RPG co-developed with SHIFT UP, will hold a collaboration with the Persona series starting August 13, 2026. The collaboration spans three titles: Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 The Golden, and Persona 5 The Royal. It is part of a project marking the 30th anniversary of the Persona series in 2026. A preview key visual was released alongside the announcement, showing members of the Counterattack Squad holding motifs tied to each game, such as a clock, a television, and a calling card, as they attempt to deliver gifts. The collaboration was first teased in an official program broadcast on June 27, 2026, where logos for P3, P4, and P5 appeared. Specific details about which NIKKE characters will appear and the event content have not been revealed. Further information will be shared sequentially on the official Goddess of Victory: NIKKE X account and website. The Persona series, created by Atlus, began with Revelations: Persona in 1996 and is set in modern Japanese cities, focusing on students who awaken to Persona powers while facing occult incidents.
Sega and GPTRACK50 announced on July 30 that the action RPG Stupid Never Dies will launch on October 22 for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam. The standard edition costs 7,689 yen, and the digital deluxe Gorgeous Baka Edition costs 8,789 yen. The game follows Davy, a cowardly zombie who falls in love with a frozen woman named Julia and ventures into a monster-filled dungeon to revive her. Players use abilities like Style Eat, which lets Davy devour enemy cores and steal their powers, granting 11 transformation styles including werewolf, harpy, and golem. Another ability, Body Hack, allows players to modify Davy's body with gear to improve stats and skills. The developer GPTRACK50 is a studio founded by former Capcom producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi, known for the Resident Evil and Devil May Cry series. Stupid Never Dies is the studio's debut title. The opening theme song Stupid Never Dies by DAVY & JULIA and the ending theme Restless, Reckless, Never Die, Fearless by DAVY will begin streaming on August 4.
Kotobukiya began accepting pre-orders on July 23 for three scale figures from Persona 5 Royal as part of its Oshi Works series. The figures depict Joker, Crow, and Violet, each priced at 11,000 yen including tax. Each figure includes a removable acrylic panel reproducing the Revolver Command UI from the game. The Joker figure stands approximately 215mm tall including the base, Violet stands approximately 250mm, and Crow stands approximately 205mm. Pre-order deadlines vary by character: Joker closes on August 25, Violet on September 15, and Crow on October 20. The figures are scheduled for release between February and April 2027. Kotobukiya is handling production and sales, with prototypes by sculptor Thousand. The Oshi Works series aims to offer scale figures at a reasonable price point with a wide lineup, making them accessible to more collectors.
Developer 5th Cell announced Broke Wizards, a cooperative action game for up to six players on PC. Players take on odd jobs to pay rent to a demon landlord, with activities ranging from monster-slaying to exploring the backrooms. It launches in August 2026 on Steam and Epic Games Store.
The adventure game 'Verita Tales: The Witch of the Dark Castle' launched on Steam on July 9. As of July 17, it holds a Very Positive rating with 87% of 148 reviews positive. The gamebook-style title features art by Yoshio Nishimura, a former Vanillaware designer, who spent six years on the hand-drawn illustrations. Players choose between two characters and navigate a branching story with a wizard game master.
The official P5X Twitter account announced the results of the first character popularity poll on July 18. Kitazato Motoyoshi, voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto, took first place. As a reward, production of an ASMR titled "Being dissected by Kitazato Motoyoshi!?" has been decided. The top 10 also included the protagonist, Sakai Ayaka, Merope, Kamiyama Reo, Tanemura Riko, Nagao Aika, Kotone Montagne, Arai Sowa, and Dogenzaka Runa. Additional rewards include digital wallpapers for 1st to 15th place and a short movie for the top three phantom thief idols.
Bethesda Game Studios released a statement detailing its upcoming projects, including remastered versions of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. The studio also confirmed a new Fallout project with Obsidian Entertainment, a prequel expansion for Fallout 76 titled 'Raven Rock', and that Fallout 5 is in pre-production. The Elder Scrolls VI remains the main development focus, using the new Creation Engine 3.
Bethesda Game Studios published a detailed status update on its official X account on July 17, 2026, covering the development pipeline for its major franchises. The studio confirmed that Fallout 5 has entered pre-production and is being built using Creation Engine 3, the same engine powering Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI. In addition, remastered versions of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are in development. Bethesda also announced a new, unannounced Fallout project being co-developed with Obsidian Entertainment, the original creator of Fallout: New Vegas. The Elder Scrolls VI remains the studio's top priority, with development proceeding as planned. For Fallout 76, a major expansion called Raven Rock, set as a prequel to Fallout 3, is scheduled for 2027. The Fallout TV series is in production for a third season, and Fallout Shelter is receiving a new season of content. Bethesda stated that this year's Fallout Day broadcast will not be streamed, but a live event in Washington, D.C. is planned for 2027 to mark the series' 30th anniversary.
Sega released the Ver.4.5 update for Persona 5: The Phantom X, adding a summer event where the Phantom Thieves run a beach house. The update also introduces a new ★5 character, Minami (Beach Flower), a Blessing attribute support unit. The event runs until July 30, with a pickup contract for the new character available until August 13.
Alice Hirose and Yuto Sano, who co-star in Toy Story 5, posted a two-shot on X recreating the poses of their characters Lily Pad and Smarty Pants. Hirose widened her eyes and raised her mouth corners; Sano stuck out his chin and looked upward. Hirose called the post their 'all-out effort.' Fans responded with comments praising the fidelity and humor of the recreation.
Edye will release Aretha COLLECTION 1993-1995 for PS5, PS4, and Switch on July 30, 2026. The set includes three Super Famicom titles from Yanoman's Aretha series, with speed options, save-anywhere, and bonus materials. A crowdfunding campaign for Game Boy reissues and a new game also launched July 15.
Hiroyasu Kobayashi, CGI director of the Rebuild of Evangelion films, is directing the Tiny Metal: Zero Line anime at studio SAFEHOUSE. The pilot episode premiered at Japan Expo 2026. The anime is based on AREA35's tactical game series. Character designer Yūsuke Kozaki and composer Gō Shiina are attached. The game sequel Tiny Metal 2 is scheduled for spring 2027 on PC.
Links International announced the TITAN ARMY KG257H PLUS, a 24.5-inch IPS LCD gaming monitor with 1920x1080 resolution and a maximum 300Hz refresh rate via DisplayPort. It features a 1ms response time, DyDs TECH 2.0 black frame insertion, and Adaptive-Sync support. The monitor will launch on July 18 at an estimated price of 26,800 yen including tax.
ASCII.jp's weekly Steam sale roundup highlights the Devil May Cry 5 - Playable Vergil Pack at 85% off for 448 yen, along with discounts on Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega 39's+, GOD EATER 3, Stray, and Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord. The sales run through July 24, 2026.
Good Smile Company's top scale figure line Signature Class has a new entry: a 1/7 scale Hatsune Miku based on the main visual of the Hatsune Miku Symphony 2025 Sapporo Performance. The figure, illustrated by Rella, features aurora coating on the hair and a combination of pearl paint and clear parts. Reservations are open at Rakuten Books for 32,799 yen.
Atlus is running a Persona 3 20th anniversary sale on the PS Store and Nintendo eShop, offering Persona 3 Reload at its highest discount ever: 60% off on PlayStation and 40% off on Switch. The sale also includes deep cuts on Persona 5 Royal, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and other Atlus titles. The PS Store sale runs until July 29, while the eShop sale extends to August 10 for some titles.
M!LK member Yuto Sano appeared at a stage greeting for Toy Story 5 and smiled at the 'mellow' reaction to his character Smartie Pants, a high-tech toilet training toy. Sano performed a line from the film and recalled friends asking how to play with the unfamiliar toy. Social media users described the character as charming, and Sano expressed surprise at the positive response.
Bandai Spirits released five new Plano-saurus model kits from the Gachikoseibutsu-bu line on July 11, 2026. The lineup includes Tyrannosaurus 1915 and Spinosaurus 1915, which recreate outdated scientific reconstructions, plus a Pachyrhinosaurus with optional horn parts. Two Tyrannosaurus variants feature tropical rainforest and snowy region color schemes, the latter using a new Mineral Injection technology to simulate snow. All kits are snap-fit, no-tool, and include a display base.
505 Games and KUNOS Simulazioni released Ver.0.8 for Assetto Corsa EVO, adding the KTM X-Bow GT2, GT4, and Volkswagen Golf 8 R, plus the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. The update expands user-generated content with livery tools, mod cars in multiplayer, and league event organization. VR receives foveated rendering and performance tuning as the early access build continues toward 1.0.
Japanese idol group Rainbow Conquistador launched a 3D VR talk show series "Kimi to Nijicon [245mm]" using Canon's EOS VR SYSTEM. The 15-episode live stream on DeoVR and YouTube is a demonstration experiment exploring whether XR goggles can become a way for fans to watch their oshi. The setup uses an EOS R5 C camera and a real-time conversion app to stream VR180 footage without PC editing.
The "TOY STORY - PLAYFUL JOURNEY COLLECTION" event will run from July 21 to August 31, 2026, at LUMINE EST Shinjuku in Tokyo. It features limited items from 37 shops, a special cafe themed around the latest film "Toy Story 5," and exclusive novelty giveaways. The event coincides with the film's theatrical release on July 3, which marks 30 years since the first "Toy Story" debuted in Japan.
Takara Tomy announced two new sets for the Transformers MPG toy line: MPG-24 Eject & Amhorn, releasing in late February 2027, and MPG-25 Blaster & Steeljaw, releasing in late March 2027. Both sets include fully transformable figures and accessories based on the classic anime series.
Amazon Kindle has launched a large-scale sale offering up to 50% points back on select Kadokawa manga titles, running from July 7 through July 13 for the Kadokawa campaign and until July 23 for the Summer Super Point Fair. The promotion coincides with Amazon Prime Day and covers dozens of series, including Delicious in Dungeon, Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon, Nichijou, Persona 3, Persona 4, Persona 5: Mementos Mission, and Gunslinger Girl. For Delicious in Dungeon, all 14 volumes (excluding volume 10) are eligible; buying the full set costs 10,742 yen and yields 5,012 yen in points. The Delicious in Dungeon World Guide: Adventurer's Bible Complete Edition and Ryoko Kui's sketchbook Daydream Hour are also included. The Persona manga adaptations are similarly discounted: all 11 volumes of Persona 3 cost 6,897 yen with 3,454 points back, all 13 volumes of Persona 4 cost 8,173 yen with 4,092 points back, and all 3 volumes of Persona 5: Mementos Mission cost 2,057 yen with 1,029 points back. Other notable titles in the sale include Fate/stay night, Fate/Zero, Today's Menu for the Emiya Family, A Bride's Story, Neon Genesis Evangelion, The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Erased, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, and The Eminence in Shadow.
Amazon has kicked off the advance sale for Prime Day 2026, and one of the featured deals is a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition bundle. The set, which includes the PS5 Digital Edition model (CFI-2200B01) and two PlayStation Store Ticket codes worth 5,000 yen and 3,000 yen, is priced at 58,710 yen. That is 7 percent below the set's reference price of 63,000 yen, saving buyers more than 4,000 yen. The advance sale began at 0:00 on July 7, 2026, and runs through July 9. The main Prime Day event then follows from July 10 to July 13. The PS5 Digital Edition retains the console's core features: an ultra-high-speed SSD, 3D audio, backward compatibility with PlayStation 4 titles, and the DualSense controller's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. The PlayStation Store Tickets are prepaid codes that add credit to a user's account for digital purchases. The deal is available while stocks last, and Amazon notes that sale prices may end early due to limited quantities.
A Game Spark feature examines how the 2016 indie horror game Back in 1995 deliberately reproduced the low-resolution, glitchy graphics of early 3D hardware like the PlayStation and Sega Saturn, creating a new retro 3D genre. The game, the debut of developer Takaaki Ichijo, is recognized as a pioneer of the PS1-ish style and is now celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Dengeki Hobby Web reports the Amazon.co.jp toy best seller ranking as of July 6, 2026. Takara Tomy's Toy Story Real-Size Talking Figure Buzz Lightyear took first place, with four Toy Story 5-related toys appearing in the top 10 following the film's theatrical release. Other popular items include Tamagotchi Paradise - Orange Tropics and the Pokémon Card Game MEGA Expansion Pack Storm Emerald BOX.
RetroCrush announced the addition of the Hyakusho Kizoku anime (as Hyakusho Kizoku - The Farmer's Days) and the 500000000 Years Button anime to its streaming library, along with several other titles including Urusei Yatsura (1981), Tamala 2010, Angel Cop, Lone Wolf and Cub, and Bubblegum Crisis, rolling out through July and August.
Automaton's 89th weekly game article roundup highlights seven notable titles, including the cyberpunk life sim Nivalis Nights (September 30), the visual novel Sister, Others, Paranoia from the Needy Girl Overdose team (August 15), and the adult anomaly-hunting game Train No. 45, which has seen a sudden sales surge.
The Persona 5 Special Big Band Concert, held June 30 at Pacifico Yokohama National Hall, reprised its 2025 performance with a larger venue, evolved arrangements, and songs from Persona 5: The Phantom X. Conductor Charlie Rosen, whose "Last Surprise" cover earned a Grammy nomination in 2024, led the big band. The setlist included "Ambitions and Visions" from P5X and tracks from the game's "Third Semester." Lyn returned as vocalist.
One More Level CEO Szymon Bryła told Insider Gaming that ideas exist for Ghostrunner 3 or a spin-off, but development requires approval from 505 Games, which owns the IP. The studio is currently focused on Valor Mortis, a first-person action game set for release on September 24, 2026.
Sano Yuto, who voices Smarty Pants in the Japanese dub of Toy Story 5, made a surprise appearance at Tokyo Disneyland on July 3. He rode in an omnibus with fellow cast members Karasawa Toshiaki and Tokoro George, greeting fans during a special evening parade celebrating the film's release.
All 127 episodes of the first Inazuma Eleven TV anime will be broadcast for free on ABEMA's Family Anime 2 Channel starting July 4, released sequentially over 10 days. The film Inazuma Eleven: The Movie 2025 will also air for free on July 13. Each day's episodes are available for catch-up viewing for seven days after broadcast.
Square Enix has released the digital version of Final Fantasy X-2.5 ~Eien no Daishou~, a novel by Kazushige Nojima that continues the story after Final Fantasy X-2. The book follows Yuna and Tidus on a new adventure in Spira and is available at e-book stores for 1,540 yen.
Toy Story 5 opened in Japan on July 3, 2026, following a record-breaking US debut that earned approximately $160 million in its opening weekend. The film's worldwide box office has surpassed $585 million, exceeding the final totals of Toy Story and Toy Story 2. The Japanese dub cast includes Alice Hirose as the new character Lily Pad, with comments from the actress and details on theater bonuses.