AI Suntori Nomu, an AI version of Suntory's VTuber Suntori Nomu, has been developed by Pictoria and co-streamed with the original on May 26, 2026, as a complementary tool rather than a replacement.
Pictoria developed an AI version of Suntory's official VTuber Suntori Nomu, called AI Suntori Nomu, alongside a collaborative streaming application that lets the human and AI versions converse in the same streaming space. A collaborative stream between the original and AI versions was held on May 26, 2026. The company stated the AI is not meant to replace Suntori Nomu but to expand possibilities for communication and expression.
The project represents a corporate VTuber being paired with an AI version of itself in a live co-streaming format, treating the AI as a co-star rather than a standalone comment responder. This development follows a broader trend of AI VTubers in the industry, as seen with KLab's Yumekairo Production debuting its first-generation AI VTubers Koguma Komame and Hanazaki Mimoza on June 27 and 28, 2026, with their YouTube channels opening on May 27.
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Five Cross Co., Ltd. has added "LAST GAME Kuroko" as a limited-time player in the 3D basketball game "Kuroko's Basketball Street Rivals." The character, known as the phantom sixth man from the Teiko Middle School era, is available through a limited player gacha from May 27 to June 17, 2026. An exclusive "Butler Style" skin and related events are also live.
At BitSummit PUNCH, room6 announced that the defense action game Thunder of the DemonKing, developed by GoatGoatStudio, has joined its publishing lineup. The game, which has been gaining attention through event demos and a Steam demo, was playable at the booth with two stages of the latest build. Players control a revived Demon King using lightning magic to fend off invading soldiers.
Developer Hidehiro Nakamura, who works as both a game developer and a miniature artist, exhibited Miniature LAND -Four Seasons- at BitSummit PUNCH. The point-and-click escape game uses live-action miniatures and stop-motion effects. It is the fourth installment in the series and the first to release on Steam.
The stage adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu's manga 'Dandadan' was announced on May 26, 2026, with former AKB48 member Sayuri Murayama cast as protagonist Momo Ayase. Fans and readers praised the visual resemblance between Murayama and the character, calling the casting a natural fit. The play runs in Tokyo and Osaka in August and September 2026.
The Jump Channel on YouTube announced it will sequentially stream all episodes of the 2011-2014 Hunter x Hunter TV anime for free, starting May 29. The release covers the Hunter Exam arc through the Election arc, including the first anime adaptation of the Chimera Ant and Election arcs. Each batch will be available for about two weeks.
Yuto Katsuyama, a next-generation battery researcher selected as an MIT Technology Review Innovator Under 35 in 2022, has chosen to move from academia to industry. He aims to develop lithium-ion batteries that combine world-class performance with mass production viability.
Eyewear brand Zoff will launch a Dragon Quest 40th anniversary collaboration collection on June 5, with pre-orders beginning May 27. The lineup includes nine models across three categories: Monster, Hero, and Item. The Monster collection features designs based on Slimes, Metal Slimes, Slime Knights, Golems, and Baby Panthers. The Hero collection includes frames inspired by Loto's equipment and Sky equipment. The web-exclusive Item collection incorporates the Mirror of Ra and the Magic Key. Prices range from 11,100 yen to 16,600 yen, including the set lens fee. All glasses and sunglasses come with a case printed with the Glasses Slime and anniversary logo, plus an eyeglass cleaner. Separate accessories include eyeglass cleaners, cases, mascot cleaners, and glass holders, priced from 900 yen to 2,500 yen. The collection will be available at Zoff stores nationwide and the official online store.
The second collaboration between Hello Kitty and British lifestyle brand Cath Kidston launched on June 5, 2026, and sold out immediately. The 14-item collection includes bags, T-shirts, pouches, and stationery featuring three exclusive artworks that blend Hello Kitty with Cath Kidston's signature prints.
Ueni Trading, under its character collaboration brand GARRACK, will release four new Huawei smartwatch models themed after the Four Emperors from the One Piece anime on May 29. The lineup features Buggy, Shanks, Teach, and Luffy models, each priced at 12,980 yen. This is the second collaboration wave following an earlier set of Egghead arc models for Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji. Each watch incorporates character-specific band designs, custom watch faces, and interactive features tied to health and notification data. The Buggy model uses a Bara Bara no Mi-inspired band and changes Buggy's pose as step count increases. The Shanks model includes shortcuts to weather and breathing exercises, with pose changes triggered by heart rate. The Teach model adapts its watch face to stress levels and offers sleep measurement shortcuts. The Luffy model, with a Gear 5 purple base, changes Luffy's pose according to heart rate and provides quick access to workout mode. The base hardware is the HUAWEI Band 11, which supports 100 workout modes, blood oxygen measurement, and sleep tracking, with a battery life of up to 14 days on a full charge.
Season 2 of the Netflix series A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, starring Emma Myers, was released exclusively on May 27. The season follows Pip Fitz-Amobi as she investigates a new disappearance while a trial approaches. The cast includes Zain Iqbal, Asha Banks, and others.
At BitSummit PUNCH in Kyoto, peropero CEO Haoqi showed the domestic debut of Muse Dash 2. The sequel adds arcade play, a Rhythm Heaven-style mini-game collection, and planned multiplayer. In an interview with 4Gamer, Haoqi said the game packs in ideas he could not realize during the original's limited budget and team size. New note gimmicks, a revised scoring system, and chart branching are confirmed, though the core tap-and-hold controls remain unchanged.
Upland Inc. has opened pre-orders for a Blu-ray box set compiling the first solo live performances of all five .LIVE 1st generation VTubers: Chieri Kakyoin, Suzu Kagura, Carlo Pino, Mememe Mokota, and Iori Yamato. The set costs 45,000 yen and includes audio commentary, a booklet, an acrylic panel, and a collection card. Newly illustrated 8th anniversary goods are also available. Orders are open at the APPLAND OFFICIAL SHOP starting May 27, 2026.
KLab's VTuber agency Yumekairo Production will debut its first-generation VTubers Koguma Komame and Hanazaki Mimoza with first streams on June 27 and 28, 2026. Their official YouTube channels opened on May 27 alongside teaser videos. The agency features AI VTubers and has previously debuted member Tsukimado Romi.
Pictoria has developed AI Suntori Nomu, an AI version of Suntory's official VTuber Suntori Nomu, along with a collaborative streaming application that allows human and AI to converse in the same streaming space. A collaborative stream between the original and AI versions was held on May 26. The company says the AI is not meant to replace Suntori Nomu but to expand possibilities for communication and expression.
SPRIX Co., Ltd. announced the debut of three second-generation VTubers-Hinagi Himawari, Shinra Eiru, and Arisugawa Aone-for its VTuber project SPRIX Academy. The project operates on YouTube and focuses on learning and entertainment content for junior high and high school students. A quiz special with seven guests was streamed on May 17, 2026 to celebrate the debut.
Virtual idol group Palette Project will hold its annual offline event, Palepro Thanksgiving Festival 2026, on August 2 at Kanda Square in Tokyo. The event includes fan meetings, a live stage, and merchandise sales. Advance lottery for premium tickets opens May 26. This is the first Thanksgiving Festival under the group's new system.
Riot Music's VSinger label Mugensho Record will debut three new artists on June 1, 2026: Denshinbashira-chan, Miyajima Leciel, and Kasaya Kuguru. Each will hold a first stream on their respective YouTube channels starting at 7:00 p.m. JST. The label describes its artists as rough diamonds with infinite possibilities.
Wombo Games released the Ghoulag Update for the early-access roguelite Raiders of Blackveil on May 19. The update adds a cursed-prison biome called Ghoulag with 10 new monsters, two bosses, and a searchlight gimmick. It also introduces Champion Perks that can fundamentally change a character's abilities, such as turning a healer into a poison attacker.
Digitalis Publishing and 15 Industry announced a July 9, 2026 Steam release for Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle, a gamebook-style RPG. The game features over 300 hand-drawn illustrations by former Vanillaware artist Yoshio Nishimura, music by Hitoshi Sakimoto, and over 300,000 characters of text. A new gameplay trailer debuted at BitSummit Mixtape.
Aurora Colored Bird Games released the conveyor belt sushi experience simulator 'Just Eat Sushi!' on Steam on May 27, 2026. The game supports up to four players via Steam Remote Play Together and offers five modes: Free Mode, which includes all-you-can-eat and a photo mode; Memory Sushi Mode, a memory survival game where eating a sushi you have already taken means instant defeat; Russian Mode, a game of chance where picking the super spicy wasabi sushi eliminates you; Mistaken Sushi Mode, a spot-the-difference game to identify strange sushi; and Sushi Battle Mode, a speed-eating competition for points. Additional features include a Plate Gacha system using plates from finished sushi, a face change function that lets players register their own images, unlockable costumes, and a sushi encyclopedia with trivia. The regular price is 400 yen (tax included), but a release sale discounts it to 300 yen (tax included) through June 10.
Mamoru Hosoda's 2006 film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time will screen in 4DX at 51 theaters for two weeks starting August 21, 2026, as part of a wider 4K revival. Two theaters will also show the film on 35mm using the original release prints.
4Gamer.net's Weekly VTuber File profiles Shirane Yuki, a Re:AcT VTuber who began activities on March 8, 2025. She focuses on singing streams, often performing dark or mood-based songs, and also plays League of Legends, Minecraft, and mahjong with viewers. Her 3D debut is her recommended first-watch archive.
Bandai Spirits announced plastic model kits of Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi from the upcoming film Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgis no Kaiten. The kits are part of the 30 Minutes Preference line, priced at 4,950 yen each, and release in November. Madoka's kit includes a Kyubey figure.
G-MODE announced on May 27, 2026 that "G-MODE Archives+ Namco Chronicle" will release for PC and Nintendo Switch on May 28. The title costs 800 yen. It is a tactical RPG originally developed as a feature phone app, now revived through the G-MODE Archives+ series. The game brings together characters from classic Namco (now Bandai Namco Entertainment) titles, including Valkyrie from "The Adventure of Valkyrie," Gil from "The Tower of Druaga," Beraboh Man from "Beraboh Man," Mappy from "Mappy," Taira no Kiyomori from "Genpei Tōma Den," and Wagyan from "Wagyan Land." The story is split into three arcs: Fantasy Arc, City Arc, and Space Arc. Between simulation segments, adventure segments feature crossover stories that go beyond the boundaries of the original games. This is the second Bandai Namco Entertainment title in the G-MODE Archives+ series, following "Xenosaga Pied Piper." The Steam store page is open for wishlist registration, and the Switch store page will open after midnight on May 28.
Japan Kentucky Fried Chicken will run a second collaboration with HoYoverse's Genshin Impact from June 10 to June 30, 2026. The promotion centers on a limited-edition dinner box featuring characters Alhaitham and Kaveh in KFC-themed outfits. Two meal packs will be sold exclusively through KFC online orders: Pack A (1,410 yen) includes two pieces of original chicken, a biscuit, small fries, and an in-game item code; Pack B (1,080 yen) includes one piece of chicken, a biscuit, small fries, and a code. Pre-orders open around 2:00 AM on June 3 and run through June 9. Each pack provides three different in-game items, including the new Akasha Terminal "Floating Leaf" and the namecard "Feast and Revelry." A lottery campaign will award limited-design tapestries to 100 winners, and three winners will receive autographed shikishi boards by voice actors plus a collaboration goods set. In-game item codes are also being distributed via the KFC online order app starting May 27.
Bandai Namco Filmworks revealed the main cast for the television anime adaptation of Manabu Yashiro's manga Tank Chair on Wednesday via a character promotional video. The series will premiere in fall 2026. Kōki Uchiyama voices Nagi Taira, the strongest assassin who fell into a coma after protecting his sister from a bullet. Minori Fujidera plays Shizuka Taira, Nagi's younger sister and partner. Gakuto Kajiwara voices Naozumi Kurosaka, Nagi's former classmate who holds a strong rivalry with him. Saori Hayami plays Touko Kurosaka, Naozumi's sister and partner. The story follows Shizuka, who takes on dangerous assassin jobs. Nagi regains consciousness only when someone directs murderous intent toward him, and Shizuka believes extreme murderous intent will fully awaken him. The combat wheelchair Nagi rides, called the Tank Chair Mark-1, was also shown. Tadahiro Yoshihira and Hiroaki Ando are co-directing and writing the script at Polygon Pictures. Yūki Moriyama is designing the characters, Masaru Yokoyama is composing the music, and Kazuma Teshigahara handles production design. Kodansha USA Publishing has licensed the manga. Yashiro began the manga on Kodansha's Magazine Pocket service in November 2022 before moving it to Monthly Shonen Sirius in November 2024. The tenth compiled volume shipped on March 26.
Niantic and The Pokemon Company will launch the new Pokemon GO season 'A New Step' on June 2 at 10:00 JST. The season introduces a limited-time progress track called GO Pass, with a free and paid Deluxe tier. New Dynamax Pokemon including Electabuzz, Magikarp, and Feebas will appear in Max Battles. The GO Battle League returns with themed cups, and Field Research Breakthroughs offer encounters with Dragonite, Deino, Honedge, Jangmo-o, Indeedee, and Crabrawler.
Talking has added a new Chiikawa lineup to its Talking ODM print-on-demand service, featuring characters Anoko, Kabutomushi, Ode, Goblin, Muchauman, and Chimera in their first appearance on the platform. The collection includes apparel and miscellaneous goods, available starting May 27.
Solo developer LEMORION announced that the multiplayer hide-and-seek game Meccha Chameleon will launch on PC via Steam on June 10. Players paint their avatars' white bodies to blend into backgrounds, using drawing skill and creativity to avoid the oni team. The game supports up to 10 players and offers three modes.
The original Subnautica reached a new all-time high of 51,446 concurrent players on Steam around May 25, surpassing its previous record of 51,156 set at the 2018 full release. The surge follows the May 15 early access launch of Subnautica 2, which attracted over 460,000 players and generated an estimated $100 million in its first week. A 75% discount on the original game also contributed to the spike.
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced the PlayStation Plus free game lineup for June 2026 on May 27. The three titles are available to subscribers from June 2 through July 6. The lineup includes the cooperative survival adventure Grounded Fully Yoked Edition, the sci-fi shooter Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, and the crossover fighting game Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2. Grounded Fully Yoked Edition is an open-world action game where up to four players, shrunk to the size of ants, survive in a backyard. It includes a major update that added full Japanese voiceovers, a Queen Ant boss, and a New Game+ mode. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a four-player cooperative PvE shooter developed by Fatshark, set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. A paid DLC adding a Skitarii class is scheduled for June 23. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is a party fighting game featuring characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Avatar: The Last Airbender, with local and online versus modes and a roguelike single-player campaign. The lineup is for overseas subscribers; the Japanese lineup may differ.
Mojang Studios released Minecraft Java Edition 26.2 Pre-Release 1, which removes the peer-to-peer connection feature introduced in the previous snapshot. The feature let players join games from their friend list without a dedicated server, but Mojang said it was not an ideal experience for all players and is not ready for official release. The update also includes UI changes, model updates, and performance fixes.
MSY, through its brand GRAPHT, announced a new collaboration with Capcom's Street Fighter 6 on May 27. The lineup features original illustrations by artist Haato, whose compositions are inspired by the packaging art of past Street Fighter series titles but redrawn with the current game's characters. Items include T-shirts, a tote bag, a big supporter towel, a stainless steel thermos tumbler with a lid, a passport notebook, hologram acrylic keychains, trading can badges (20 types), a canvas art board, and an acrylic stand. Prices range from 770 yen for a single trading can badge to 5,500 yen for a T-shirt. The collection is available for early sale at the KEIO eSTATION Shinjuku pop-up store in Tokyo's Shinjuku Station from May 27 through June 16. Pre-orders also opened the same day on the GRAPHT official EC site. Separately, GRAPHT released the Shield Backpack V2, a backpack designed for arcade controllers, supervised by Donpisha, priced at 20,900 yen. A purchase incentive offers a clear file to GRAPHT members who spend 6,600 yen or more on Street Fighter 6 items at the pop-up store.
Bandai Spirits has announced an S.H.Figuarts action figure of the new hero Ultraman Theo, sculpted under supervision by Tsuburaya Productions' modeling department. The figure goes up for pre-order on July 1 and is scheduled for release in December. The new Ultraman Theo program begins broadcasting July 4.
On May 27, dozens of Japanese corporate X accounts posted humorous tributes for Dragon Quest Day, the series' 40th anniversary. The wave followed a May 25 call from the Dragon Quest PR account. Posts ranged from slime-themed merchandise to hero cosplay, using hashtags #DQ40th and #DragonQuestDay.
Square Enix has launched the Dragon Quest 40th Anniversary Sale on Steam, running from May 27 to June 3. The sale marks the first discount for Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, the remake released in February 2026, which is 25% off at 6,583 yen. The HD-2D Roto Trilogy Set, containing Dragon Quest I & II and Dragon Quest III, is 30% off at 8,932 yen. Other notable discounts include Dragon Quest Monsters 3 at 75% off for 1,245 yen, Dragon Quest Builders 2 at 50% off for 3,190 yen, and Dragon Quest Treasures at 60% off for 2,792 yen. The sale coincides with Dragon Quest Day on May 27, which includes a special stream at 22:00 JST where the series may share updates on upcoming titles. The sale is available on Steam only, while a separate Square Enix Tokutoku! Carnival 2026 sale runs on multiple platforms including PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop, and Epic Games Store through June 10.
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on May 26 that online services and sales for the PS5 car battle game Destruction AllStars will end. Multiplayer mode is already suspended due to unresolvable technical issues. Servers will shut down completely on November 26. Single-player arcade mode is expected to remain playable after the shutdown.
Bandai has opened orders for a re-release of the FW Gundam Converge Core Full Armor ZZ Gundam figure, priced at 3,960 yen and shipping in November 2026. The figure includes a newly sculpted Hyper Beam Saber with a clear pink blade and a new holding hand for dynamic poses.
Japanese apparel brand Graniph will launch a 20-piece collaboration collection with the anime 'HUNTER×HUNTER' on June 2, 2026. The lineup features T-shirts, hoodies, bottoms, underwear, socks, caps, and bags themed around the Greed Island arc, including designs based on characters Gon and Killua, Nen abilities, and in-game cards. Advance web reservations open May 27.
Hound13 announced a demo for its premium open-world action RPG DragonSword: Awakening, releasing during Steam Next Fest from June 16 to June 23. The demo includes Japanese language support, nine playable characters, and roughly two hours of content. The full game is set for a July 2026 release on Steam.
Virtual singer KAF released the music video for 'School Front,' a track from her fifth album 'Deep Love,' on May 27. The song was written and composed by Kanata Okajima. The video was directed by Shota Sakamoto with choreography by KOTARO IDE. The album is available starting the same day.
Weekly Shonen Jump revealed a special cover for its 26th issue featuring Luffy in the Samurai Blue uniform, carrying a soccer ball. Luffy's straw hat is colored blue to match. The collaboration promotes the FIFA World Cup 2026, which runs from June 11 to July 19 across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
TOHO Movies debuted a new trailer for Kingdom: Tamashii no Kessen, the fifth live-action film based on Yasuhisa Hara's Kingdom manga. The trailer announces Kenshi Yonezu's theme song "Yodaka." The film opens in Japan on July 17, with Kento Yamazaki reprising his role as Xin and Shinsuke Sato returning to direct.
Reebok and Dragon Quest have launched a collaboration for the series' 40th anniversary, releasing 11 colorways of the INSTAPUMP FURY 94 sneaker, each based on a mainline game from I to XI, plus vintage T-shirts. Pre-orders run from May 27 to June 26 on the Reebok online store.
At BitSummit PUNCH in Kyoto, the KOCCA booth featured 'There is NO PLAN B,' a cyberpunk mystery adventure game from Korean developer SUPERWAVE STUDIO. The game follows a shut-in detective named B who investigates a 'social murder case'-a naked man found standing on a Seoul street-using robots and virtual space from his room. Developer Yun Changsik said the team of six, all self-described otaku, drew heavy influence from Japanese classics like 'Ace Attorney' and 'Danganronpa.' The demo showcased comical character animations, a filter system for investigating crime scenes in virtual space, and choices that affect later progress. Yun noted the Steam wishlist has exceeded 20,000, with over half from Japanese users. The demo's average playtime is 50 minutes, with a 70% completion rate for the final section. The game has been in development for three years and is in final polishing, targeting a 2027 release on PC via Steam. A demo is currently available.
Sega will release a line of plush toys pairing Evangelion characters with Sanrio mascots as arcade prizes in Japan starting June 12, 2026. The five duos are Shinji Ikari with Cinnamoroll, Asuka Shikinami Langley with Pompompurin, Mari Makinami Illustrious with Hangyodon, Rei Ayanami with My Melody, and Kaworu Nagisa with Kuromi. Each Evangelion character wears their plugsuit and hair accessories matching their partner.
On May 27, 2026, the 40th anniversary of the original Dragon Quest's release on the Famicom, 4Gamer.net published a feature comparing six versions of Dragon Quest I: the Famicom original, its Super Famicom remake, the Game Boy port, a feature phone version, a smartphone app version, and the latest HD-2D remake. The article examines how each iteration reflects the technology and design philosophy of its era, from the Famicom's sparse but deliberate tutorial design to the HD-2D version's modern presentation.
Spanish studio Out of the Blue Games announced 'Call of the Elder Gods,' a first-person narrative puzzle adventure and sequel to 2020's 'Call of the Sea.' Players switch between two characters, student Evangeline and Professor Harry, solving observation-based puzzles across global ruins. The game features multiple endings and is based on H.P. Lovecraft's 'The Shadow Out of Time.'
RIOT MUSIC's Mugensho Record label opened the special site for its 2026 festival "RE;GAIN" on May 26. Tickets go on sale from 18:00 on May 27. The July 26 event at The Garden Hall will be the first and last festival with all nine current members before Matsunaga Iori's graduation.
Indie developer Low Drag Labs has scheduled a new playtest for its MMO adventure Minimo, starting May 27 on Steam. The test introduces a Cryomancer class and new upgrade elements. Up to 200 players can join 30-minute procedurally generated sessions. Applications are open via Discord and Steam, with selection prioritizing early applicants and active Discord members.