Ascend, a Tokyo-based consulting firm focused on DX and AI support, has joined ACP-LLP, a limited liability partnership that connects specialized firms with major consulting companies. The move aims to expand collaboration opportunities with Accenture and other large firms under compliant contract schemes.
Sazae-san topped the Japanese animation TV rankings for July 27-August 2 with a 6.0% household rating, followed by Detective Conan at 5.6% and Chibi Maruko-chan at 4.8%. Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 and The Classroom of a Black Cat and a Witch also made the list, with ratings of 3.2% and 2.2% respectively.
At Otakon 2026, the Ascendance of a Bookworm panel opened with producer Goshi Yoshida running the room and high-fiving fans. The staff showed a promotional video with cuts from future episodes, including Rozemyne fighting the lord of winter, a giant white tiger. Director Yoshiaki Iwasaki said the cast has settled in so well he gives no extra input, and creator Miya Kazuki is present during recording. The panel also teased more explicit romantic developments.
Capcom announced an early-game demo for Monster Hunter Wilds, set to release on August 5, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. The demo supports save data transfer, allowing players who start the full game without existing save data to carry over their demo progress. The announcement accompanied details for the Ver.1.042 update, arriving August 4 at 11:30. That update makes the limited-time event quest "Pupropolu Isn't Crying" permanent and allows all 26 currently available event quests and challenge quests to be played offline, a change from their previous online-only availability. The update also adjusts the quest counter so available quests appear at the top of the list. Several other bug fixes are included. The demo and update arrive ahead of the 2027 release of the ultra-large expansion "Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance," which is the context for the announcement. Capcom has not yet detailed the demo's content or length, promising further information later. Monster Hunter Wilds is currently on sale for the same three platforms.
KRAFTON announced that Ascend to ZERO, a new action roguelike from its Flyway Games studio, has exceeded 100,000 cumulative global players on Steam and Xbox within four days of its July 13 release. The game has received 'Very Positive' user reviews on Steam and an 82 Metacritic score. A 20% launch sale on Steam runs through July 28.
In episode 14 of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3, Rosemyne confronts the hard limits of her influence. The Hasse uprising forces her to accept that compromise is necessary, even as she advocates for leniency. Sylvester restricts her educational materials to Ehrenfest, and Ferdinand enforces the church's authority through the Gate of Judgment. The episode reinforces the series' theme of gradual change within a rigid system.
GAME Watch's latest roundup lists seven Nintendo eShop titles and three Steam deals whose discounts end this week. Highlights include Trails in the Sky the 1st at 50% off, Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- at 50% off, The House of the Dead: Remake at 90% off, and ARK: Survival Ascended at 75% off. All prices are in yen.
KRAFTON and its creative studio Flyway Games released Ascend to ZERO on July 13 for Xbox Series X|S. The roguelite action game gives players 30 seconds per run and the ability to stop time at will. While time is frozen, enemies and the countdown pause, but the player cannot attack or open items. A cooldown prevents consecutive time stops. The game features permanent upgrades, rescued allies, and unlockable avatars. A play report highlights the tension between stillness and motion.
Capcom has announced a price revision and product lineup restructuring for Monster Hunter Wilds, effective August 4 at 9:00. The game's standard edition will drop to 4,990 yen (tax included). Three existing bundles-the Deluxe Edition, Premium Deluxe Edition, and Cosmetic DLC Pass-will be discontinued. Three new set products will replace them: the Gold Edition (base game plus two items), the Cosmetic DLC Collection (all 10 DLC packs), and the Extra Cosmetic DLC Pack (paid DLC previously sold separately). Premium bonuses previously tied to the discontinued editions will be obtainable through the new sets. The changes come ahead of the super-large expansion Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, scheduled for 2027. The game is currently available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.
KRAFTON's creative studio Flyway Games has released its action roguelike Ascend to ZERO on Steam and Xbox platforms, including Xbox Game Pass. The game uses a time-stopping combat mechanic. A Twitch Drops event runs from July 14 to July 26, offering in-game rewards. The base game is priced at 1,600 yen.
Anime News Network's review of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 episode 13 notes the mid-season premiere delivers a large-scale action setpiece as Rosemyne and company face the Lord of Winter. The episode shows improved animation and a new intro without apparent AI elements, but the review observes that the pacing issues from earlier in the season persist, with the battle feeling anticlimactic despite its scale.
KRAFTON released 'Ascend to Zero' on July 13, developed by Flyway Games. The time-stopping roguelike action game is available on PC (Steam/Microsoft Store) and Xbox Series X|S, with Xbox/PC Game Pass support. Players fight a mechanical army using a time stop ability, with a 30-second mission time limit that can be extended by defeating bosses. A launch sale on Steam offers 20% off until July 28, and a Twitch Drops campaign runs from July 14 to 26.
Spike Chunsoft released the free DLC Genesis Ascended Part 1 for ARK: Survival Ascended on PS5 on July 4, 2026, alongside the paid DLC Tides of Fortune and the early access launch of the large expansion Dragontopia. Some content lacks Japanese localization at launch, with a patch planned for later.
The staff for Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke released the third promotional video for the second cour on June 27. The video debuts the ending theme song "Wanna me" by adieu, the singing stage name of actress Moka Kamishiraishi. The song will start airing with the episode on July 11. The video also previews the opening theme "Power of Love" by Kana Nishino. The second cour premieres July 11 on Yomiuri TV and Nippon TV network at 5:30 p.m. JST. The anime began its half-year run across two consecutive cours on April 4. Crunchyroll streams the series with English subtitles and an English dub. Yoshiaki Iwasaki directs at Wit Studio, replacing previous director Mitsuru Hongo. Mariko Kunisawa writes the series scripts, and Aiko Minowa handles character design. The returning voice cast includes Yuka Iguchi as Rozemyne and Show Hayami as Ferdinand. New cast members include Yukari Tamura as Georgine, Mami Koyama as Veronica, Minami Takayama as Florencia, and others.
Studio Wildcard will release the paid upgrade "ARK: Tides of Fortune" alongside the remade "ARK: Genesis Part 1" map on June 25, 2026. The in-game tool "ARK Maker," which lets players create maps and game rules on console alone, is set to launch in late September. The Genesis remake features a greatly expanded ocean area with real-time physics-based water simulation and a new giant octopus creature called the Paleo Octopus.
Video Research published the Japanese animation TV rankings for the Kanto region covering June 8-14. Sazae-san led with a 7.7% household rating, followed by Detective Conan at 6.1% and Chibi Maruko-chan at 4.8%. The list includes 13 programs, with That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime season 3 at #5 and Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 at #7.
Kana Nishino performs the opening theme song "Power of Love" for the second cour of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke. Moka Kamishiraishi, as adieu, performs the ending theme "Wanna me." The anime premiered on April 4 and airs for two consecutive cours on Yomiuri TV and NTV. Crunchyroll streams the series with subtitles and an English dub.
Episode 10 of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke moves quickly through the Harvest Festival, then shifts focus to Rosemyne's material-gathering expedition. A Crunchyroll audio glitch mars an early conversation. The back half gives Wit Studio action sequences with feybeast attacks.
Anime News Network published the Japanese animation TV household ratings for June 1-7, 2026. Sazae-san led with 7.7%, followed by Detective Conan at 6.1% and Chibi Maruko-chan at 6.0%. The list includes ten regular programs and the premiere of a live-action Mr. Osomatsu film, which earned 0.8%.
Capcom opened the Steam store page for Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance on June 10, accepting wishlist registrations. The expansion, announced at Summer Game Fest 2026, adds a sky-ruins map, Boost Bracer action, new monsters, and appearances of Lao-Shan Lung and Kushala Daora. Price and release date are unannounced; the base game is on sale until June 19.
Episode 9 of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke opens with a role-swap plot between Rosemyne and Wilfried that initially seems frivolous, but the episode pivots to reveal that Wilfried cannot read. The revelation leads to a discussion among Sylvester, Ferdinand, and Rosemyne about how Wilfried's lack of pressure has left him unprepared, contrasting with the hard-earned success of other characters.
The weekly Japanese animation TV rankings for the Kanto region, covering May 25-31, show Sazae-san leading at 6.3%, followed by Detective Conan at 5.7% and Chibi Maruko-chan at 4.6%. Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 ranked fourth with 2.8%, and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime season 3 placed seventh at 2.4%.
During the PC Gaming Show 2026 streamed on June 8, 2026, developer Ludogram and publisher Twin Sails Interactive announced that a demo for the exploration roguelite "Ascenders: Beyond the Peak" is now available on Steam. The game is a turn-based roguelite with H.P. Lovecraft-inspired elements. Players lead a team of climbers sent to recover ancient artifacts from a cursed mountain peak, where they must climb vertical cliffs and face unspeakable horrors. The full version of "Ascenders: Beyond the Peak" is scheduled for release on PC via Steam in Q3 2026. The announcement was part of the PC Gaming Show 2026, a new game information event that featured multiple other game reveals and updates.
Capcom announced the large-scale expansion Monster Hunter Wilds Ascendance during the Summer Game Fest 2026 livestream on June 5. The expansion is scheduled for release in 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. It introduces a new sky-bound land, a Master Rank quest tier, and a new equipment item called the Boost Bracer, which enables new movement and combat actions. The trailer confirmed the return of Elder Dragons Kushala Daora and Lao-Shan Lung. Players must own the base game and have cleared the Chapter 6-1 quest "Awakening from a Dream" to access the expansion. Separately, Capcom announced that a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Monster Hunter Wilds is in development, with release details to come later. The base game launched in February 2025 and sold over 8 million copies in its first three days, later reaching 10 million by March 2025.
Episode 8 of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 dedicates its first half to a conversation between Rosemyne and Ferdinand about the brutal political realities of their world. The episode forces Rosemyne to confront the gap between her modern morals and the feudal systems she now operates within, as she schemes to oust a defiant mayor without resorting to outright violence.
Video Research released the Japanese animation household TV ratings for the Kanto region covering the weeks of May 11-17 and May 18-24. In the first week, Sazae-san led with a 7.1 rating, followed by Detective Conan at 6.5 and Chibi Maruko-chan at 5.1. The top ten also included Doraemon, Crayon Shin-chan, One Piece, Star Detective Precure!, Curious George, Oshiri Tantei season 10, and Bluey. The following week, Sazae-san remained on top at 6.9, with Detective Conan at 6.2 and Chibi Maruko-chan at 4.7. One Piece rose to 2.7, while That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime season 3 and Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 re-entered the chart at 2.6 and 2.5 respectively. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba rebroadcast tied at 2.3 with Crayon Shin-chan. Star Detective Precure! closed the list at 2.0.
Singer adieu, also known as actress Moka Kamishiraishi, performs the ending theme song "Wanna me" for the second cour of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3. Satoko Shibata wrote the lyrics and music. The CD single releases July 29 with a limited first pressing bundling a Blu-ray of adieu's 2025 concert.
Episode 5 of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke returns after a one-week delay, focusing on two threads: the introduction of a new craftsman named Zack who spurs competition in wax stencil printing, and the ongoing preparations for Ferdinand's concert, where Rosemyne's influence inadvertently creates religious music and promotional materials.