G.O.P opened a special website on September 2 looking back at AVA's 18 years and 6,485 days of service. The site includes a history timeline, cumulative player data, and comments from past operation producers. A campaign to transfer character names to the new title AVA RE:BIRTH runs until September 24 at 12:00. AVA's service ends October 28, 2026, and the successor launches this fall on Pmang and VFUN.
Bandai Spirits opens pre-orders on September 1 for the HI-METAL R Dragonar 1 & Cavalier 0 set, a 40th anniversary release for Metal Armor Dragonar. The Dragonar 1 uses a new outer sculpt, and the set bundles the large Cavalier 0 option parts, a hybrid shield, laser swords, and a dedicated base. It costs 29,700 yen and ships in February 2027.
Reito Kuji, producer of the tokusatsu video series [PROJECT R.E.D.], discussed the response to Ultra Gavan Infinity and what comes next with Kakusei Hunter Omega Horn. He described the crossover between Omega Horn and Ultra Gavan as unfolding like pieces being unearthed little by little, with plans to keep the project moving forward.
G.O.P announced on August 28 details for HUNTING FIELD, a new mode in AVA RE:BIRTH, the upcoming PC online FPS that continues the Alliance of Valiant Arms (AVA) series. The mode is an extraction shooter-style survival experience where players sortie into familiar AVA locations like urban areas and vast deserts, collect supplies from scattered crates, and contend with roaming AI soldiers and other players. Players who fail to reach an extraction portal before the time limit lose everything they gathered. Equipment acquired and upgraded in HUNTING FIELD can also be used in other game modes within AVA RE:BIRTH, creating a growth loop described as "endless" that raises the player's status as a soldier. The announcement updated the official teaser site and released a second teaser movie showing large-scale battles with helicopters and tanks. G.O.P stated that the next information release will discuss the game's balance policy, addressing whether the balance of the original AVA era can be faithfully reproduced while evolving for modern players. AVA RE:BIRTH is scheduled to launch on PC via Pmang and VFUN in autumn 2026. The original AVA service will end on October 28, 2026.
G.O.P announced on August 26 that the online FPS Alliance of Valiant Arms (AVA) will end its service on October 28, 2026. The game began official service in Japan in December 2008, marking approximately 18 years of operation. The final update is scheduled for September 9, which will include updates to the operation system, AVAcoin shop, and capsule store items, along with the end of in-game JEWEL sales and capsule store item sales. Events such as the RT Kyoransai and a special login campaign updated every two weeks will run until the service ends. The baton passes to AVA RE:BIRTH, a new PC online FPS sharing the same worldview, scheduled for release in fall 2026. The new title was officially named on August 12, with a teaser site and movie released. The service ending applies to the Pmang version; the global version A.V.A Global remains available on Steam. G.O.P noted that at its peak, AVA saw 70,000 matches played daily, with over 2.8 million cumulative players.
Alphamax is releasing a Gavan action figure from Space Sheriff Gavan in December 2026. The 20 cm figure uses vapor plating and a cloth inner suit, with 38 articulation points. It includes LED-equipped parts and a magnet-based display base. Orders opened August 18.
Automaton's weekly roundup highlights seven stories, including the announcement of AVA RE:BIRTH, a return-to-roots FPS slated for fall 2026, and the October 1 release of Ghost of Yōtei's Complete Edition expansion, which adds a new story and a survival mode.
A feature-length film adaptation of the internet horror character Jeff the Killer is in the works, with creator-driven studio Tongal and TikTok creator Savanah Moss producing. Moss, known for her horror-comedy short videos, will produce alongside Mark Korshak and Michael McKay. No director, screenwriter, cast, or release date has been announced yet.
The Epic Games Store is giving away Caravan SandWitch for free until midnight on August 21. The sci-fi exploration adventure, which normally sells for 2,950 yen including tax, can be added to a library permanently during the distribution window. The game supports Japanese display. Developed by Studio Plane Toast and published by Dear Villagers, Caravan SandWitch follows protagonist Sauge, who receives a distress signal from the spaceship of her sister, missing for six years. Sauge travels to the planet Sigalo, modeled after the Provence region of France, to search for her. The world is semi-open, with areas desertified by humanity's overdevelopment alongside lush green regions. The game has no combat, no fall damage, and no time limits, letting players explore peacefully by van or on foot. Upgrading the van with scrap unlocks antennas and grappling hooks that open new paths and ruins. Caravan SandWitch launched in September 2024 for PC, Nintendo Switch, and PS5, with a mobile version arriving in August 2026. On Steam, it holds a Very Positive rating with 88% of roughly 2,700 reviews favorable. A first-anniversary free update added new final-chapter quests and a van appearance changer.
G.O.P announced on August 12, 2026 that the official title for its new project using the Alliance of Valiant Arms (AVA) IP is AVA RE:BIRTH. The PC online FPS is scheduled for release in fall 2026, narrowing the earlier window of within 2026. A teaser site and a roughly 15-second teaser movie launched alongside the announcement. The teaser movie shows the title logo emerging from darkness, with no background music, only gunfire and radio chat sounds to evoke the original battlefield experience. The name combines BIRTH to signal a new battlefield and RE to signify reproducing the excitement of the original game. G.O.P describes the project as a return to the original FPS experience, with smooth performance on older PCs. AVA began official service in 2010, set in a fictional European war with two factions, the EU and NRF, and up to 32 players per room. The announcement notes this is merely a prologue, with further details on new elements and the full game picture promised soon.
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game, released July 23, 2026 for PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch, holds an 80 Metascore on both PC and PS5. Reviewers praise the hand-drawn visuals, combat mechanics, and mastery satisfaction, while opinions vary on story mode and fidelity to the original series.
ShowMinorSavage, the BMSG unit of Aile The Shota, MANATO, and SOTA, releases the digital single Gradation on August 12, 2026. The mellow R&B track, produced by VLOT, captures a summer moment at dusk by the seaside. Pre-add and pre-save are available now.
The Chiikawa anime film opened at #1 in Japan, earning 2,240,333,500 yen (about US$13.70 million) on 1,508,500 tickets over its first three days. The fifth live-action Kingdom film dropped to #3 in its second weekend, with a cumulative total of 3,354,667,400 yen (about US$20.52 million).
At the finale event for Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity, held July 19 at Tokyo Dome City Theater G Rosso, main cast members Kohei Nagata, Ryuga Akabane, Kanna Sumi, and Kentaro Yasui announced that the Super Gavan team will appear in the new series Kakusei Hunter Omega Horn. A post-finale mini-drama, Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity Gaiden, will stream on YouTube and TTFC.
KAI-YOU visited Akihabara's Super Potato with VaVa to discuss the retro games that influenced him. He cites the MOTHER series as his favorite game music and has participated in official remix projects for Persona 3 and UNDERTALE. He shares memories of clearing Adventure Island and playing Dragon Quest Monsters 2 with friends.
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced the July 2026 lineup for the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog on July 16. The additions span three weeks and include eight titles across the Extra, Premium, and Classics tiers. The open-world action RPG Rise of the Ronin, developed by Team NINJA and set during Japan's Bakumatsu period, is available from July 16 for PS5. Ubisoft's Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, a first- and third-person adventure set 15 years after the film, and Firefighting Simulator Ignite, a cooperative firefighting simulation, launch on July 21. The zombie survival game Dying Light, the sci-fi RPG Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, and the platformer Snow Bros. Wonderland arrive on July 28. For Premium subscribers, two PlayStation 2 classics-Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy and Fahrenheit-become playable on July 21. The staggered release schedule gives subscribers a steady stream of new content throughout the month.
The final trailer for the double feature film "Kamen Rider Zetts: Sayonara no Mission" and "Super Space Sheriff Gaban Infinity: The Day the Sun Wept" has been released. NCT127 member YUTA joins the cast of Kamen Rider Zetts as a mysterious biker and also performs the theme song "Dreams Never Sleep." Voice actress Ayana Taketatsu plays a news announcer. The film opens in Japan on July 24, 2026.
Bilibili showcased a simulation RPG based on the long-running Hong Kong manhua The Ravages of Time at Bilibili World 2026. The game, titled Three Kingdoms: The Ravages of Time, focuses on Sima Yi and Liao Yuan Huo (later Zhao Yun) and features a strategist card system. A closed beta for PC and Android begins July 23 in mainland China.
A hands-on preview of the Indian-developed Souls-like action RPG Unleash The Avatar at Bilibili World 2026 finds a game with a strong Bollywood-inspired concept and no stamina management, but the demo's combat against strong enemies felt monotonous and unbalanced. The game, first shown in 2025 as Project 11A, is still in development.
A special collaboration video featuring Kamen Rider Zetts and Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity will screen in Japanese theaters from July 3. The video is part of the "NO MORE Movie Thieves" campaign, which urges audiences not to film or record in theaters. The two heroes pursue a "Camera Man" character in a comical chase, with narration by Jiei Kabira and Ayako Kawasumi.
Indian developer Aeos Games released new gameplay footage for its soulslike action RPG Unleash The Avatar, inspired by Indian mythology. The footage shows combat against a Mahishasura-like enemy, sword and chakra techniques, a bow, a gada-like weapon, and a transformation granting god-like powers. The game was previously shown as a prototype called Project 11A in 2025.
Gentle Troll Entertainment released the fantasy visual novel sequel 'Tavantalk Story: Dreamwalker' on Steam. The game is set 36 years before the original 'Tavantalk' and puts players in charge of a seaside tavern where they serve magical drinks to adventurers. Drink-making involves mixing magic potions to match customer requests, and players can also create quests from rumors gathered at the bar.
Anique announced a new original merchandise project called Diner Caravan for the VTuber group hololive English on June 15, 2026. The project features brand-new illustrations by artist Shugao, themed around an American diner. The scenario depicts members of hololive English -Advent- (Shiori Novella, Koseki Bijou, Nerissa Ravencroft, Fuwawa Abyssgard, and Mococo Abyssgard) running a mobile diner, with Mori Calliope and Ouro Kronii visiting as customers. Anique will exhibit at Anime Expo 2026 for the first time, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 2 to July 5. The booth is located in West Hall #2328. At the event, Anique will sell Diner Caravan goods and set up a photo booth with life-sized illustrated panels. Character-specific bundle sets with exclusive packaging will be sold only at the venue. Online sales of the merchandise are planned for some regions starting July 6, with details to be announced on Anique's social media.
The television anime adaptation of Otsuji's My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren't Wicked manga has revealed its main promotional video, a July 8 premiere date, theme song performers, and additional cast members. Lia performs the opening theme, and AVAM performs the ending theme. The anime will debut on multiple Japanese TV stations and streaming services.
Gentle Troll Entertainment released the fantasy visual novel Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker on Steam on June 10. The prequel to Tavern Talk is set 36 years earlier in the port town of Dragon's Dream Bed. A 10% launch discount runs for a limited time. The Nintendo Switch version follows on June 25.
The Arcade Crew and Dotemu announced 'Wardens of Avalon,' an action RPG based on Arthurian legend, during the PC Gaming Show 2026. Developed by Runes Studio, the game features top-down crafting and battle scenes. It is scheduled for a 2027 release on Steam, with playtest registration now open.
Sega announced new collaborations for Sonic Racing CrossWorlds at Summer Games Fest, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Avatar: The Last Airbender in Year One, and Godzilla and Evangelion in Year Two. The game is out now on multiple platforms, and a new indie title, Sonic Pico Park, was also teased.
The upcoming summer film for Kamen Rider Zetts will bring together every member of the secret defense organization CODE for the first time. The film, Kamen Rider Zetts & Cho Uchu Keiji Gavan Infinity W Hero Summer Movie 2026, opens in theaters nationwide on July 24. It is a double feature with the Gavan Infinity film. The newly released scene photos show the full CODE lineup facing the antagonist Kudo Shuma, also known as Kamen Rider Musou, played by Soshina Shunta of M!LK. Musou can manipulate the waking dream world. The CODE agents include Manzu Baku as Kamen Rider Zetts (Imai Ryutaro), Nox as Kamen Rider Nox (Furukawa Yuki), Zieg as Kamen Rider Dawn (Amano Hiroshige), Zero (Kawahira Jiei), The Lady (Mimura Rie), Three (Tamaki Hiroki), Five (Koyanagi Shin), and Six (Hirakawa Yuzuki). The Gavan Infinity side of the double feature will see four Gavan characters from different dimensions gather and perform a simultaneous "steaming" transformation. Guest actors for the Zetts portion include Soshina, and for the Gavan portion, the comedy duo Jarujaru's Goto Junpei and Fukutoku Shusuke, along with Takahashi Tsutomu, appear.