Bandai Namco Entertainment is publishing across three fronts at once: the Ace Combat 8 launch and its 30th anniversary push, the Gundam Rogue Orbit release set for March 5, 2027, and live-service management that includes the wind-down of SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada. The publisher's Tokyo Game Show 2026 booth closed on September 21 with playable demos across five titles.
Bandai Namco's autumn is dominated by Ace Combat 8. The publisher streamed a 16-minute opening cinematic days before release, then launched the game on October 2, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam at prices starting from 9,790 yen. The campaign is set in July 2029 Strangereal, where the Federated Central Usean Republic loses its main forces to an invasion by the Republic of Sotoa; the player flies for the Joker Squadron aboard the old carrier Endurance under the name of the legendary ace Wings of Theve. PROJECT ACES handled development, and the title ships with the series' largest online mode, branded Ace Combat Online, built on an independently developed Cloudly engine. It commemorates the series' 30th anniversary.
Gundam Rogue Orbit is the next date-locked release. The action game arrives March 5, 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and shares its world with Mobile Suit Gundam RG XARX-ZERO. Producer Yuya Tomiyama and director Yoshiyuki Serizawa have described a melee-first design built around the Gundam Helix and a giant enemy called Apocalypse, with a story run estimated at around 20 hours and a three-player co-op mission unlocked after the story is cleared. A collaboration campaign running to September 16, 2027 routes players into SD Gundam G Generation Eternal through a promotion code.
The publisher is also managing live-service endings. SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada moves to an offline build after May 2027, with a standalone version planned, certain save data and eligible purchased items carried over, and the exact online shutdown date to be announced in March 2027. Sales of SYN COINS end at 0:00 on December 18, 2026.
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At a Tokyo Game Show 2026 session, staff from Bandai Namco Entertainment, REZ&, Sony Group, and Sony PCL described how the January 24 and 25 Chihaya Kisaragi solo show at Nippon Budokan, "OathONE," was staged. The talk covered center-stage screens, Unreal Engine rendering, motion capture, and Sony's moving LED display groovots, including a large type used to walk the virtual character down a hanamichi.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on October 5 that the Touhou Project x Taiko no Tatsujin 2026 collaboration will run in the arcade version of Taiko no Tatsujin from October 22 to January 11, 2027. Two songs are added: an arranged track by the circle Tamaonsen, and a Namco original arranged from Hartmann's Youkai Girl. Bandai Namco Passport holders earn tickets per qualifying play toward petite characters and plate titles.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on September 28 that Gakuen Idolmaster will add 'Another P-Idol Liberalization' in mid-October, letting any Produce Idol designate an Another Idol's song. An SSR Another Idol Guaranteed Gacha runs from October 9, and little-devil costume idols and Another Idols appear from September 30. The game is available on PC via DMM GAMES, iOS, and Android.
Bandai Namco Entertainment released a collaboration video with science presenter Denjiro Yonemura on September 30, 2026, marking the third anniversary of My Hero Academia: Ultra Rumble. The video is titled Boku no Denjiro Academia ULTRA RUMBLE. In it, Yonemura recreates the Quirks of Shoto Todoroki and Toya Todoroki, who appear in the game's Season 19, using experiments. His profile introduces his own Quirk as Science. He reproduces Shoto's Half-Cold Half-Hot flames with gloves and makes ice through supercooling. The ultimate moves Flashfreeze Heatwave Rin and Flashfreeze Heatwave: Blooming are also recreated through flame tests. The video opened at 12:00 on September 30, following a September 29 announcement from the game's official account. The announcement included an image of Yonemura smiling. My Hero Academia: Ultra Rumble is a free-to-play multiplayer battle action game available on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on September 26 that it will end the online service for the mech PvPvE extraction shooter SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada after May 2027 and move the game to an offline version. The offline release will be a standalone build that covers gameplay except for certain features requiring online elements, shifting the format from PvPvE to an offline PvE extraction shooter. Some save data from the online version and eligible purchased items are planned to carry over. Updates and events for the current online service stop with the content scheduled for implementation within October 2026. Sales of the paid currency SYN COINS end at 0:00 on December 18, 2026. A function to save carryover data for the offline version is scheduled for December 2026. The exact end date of the online service will be announced in March 2027. SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada launched for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on January 23, 2025, and for PC via Steam on January 24, 2025.
Bandai Namco Entertainment will release Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on October 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with a Deluxe Edition arriving September 29. The publisher streamed a 16-minute opening cinematic on Thursday. The campaign is set in 2029 in the Strangereal world, ten years after the previous numbered entry, and follows the Central Usean Federation after an invasion by the Republic of Sotoa. The player flies for the Joker Squadron aboard the old carrier Endurance, carrying the name of the legendary ace Wings of Sheave. Three wingmen join the fight. Online play, branded Ace Combat Online, casts players as mercenaries of an organization called I3 and splits missions into co-op, co-op with versus elements, and pure versus formats. Pre-orders include a port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
Bandai Namco Entertainment released ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE on October 2, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. The game is the latest numbered entry in the flight shooting series, sold at prices starting from 9,790 yen. The protagonist carries the name of the legendary ace Wings of Theve and works with three new companions to retake a stolen homeland. The title ships with a campaign mode and an online mode that the publisher describes as the largest in the series. It commemorates the series' 30th anniversary. Bandai Namco built the game on Cloudly, an independently developed engine that renders wide skies and layered cloud formations.
A Tokyo Game Show session on September 18 brought together four people behind Chihaya Kisaragi's solo Nippon Budokan concert OathONE, held January 24 and 25. Yukiyoshi Yoshimoto of Bandai Namco Entertainment, Nobuaki Kazoe of REZ&, Akira Nakano of Sony Group and Takahiro Kozuki of Sony PCL explained the roles their companies played. The set used a 360-degree center stage, motion capture and Unreal Engine rendering.
Bandai Namco Entertainment brought ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE to Tokyo Game Show 2026 as a playable build inside a five-title booth in Hall 5. The demo offers three missions, and the article's author chose "11 Maximum Payload," an air-to-air sortie against a group of intercontinental transport aircraft called Podarge, which fly with electronic warfare aircraft that jam radar.
Bandai Namco Entertainment is exhibiting the smartphone game BLEACH Mirrors High at its booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held from Thursday, September 17 to Monday, September 21. Visitors to the booth receive a Zangetsu-shaped balloon, and the booth also offers novelties obtained through trial play experiences and other activities. BLEACH Mirrors High carries an original story set after BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War.
Bandai Namco Entertainment will hand out a cutlery set to visitors who try ONE PIECE Ocean's Delicacy Restaurant at its Tokyo Game Show 2026 booth. The set carries a design of the Straw Hat crew taking a breather. Quantities are limited and distribution ends when stock runs out. The demo lets players try part of the basic gameplay, including developing dishes and coordinating the restaurant's interior.
EDWIN will release three apparel items tied to the flight shooting game ACE COMBAT 8 on September 17, made with VALLEY APPAREL L.L.C. and Dickies. The lineup is a reversible MA-1 flight jacket at 39,600 yen, a short-sleeve T-shirt at 6,600 yen, and a Dickies short-sleeve work shirt at 11,000 yen, all tax included.
Bandai Namco Entertainment is running a collaboration campaign between GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT and SD Gundam G Generation Eternal from September 16 to September 16, 2027. Entering a promotion code listed on the GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT official page grants a Premium Gasha Ticket in SD Gundam G Generation Eternal. The campaign marks the decision to release GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT on March 5, 2027.
Bandai Namco Entertainment will release the action game GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on March 5, 2027. Producer Yuya Tomiyama and director Yoshiyuki Serizawa, the latter at Bandai Namco Studios, gave a joint media interview timed to a preview play session. The project began under a mission to deliver a Gundam work to game users worldwide, and the team landed on the concept of Gundam versus extraterrestrial lifeforms. Players pilot the Gundam Helix against a giant enemy called Apocalypse, and the game leans on close-range combat over the long-range weapons typical of the series. Serizawa said the aim is to give players worldwide an ace pilot experience, following the sequence of boarding, cockpit entry, briefing, and catapult launch. A full story run is estimated at around 20 hours. A three-player co-op mission unlocks after the story is cleared.
Bandai Namco Entertainment released a story trailer and new details for ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE, set for October 2 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The prologue is set in July 2029 in Strangereal, where the Federated Central Usean Republic loses its main forces to a surprise invasion by the Republic of Sotoa. PROJECT ACES handles development. The trailer confirms three characters and the original FA-36 Game.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on September 13 that a console game project has begun for The Idolmaster SideM, the branch of The Idolmaster franchise whose producible idols are all male. The game is in development for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, with the official title and release timing to be announced later. Players take the role of a Producer at 315 Production and work with 49 idols across 16 units in what the announcement calls an idol producing and scheduling adventure. The story shares the worldview of the SideM brand page on The Idolmaster portal site but is a new story written for the game, following the idols toward a large-scale live concert one year away. At the start, the player picks one of the 16 units as the leader unit for that concert, and the story and conversations change depending on the choice. The concert concept is MMM.
Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia announced Ondeh Ondeh: Kaya's Umami Great Adventure during the Nintendo Direct streamed on September 9, 2026. The game is a rhythm action title developed by Malaysian studio Metronomik, and it is scheduled for release in 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2. The protagonist, Kaya, aims to become a World Builder, a figure who creates worlds. To reach that goal, she travels through islands filled with rhythm, solving mysteries and taking on trials along the way. The central mechanic is a Magic Spoon that gives rhythm to whatever it scoops. Footage shown during the presentation included scenes of the spoon moving giant objects. The game combines rhythm-based play with puzzle-solving, as Kaya uses both timing and insight to overcome the challenges on each island. The announcement came as part of the broader Nintendo Direct 2026.9.9 showcase, which included multiple third-party and first-party reveals.
Bandai Namco Entertainment released the Mask of Idris expansion DLC and free update Ver.2.0 for CODE VEIN II on September 9, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The DLC is set in the Discarded World and adds the Mask of Passion, a sage voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto, two bosses, and new gifts for two-handed swords and gunblades. Update Ver.2.0 adds post-story exploration with buddies.
Bandai Namco Entertainment's Gundam Rogue Orbit is shaping up as a melee-first action game, according to hands-on previews published September 8, 2026. The game launches March 5, 2027 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Previewers played roughly 30 to 45 minutes across two missions: Rail Control Battle, a tutorial-style stage against a molten boss called Giant, and Instinct, a solo fight against a dragon-like boss named Drake. Combat centers on three preset mech assemblies: the Assault Sword, a short-range attacker with a grappling-hook Anchor ability; the Whip Sword, which switches between sword and whip modes; and the Sword Lance, a mid-range build that gains power with distance. A shared Tactical Gauge powers both the offensive Tactical Skill and the cancel-any-action Tactical Move dodge. Building the G.U.N.RISE gauge unlocks Over-Rise, a temporary state previewers describe as near-invincible, with auto-dodging and an AP Unit Burst finisher. The game also includes part-breaking boss fights and online co-op for up to three players.
Bandai Namco Entertainment released a new trailer for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 during Sony's State of Play livestream on September 3. The video, titled "Fight Your Own Way," introduces the game's character creation system and confirms a new Android race among six playable options: Earthling, Saiyan, Namekian, Frieza Race, Majin, and Android. Players will customize a fighter's appearance, inherit techniques from Super Fighters, and choose a fighting style based on the moves of 130 heroes. The game is set in AGE 1000, where a mysterious hero arrives with no memory and meets a new generation of heroes who are university students in West City. The cast includes original characters Brett, Lilica, ROM, and Tap, alongside franchise figures like Bulma and Gamma 1. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is planned for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam in 2027. The project was first teased under the codename "Age 1000" and has been in development for about six to seven years. Bandai Namco announced the joint project with Toei Animation in January.
Bandai Namco Entertainment unveiled a new trailer for the large DLC "Legacy of Heroes" for "Digimon Story: Time Stranger" during the official "State of Play 2026.9.3" broadcast on September 3, 2026. The DLC is scheduled for release in 2027 on PlayStation 5, as announced during the program that introduces new PlayStation-related information. The expansion depicts a world set three years after the events of the main game. The trailer shows a boy adventuring across a vast world, exploring a new map while riding Digimon, and fighting alongside new partners. A completely new narrative unfolds with a new protagonist. The DLC adds approximately 50 new Digimon, with further details scheduled to be revealed at a later date. The beginning of the trailer includes content from the main game, prompting the official Digimon Game account to caution players who have not yet finished the main story. The base game is available on PC, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, and is an RPG where the player becomes an agent of a secret organization adventuring across the human world and the digital world of Ilias.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced during the September 3, 2026 State of Play broadcast that Gundam Rogue Orbit, a new action game in the Gundam franchise, will launch on March 5, 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The trailer shown at the event previewed the game's story, characters, and gameplay. Players take on the role of pilot RE-X, who controls the high-mobility Gundam Helix. The cast also includes Sofia, April, the captain of the Stellarvane, Big Paul, a leader of sand pirates, and Elaine, a knight commander and Mobile Suit pilot. The story centers on survival against an unknown enemy, with fast-paced battles against enemy hordes and bosses. The trailer also highlighted extensive customization options, including the ability to change the Gundam Helix's torso, backpack, and head, as well as exterior painting. Producer Yuya Tomiyama detailed the game's features, noting unique skills, weapon types, Tactical Skills, and part swapping that alters gameplay.
Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed new screenshots for the paid expansion DLC Mask of Idris for Code Vein II, along with details on the free update Ver.2.0, both scheduled for release on September 9. The DLC is set in the Abandoned World and features a new buddy character, with an alternate color version of all 14 characters unlocked after clearing the DLC story. The Ver.2.0 update introduces the Age of Harmony, a post-ending mode set after the ending A Miracle Called Fate, where players can explore the world with a favorite buddy and complete short episodes for each character to obtain new blood codes. Players can transition to this mode from a special vestige in Mag Mell using save data that has reached the ending. The update also adds the Trial of Memories, a consecutive battle mode against previously fought bosses and enemies, with over 90 new customization parts as rewards. Yadviga, a buddy character who wields a greatsword, becomes summonable after clearing her episode. A Story-Focused Mode strengthens the player character for easier battles, and a Character Shader option lets players switch between Original and Legacy appearances, the latter closer to the original Code Vein. Photo Mode gains over 30 new poses and 20 new frames, and the Jukebox returns with tracks from Code Vein, Code Vein II, and the God Eater series.
Bandai Namco Entertainment released the online mode trailer for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on September 1. The mode is positioned as the game's end content and the largest online mode in series history. Players take the role of mercenary pilots gathering at an air base lobby where up to 100 players can connect at once. The main missions are CooP Assault, a PvE mode in which two teams of four cooperate on missions and compete for high scores, and CooP Warfare, a PvPvE mode in which two teams of four fight each other alongside NPC units. CooP Warfare includes a threat level system: surviving without being shot down raises your threat, which increases score gained from kills but also the score given to opponents when you are shot down. Reaching three stars marks a player as an ace aircraft. Special missions include Emergency Sortie, where eight players face the series' signature giant weapons, and Scramble, a four-player fight against NPC rival units. The game launches October 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
Bandai Namco Entertainment published new details on August 31, 2026 about the skill and ability system in The Blood of Dawnwalker, the open-world dark fantasy action RPG set in 14th century Europe that launches September 3, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The protagonist Coen lives as a human by day and a vampire by night. Skills are divided into three trees: swordplay, magic, and bloodsucking. Swordplay emphasizes precision and timing, with branches that specialize in durability or combo attacks. Magic is usable during the day and includes attack and defense spells, crowd control, damage over time, and buffs and debuffs. Vampire abilities awaken at night and grow stronger as Coen accepts the curse and deepens his mutation, at a cost. Experience comes from defeating enemies, completing quests, discovering hidden places, and beating bosses. Leveling grants skill points, and a single type of point is usable across all three trees, so points earned by day can be spent on night abilities. Learning new abilities requires time in addition to skill points, and each tree has its own unlock method: guide books for swordplay, magic books for magic, and drinking blood to raise the mutation level for vampire powers.
Aniplex announced on August 31 that it will now publish Fate/Extra Record, the remake of the 2010 PlayStation Portable game Fate/Extra. The announcement came with a new official website and X account, and the game will also launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in addition to its previously announced platforms. The transfer follows Bandai Namco Entertainment's withdrawal from publishing in March, after the game was delayed from a 2025 release to spring 2026. Development is now handled by Meteorize, with Arco Wada returning as character designer. The same day, Kazuya Niino, who served as studio director of Type-Moon studio BB and as director and planner on Fate/Extra Record, announced he is leaving the studio for personal reasons and has stepped down from the game. He stated he has already left the development site and will remove his name from the staff credits, citing health concerns and a planned break from game development. Niino added that the development team is working toward release and that he is confident the game will reach fans in good form.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on August 30 that Dragon Ball: Gekishin Squadra will undergo a renewal in Season 8 at the end of this year. The update changes the camera from top-down to third-person view, simplifies the victory condition to collecting more Dragon Balls within the time limit, and reworks the role system.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on August 28, 2026 that voice actor Koki Ino will succeed Ayumu Murase as the voice of Kanon Himeno in The Idolmaster SideM. Murase's graduation from the role was announced on August 18, following amicable discussions between both parties about the character's future. Ino expressed his intention to cherish what has been built so far while giving his best in the role. A special live stream to welcome Ino is scheduled for September 1 at 19:00 JST on YouTube and Niconico Live. The stream will feature Shugo Nakamura as Teru Tendo, Sho Kano as Yukihiro Kamiya, Shogo Yano as Nao Okamura, Keisuke Furuhata as Shiro Tachibana, and Ino as Kanon Himeno. During the program, staff will announce Kanon Himeno's future voice schedule and share details about the event 315 Production presents FANTASIC BATTLE FES ~Wanna step in~. The announcement notes that existing audio in 315 Production episodes will not be replaced for now, though some audio may be replaced in future operations. Ino will appear in the upcoming FES performances and related content announced after August 28.
MeetToMatch will hold its sixth annual Tokyo Edition from September 17 to 20, 2026, during the Tokyo Game Show 2026 period. The event connects Japanese game companies with overseas counterparts through pre-arranged business meetings. Japan-based companies can participate free of charge, with registration available on the dedicated website. Last year, 571 companies from 45 countries took part, including 120 Japanese firms, and 93% of meetings involving Japanese companies were with overseas partners. So far in 2026, 361 companies have registered on the platform, among them Bandai Namco Entertainment, Sega, Kodansha, Shochiku, Colopl, Drecom, G-mode, Kotobuki Solution, Crunchyroll K.K., 505 Games Japan, Active Gaming Media, Toylogic, and Chorus Worldwide. Meetings can be held at Makuhari Messe booths, public spots, rented rooms, restaurants, or online via Zoom, Google Meet, or a proprietary time-zone-adjusting system. Shochiku's Hiroaki Ishige noted that the most common contact he receives at conferences is from people who found him through MeetToMatch. The service is independent of Tokyo Game Show and not an official TGS offering.
Bandai Namco Entertainment America announced the 'Mask of Idris' DLC for Code Vein II will debut on September 9, and began streaming a teaser trailer the same day. The sequel launched on January 30 (January 29 in Japan) for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game follows a Revenant Hunter guided by Lou, who can travel into the past to rewrite fate.
Bandai Namco Entertainment will add two new units to Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. 2 Infinite Boost. Gundam Ashtaron Hermit Crab from After War Gundam X arrives September 1 as a cost 2500 all-rounder. Black Knight Squad Carla from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM joins September 16 as a cost 3000 all-rounder. The September 1 patch also adjusts 10 existing units and refines the Gundam F91 model. A championship tournament is planned for GUNDAM-Con2027.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced a major update to the arcade game THE IDOLM@STER TOURS, launching the new series Second Stage on August 6, 2026. The update adds Tour Mode, a new gameplay mode focused on touring with an idol, plus the game's first original song, a new UR card rarity, and over 90 newly drawn cards.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on August 5 that it will exhibit at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held September 17 to 21 at Makuhari Messe. The company's main booth in Hall 5 will feature playable demos of several upcoming titles, including the latest entry in the Ace Combat series, ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE, which makes its first appearance at a domestic game event. Also on offer are demos for DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 3, scheduled for release within 2027, and the smartphone game BLEACH Mirrors High, which includes new characters designed by Tite Kubo. The demo for ACE COMBAT 8 requires a numbered ticket distributed at the booth on public days, September 19 to 21. Additional exhibits include ONE PIECE: Ocean's Delicious Restaurant, a simulation game where players manage a sea restaurant, and Tales of Eternia Remastered, which has a reservation campaign for original goods. The Family Game Park at TKP Tokyo Bay Makuhari Hall will host demos for Once Upon a Katamari and Tamagotchi's Petit Petit Omisecchi Omachido~sama! Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. New merchandise for several titles will be sold in advance at the ASOBI STORE satellite location in Hall 11.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced a remaster of the 2011 PSP game Super Robot Wars Z II: Hakai-hen. The company also detailed new content for Super Robot Wars Y, including an anniversary expansion pack on August 5 and a free update on August 4 that adds missions and a new BOOST team mode.
The Tengu Tōsen short anime project, a joint production by Bandai Namco Entertainment and Plott, began streaming its first full main story episode on its official YouTube channel last Friday. The series follows Akari Hinomiya, a boy imbued with a demon spirit, as he fights tengu alongside the Tōbatsushi.
G-MODE announced on July 22, 2026, that it will release "G-MODE Archives+ Lost Chronicle" for Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam on July 23, 2026. The game is a faithful port of the original fantasy RPG that Bandai Namco Entertainment distributed as a feature phone app. It is the fourth Bandai Namco Entertainment title to be revived under the G-MODE Archives+ label, following "Xenosaga Pied Piper," "Namco Chronicle," and "Pac-Man." The story follows a protagonist exploring a world destroyed by a black flash and shrouded in dark fog, seeking the mystery of a cataclysm that occurred a thousand years ago. Players purify miasma-covered lands, accept requests from city guilds, explore fields, and advance missions to survey the land, discover new resources and technologies, and rebuild the devastated world. Characters can be customized with six attributes-Fire, Wind, Earth, Water, Dark, and Light-and multiple jobs including Fencer, Scout, Mage, and Cleric. The price is 800 yen, and the game supports Japanese language only.
Bandai Namco Entertainment held a media preview for its upcoming soccer action game "Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters" on July 17, 2026. The game, based on the "World Youth" arc of the manga, is set to release on August 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, with a Steam version following on August 28. The preview revealed a deliberate design choice: the game has no referees and no fouls, allowing players to execute tackles and special moves without interruption. Controls have been simplified to a single button for dribble and tackle moves, with a new "full power" variant on the Y button. A chain system rewards consecutive moves by speeding up special move gauges, and chain levels transfer to the opponent if the ball is lost. Goalkeepers have an HP bar, and shooters must pick a shot trajectory while the keeper chooses a direction in a mind game. The game also includes a Miracle Team Move system that can trigger automatic goals under specific conditions. An edit protagonist returns, with a single custom character who can learn moves from teammates. Original characters, such as the kung-fu goalkeeper Yue, were designed under the supervision of original author Yoichi Takahashi. The developers emphasized that the game aims to capture the dramatic, unpredictable feel of the manga rather than simulate real soccer.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on July 15, 2026, that the Nintendo Switch 2 version of "Once Upon a Katamari" will launch on October 8, 2026. The Switch 2 port adds mouse controls and improves frame rate and resolution. A free update for the original Switch version, adding the same mouse controls and performance enhancements when played on Switch 2, will also arrive on October 8. On the same day, the paid downloadable content "Rolling Live Highlights" will be released across all platforms: Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. The DLC compiles content from the 2025 "Katamari Rolling LIVE" event, including 10 challenges, 6 companions, 12 songs, and 18 accessories. Two new editions are available: the download-only "Royal Sound Edition," which bundles the game with all previous DLC packs plus "Rolling Live Highlights," and the "Rolling Live Highlights Edition," sold both digitally and physically. The existing "King of Sound Edition" will be discontinued on October 7, 2026.
The Steam version of The Idolmaster: Starlit Season is on sale for 3,608 yen, 60% off the regular 9,020 yen price, as part of Amazon Prime Day 2026. The game brings together idols from the 765 Pro, Cinderella Girls, Million Live!, and Shiny Colors brands, plus new idol Kokoro Okugami, in a training simulation spanning roughly 10 months. The discount is promoted as a recommended entry point for newcomers to the series on PC.
Bandai Namco Entertainment released a new trailer for Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad on Tuesday, previewing the game's Death Game Mode. The mode is a permadeath option that deletes the player's save file upon character death, with no respawns. It is normally available only after completing the game once, but early access is included with the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions. The game launches in Japan on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on July 9, and on PC via Steam on July 10. The Western release is July 10 across all platforms. Players create their own customizable avatar and explore Aincrad alongside characters like Kirito and Asuna. Aimer performs the theme song "Live to Survive." The game has four editions: Standard, Deluxe, Ultimate, and Aincrad (Bandai Namco Store exclusive). The Ultimate Edition adds a digital soundtrack, digital artbook, an in-game armor pack, and the bonus anime "Unanswered//butterfly," which follows other characters during the original Sword Art Online story. The Deluxe Edition includes expansion DLC and a starter item pack.
Rebel Wolves, the studio founded by former CD Projekt RED developers, and Bandai Namco Entertainment held a media preview for their debut title "The Blood of Dawnwalker" on July 7, 2026. The open-world dark fantasy action RPG launches on September 3 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Narrative director Jakub Szamałek gave an interview alongside hands-on play sessions of the first four hours. The game stars Coen, a young man who becomes a Dawnwalker-human by day and vampire by night-after his village is attacked by the vampire lord Brencis. Coen has 30 days and 30 nights to rescue his family before Brencis's coronation. Time advances only when the player makes significant choices, not during exploration or combat. The "narrative sandbox" design allows players to approach the main goal freely, including the possibility of storming the castle on day one. Combat uses a directional system where blocking and attacking in the right direction conserves stamina. The vampire form offers powerful abilities like teleportation and bloodsucking, but bloodlust can trigger uncontrollable urges to bite and kill NPCs, even those with whom Coen has built close relationships. The game is the first entry in a planned multi-title saga spanning centuries.
Bandai Namco Entertainment unveiled a new trailer for the smartphone game Bleach Mirrors High at Anime Expo 2026 on July 4. The trailer introduces two original player characters, Shirin Migishima and Shirane Sanari, both designed by Bleach creator Tite Kubo. Players will choose one of the two and experience a story set after the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. The trailer also shows the characters in action and includes their voices, though the voice cast has not yet been announced. Alongside the trailer, Bandai Namco opened recruitment for a closed beta test. Applications run until July 13, with approximately 20,000 participants selected. The closed beta test is scheduled from July 22 to 29 according to one source, or July 23 to 30 according to another; data will not carry over to the full release. The game is an action title for iOS and Android, described as a Gotei 13 Experience Action game. Kubo is credited with production cooperation, character concept, and character design. Cast information for the two protagonists is expected at a later date.
Bandai Namco Entertainment America released the opening movie for the action RPG Echoes of Aincrad, featuring the theme song "Live to Survive" by Aimer. The song launches digitally Wednesday in English and Japanese. The game launches July 9 in Japan and July 10 worldwide on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed at EVO 2026 a gameplay trailer for Bob, the next Season 3 character for Tekken 8. Bob enters early access on August 19 with a full release on August 24. Other Season 3 characters include Kunimitsu, Roger Jr., and Yujiro Hanma from the Baki series.
Bandai Namco Entertainment released the demo for Echoes of Aincrad, the new action RPG set in the Sword Art Online universe, on June 16. The demo covers the entire beta test chapter that opens the full game, letting players experience the period before the official service of the in-game MMO Sword Art Online becomes a death game. Playtime is roughly three to four hours, and save data carries over to the full release. Players control a fixed young swordsman avatar during the beta test, then customize their real appearance when the main story begins. The demo includes five missions, all weapon types, and a tutorial for the combat system, which features light and heavy attacks, sword skills, guarding, dodging, parrying, and a severance mechanic that lets players destroy enemy limbs. Partner character Iori, a hardcore beta tester, accompanies the player and can be ordered into Switch Mode or Free Mode. The full game launches July 9 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and July 10 on PC via Steam. Aimer performs the theme song "Live to Survive." Streaming guidelines restrict full-game streaming to Very Hard difficulty with Death Game Mode enabled until July 17.
Bandai Namco Entertainment has released official screenshots for the new action game Gundam Rogue Orbit, set for release in 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game's official website and X account are now live. Players pilot the Gundam Helix as protagonist Rex alongside partner Haro Vee.
Bandai Namco Entertainment opened pre-orders on June 3 for two special editions of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve at Premium Bandai. The Collector's Box costs 15,730 yen and the Ace of Aces Box costs 39,600 yen, both shipping in September ahead of the game's October 2 release.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced during Sony's State of Play livestream on June 3 that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will launch on October 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game is the latest entry in the Ace Combat series, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Players take the role of a fighter pilot rescued at sea by the aging aircraft carrier Endurance, belonging to the Federation of Central Usea. The player is entrusted with the legendary ace known as the Wings of Seave, a symbol of hope, and must reclaim lost territory alongside three new companions. The game is developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc., a studio formed in July 2022 by Bandai Namco Entertainment and ILCA, and is built on Unreal Engine 5. A port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War will be included as a pre-order bonus for the digital version and as an early purchase bonus for the physical version. Early access for the Deluxe Edition begins on September 29.
Kohei Ikeda, game director for Tekken 7 and Tekken 8, announced on Monday that he has left Bandai Namco Entertainment after 20 years at the company. His departure follows that of former Tekken project producer Katsuhiro Harada, who left at the end of 2025 and now leads SNK's new studio.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on June 1 the launch of the NAMCO LEGENDARY 2026 project, an initiative to develop content from classic Namco games. The project centers on five titles marking anniversaries this year: Galaga (45th), The Adventure of Valkyrie, Genpei Tōma Den, and Family Stadium (all 40th), and Time Crisis (30th). Alongside game releases, the project includes a pop-up shop called Namco Game Selection Summer Market at Hakuhinkan TOY PARK in Ginza, Tokyo, running from July 11 to August 6, featuring goods from Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Mappy, and others. A demo version of the 3D puzzle game Namco Legendary Mountains, developed by B-Side, is available on Steam for PC, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and Mac. A plug-and-play gun controller from Tassei Denki, which includes Time Crisis, Gun Bullet, Steel Gunner, and Steel Gunner 2, is also on sale. Additional merchandise includes the second wave of Classic Game Blankets from KADOKAWA Game Linkage, featuring designs from The Adventure of Valkyrie and Mappy, releasing September 16 at 3,300 yen each, as well as Galaga pins and family cassette cases. The project aims to make Namco titles more accessible to both longtime fans and new generations.