The Detective is in the Bar series is set to release its fourth film, BYE BYE LOVE The Detective is in the Bar, on December 25, 2026. The film stars Yo Oizumi and Ryuhei Matsuda, with Kyoka Suzuki and Aju Makita as the two heroines.
The Detective is in the Bar series returns with its fourth film, BYE BYE LOVE The Detective is in the Bar, nine years after the previous installment. Directed by Kazuya Shiraishi and written by series screenwriter Ryota Furusawa, the film stars Yo Oizumi as the detective and Ryuhei Matsuda as his partner Takada. The main trailer and poster, released on August 4, reveal that the Detective and Takada pursue separate requests that converge on a conspiracy in the snow-bound town of Tokotan, with a line from Junko foreshadowing the detective's end.
The film introduces nine new cast members, including Aju Makita as Akemi, a runaway high school girl and niece of recurring character Gen-chan; Koji Yamamoto as town mayor Okuji Yutaro; Takuma Oto as Mori Gousuke, president of a powerful local company; and Tomoya Nakamura as Adachi, the new underboss of the Kirihara group, replacing Yutaka Matsushige's character Aida. Kyoka Suzuki plays Junko, whose request sets the plot in motion.
The film opens nationwide on December 25. The trailer and poster were released on August 4, and the cast announcement came on July 14. The series continues to follow the detective duo through a mix of mystery and action, with the new film adding a fresh set of characters and a snow-bound setting.
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The theme song for the fourth installment of 'BYE BYE LOVE Detective in a Bar' is Sakanaction's 2014 song 'Goodbye.' Yo Oizumi praised the track as fitting the film perfectly. The movie, starring Oizumi and Ryuhei Matsuda, opens nationwide on December 25. Oizumi noted the film's Hokkaido connection, from the original author to the theme song.
On August 7, 2026, Fami Koto held its 5th concert at Katsushika Symphony Hills Iris Hall in Tokyo. The group, led by koto performer Kazushi Okimasa, played game music from Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, Ganbare Goemon, Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 6, Another Eden, and Final Fantasy VI using only traditional Japanese instruments.
SNK streamed an animated trailer for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves to mark the DLC launch of Duck King on Thursday. Masami Ōbari directed and served as creative producer, with Studio G-1 Neo producing the animation. The trailer also features Rick Strowd, the previous DLC fighter.
Anime News Network's review of Re:Zero Season 4 episode 14 analyzes the arc's structure, suggesting Subaru's challenges feel orchestrated by an outside force. The review notes Subaru is unknowingly a Sin Archbishop two times over, and that his new powers likely come from Regulus' Authority of Greed. The episode also reveals Shaula is the giant scorpion and Roy tried to eat Reid.
Universal Studios Japan announced on August 27 that its autumn event "Halloween Horror Nights" will run from September 11 to November 8, marking the event's 15th anniversary. For the first time in park history, a nighttime-only "Zombie Bar" will transform the San Francisco area's Wharf Cafe after 6 p.m., where zombified crew members serve cocktails inspired by past event zombies, including non-alcoholic options. The event also introduces school festival stall food at Universal Market, themed to high school zombies from the special show "Halloween Horror Nights Academy: 15 Years of Despair." Collaboration items with the anime "Chainsaw Man" include a keema curry-flavored bun modeled after Denji's transformed state and a Pochita frozen parfait, along with T-shirts and keychains sold at the Cinema 4-D Store. Food tied to the "Biohazard Requiem" maze features a Green Herb Recovery Croissant Dog and Leon S. Kennedy's Bitter Chocolate Churritos. Select menus come with collectible 15th-anniversary coasters.
Good Smile Company is accepting reservations for the MODEROID Mini Gattai Henshin Getter 1, an assembly model kit from Getter Robo that lets the three Getter Machines, Eagle Go, Jaguar Go, and Bear Go, fully combine into Getter 1. The kit uses molded colors, pre-painted parts, and stickers to reproduce a color scheme close to the anime image. It features a simple transformation mechanism with no leftover parts or part swapping, and includes two Getter Tomahawk weapon parts. Priced at 3,900 yen including tax, the kit is a second re-release of a product that first came out in February 2025. Reservations close on August 26, and shipping is scheduled for December 2026. This is one of several MODEROID releases announced around the same time, including re-releases and new kits for Panzer World Galient, Iron Linebarrel, and Dancouga: Super Beast Machine God.
NANOO COMPANY released the free desktop companion game PC FISH: Taskbar Aquarium on Steam on August 14, 2026. It holds an 86% positive rating from 51 reviews, earning a Very Positive status. Players raise, breed, and collect fish while working or gaming. Over 450 species are available.
VARSAV Game Studios announced BARKOUR, a stealth and parkour action game starring a dog-shaped secret agent, for release in Q4 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players control T.H.U.N.D.E.R. with AI partner A.L.F.-RED, using stealth, parkour, combat, and gadgets across missions with multiple approaches.
Nugem Studio and Tesseract Studio detailed the Plague Zone update for the idle RPG Taskbar Hero, targeting early September. The update adds a high-difficulty stage type, level 90 items, new runes, and a character skin system with dark fantasy themes. Plague Zone stages require Contamination and offer adjustable Plague Intensity for better rewards.
The Overgeared anime will premiere on Tokyo MX and BS11 on October 2 at 11:30 p.m. JST. The second promotional video previews the opening theme "SATISFY" by Re:name and the ending theme "Ray of Emotion" by virtual singer TAO. New cast members include Riho Sugiyama as Jishuka, Masaaki Mizunaka as Toban, Kō Bonkobara as Regas, Masaya Fukunishi as Vantner, Kōhei Amasaki as Pon, and Shunichi Toki as Faker.
Indie developer Dams-Labs announced 'Baryum', a space simulation using real astronomical data to recreate the solar system at the moment of play. Players are ISS-based cadets completing contracts like surveys and cargo transport, facing pirates and the Aurum organization. Combat uses autocannons, missiles, and EM disruptors with heat management. The game launches September 8, 2026, with Japanese display support.
Developer handlebardev announced Handlebar, a first-person downhill cycling roguelike, on August 19. Players race down automatically generated mountain paths, pass through portals to warp between tracks, and collect upgrades attached to the handlebars. The game is in development for PC via Steam, with no release date set.
The real Honda CB750F ridden by Baribari Densetsu protagonist Koma Gun is on display at an Initial D pop-up shop at Aeon Mall Takasaki through August 20. AUTOart 1/12 scale models of the CB750F and NSR500, each with a Gun Helmet, are also on display and for sale.
A new web manga label called MANGABU! launched on August 17, 2026, operated by FaMH Entertainment. The label is headed by Masahiko Ibaraki, former editor-in-chief of Weekly Shonen Jump and the first editor-in-chief of Jump Square, and Hideki Egami, former editor-in-chief of Monthly IKKI. The label's catchphrase is "After school isn't over yet," and it aims to publish a wide range of genres without restrictions. At launch, 15 series began serialization simultaneously, including "Bakudanhan no Musume," a comic adaptation of Aki Kajiwara's nonfiction novel by Matsu Karasume; "Times Tetepamu" by Mai Inoue; "Kome to Hana to, Awai to." by Daisuke Higuchi; and "IRUKA" by Kizu. The lineup spans suspense, romance, human drama, and comedy. The label positions itself as a place where creators, readers, and editors can enjoy manga like a club activity. FaMH Entertainment was established in May 2025 as a subsidiary of Fam Group, with Hiroyuki Kondo of Mash Group serving as chairman.
The TBS drama VIVANT will bring back Chinggis, the Barca Republic police officer played by Barsarakhagva Batbold, in episode 15 airing August 23. It is his first full appearance in season 2, after a brief glimpse in episode 11. His return sets up a possible alliance or conflict with Nogii and Nozaki.
The Hell Mode anime's website announced six new cast members for season two on Friday. Yuuki Sanpei plays Sigur, Yasuyuki Kase plays Lukidral, Kō Bonkobara plays Gatoruga, Satoshi Tsuruoka plays Graster, Takaaki Torashima plays Neftira, and Shinya Takahashi plays Yagof. The season premiered on Tokyo MX on July 3.
Kinetic Publishing, the label launched by Phasmophobia studio Kinetic Games, streamed its first showcase on August 13, 2026, and announced five debut titles. The slate spans a spaceship work simulator, a magical island life sim, a snail-body Metroidvania, a wizard life sim, and a fifth title. Platforms include PC and consoles.
Embark Studios announced on August 12 that ARC Raiders will receive its largest update to date, titled Frozen Trail, on October 8. The update follows a May 2026 policy shift that moved the game's major content cadence from monthly to twice a year, with Frozen Trail being the first major release under that new schedule. The update introduces a new map set in a frozen settlement at the edge of the Last Belt, featuring abandoned villages, factories, research facilities, and observatories, with greater verticality and exploration opportunities. New high-level challenges are designed for experienced Raiders, demanding meaningful choices, dynamic encounters, and cooperation. The update also adds new ARC machines, ranging from small nuisances to massive threats, plus adjustments to skill trees and the Raider deck system. Additional content includes new weapons, gadgets, cosmetic items, instruments, and improvements to matchmaking, anti-cheat, stability, and quality of life. The story will approach the origins of the ARC machines, as Raiders investigate an unidentified signal from beyond the mountains. The game is available on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store, as well as PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Kinetic Publishing announced on August 13 that Half Mermaid is developing 'PRECOGNITION,' a live-action SF horror game, during its 'Kinetic Publishing Showcase - August 2026' stream. The game was previously teased as 'Project C' in 2024. Players take the role of Diana, a former genius girl who gains the ability to foresee her own future after experimental brain implant surgery. The player can choose to fix a vision as a memory, but doing so changes the future itself. The game is described as a natural extension of Half Mermaid's previous work 'IMMORTALITY,' carrying over its approach of piecing together a story from video fragments. Canadian horror film director Brandon Cronenberg, known for 'Infinity Pool' and 'Possessor,' is involved in the screenplay as an external collaborator. Barlow said he met with several horror film directors when deciding to make the game an SF horror, and Cronenberg stood out as the right fit. Cronenberg had already played 'Her Story' and 'IMMORTALITY' and understood the gameplay. 'PRECOGNITION' is scheduled for release in spring 2028 for PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, with Japanese subtitle support noted on the Steam store page.
Ahead of the November 13 release of the new OVA Magical Princess Minky Momo: Toward the Yearning Dream - Duet of Sincerity, the KAC official YouTube channel will stream both TV seasons free for a limited time starting August 10. Season 1 airs in five weekly blocks through September 14.
Saber Interactive released 14 minutes of gameplay footage for its single-player horror survival action game Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival via IGN. Players control Aidan, who uses the Genesis Configuration puzzle box to rescue his girlfriend Sunny from the Labyrinth. The footage shows exploration and combat against enemies, including cultists and Cenobites. The game launches October 8 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Game circle Yabukara-do opened the Steam store page for fitness rhythm game Ganbare! Cheer Rhythm on August 10 and will exhibit at Tokyo Game Show 2026. The game has players coach cheerleader Iroha Shikura, voiced by Yuka Hinata, using two-hand motion controllers. Release is scheduled for 2027.
A fan mod called Bard Hero brings Guitar Hero style rhythm gameplay to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition and Anniversary Edition. It builds on the roleplay mod Skyrim's Got Talent, uses a five lane note system, and includes 87 songs from another mod, BA Bard Songs. Players can also load Clone Hero chart data and use PC guitar controllers.
Sanrio Puroland will hold its 2026 Halloween event, "PUROMONSTERSCRAMBLE," from September 11 to November 3. The event is themed around a monster Halloween party with the concept "KAWAII x MONSTER HALLOWEEN," featuring Hello Kitty, Kuromi, Cinnamoroll, and Bad Badtz-Maru in fluffy monster costumes. The event includes the park's first collaboration with LABUBU, the character from POP MART, who will appear alongside the Sanrio characters in various content and goods. A new 360-degree immersive live show, "PUROMONSTERSCRAMBLE PARTY," will debut, featuring the monster Jack O'Happens voiced by Subaru Kimura, with LABUBU as a special guest. The show includes music by FAKE TYPE. and choreography by Harris. A DJ time segment, "PUROMONSTERSCRAMBLE DJ TIME!," will also be held for the first time. The popular attraction Sanrio Character Boat Ride will be offered as a horror version, "Noroware Pierrot," directed and supervised by the haunted house Obaken. Limited-time goods and food will be available throughout the event.
The main trailer and poster for the latest film in the Detective is in the Bar series, BYE BYE LOVE The Detective is in the Bar, were released on August 4. The film stars Yo Oizumi and Ryuhei Matsuda as the detective duo, with Kyoka Suzuki and Aju Makita as the two heroines. It opens nationwide on December 25.
KADOKAWA announced at the KonoSuba anime's 10th anniversary event that pre-registration for the new mobile and PC game KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! - Let's Bring Prosperity to This Beloved Town! (Machisuba) is now open on the App Store and Google Play. A teaser PV and key visual were released, and an X giveaway campaign is underway.
Crowbar Collective, the studio behind the Half-Life mod Black Mesa, has released the full version of its co-op tactical FPS Rogue Point. Publisher Team17 began distribution of version 1.0 on August 5, 2026, about six months after the game entered early access in February 2026. The game is set in a near-future where the death of the world's richest CEO has thrown society into chaos, and corporations hire private military companies through an app called MERX. Players join the elite security organization Rogue Point to fight radical mercenaries in missions with randomly changing objectives and map layouts. The full release adds a fifth map called Clinic, which mixes open areas with narrow corridors, plus a new boss named R. Son, who uses a flamethrower. Three new weapons are included: the Mule compact shotgun, the KT50 semi-auto carbine, and the A1M semi-auto rifle. New cosmetic items include Chainmail Armor, a security guard uniform, and a lab worker outfit. The update also introduces a MOD Kit that supports community-created maps and content, with Steam Workshop integration, and adds five new achievements. To mark the launch, Rogue Point is 50% off on Steam until August 19.
Bandai Namco Filmworks announced two new cast members for The Ghost in the Shell television anime from Science SARU on Thursday. Kenichi Ogata voices Col. Tonoda, and Masashi Ebara voices the president of Hanka Precision Instruments company. Both characters appeared in the anime's fourth episode, which aired on Tuesday. The staff also shared an end card for the episode, illustrated by animator Tetsuya Nishio, known for his work on Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. The anime premiered on July 7 on the Ka-Anival!! programming block on Kansai TV and Fuji TV, airing Tuesday nights at 11:00 p.m. JST. It began streaming on Amazon Prime Video Japan the same day, and is available simultaneously on Prime Video in over 240 countries and regions, excluding mainland China, Russia, and Vietnam. The first two episodes screened at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June and at Anime Expo on July 4. The series marks Mokochan's directorial debut, with Toh Enjoe writing and overseeing scripts, and Shuhei Handa designing characters and serving as chief animation director.
A new KonoSuba game, Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o! ~Kono Ai Subeki Machi ni Hanei o!~, was announced at the franchise's 10th anniversary event. The game features an original story supervised by original light novel author Natsume Akatsuki and illustrator Kurone Mishima. It will launch on mobile and PC this year, with pre-registration now open.
Kodansha USA announced eight new manga licenses at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, including Gamon Sakurai's The Pool, Shuuichi Shigeno's Subaru and Subaru, and IZU and Hagane's Kraken Mare. The company also plans a spring 2027 box set for The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity.
Dwango announced on July 27 that four Nijisanji VTubers will host a four-week relay live commentary for the TV anime Street Fighter USA on Nico Nico Live. The program, titled 'Nijisanji × Anime Street Fighter USA All 26 Episodes Relay Live Commentary,' runs from September 17 to October 8, 2026, every Thursday at 20:00. The participants are Hyakumantenbara Salome (episodes 1-7), Kuzuha (episodes 8-13), Iha Rai (episodes 14-19), and Saeki Ittetsu (episodes 20-26). All four are known for playing Street Fighter 6, with Kuzuha reaching Ultimate Master rank and Iha Rai at High Master. Street Fighter USA aired in the US in the 1990s and was long considered a 'phantom title' in Japan because it was never broadcast or released on home video there; it became available on streaming services in 2021. The VTubers will watch the series fresh, without prior viewing or information. The broadcast will show the anime footage alongside the VTubers' reactions on one screen. A follow-and-repost campaign on the Nico Nico VTuber official X account offers prizes. Kuzuha commented that he wants to learn character matchups by watching the anime to raise his rank.
Konami announced on July 27, 2026, that two 11-disc CD-BOX sets, "Ganbare Goemon Music Collection: Red" and "Ganbare Goemon Music Collection: White," will be released on October 14, 2026, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Ganbare Goemon series. Each box is priced at 12,650 yen (tax included), and a "Red and White Set" combining both is available for 25,300 yen. Pre-orders are open now on Konami's official online shop Konamistyle. The Red box contains over 500 songs from 12 titles, including "Ganbare Goemon! Karakuri Dōchū" (Family Computer and MSX2) and "Ganbare Goemon: Neo Momoyama Bakufu no Odori," plus bonus tracks. Three titles in the Red box-"Ganbare Goemon: Uchū Kaizoku Akogingu," "Ganbare Goemon: Tōkaidōchū Ōedo Tengu Kaeshi no Maki," and "Ganbare Goemon: Hoshizora-shi Dynamites Arawaru!!"-are first-time CD recordings. The White box includes over 500 songs from 9 titles, such as "Ganbare Goemon: Derodero Dōchū Obake Tenkomori" and "Ganbare Goemon: Yuki-hime Kyūshutsu Emaki." First-time CD recordings in the White box are "Goemon: Mononoke Sugoroku" and "Ganbare Goemon: Kuru nara Koi! Ayashige Ikka no Kuroi Kage." Customers who pre-order the Red and White Set on Konamistyle will receive a bonus CD, "Music from Bōken Jidai Katsugeki Goemon."
Abylight Barcelona announced S.O.N.A.R. - Submarine Crew, Not Ready!, a cooperative simulation for up to four players who operate a submarine through combat, escort, and exploration missions. The crew manages nine stations, food, health, and rest while dealing with malfunctions, flooding, and fires. Playtest signups are open on Steam.
On July 20, 2026, numerous anime, manga, and game franchises posted Marine Day greetings on social media. The Japanese national holiday, which honors the ocean and marks the end of the rainy season, prompted official accounts and creators to share beach-themed illustrations, character birthday messages, and promotional content. Among the posts, the official Kaiju No. 8 account promoted an upcoming original short anime titled "Narumi's Weekday" with a pun on the character's name and the kanji for sea. The MAPPA studio released a new illustration by Rie Nishimura for the soccer series DAYS, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026. The Sound! Euphonium account reminded followers that the film Sound! Euphonium: The Final Part 2 opens on September 11. Classroom of the Elite noted that July 20 is also the birthday of character Honami Ichinose. The That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime account promoted the streaming of its movie Tears of the Azure Sea on U-NEXT. The Chiikawa movie account promoted the July 24 release of Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu. Voice actor Yuki Kaji posted a personal greeting, and the band Orange Range shared a summer song. The roundup, compiled by Anime News Network, spanned three articles covering dozens of entries.
Director Neill Blomkamp, known for 'District 9' and 'Gran Turismo', released a short sci-fi horror film titled 'NIGHTBORNE' on YouTube on July 20. The 13-minute film was produced entirely with generative AI, using Seedance 2.0 to generate every frame based on prompts directed by Blomkamp. It is the first release from the newly established AI film studio Barley Studios. The footage is structured as a documentary, told through interviews, recovered program footage, and the recorded video of a scientist who escaped a classified defense program that sends fallen soldiers back to the battlefield. The characters use the faces and voices of 32 real people filmed under portrait rights contracts, and the concept art was created by human artists. 'NIGHTBORNE' is based on the world of the sci-fi novel 'Echopraxia' by Peter Watts. Blomkamp stated on his X account that he has been experimenting with AI for a couple of years and now wants to tackle a full feature in this format, calling this short a '13-minute test start.'
Crunchyroll announced the English dub cast for Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, with Cristina Vee, Marwa Elda, Abi Kumar, and Yussef Benelbar leading the voice cast. The first two dubbed episodes will stream on July 18. The anime, directed by Abel Góngora at Science SARU with Naoko Yamada as chief director, premiered in Japan on July 4.
The fourth film in the 'Detective is in the Bar' series, titled 'Bye Bye Love: The Detective is in the Bar', has announced nine new cast members. The film is set for release on December 25, 2026, nine years after the previous installment. Directed by Kazuya Shiraishi and written by series screenwriter Ryota Furusawa, the movie stars Yo Oizumi as the detective and Ryuhei Matsuda as his partner Takada. The new cast includes Aju Makita as Akemi, a runaway high school girl and niece of recurring character Gen-chan; Koji Yamamoto as town mayor Okuji Yutaro; Takuma Oto as Mori Gousuke, president of a powerful local company; and Tomoya Nakamura as Adachi, the new underboss of the Kirihara group, replacing Yutaka Matsushige's character Aida. Additional cast members are Keiko Horiuchi as Misako, Toshinori Omi as Nakatani Shigeo, Hiromasa Taguchi as the Fukuoka yakuza Togashi, Takamitsu Nonaka as detective Midorikawa, and Shingo Mizusawa as Morino Kenkichi. The story follows the detective and Takada as they become entangled in a conspiracy after a request from Junko, played by Kyoka Suzuki.
Shirakami Fubuki and Hoshimachi Suisei played a browser-based real escape game based on Steins;Gate, encountering a freeze that forced a restart. The article also recalls Oozora Subaru and Usada Pekora's first-time reactions to the series. The piece promotes the upcoming Steins;Gate RE:BOOT, which adds a new Gamma world line route.
Orange Inc. announced on Thursday that its emaqi service will release four manga titles in English: Pierrot-Man (July 10), The Isekai Reincarnation Sketchbook of Hundred Burger-chan (July 17), Barefaced: The Man Who Left Public Security (July 17), and Beyond the Heavens (July 31). Two of the titles will also be available on the emaqi Premium subscription, which launched July 1. The service is also adding 88 additional volumes to its subscription catalog in July.
Nugem Studio and Tesseract Studio announced that the Steam market for high-rarity items in the idle RPG Taskbar Hero will reopen in July after stability checks. A development roadmap through 2027 was also released, detailing new dungeons, items, classes, and Season 1. The announcement follows a period of market restrictions and sanctions against approximately 20,000 fraudulent users, as well as ongoing issues with save data and server compensation.
Embark Studios launched Season 11: Galaxy Masters for THE FINALS on July 9, 2026. The space-themed update adds the Galaxy Estate arena with speed tunnels and anti-gravity zones, overhauls melee combat with defense, stamina, and precision strike systems, and introduces a Bot mode for Cashout. A space-themed battle pass and convenience improvements like an improved respawn system and expanded pins are also included.
Christopher Barrett, the former director of Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter Marathon, has settled the defamation and breach-of-contract lawsuit he filed against Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie in December 2024. Barrett had sought over $200 million (approximately 30 billion yen) in damages, alleging that the companies fabricated sexual harassment allegations to avoid paying him share compensation and retention bonuses owed after Sony's acquisition of Bungie in 2022. The lawsuit was initially dismissed by the Delaware Court of Chancery in December 2025 on jurisdictional grounds, and Barrett refiled in the Delaware Superior Court in January 2026. On July 9, 2026, a joint statement from all parties announced the settlement. Terms were not disclosed, but Barrett said he was "very satisfied with the result." As part of the resolution, his name has been added to the credits of Marathon as "Original Game Director." Barrett was fired in March 2024 after an internal investigation found he had made inappropriate comments about female subordinates' appearances and relationships.
Developer Barely Making Games announced on July 8 that it will complete the railway simulation game 'Retro Rail GO!', which had been under consideration for cancellation after widespread criticism of its similarity to Taito's 'Densha de GO!' series. The title has been changed to 'Retro Rail: Japan!', and the in-game UI and demo version have been updated. The developer stated it made the changes not because it yielded to criticism, but to maintain a healthy and safe development path. The core gameplay remains unchanged. The demo update removed all AI-generated placeholder assets and replaced them with artist-created works, switched the train horn sound to one more characteristic of Japanese trains, added station character sprites and crossing gate models, and fixed UI scaling for widescreen aspect ratios. The developer also emphasized that no copyrighted materials were used. The game is set in a fictional Japanese railway route with retro 3D graphics reminiscent of 1990s simulators. It will offer two modes: Casual mode with relaxed schedules and Professional mode with strict timetable adherence and two-step notch control. Early access release on PC via Steam is planned within 2026. A demo is currently available.
Toei Video announced the 2026 edition of its fan-vote-driven Blu-ray project, selecting 10 candidate tokusatsu works including Superhuman Barom-1, Inazuman, Metalder, and Kabutack. Fans vote in two rounds; one or more titles will receive a new 4K negative scan HD remaster and Blu-ray release. The first voting period runs July 8-16.
Dracogen Studios has announced Cosmic Crowbar, a story-focused 2D action-adventure game. Players take on the role of the hero Cosmic Crowbar, who crash-lands on Earth and fuses with an ordinary crowbar to survive. The game is set in a mysterious scrapyard, where players gather companions, fight enemies, and use crowbar-based actions. It is scheduled for release on PC via Steam.
The idle RPG Taskbar Hero has sanctioned approximately 20,000 users for cheating. The developers plan to resume Steam market trading of high-rank items after confirming stability, and will release a development roadmap within the week. A DLC adding trade ship slots and compensation coins has also been released.
JAST USA announced the full English voice cast for School Days Remastered during Anime Expo 2026 on July 5. The remastered version of Overflow's 2005 visual novel will receive its first official English dub. Katelyn Barr voices Kotonoha Katsura, Brittany Lauda voices Sekai Saionji, and P.M. Seymour voices Makoto Itou. The cast also includes Jalitza Delgado as Setsuna Kiyoura, Sara Ragsdale as Otome Katou, Kayli Mills as Hikari Kuroda, and others. The game will support English and Chinese text. School Days originally launched in Japan in 2005 and inspired a 12-episode television anime in 2007, followed by two OVA spinoffs in 2008. The story follows a love triangle among protagonist Makoto Itou, his classmate Sekai Saionji, and Kotonoha Katsura. The anime gained notoriety when its final episode was preempted by a real-life axe murder in Japan, leading to the "nice boat" catchphrase. JAST USA announced the English dub version is scheduled for overseas release in 2026. The remastered version updates the original fully animated visual novel for modern PCs with enhanced presentation and quality-of-life improvements.
The official website for Mebius Dust revealed five new cast members on Thursday. Kanon Amane, Kenshō Uesugi, Shōta Hayama, Kō Bonkobara, and Genta Nakamura join the series as members of the dangerous group Diabolic Ghost. The anime, an original TV anime by Dōga Kōbō based on Hajime Shinagawa's story, premieres July 9 on Tokyo MX and BS Fuji and streams on Crunchyroll.
Korean team HIBOO won the APAC League Cycle 2 finals of THE FINALS esports tournament The Grand Major Online Series on June 28, 2026. HIBOO came from behind to defeat Chinese team KZ in the final match. The win earns HIBOO $2,000 and 100 points toward qualification for the TGM Grand Final 2026 in Stockholm.
Netflix released the first full trailer for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners II on June 29, 2026, confirming a fall 2026 premiere for the 10-episode anime. Studio Trigger returns to animate the sequel, which tells a standalone story with an entirely new cast of characters rather than continuing the original series. Bartosz Sztybor is back as showrunner. The official logline describes the series as "a raw chronicle of redemption and revenge" set in Night City, where violence has become entertainment and survival often means becoming part of the spectacle. The logline poses the question: "When the world is blinded by spectacle, what extremes do you have to go to make your story matter?" The first Cyberpunk: Edgerunners became a breakout hit for Netflix and CD Projekt Red after its 2022 debut, helping revive interest in the Cyberpunk 2077 game. The new season follows a different set of characters navigating the same dystopian setting.