← all stories
Blade
The Blade series is in flux: Mahershala Ali has left the lead role in Marvel's Blade film, leaving the project without its star and no confirmed path forward. Meanwhile, the Blade Runner franchise is moving forward with the live-action series 'Blade Runner 2099' set to premiere on Prime Video on November 25.
Synthesized from 30
Yomimono stories · updated
Aug 11
The Blade franchise is split between two very different projects. Marvel's Blade film lost its star when Mahershala Ali confirmed to American GQ that he had stepped down from the lead role. The project was announced at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2019 and was originally set for a November 3, 2023 release, but lost its director before filming began and has faced delays since. Ali, who voiced Blade in the 2021 film Eternals, said the studio was not serious about the project. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige expressed regret over the stalled production.
In contrast, the Blade Runner side of the franchise is moving forward. The live-action drama 'Blade Runner 2099' will stream on Prime Video starting Wednesday, November 25. The limited series runs 8 episodes and is set in Los Angeles in 2099, 50 years after 'Blade Runner 2049'. Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer star, with Ridley Scott attached as executive producer. A Japanese teaser trailer and scene photos were released.
The two projects are unrelated in their current status: one is stalled without a lead, the other is set to premiere this fall. The Blade film's future remains unclear, while 'Blade Runner 2099' has a confirmed release date and cast.
Key facts
- Lead actor departure
- Mahershala Ali has left the lead role in Marvel's Blade film. ↗
- Original announcement
- The Blade film was announced at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2019. ↗
- Original release date
- The film was originally set for a November 3, 2023 release. ↗
- Ali's prior role
- Ali voiced Blade in the 2021 film Eternals. ↗
- Blade Runner 2099 premiere
- The live-action drama 'Blade Runner 2099' will stream on Prime Video starting November 25. ↗
- Series format
- The limited series runs 8 episodes and is set in Los Angeles in 2099. ↗
- Lead cast
- Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer star in 'Blade Runner 2099'. ↗
- Executive producer
- Ridley Scott is attached as executive producer on 'Blade Runner 2099'. ↗
Timeline
- Aug 11, 2026 KLab Swings to Operating Profit in Q2 as Dragon Quest Smash Grow Doubles Sales
- Aug 11, 2026 Weekly Game*Spark Ranking: AI Music Video, Mech Market, Dragon's Dogma 2 Lead
- Aug 9, 2026 Game Spark Picks Its Top Games of Late July 2026
- Aug 9, 2026 Zoids Blade Liger Joins T-SPARK Adamas Machina With LED Laser Blades
- Aug 8, 2026 Honkai: Star Rail x Fate/stay night [UBW] Saber Gets 1/7 Scale Figure
- Aug 7, 2026 Mahershala Ali Steps Down from MCU Blade Film
- Aug 7, 2026 Blade Runner 2099 Sets November 25 Prime Video Premiere
- Aug 7, 2026 Star Rail x Fate Collab Event Is Dense Enough to Be a Fate Side Story
- Aug 7, 2026 Slayblade Sets August 20 Release, Demo Now on Steam
- Aug 6, 2026 Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch 2 Edition Bugs Confirmed, Fix Data Coming Soon
- Aug 6, 2026 Phantom Blade Zero Development Complete, Pre-Orders Open August 12
- Aug 6, 2026 Weekly Steam Square Issue 163: Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms and Scrap Mechanic
- Aug 5, 2026 Crunchyroll Adds Six New Anime and Sound! Euphonium Dub
- Aug 5, 2026 Iceblade Sorcerer Season 2 Reveals New Cast, October Debut
- Aug 4, 2026 Beyblade X Shortages Spur Takara Tomy Made-to-Order Sales
- Aug 4, 2026 IDW Licenses Sonic the Hedgehog: The Blade of Courage Manga
- Aug 4, 2026 Splatoon Raiders Debuts at Top of Japan's Game Rankings
- Aug 4, 2026 This Week in Games: FFXIV Evercold Details, Xenoblade 2 Update, and More
- Aug 4, 2026 Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN Music Video Draws AI Criticism
- Aug 4, 2026 Saber Gets 1/7 Scale Figure in Honkai: Star Rail x Fate Collaboration Outfit
- Jul 31, 2026 Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch 2 Edition Launches With New Outfits, Mercenary Action
- Jul 28, 2026 Honkai: Star Rail Releases Fate/stay Night Unlimited Blade Works Collaboration PV
- Jul 27, 2026 Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch 2 Edition Trailer Reveals Xenosaga's Momo as Rare Blade
- Jul 26, 2026 This Week's New Games: Halo Remake, Xenoblade 2 Switch 2 Edition, and More
- Jul 26, 2026 Honkai: Star Rail Launches Fate UBW Collaboration Phase 2 With Rin, Gilgamesh
- Jul 24, 2026 Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch 2 Edition Gets New Costumes, M.O.M.O. Blade
- Jul 24, 2026 Dinoblade, the Soulslike Where a Spinosaurus Wields a Greatsword, Launches on Steam
- Jul 17, 2026 BEYBLADE X x HAWKINS 'MACH BEY' Sneaker Arrives July 30 at ABC-MART
- Jul 15, 2026 Beyblade X HellsNesser Deck Set and Black 3on3 Case Open for Lottery
- Jul 15, 2026 ReBlade: The Death Spiral Preview Shows ChillyRoom's Roguelike Near Completion
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Announced
- film (San Diego Comic-Con) · 2026-08-07
- Noted
- originally set for a November 3, 2023 release · 2026-08-07
- Noted
- lost its director before filming began · 2026-08-07
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/blade.
CC BY 4.0.
All coverage
4d ago
SHIFT UP will release Stellar Blade Complete Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 on November 6, 2026, priced at 7,980 yen including tax. A demo launched on the Nintendo eShop on September 20, and the Switch 2 version is playable at Tokyo Game Show 2026 at Makuhari Messe. The package contains the main game plus all content released so far, including collaboration costumes with NieR and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, with nearly 130 costumes total. Four Bayonetta collaboration costumes will be distributed free on the same day for Switch 2, PC, and PS5 owners. CEO Kim Hyung-tae said the port targets 60fps in both TV and handheld modes, dropping to 50fps in some scenes, and that the play feel is meant to match other platforms. He also confirmed the sequel Stellar Blade BLOOD RAIN is in development.
5d ago
BAND-MAID will perform the new ending theme song "SPIN" for the Beykingdom Arc of the Beyblade X anime, the franchise staff announced Thursday. The full song launches on October 28. The arc premieres October 9 on the franchise's official YouTube channel. The anime premiered in Japan on TV Tokyo and its affiliates in October 2023, entered the True Future Arc last April, and premiered globally in July 2024, with Disney XD airing the series.
5d ago
Titan Manga will release a special anniversary edition of Yunosuke Yoshinaga's Break Blade manga in English on December 15. The series ran from its 2007 debut to a 20th and final compiled volume in 2022, published in Japan by Flex Comix and later continued on G-mode's Comic Meteor site. CMX Manga released three volumes in North America before the imprint shut down in 2010.
6d ago
The source notes that announcements from events such as State of Play and Nintendo Direct have filled out January and February 2027. Super Danganronpa 2x2 arrives January 14. Three titles land January 28: Metroid Ravenous, Until Dawn 2, and Fate/EXTRA Record. The roundup also names Persona 4 Revival and Oboro Muramasa Kaikitan among the notable releases, with the source noting February holds a concentration of major dates.
Sep 16
At Anime Expo 2026, Makoto Furukawa and Daiki Yamashita, who voice Iarumas and Raraja in the upcoming fantasy anime Blade & Bastard, spoke about their characters. Furukawa described Iarumas as relaxed, intelligent, and defined by amnesia, and said familiarity with the RPG Wizardry adds insight into the role. Yamashita called Raraja the most normal character and said he looks to Iarumas for survival before seeing his human side.
Sep 16
TakaraTomy will rebrand its overseas operations in 2027, presenting itself in English-speaking markets under the same name it uses in Japan. CEO Akio Tomiyama said the company raised research and development spending 14.9 percent year over year to 6.7 billion yen in the fiscal year ended March 2026, with more products aimed at "kidult" buyers and new trading card licenses including Detective Conan and Haikyu!!.
Sep 16
Silent Bark Games, a studio based in Bangkok, will exhibit Blast Blade at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held September 17 to 21 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture. The 3D battle game supports up to four players offline and online, with wins earned by knocking opponents off the stage using Blast Attacks. The latest playable demo will be shown for the first time, alongside venue-exclusive novelties and a lottery.
Sep 15
The Beyblade franchise's official X account announced Tuesday that the Beyblade X anime's "Bey Kingdom Arc" premieres October 9 on YouTube, alongside a new visual. The anime first aired in Japan on TV Tokyo and its affiliates in October 2023, entered the "True Future Arc" last April, and premiered globally in July 2024. Disney XD is airing the series.
Sep 10
Marvelous announced on September 10, 2026 that Oboromuramasa Kaikitan, a Japanese-style action RPG developed by Vanillaware, will launch on February 4, 2027 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. The PC version arrives on Steam one day later, on February 5, published by Marvelous USA. The standard edition costs 6,578 yen including tax. A limited special edition is priced at 8,778 yen, and a Digital Deluxe Edition at 7,678 yen. Pre-orders for the physical edition are opening progressively. The game combines the PlayStation Vita title Oboromuramasa and its downloadable content Genroku Kaikitan into one package, with high-resolution graphics and new features. Six protagonists are featured, each with separate stories and goals, and the order they are played is left to the player. The official website has been renewed with each protagonist and story detailed.
Sep 10
The second season of The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World anime will debut on TBS on October 8, with a BS11 airing on October 9 and Crunchyroll streaming as it airs. The main trailer previews the opening theme "Diamond Dust" by Sizuk. New cast includes Ryōhei Kimura as Julius Orphe, Aoi Koga as Bianca Miller and Konomi Kohara as Emma Clarke.
Sep 10
Nintendo announced during a Nintendo Direct livestream on Wednesday that the Switch 2 edition of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will add a new character, Shimmer, and a Heroes' Vault mode with roguelite gameplay where players unlock upgrades by defeating enemies. The Switch 2 edition launches December 3 physically and digitally, and owners of the original Switch game can buy an upgrade pack.
Sep 9
Nintendo announced during its September 9, 2026 Nintendo Direct that the hide-and-seek game Meccha Chameleon, created by solo developer LEMORION, will be released for the Switch 2 immediately after the broadcast ends. The game launched on Steam on June 10, 2026, and several outlets report it sold over 20 million copies, with 4Gamer.net specifying sales of 15 million in less than a month. The Switch 2 version's surprise drop follows the game's rapid rise among streamers. Sources describe Meccha Chameleon as a drawing and hide-and-seek game with simple rules that is fun to play in large groups. The Nintendo Direct also revealed the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, scheduled for December 3, 2026, which adds the new hero Kaguya and the roguelike-style mode Heroes Record.
Sep 8
SHIFT UP CTO Lee Dong-gi commented on the official music video for Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN, which drew mixed reactions after its July release over its use of AI generation technology and video quality. In an interview with TheGamer, he said the video was meant to show more of the game's beauty, world, and characters, and that the studio takes the reactions seriously. He said SHIFT UP will clearly separate game-related content from experimental content going forward, and described AI as a tool that should support developers' creativity. Platforms and release timing remain unannounced.
Sep 8
BEYBLADE X demand has surged worldwide, leaving products short mainly in Japan and Asia since spring 2026. Takara Tomy announced emergency production increases on July 29 and began made-to-order sales through Takara Tomy Mall. At TOKYO Toy Show 2026, development team member Yamamoto said the decision follows the brand's core principle: Beyblade is a physical toy, and players cannot play without the product in hand.
Sep 2
Releaseplay Studio confirmed online battles for SteelBlade Shop Simulator, its Beyblade-inspired shop management and spinning top battle game for PC (Steam), in a Reddit post that drew over 2,000 upvotes. Players run a SteelBlade toy shop in Japan, customize tops from three parts, sell them, and can battle themselves. A demo is planned for Steam Next Fest in October. Japanese is supported.
Sep 2
Takara Tomy Arts is releasing a capsule gacha line of BEYBLADE X mini shooters in six designs: Dransword, Hells Scythe, Wizard Arrow, Knight Shield, Phoenix Wing, and Cobalt Dragoon. Each capsule is an all-in-one set with the bey, a shooter, and a winder, so it can be played immediately. Five beys pair with right-spin shooters; Cobalt Dragoon comes with a left-spin shooter and winder. Each capsule costs 300 yen including tax, with release set for early September 2026.
Sep 2
Good Smile Company is re-releasing its 1/7 scale figure of Nia from Xenoblade 2, based on an original illustration by character designer Masatsugu Saito. The awakened Blade form figure stands about 310mm tall, includes a dedicated base, and uses clear materials and pearl paint for texture. Reservations are open on Amazon.co.jp at 29,800 yen, with release scheduled for May 31, 2027.
Sep 1
Takara Tomy President and CEO Akio Tomiyama sat down with Anime Herald at Anime Expo 2026. He discussed Beyblade's strategy-driven design, the company's move of manufacturing from China to Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand to avoid tariffs, and his argument that physical toys remain central even as digital marketing grows.
Sep 1
At Anime Expo, the BEYBLADE X team discussed the design of the X Dash mechanic, which accelerates a top when a gear on its tip engages with rails inside the stadium. Marketing and Product Group General Manager Hisato Takaoka said the goal was to surpass the Burst mechanic of the prior generation and push BEYBLADE toward a competitive, sports-like experience. First-year domestic sales in Japan were three times those of Burst.
Aug 29
Anime News Network reviewed Xenoblade Chronicles 2 for Nintendo Switch 2, praising the graphical improvements but criticizing poor tutorials, audio mixing issues, and an Amiibo glitch in New Game+ that erases party members' third Item Pouch. The review notes the game remains maximalist and hard-hitting despite these flaws.
Aug 29
Comic book and manga letterer Dave Lanphear died on August 18 from complications related to diabetes, according to a Bleeding Cool report that his sister Tera Lanphear first shared on Facebook on August 22. He was 58. Lanphear was an award-winning cartoonist, letterer, art director, and story producer. He was born on June 5, 1968, and worked as a newspaper illustrator from 1985 to 1989. He joined Comicraft in 1994, where he helped advance digital lettering techniques, then left in 1999 to lead the lettering department at CrossGen Entertainment. He later co-founded Artmonkeys Studios and worked as a freelance letterer. His comic credits span Marvel, DC, Image, Valiant, Malibu, and Dynamite, with work on titles like Batman: The Long Halloween, Superman '78, Mighty Avengers, and Wonder Woman. In manga, he lettered Beyblade, Bleach, Densha Otoko, and Oyayubihime Infinity. He won two Eisner Awards in 2011 for Return of the Dapper Men and Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard, and was nominated for Harvey Awards as Best Letterer in 2012 and 2014. Comic-Con International posted condolences on Thursday, noting his prolific work across major publishers.
Aug 27
SHIFT UP announced on August 27, 2026, that the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Stellar Blade Complete Edition will be playable for the first time by the general public at Tokyo Game Show 2026. The demo will feature six stations set up in the Sega Partners Corner within the Sega/Atlus Booth (Hall 4/04-N01) at Makuhari Messe. TGS 2026 runs from September 17 to 21, with business days on the 17th and 18th, and public days from the 19th to the 21st. The Switch 2 version is scheduled for release within 2026. A special stage will be held on September 20, featuring Stellar Blade director and SHIFT UP CEO Kim Hyung-tae. The stage will be conducted in Korean with Japanese interpretation and will be livestreamed on Sega's official YouTube channel. Stellar Blade is an action-adventure game where players control Eve, a member of a space colony unit, fighting to reclaim Earth from creatures called Natives. The game was previously released for PS5 in April 2024 and for PC in June 2025.
Aug 27
Bandai Spirits is launching a new Gundam figure brand called ABSOLUTE ACT, built around the ABSOLUTE ACTION SYSTEM for articulation. The first entry is the Strike Freedom Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY, which received its world first display at TOKYO Toy Show 2026, running from August 27 to August 30, 2026. The approximately 185mm tall ABS/PVC figure features movable mechanisms in the neck, shoulders, and waist, plus a waist rail mechanism and shoulder pull-out mechanism for dynamic posing. It includes a high-energy beam rifle, two beam sabers, a connected saber handle, two beam shields, interchangeable wrist parts, and a base with a bendable support rod. Reservations begin August 27, 2026, at general retail stores, with release scheduled for March 2027 at 16,500 yen including tax. TOKYO Toy Show 2026's first two days are trade-only, with public access on August 29 and 30. The show also featured other Gundam items at the Bandai Spirits booth, including Gundam Miximize Gundam Zero and HG 1/144 Gundam Zero.
Aug 21
Anime News Network's weekly games column covers Sony's State of Play with Phantom Blade Zero, the return of Kingdom Hearts and Princess Maker, plus Kingdom Hearts 4 footage from D23 and a new Kingdom Hearts TV series. The column also notes the passing of Hayden Panettiere, the original voice of Kairi.
Aug 20
Henry's House released Slayblade, a PC roguelite on Steam where players build custom battle tops from over 60 parts and fight to win a world championship. The game is set in a 2000s-style town and follows a player searching for their father, the inventor of the Slayblade who disappeared five years ago. It supports Japanese and is 15% off until September 4.
Aug 20
The second season of the television anime based on Nana Mikoshiba's The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World light novel series will premiere on TBS on October 8 at 1:23 a.m., followed by an October 9 airing at 11:00 p.m. The announcement came from the anime's official website on Thursday, which also revealed the theme song performers and a new key visual. Sizuk will perform the opening theme "Diamond Dust," and Maaya Uchida will perform the ending theme "Compression:[". Both artists previously contributed theme songs to the first season. Crunchyroll will stream the anime as it airs. Masahiro Takata returns to direct, write, and oversee scripts, and serve as sound director. Zero-G is now animating the series, replacing Cloud Hearts, which animated the first season. Mariko Kawamoto takes over as character designer from Makoto Shimojima. The returning cast includes Junya Enoki as Ray White, Iori Saeki as Amelia Ros, Akira Sekine as Ariane Olgren, and others. Miyu Kubota will voice Elisa Griffith, replacing Nana Harumura, who retired from voice acting in January due to health reasons. The first season premiered in January 2023.
Aug 18
Sony Interactive Entertainment aired a dedicated State of Play for Phantom Blade Zero on August 18, 2026, and the broadcast detailed the dark wuxia action game's story, world, and combat systems. The protagonist, Soul, was the strongest swordsman until his best friend betrayed and killed him. A healer called the Flesh Sculptor revives Soul, but he has only 66 days left to live, and his goal is to find a full resurrection within that window. The game offers four difficulty levels: Wayfarer and Pathbreaker for cinematic, accessible play; Hellwalker, where enemy AI adapts to player behavior; and the highest difficulty, 66 Days, which ties the protagonist's remaining lifespan directly to the gameplay timeline. In 66 Days mode, each defeat subtracts time from the countdown, and reaching zero means game over with no retry. The broadcast also revealed more than 30 main weapon types and 25 sub-weapons called Phantom Edge, plus combat styles such as Drunken Fist and dual swords. The game releases October 29 for PS5 and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Aug 15
Game Spark traces Kim Hyung-tae's career from a boy who dreamed of being a manga artist to the founder of SHIFT UP and director of Stellar Blade. The profile covers his early rejection, his work on Magna Carta and Blade & Soul, and his decision to leave NCsoft to found SHIFT UP in 2013.
Aug 15
S-GAME opened pre-orders for Phantom Blade Zero on August 12, 2026, across PlayStation Store, Steam, and Epic Games Store. The dark martial arts action-adventure game launches October 29, 2026, for PS5 and PC, with the standard edition priced at 8,580 yen on Steam. A pre-order trailer running about 11 minutes also debuted, showing combat scenes including a fight on a moving carriage and a duel with the protagonist's father, Mo Yuan. The trailer's final moments reveal Mo Yuan, performed by Donnie Yen, who has served as the game's creative consultant since 2023, providing expertise in martial arts and action film production, and acting as the facial and motion capture actor for the character. PlayStation announced a dedicated State of Play broadcast featuring Phantom Blade Zero on August 18 at 11:00 AM JST, running about 20 minutes. The program will introduce an unrevealed character central to the story and detail how player builds create varied combat styles. The game was originally scheduled for September 9, 2026, before being delayed to October 29.
Aug 12
SHIFT UP reported on August 11 that 'Stellar Blade: Blood Rain' is progressing smoothly toward its quality targets. The sequel, announced at Summer Game Fest 2026, shifts to self-publishing. The company aims to surpass the original by approaching users directly. The Switch 2 version of the original is set for release in late 2026.
Aug 11
Anime News Network's This Week in Anime column examines director Kenji Kamiyama's filmography in light of his new Gundam series, XARX-ZERO, revealed at San Diego Comic-Con. The column traces his path from late-80s background artist on Akira and Kiki's Delivery Service to director of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and projects tied to Star Wars, Ultraman, and Blade Runner.
Aug 11
KLab reported second-quarter net sales of 3.263 billion yen, up 91.3% quarter-on-quarter, and operating income of 493 million yen, reversing a first-quarter operating loss of 453 million yen. The launch of Dragon Quest Smash Grow, developed by KLab and published by Square Enix, drove the recovery. The first half still posted a net loss of 125 million yen.
Aug 11
Game*Spark's weekly ranking for July 31 to August 6, 2026, lists the top five most-read articles. The list includes backlash over SHIFT UP's AI-generated music video for 'Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN', an analysis of Japan's untapped mech game market, and a Q&A revealing new skills and hard mode for 'Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen'.
Aug 9
Game Spark's roundup of the final week of July 2026 highlights six titles, led by Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, which adds new costumes for Pyra and Mythra. The list also includes Game Freak's action RPG Beast of Reincarnation, the first-person Silent Hill: Townfall, and the indie horror Penguin Lifter.
Aug 9
Takara Tomy's T-SPARK Adamas Machina alloy model series adds the Zoids Blade Liger as AM-Z02. The completed model features LED light-up in the canopy and, for the first time, in the laser blades. Reservations are open on Amazon.co.jp at 31,150 yen, with release scheduled for March 27, 2027.
Aug 8
The Saber from the Honkai: Star Rail x Fate/stay night [UBW] collaboration is now a 1/7 scale figure, based on Takashi Takeuchi's illustration. Pre-orders are open at AmiAmi, priced at 28,710 yen, with release scheduled for June 2027.
Aug 7
Mahershala Ali has left the lead role in Marvel's Blade film, he confirmed to American GQ. The project was announced at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2019 and was originally set for a November 3, 2023 release, but lost its director before filming began and has faced delays since. Ali, who voiced Blade in the 2021 film Eternals, said the studio was not serious about the project. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige expressed regret over the stalled production.
Aug 7
The live-action drama 'Blade Runner 2099' will stream exclusively on Prime Video starting Wednesday, November 25. The limited series runs 8 episodes and is set in Los Angeles in 2099, 50 years after 'Blade Runner 2049'. Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer star. A Japanese teaser trailer and scene photos were released.
Aug 7
The second phase of the Honkai: Star Rail x Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] collaboration is underway. New characters Rin Tohsaka and Gilgamesh are implemented, and the Trailblaze Mission interlude Phantasm: Holy Grail War has been released. The event story, reportedly supervised by Kinoko Nasu, is dense with Fate references and centers on Rin as the protagonist. The event explains both franchises' basics so newcomers can follow it.
Aug 7
Henry's House announced on August 6 that its roguelite battle top game Slayblade will launch on PC via Steam on August 20, 2026, Japan time. The developer describes the game as a Beyblade-inspired life sim roguelike, set in a 2000s-style miniature city where players skateboard, find opponents, and build custom tops from over 60 part types. Each part carries stats for weight, acceleration, and spin resistance, and players can purchase parts at shops or through gachapon. The game progresses in daily cycles with morning, afternoon, and night phases, including street battles, illegal nighttime fights with cash stakes, lawn mowing for income, and shrine donations that boost experience. The story follows a protagonist whose father invented an infinitely spinning Slayblade and disappeared five years ago; the player aims to win the World Championship to uncover the truth, though the developer notes the story is limited to short cutscenes at the start and end. A demo is available on Steam, currently English-only, and lets players experience about half of the parts and unlockable content, with progress carrying over to the full version. The demo has earned a Very Positive rating on Steam, with 85% of 221 user reviews positive at the time of writing.
Aug 6
Nintendo Support announced on August 5, 2026, via X that several bugs have been confirmed in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, which began distribution on July 30 for the Nintendo Switch 2. The first bug causes accessory equipment slots to decrease from 3 to 2 under specific conditions. This occurs after starting Advanced New Game, using the Accessory Expansion Kit to obtain 3 slots, then loading an amiibo in the menu and receiving Bonus WP. The issue does not happen if anything other than Bonus WP is obtained. The second bug makes the battle BGM quieter. Nintendo is preparing update data to fix these issues, and will announce the distribution date once decided. Until then, players are advised to avoid the bug conditions when using amiibo. The game is available for download on Nintendo Switch 2 at 9,778 yen (tax included), with an upgrade pass for 1,000 yen for those who purchased the Switch version. A packaged version is scheduled for release on October 1 at 9,778 yen.
Aug 6
S-GAME announced on August 6, 2026 that development of the action RPG Phantom Blade Zero is complete. The game is scheduled for release on October 29, 2026 for PC and PS5. Pre-orders will begin on August 12 at 11:00 Japan time across the PlayStation Store, Steam, and Epic Games Store. Alongside the pre-order opening, an 11-minute trailer will be released, featuring new story elements, characters, battle scenes, and what the studio calls 'something unexpected.' Phantom Blade Zero is described as a kung-fu punk action RPG set in a phantom world where ancient Chinese landscapes coexist with rusted industrial facilities. Players control Soul, an assassin serving the mysterious organization The Order, who has only 66 days to live and seeks revenge after being framed for a crime. The announcement follows earlier statements from S-GAME that the team is not concerned about overlapping release timing with GTA6, focusing instead on game quality.
Aug 6
4Gamer's Weekly Steam Square column for July 25, 2026 highlights two notable Steam releases: Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms, a large-scale strategy action game set in the Three Kingdoms era, and Scrap Mechanic, a multiplayer sandbox survival game. The column also covers other releases, announcements, and sales information on Steam.
Aug 5
Crunchyroll announced at AnimagiC in Germany that it will stream six anime series, including Eleceed, FX Fighter Kurumi-chan, Shangri-La Frontier season 3, The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World II, The Laid-Off Cheat-Granting Mage Enjoys a Second Lease on Life, and Uncle's Obsession with Cute Things. The service also added the English dub of Sound! Euphonium season 1.
Aug 5
The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World season 2 will debut in October on TBS and BS11. The staff revealed new cast members, including Miyu Kubota as Elisa Griffith, replacing Nana Harumura, who retired in January. Masahiro Takata returns to direct, and Zero-G now animates the series.
Aug 4
Takara Tomy announced on July 29 that it will increase production and hold made-to-order sales for some BEYBLADE X products after shortages continued since spring 2026. The company said demand for the fourth-generation spinning top series has exceeded expectations worldwide, particularly in Asian regions including Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Shortages have persisted since around Golden Week, and even new products released from June to August have not been supplied in sufficient quantities. The increased production will roll out sequentially from the end of July to August, with supply volumes expanding thereafter. Three products will be sold via made-to-order on the Takara Tomy Mall: the CX-16 Start Dash Set C, UX-20 Starter Glory Valkyrie LF, and UX-21 Hells NETHER Deck Set. The application period runs from 12:00 on August 7 to 23:59 on August 11, with shipping scheduled for around mid-January 2027. Orders are limited to one per person or household to prevent resale and hoarding. The BEYBLADE X development team apologized for the shortage in a YouTube video released the same day.
Aug 4
IDW Publishing began releasing Yuki Imada's Sonic the Hedgehog: The Blade of Courage manga in English through the IDW Comics app on Wednesday, July 29. The manga, which follows Sonic teaming up with a slow human named Yuta to travel through a jungle and save the world, originally launched in Shogakukan's Monthly CoroCoro Comic magazine in June 2025. Shogakukan shipped the single compiled book volume on December 26. The English release is the first official translation of the series, made possible through partners at Sega and Shogakukan. However, shortly after the debut, Imada expressed frustration on X, sharing a screenshot of the app's review section where several reviews credited other Sonic creators, such as Ian Flynn and Tracy Yardley, instead of Imada. Imada wrote that he drew the art and wrote the story himself, and that he had never felt so insulted. IDW's Sonic editorial team said they were thrilled to bring the official English release to readers, noting fans had been looking forward to Sonic and Yuta's quest to stop Dr. Eggman.
Aug 4
Nintendo's Splatoon Raiders, the first spin-off in the Splatoon series, debuted at number one on Japan's video game rankings for the week of July 20-26, according to Famitsu data compiled by Anime News Network. The Nintendo Switch 2 title sold 474,684 copies in its first week, nearly triple the second-place game's weekly total. Rhythm Heaven Groove held steady at number two with 78,355 copies, bringing its cumulative total to 674,592. Tomodachi Life remained in third place with 23,468 copies, pushing its lifetime sales past 1.5 million. The rest of the top five included Powerful Pro Baseball 2026-2027 at number four and Mario Kart World at number five. The chart also saw new entries from Shochiku Games' Yog-Sothoth's Yard at number 12 and MAGES.'s Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsu no Ma ni ka Dame Ningen ni Sareteita Ken Memorial Vacation at number 14, both released on July 23. Long-running titles continued to appear, with Minecraft at number eight and Splatoon 3 at number 11. The list, sourced from Famitsu, covers software sales across all platforms in Japan for the specified week.
Aug 4
This week's gaming roundup covers a wide range of announcements and updates. Final Fantasy XIV's Evercold expansion received new details from the EU Fanfest in Belgium, including two crossover raids with Neon Genesis Evangelion and Final Fantasy VII, a new ranged tank class called the Bastion, and a non-linear story structure with automatic enemy scaling. The expansion is slated for January 2027. Meanwhile, Monolith Soft released an update for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on Switch 2, adding 60 FPS and 4K resolution in handheld mode, a new Merc Assault mode, new outfits for Pyra and Mythra, and a new Blade from Xenosaga, M.O.M.O., whose inclusion has sparked speculation about Nintendo acquiring the Xenosaga rights. Other stories include Cyber Connect 2's mobile port of Fuga: Melodies of Steel, a first look at Chronoscript: The Endless End, and several smaller releases and announcements.
Aug 4
SHIFT UP released a music video for "Wanna be in LOVE" Feat. Evie on July 31, tied to the in-development sequel Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN. The video, which features protagonist Evie singing and walking through the game's city, was created using game resources and regenerated with AI assistance, as stated in the video description. YouTube's disclosure section notes that audio and visuals were partially modified or entirely generated by AI. The video has drawn criticism from the community, with comments ranging from calls to stop using AI altogether to complaints about low quality, such as Evie's face changing unnaturally and the text "Fairness and Peace" on her suit appearing distorted. Some fans who are not opposed to AI use still reacted negatively, saying "What matters is how AI is used" and "Don't use AI for promotions." SHIFT UP CEO Kim Hyung-tae responded that the character Evie was built over more than a year by the studio's artists and modelers, and that AI did not create her from scratch. The A.I Labs logo appears at the end of the video, and the company has an internal organization focused on AI-driven development efficiency. Platforms and release timing for Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN have not been announced.