The music project YAO, made up of Awich, CHICO CARLITO, ONE OK ROCK, and Paledusk, will release its second song digitally on September 4. Titled "Arufu na Sekai no Hate ni," the track grew out of the members' dialogue about Okinawa's history and culture, and was previewed during ONE OK ROCK's August tour dates.
4Gamer's weekly roundup for August 17-23, 2026, features its coverage of BIC2026, the Busan Indie Connect Festival held August 14-16, alongside a look ahead to gamescom 2026, which runs August 26-30 in Cologne with over 1,600 exhibitors. The top access story was about the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
FromSoftware's new Nintendo Switch 2 action game The Duskbloods, directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, holds a network test from August 21 to 24, 2026. Ahead of that, media hands-on sessions and a group interview with Miyazaki revealed the game's core loop. In The Duskbloods, up to 8 players compete across four phases, earning victory points called Virtue to survive elimination. Virtue comes from defeating enemies, looting items, completing events, and, within designated Ritual Grounds, defeating other players. Outside those areas, PvP yields little benefit, so the game emphasizes strategy over direct combat skill. Players choose from six fixed characters in the network test, each with unique melee and ranged weapons, bloodline arts, and mobility options including air jumps and dashes. The full version will add customization and over 10 character bases. Miyazaki confirmed the game is not an extraction shooter and that PvPvE was a loose label. He also said the final battle can be PvE against a boss, and that ranked matches and seasons are planned.
Fireshine Games released Duskfade, a classic-style 3D action platformer from Weird Beluga, on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Players control Jillian, who wields a shape-shifting clockwork sword to rescue her sister from a mysterious clock tower in a clockpunk world sunk into eternal night.
FromSoftware has announced the winners of the network test for its upcoming PvPvE action game The Duskbloods for Nintendo Switch 2. The results were released today, August 7, at 22:00 JST, and can be checked on the My Page of the official application site or via email. The game pits up to eight players against each other as Duskbloods, beings empowered by special blood abilities, competing over the First Blood. Applications for the test closed in July. Selected players will receive a download number published on My Page from August 18 at 22:00, allowing them to download the game client. The test runs across five sessions from August 21 to August 24, with times spanning evening, morning, and late-night slots. The Duskbloods is scheduled for release in 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2.
FromSoftware is closing applications for the network test of its upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 title The Duskbloods today, July 28, at 22:59 JST. The network test is scheduled to run from August 21 to August 24, with multiple sessions across those days. Winners will be announced on August 7. The game is a PvPvE multiplayer action title for up to eight players, set for release in 2026. Players take on the role of blood clans or twilight bloodlines, competing over a resource called the blood grant or first blood. The test will allow selected participants to experience multiplayer gameplay before the official launch. Applicants need a Nintendo Account and a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. The selection is by lottery, not first-come-first-served. Winners will receive a download code to access the test version starting August 18 at 22:00. The test sessions are scheduled at specific times on each day, covering a range of hours to accommodate different regions.
The latest This Week in Games column notes the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy X, released in 2001. Square Enix released a commemorative video featuring major moments from the game. The column also discusses the game's setting, its Okinawan-inspired names for Tidus and Yuna, and its heavy use of water as a visual theme.
FromSoftware began accepting applications for the network test of its upcoming multiplayer action game The Duskbloods on July 22 at 23:00 JST. The test, scheduled to run from August 21 to August 24, allows up to eight players to experience the PvPvE gameplay. Players take on the role of Twilight Bloodlines, superhuman beings who battle over the First Blood. Victory is determined by points earned during combat, with additional missions and events available. The test is designed to evaluate server load, verify multiplayer functionality, and test game balance. Applicants must have a Nintendo Switch 2 console and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. The application period ends on July 28 at 22:59 JST. Selected testers will be notified by email and can download the test version from August 18 at 22:00 JST. The full game is scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.
FromSoftware announced a closed network test for its upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 title The Duskbloods, to be held from August 21 to August 24, 2026. Tester applications will be accepted from July 22 to July 28. The test supports up to eight players and is designed to verify server load, multiplayer functionality, and game balance. The Duskbloods is a PvPvE multiplayer action game set in a Gothic Victorian world. Players take on the role of Twilight Bloodlines, beings granted superhuman abilities through special blood, and compete in a battle for the First Blood. Victory conditions shift depending on the situation, and more than ten unique characters are available for customization at the base. Participation requires a Nintendo Switch 2 console and a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. The test marks the first opportunity for the public to play the game, which is scheduled for release on Switch 2 later in 2026.
The official website for the live-action film of Mika Yamamori's In the Clear Moonlit Dusk manga released a new trailer on Thursday. The trailer announces and previews the theme song "Moonlit" by Naniwa Danshi. The film stars Shunsuke Michieda and Seira Anzai, opens in Japan on October 23, and is directed by Kentarō Takemura.
The new collaborative project YAO, featuring Awich, CHICO CARLITO, ONE OK ROCK, and Paledusk, released the music video for their debut song '777' on July 7. The track was chosen as the commercial song for Red Bull's new Sudachi Edition energy drink, with the TV ad airing from July 12.
Red Bull has launched a new video series called Red Bull IN-YO! on its hip-hop channel Red Bull Mic. The first installment features the supergroup YAO, bringing together Awich, CHICO CARLITO, ONE OK ROCK, and Paledusk for a cross-genre session blending hip-hop and rock. The video is now available on YouTube.
The live-action film adaptation of Mika Yamamori's manga "In the Clear Moonlit Dusk" has added two new cast members. Former Nogizaka46 member Yūki Yoda will play Yoshiko, the childhood friend of protagonist Kohaku Ichimura. Naohito Fujiki will portray Seiichi Takiguchi, the father of the other lead Yoi Takiguchi and the owner of a curry restaurant called "Nasu Oyaji." The film stars Shunsuke Michieda as Kohaku Ichimura and Seira Anzai as Yoi Takiguchi, with additional cast including Rintarō Mizusawa, Yuna Hoshino, Sayu Suzukawa, Takato Ōkura, and Tatsumi Asa. Kentarō Takemura is directing from a script by Yuichi Tokunaga, with music by Shū Kanematsu. TBS TV is overseeing production at TBS Sparkle, and TOHO is distributing. The film is scheduled to open in Japan on October 23. The manga, which began serialization in 2020 in Kodansha's Dessert magazine, has 10 compiled volumes and received an anime adaptation that premiered in January.
Automaton's 87th weekly roundup covers seven game announcements and releases, including the silent open-world survival game DUSKDOG, the robot girl adventure COCORO starring Hina Yomiya, houseplant shop sim Leafy Corner, JRPG PARAGON STORY, gunship tactical sim Drone Sector, physics-based Ramen Simulator, and the human farm horror HORSES.
Paris-based indie developer ExoDive announced DUSKDOG, a survival exploration game set on a dim, cold surface lit by a broken artificial sun. Players control Rika, who explores the silent ruined world, manages body temperature, and restarts antennas to expand the light range. A demo is planned soon.
FromSoftware announced during the June 9 Nintendo Direct broadcast that a closed network test for its new title The Duskbloods will take place in summer 2026. The game, first revealed in April 2025, is a PvPvE multiplayer action title for up to eight players. Players take on the role of Twilight Bloodlines, characters with superhuman powers gained through special blood abilities, who compete in battles over the First Blood. Over ten unique characters are available, and players can select and customize them at a base before entering online matches. While the last survivor typically wins, victory conditions may shift depending on the match situation. The supported platform is Nintendo Switch 2. Specific test dates, participation methods, and further platform details have not yet been announced. The announcement was accompanied by a new trailer offering a glimpse of the game's world.
The live-action film adaptation of Mika Yamamori's manga In the Clear Moonlit Dusk revealed a new trailer on Monday, announcing five additional cast members. The film stars Shunsuke Michieda and Seira Anzai, opens in Japan on October 23, and is directed by Kentarō Takemura.
Misfits Attic announced Duskers 2.0, a command-line adventure game and sequel to the 2016 original, during the PC Gaming Show 2026 on June 8. The reveal footage shows players exploring derelict spaceships via command line. The game is scheduled for release on PC via Steam.
Fireshine Games and Weird Beluga announced during the Future Games Show: Summer Showcase 2026 that Duskfade, a 3D action platformer set in a clockpunk world, will release on August 13, 2026. The game features speed-focused movement and weapon-based combat, and will launch on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
At BitSummit PUNCH in Kyoto, New Blood Interactive CEO Dave Oshry showed a playable build of *Dungeons of DUSK*, a turn-based 3D dungeon RPG set between the first two chapters of the cult FPS *DUSK*. The game is developed by Italy-based 68k Studios, led by Federico Fanelli, and published by New Blood. Combat is grid-based: every step the player takes, enemies also move. The player collects handguns and shotguns, spends technique points on special abilities, and uses items found in the dungeon. A skill tree system lets players build their character. A FRENZY mode triggers when enemies are killed within a set number of turns, granting bonus experience. The demo has been updated with improved field of view and map readability, and full Japanese localization has been confirmed. Oshry said the project began as an idea to make something like the mobile *DOOM RPG*, aiming to revive the pre-smartphone mobile RPG genre. A Steam demo is available now, and the full game is planned for a 2026 release.
Anime Feminist published a review of the first episode of the shojo romance series In the Clear Moonlit Dusk on January 15. The review describes the protagonist Yoi, a tall girl with a lower-pitched voice who has been nicknamed "The Prince" by her classmates. She is uncomfortable with the label but struggles to speak up. The episode introduces Ichimura, a popular boy also called "Prince," who is the first person to see past her reputation. The reviewer is of two minds about the premiere. On one hand, they value the story's exploration of how rigid feminine beauty standards can exclude girls from being seen as women. They note that Yoi experiences something like dysphoria due to being misgendered. On the other hand, the reviewer is disappointed that the series seems to be heading toward a romance that reaffirms Yoi's femininity rather than letting her embrace her boyish traits. They also criticize the character design, arguing that Yoi looks conventionally attractive with big eyes and soft features, which undercuts the premise of her being unfeminine. The reviewer finds the animation lovely and the leads have chemistry, but they remain frustrated with the broader trends the story represents. They place the show on their "It's Complicated" shelf.
New Blood Interactive announced Japanese language support for Dungeons of DUSK, a classic turn-based dungeon exploration RPG from 68k Studios set between episodes of the 2018 FPS DUSK. The game features a 30-stage campaign, arena, boss rush, and survival modes, and is planned for PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch, iOS, and Android. A Japanese-language Steam demo is available now.