Game Spark reviewed VanySlash, a 3D action RPG starring a melee witch named Vanny who wields a talking axe. The game features six hidden costumes, customization items, and a quest system. The reviewer found the combat dated but praised the character model and costume variety. VanySlash is planned for release on PC via Steam.
Game Spark reviewed Island Beekeeper, a beekeeping survival game from Akuseru Studio that launched on PC via Steam on July 29, 2026. Players explore sky islands, collect queen bees, cultivate plants, and manage a large apiary to produce honey for a dying Earth. The game supports solo and online co-op play.
Nippon Ichi Software released Honokurashi no Niwa on July 30. Produced by the Yomawari series staff, it is a life simulation set in a suspicious mountain village. The review praises the story-driven fusion of farming and horror, notes early-game restrictions and UI issues, and recommends Honokurashi Mode for horror-averse players.
SpaceX has officially completed its acquisition of Anysphere, the developer of AI coding tool Cursor, after signing an all-stock agreement in June. The deal values Anysphere's equity at $60 billion. Cursor announced the completion on August 14, saying it will gain access to SpaceX's GPU fleet and release models like Grok 4.6 at lower costs.
Konami's Ganbare Goemon Daishugo, a collection marking the series' 40th anniversary, is now available on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, and PS5. The package includes 13 titles originally released on Famicom, Super Famicom, and Game Boy Color, spanning action games and RPGs. A Game Spark feature highlights the collection's rewind, turbo, and save features.
Inside reports on three notable Chinese games not yet released in Japan. 'Lanqiu Shaonv: Feiyue Dianfeng' began beta testing on August 13, 'Mijing Duojin' has been in beta on TapTap since August 12, and 'Code: Lovania' will be exhibited at RED LAND 2026 in October.
Game Spark's Weekly Treasure Hunt column for August 9-15, 2026 rounds up eight indie and niche game announcements, including survival horror Hunted Within: Terminal Rust, FPS T.R.K: BORDER LINE, VR versions of Total Chaos and CONVRGENCE, and a release date for Stick it to the Stickman.
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.
Crunchyroll added the 86 television anime back to its service last Friday. The series had been removed earlier this year, between April 7 and May 23, according to the Internet Archive. The anime, based on Asato Asato's light novel, premiered in April 2021 and aired for two cours, with the second cour starting in October 2021.
Episode 7 of Kaiju Girl Caramelise turns its attention to Minami, who becomes the focus of public scrutiny after a photo of him kissing Harugon spreads. The episode frames the media attention as a reaction to queer visibility, and continues to read Kuroe's kaiju transformation as a metaphor for trans experience.
viviON Lab released the psychological short horror game 7 Days To Think About It on PC via Steam on July 16, 2026. It is the new work of Silver978, developer of Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling, and the first title from viviON Lab, a business launched by viviON Inc. The game tasks players with memorizing a room that changes with multiple anomalies, then answering a projector quiz from a mysterious man. Wrong answers set the player back days, and three mistakes end the game.
A new Anime Herald feature traces how Japanese arcade games and anime shaped the visual and narrative identity of dodgeball, decades before the 2004 comedy film Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story brought the sport back into the American spotlight. The piece credits Nekketsu Koko Dodgeball Bu, also known as Super Dodge Ball, which hit arcades in November 1987 and by January 1988 ranked as the month's second most successful table arcade unit. The game codified dodgeball as a dramatic, competitive conflict defined by rival teams, extreme identities, and signature moves. In 1989, the manga Hono no Tokyuji: Dodge Danpei debuted in CoroCoro Comic, and its anime adaptation followed in 1991. The article argues that the film's gimmick-heavy teams, such as the Purple Cobras and the Average Joes, echo Super Dodge Ball's mechanics and aesthetics, even though Dodge Danpei never released in the United States. It also notes that the Japan Dodgeball Federation, which grew out of the sport's manga-driven boom, still governs competitive dodgeball in Japan and has collaborated with SPY x FAMILY. A sequel anime, Hono no Tokyuji: Dodge Danko, is set for 2026.
Fuyumi Ono's Twelve Kingdoms fantasy novel series is finally getting an e-book release. Kindle editions will be distributed sequentially on Amazon.co.jp starting September 17 and October 15, 2026, with the new volume Yūmei no Kishi scheduled for December 11, 2026. The initial batch includes Mashō no Ko, Tsuki no Kage, Kage no Umi Parts 1 and 2, and Kaze no Umi, Meikyū no Kishi.
Game Spark's weekly indie feature highlights three titles: Cryptica, a psychological horror set in Antarctica; Wild n Chill, a cooperative survival game about building a cabin in nature; and QUIET, a cooperative comedy horror about duck aliens avoiding a grandmother. Each entry includes platform, release status, and language support details.
HarperCollins is launching the KAZÉ manga imprint in the United States, with an initial lineup of seven titles to be announced later this year. The imprint will hold an industry panel at Anime NYC on August 22 featuring editors Josh Sippie and Emilia Sowersby, who will preview titles coming in 2027. The imprint will include titles for a range of ages, from children to adults.
Episode 8 of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation III follows Rudeus and his party as they meet Perugius, the Armored Dragon King, and explore his flying fortress. The episode mostly delivers world-building and answers about the state of the world, but the plot only advances through Nanahoshi's worsening health, which ends with a violent magical reaction.
NHK General will rebroadcast 'NHK Video File: Want to Meet That Person Encore Satoshi Kon' on August 22 at 5:40 AM. The program compiles interviews with the late director Satoshi Kon and airs ahead of the August 24 anniversary of his death. It originally broadcast on August 23, 2025.
Game Spark's weekly ranking for August 7-13, 2026, places the Ghost Recon 25th Anniversary Showcase at number one. The showcase included a free update for Ghost Recon Wildlands and announced a new game. Other top articles covered Core Keeper's roadmap completion, a Dreamcast-era adventure game retrospective, and a Super Robot Wars Z column.
Denfaminicogamer hands-on with the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Elden Ring, the Tarnished Edition, reports no frame drops or stutters in TV or handheld modes. Graphics matched other platforms, controls responded immediately, and the trial ran smoothly from start to finish. The game launches August 28.
Singer and voice actor Amatsuki announced on August 17 that he is leaving the agency he had been with for 10 years to become independent. He will remain affiliated with Crazy Raccoon as a streamer and Holy Peak as a voice actor. He cited a desire to deliver better music and live performances as his reason.
Game Spark's early August roundup features a hands-on preview of STAR WARS Zero Company, an SRPG called the Star Wars version of XCOM, and Hyperdimension Neptunia∞, the first numbered entry in 11 years. The list also covers an RPG with hidden fetishism and indie titles from Tokyo Game Dungeon 13.
Disney Publishing announced Disney Cursed Love, a romantasy initiative inspired by its classic love stories, at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 on August 14. The initiative launches with The Curse of a Forsaken Heart, a webtoon by Emily McIntire and artist Samairu, debuting on WEBTOON before print in 2027. Seven additional titles were also announced.
KADOKAWA announced a 1/7 scale figure of Haruhi Suzumiya wearing Megumin's outfit from Konosuba - God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!, based on an illustration by Noizi Itō for the Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko Winter Fair 2026. The figure is supervised by Itō and Kurone Mishima, with sculpting by GOLDENHEAD PLUS and paintwork by Kenji Andō. A KADOKAWA Store-exclusive Special Set includes a rubber mat.
At Anime Expo, Anime Herald interviewed the two Kimura team members behind the upcoming anime The Vermilion Mask. Taichi Kimura, a writer on the project, described script meetings that run five hours, from 5 PM to 10 PM, with repeated drafts and rewrites. He noted this process is rare and stems from the original creator's deep involvement in the anime production. Voice actor Taihi Kimura, who plays the character Peru, said his initial impression of the story was that it is interesting, sad, and painful, and he wants to convey Peru's attitude of challenging obstacles, his willingness to forgive, and his desire to be forgiven. Taichi Kimura said the story develops quickly and is full of surprises, while Taihi Kimura called it dynamic and dramatic from the start. The interview also covered Taihi Kimura's ten years of restaurant kitchen experience, his interest in vintage clothing from unknown designers, and his path to voice acting through a high school announcing club and a Koshien game announcement. Taichi Kimura mentioned that Dr. Poro, the manga's artist, drew inspiration from Baki for action sequences. Taihi Kimura also noted he is playing Chihiro Rokuhira in Kagurabachi this season.
Shueisha Games and developer Historia Inc. launched the official X account for UN:Me, a horror adventure game set for release in 2026 on Steam, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2. The game follows a girl with four souls navigating a mental labyrinth, with a playable demo at gamescom 2026.
Hasegawa is re-releasing its 1/72 scale plastic model kits of the F-14 and MiG-29 fighter aircraft from the OVA Macross Zero, with new prices. Both kits are scheduled for release on October 21, 2026, and include markings for the U.N. Spacy and Anti-U.N. Alliance aircraft.
Narrowdeep showed Judge Shepherd, a mystery horror visual novel, at Busan Indie Connect Festival 2026. Players investigate a heresy case as inquisitor Shepherd in the religious nation Vukrium. The demo featured point-and-click investigation, a scent-based mechanic using Sin Powder, and a locked-room puzzle.
A study from Indian Institute of Technology Bhagalpur researchers analyzed 559,290 Steam reviews and found that negative review rates drop after early playtime but rise again for players with over 200 hours. The 'playtime-sentiment paradox' appeared in 5.24% of reviews, with an average playtime of 976.2 hours.
Rockstar Games is set to release Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. While many titles moved away from the date, 31 games are scheduled on Steam for that day, including Lord of Undead and Phantom Vice Auto. Sumikko Gurashi: Welcome to the Relaxing Hot Spring also launches on Switch 2 the same day.
Sort Them Ducks, a first-person organizing simulation about sorting rubber ducks onto shelves, launched on Steam on August 13. It has drawn about 400 user reviews, 88% of them positive, earning a "Very Positive" rating. The game features over 4,000 unique ducks across hundreds of categories.
ABEMA will stream all 26 episodes of A Certain Magical Index III, all 12 of A Certain Scientific Accelerator, and all 25 of A Certain Scientific Railgun T for free from August 18 to 20. Each show remains free to watch for one week after its broadcast.
SkySet Entertainment will stream the Go Forward television anime and its sequel Massugu ni Ikō: Melon Pan-hen on August 18, the 23rd anniversary of the anime's debut. The stream includes Japanese audio with English subtitles and an English dub, available in the US, Canada, UK, New Zealand, and Australia.
Anime News Network reviews episode 5 of The Elusive Samurai Season 2, titled "The Unyielding." The episode sees Tokiyuki face a real failure on the battlefield, as his troops achieve small victories but miss the larger enemy strategy. The review notes the arc's impact is diluted by being spread across a month of episodes.
Little Limp Games announced Sanctuary of Small Things, a monster-collecting craft game for PC via Steam, with a playtest on itch.io since August 15. Players treat sick creatures with magic and alchemy, then bring them to a sanctuary. Release is planned for late Q1 to early Q2 2027.
Santo Nomu, Suntory's official VTuber, marked her 8th anniversary on August 17, 2026. The company announced new initiatives, including an AI version, a mini-character, and a shift in her official title from VTuber to official character. Santo Nomu assured fans she will not disappear, framing the change as a step toward broader activities.
Apple is negotiating with news organizations to let its AI-powered Siri access the latest news, with a proposed payment model that compensates outlets each time their content is used. The Wall Street Journal reports Apple may budget over $100 million, roughly 15 billion yen, for these payments.
Daytona International announced on August 17 that its select shop FREAK'S STORE will release 16 types of collaboration items with the character content Puppet Sunsun starting August 21. The lineup includes sauna goods made with the popular brand SAUVENIR, as well as clothing and miscellaneous items. The sauna items feature Sunsun in a sky-blue color scheme and include a sauna mat, hat, towel, and storage bag. Other items include clear pouches, mesh tote bags, and apparel such as long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, and T-shirts inspired by capsule hotel and super public bath in-house wear. A sweatshirt featuring both Sunsun and Nonnon is also part of the lineup. Five items, including the sauna bag, sauna pouch, sauna mat, sauna set, and all-over clear pouch, are reservation sales and web-only, with delivery scheduled for around mid-September. The items will be sold at select FREAK'S STORE locations and the official online store Daytona Park starting August 21 at noon. Customers who purchase at physical stores receive a hand mirror novelty, while supplies last. Some stores, including Shibuya, Kyoto, and Nagano, will not carry the collaboration items.
Bob Iger received the Disney Legends Award at D23 in Anaheim on August 16. Josh D'Amaro presented the award, and surprise guests Harrison Ford, Robert Downey Jr., Ellen Pompeo, Al Michaels, and Diane Sawyer took the stage to honor Iger's leadership and his role in Disney's acquisitions and record-breaking releases.
Developer Tokisaka opened the Steam store page for Limit Livers One Week Before Deadline on August 15. The PC game is a deck-building roguelite management sim where players guide three VTubers through a week of deadline chaos, balancing schedules and resources to complete tasks like submitting proposals and replying to emails.
The officially licensed 'microSD Express Card 256GB for Nintendo Switch 2' has received a quiet price increase at the Nintendo Store. Both the Samsung and SanDisk versions, previously sold for 6,980 yen including tax, now carry a price of 8,980 yen including tax. The new pricing has also appeared at various e-commerce stores. As of August 17, the SanDisk version is out of stock at the Nintendo Store. No official announcement from Nintendo or the manufacturers has been confirmed regarding the revision. The price change follows a May increase for the Nintendo Switch 2 console itself, which rose from 49,980 yen to 59,980 yen. The Switch 2 only supports microSD Express cards, a new standard with improved read and write speeds, and is not compatible with standard microSD cards used with the original Switch. Market conditions, including rising semiconductor prices, are cited as a likely factor behind the increase.
The Secret World of Arrietty led the Japanese animation TV rankings for August 3-9 with a 7.4% household rating, followed by Sazae-san at 6.2% and Detective Conan at 4.9%. The list includes ten programs, with ratings ranging from 7.4% down to 1.5%.
Episode 6 of Tomb Raider King introduces Anubis and Osiris as powerful foes who challenge Jooheon in new ways. The episode features strong action sequences, creative choreography, and a satisfying moment of wish fulfillment as Jooheon kills his former boss. The review notes some weaknesses in monster design variety.
Since mid-August, social media users on X have posted negative reactions, including 'disgusting,' to restaurant promotional materials made with AI-generated images. The complaints center on unrealistic depictions, such as fried chicken that looks unlike fried chicken or noodles arranged too neatly. Some commenters suggest that choosing a well-known generative AI model or combining original photos can produce safer images. The article notes that significant differences between product images and actual products could potentially violate laws.
ASCII.jp's 178th weekly Steam sales ranking places Apex Legends first, followed by Big Walk and KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX-. The Kingdom Hearts collection, on sale at 70% off, rose after its release window for IV was announced as late 2027. Free-to-play titles dominate the top ten, with HOLOLIVE DREAMS and Escape from Tarkov in fourth and fifth.
ASCII.jp's gadget series highlights Gatebox3, a third-generation device that houses a virtual character in a transparent box. The latest model shifts from standalone operation to an external monitor method, displaying PC video input in 3D. It accepts user-prepared models, allowing customization of appearance, personality, and voice. Crowdfunding is currently open on Makuake.
GOKKO Co., Ltd. will release the vertical short drama 'Tagusari Brothers' First Contact 'D-day ~The Day Sin Disappears~' on the app POPCORN on Friday, August 7, 2026. The 50-episode crime suspense stars Jitsuko Uchida as a forensic examiner forced to kill her aunt after her daughter is taken hostage. Hitomi Kuroki, Daichi Imae, Satoshi Jimbo, and Atsuko Hashiyasume also appear. The story is a prequel set two years before the TBS Friday Drama 'Tagusari Brothers'.
Chaomoon launched the 2D platformer MMORPG Soul's Remnant in early access on Steam on August 13. The free-to-play game, built over 10 years by two developers, has reached a 'Very Positive' rating with 80% positive reviews from 490 reviews and a peak of 4,367 concurrent players. Developer Chaomoon discussed the project on Reddit.
Yanako RPGs opened the Steam page for Dokimon: The Living Soil on August 17. The farming and monster-raising game follows a retired Ranger from Doki Monsters: Quest settling in a Gunma-inspired countryside town. Players farm, cook, fish, and battle in caves with roguelike elements. Release timing remains undecided.
Developer Quantum Vial Games announced Pill & Chill, a physics-based pill sorting game for PC via Steam, scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of this year. Players sort hundreds to 1,000 tablets and capsules by color using a spatula, with no time limits or scores. The game features ASMR-conscious sound design and an open beta and demo before launch.
SuperGroupies is selling Blue Archive collaboration goods modeled on five Arius Branch School students: Saori, Atsuko, Hiyori, Misaki, and Subaru. The lineup totals 10 items, with body bags at 18,700 yen and long wallets at 15,400 yen each. Reservations run from August 17 at 16:00 to September 14 at 12:00, with delivery scheduled for early January 2027.