← all stories
盛世天下：女帝への道I
The live-action interactive drama game series Shengshi Tianxia: The Path to Empress I and II is available on PC, iOS, and Android, with a Nintendo Switch release planned. The sequel adds branching historical and if routes that reward replaying to find correct paths.
Synthesized from 30
Yomimono stories · updated
Jun 20
The two-game series Shengshi Tianxia: The Path to Empress I and II offers a choice-driven simulation of Tang Dynasty court politics, set around 640 AD. The games follow Wu Yuanzhao, a character modeled after Wu Zetian, through harem power struggles and succession disputes. Automaton published play impressions of both titles on June 20, 2026.
The first game establishes the core premise of navigating political intrigue within the imperial court. The sequel expands on this with complex route branching, introducing both historical and if routes where choices affect later story branches. The design rewards replaying to discover the correct paths through the narrative.
The games are currently available on PC, iOS, and Android platforms. A Nintendo Switch release has been planned but no date has been announced. The series has not received any further coverage in Yomimono beyond the initial impressions article.
Key facts
- Setting
- The games are set in China's Tang Dynasty around 640 AD. ↗
- Protagonist
- The games follow Wu Yuanzhao, modeled after Wu Zetian. ↗
- Platforms
- Available on PC, iOS, and Android. ↗
- Nintendo Switch release
- A Nintendo Switch release is planned. ↗
- Sequel feature
- The sequel introduces branching historical and if routes with choices that affect later story branches. ↗
Timeline
- Jun 20, 2026 Red Cat Ramen Season 2 Sets January 2027 Debut, Adds Tasuku Hatanaka
- Jun 20, 2026 Shengshi Tianxia: The Path to Empress I & II Bring Tang Dynasty Politics to Life
- Jun 20, 2026 Tom and Jerry Flocked Gashapon Dolls Return for June 2026 Re-Release
- Jun 20, 2026 MAPPA Releases 15th Anniversary Music Video
- Jun 20, 2026 C-Class Magic Student Who Believes He Is SSS-Class Manga Volume 1 Released
- Jun 20, 2026 Melty Blood: Type Lumina Gets 70% Off Steam Sale Until June 26
- Jun 20, 2026 Godzilla Station Pop-Up Shop Opens at Kyoto Station for First Time
- Jun 20, 2026 Sakura Miko and TikTok Launch 'Fashion Beat' Listening Party
- Jun 20, 2026 Final Recovery Squad Launches to Very Positive Reviews on Steam
- Jun 20, 2026 AceeeZ Unit Love Pani! Debuts With First Original Song
- Jun 20, 2026 Keroro Gunsō Teams With JOYSOUND for Karaoke Campaign and Giveaway
- Jun 20, 2026 AION2 Launches in September, Lets Players Fly Anywhere
- Jun 20, 2026 Toy Story 5 Gets 11 Screening Formats and Themed Theater Event
- Jun 20, 2026 Two Point Studios Marks 10 Years With Definitive Edition And Dave The Diver Crossover
- Jun 20, 2026 Nintendo's Pictonico! Turns Phone Photos Into Surreal Mini-Games
- Jun 20, 2026 New Ghost in the Shell TV Anime Sets July 7 Premiere on Prime Video
- Jun 20, 2026 Konami Arcade Games Releases Fate/Strange Fake Archer and Lancer Prize Figures
- Jun 20, 2026 Amazon MGM Studios Drops Luca Guadagnino Sam Altman Biopic 'Artificial'
- Jun 20, 2026 Katekyo Hitman Reborn! Teams With Manekineko for 20th Anniversary Pirate Collaboration
- Jun 20, 2026 Steam Personal Calendar Feature Drives Wishlist Surge, Publishers Report
- Jun 20, 2026 Gakumas Songs 'Fighting My Way' and 'Hatanagi Misuzu' Show K-Pop and EDM Influence
- Jun 20, 2026 Takeru Sato, Masami Nagasawa, Nana Mori Film 'April Come She Will' Hits Netflix
- Jun 20, 2026 Persona 30th Anniversary Hoodie Designed by Omocat Announced
- Jun 20, 2026 Blue Lock 39 Tops Amazon Kindle Manga Ranking for June 19, 2026
- Jun 20, 2026 Mobile Suit Gundam X Gets 30th Anniversary Book and Blu-ray Reissue
- Jun 20, 2026 Chiikawa Characters Become Sweet Jewelry in Q-Pot Collaboration
- Jun 20, 2026 Bandai Spirits 30MF Series Adds Rosan Fortress Heavy Knight
- Jun 20, 2026 Bandai Spirits Reveals Liber Commander Class Up Armor for 30 Minutes Fantasy
- Jun 20, 2026 Ultraman Series Gets Artist Collaboration Pop-Up and Lottery at Ikebukuro PARCO
- Jun 19, 2026 Osomatsu-San Film Gets Audio Commentary Screenings With Ae! Group and Nishimura Takuya
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Release
- game · 2026-06-20 · global · 2026-06-20
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/i.
CC BY 4.0.
All coverage
16m ago
Modern culture brand VTee, operated by BNN WORKS, will release its first collaboration project, the "VTee x hololive Collection," on Thursday, August 13, 2026. The collection features four hololive members: Houshou Marine, Usada Pekora, Inugami Korone, and Nekomata Okayu. The lineup includes T-shirts and pullover hoodies, with a key visual illustration by Reo Kizumi. Each member's T-shirt is priced at 9,900 yen, while the "VTee x Inugami Korone 'Sonic Costume' TEE" costs 13,200 yen. Pullover hoodies for each member are reservation-only items at 28,600 yen each. A stadium jacket inspired by Houshou Marine, the "Dead Ma'am's Chest" VARSITY JACKET, has been unveiled with details to be announced later. Products will be sold at the VTee Media Store starting August 13, with exact start times to be announced on VTee's official Instagram. To coincide with the release, a display and sales area will be set up within a hololive pop-up event at SHIBUYA TSUTAYA from August 13 to 19, with limited quantities available.
16m ago
The Digimon franchise announced on Saturday that a brand-new television anime is in production and scheduled to premiere in 2027. The project is part of the franchise's 30th anniversary celebration, which marks the 1997 debut of the original Digital Monster virtual pet. Toei Animation has not yet revealed a title, staff, story details, or character lineup for the new series. The announcement was made through the franchise's official channels and comes as the current series, DIGIMON BEATBREAK, enters its final story arc. The new anime will follow DIGIMON BEATBREAK, which premiered on Fuji TV and other channels on October 5 and is currently airing in Japan, with Crunchyroll streaming both the subtitled and English dubbed versions. As part of the anniversary celebration, Fuji TV will begin airing fan-voted favorite episodes from the first four Digimon anime series on October 4 at 9:00 a.m. JST. The retrospective, titled "Our Choice: Best Adventure," includes episodes from Digimon Adventure, Digimon Adventure 02, Digimon Tamers, and Digimon Frontier. The first Digimon Adventure anime premiered in 1999, and the franchise has since expanded into manga, trading cards, video games, and feature films.
41m ago
OpenAI has revealed that it used GPT-5.6 itself to reduce computational costs and improve GPU usage efficiency for the GPT-5.6 series, which was released on July 9, 2026. The series includes three variants: the high-performance GPT-5.6 Sol, the balanced GPT-5.6 Terra, and the low-cost GPT-5.6 Luna. According to OpenAI, GPT-5.6 Sol achieved high cost efficiency through self-improvement. The inference engine's kernel was improved with GPT-5.6 Sol, which learned writing methods that contribute to the efficiency of the programming languages Triton and Gluon, reducing end-to-end service costs by 20%. Speculative decoding, an inference acceleration technique using a small draft model, was also improved autonomously, boosting token generation efficiency by 15%. OpenAI also streamlined the agent system's harness, implementing changes such as calling MCP servers and skills only when needed, limiting tool output tokens to 10,000 by default, and fixing the order of tool calls, which improved cache utilization. OpenAI commented that since GPT-5.6 contributed significantly to improvements in inference and harness, the pace of optimization will likely accelerate in the future.
41m ago
Netflix began streaming the final trailer for The Ribbon Hero, the new anime film based on Osamu Tezuka's Princess Knight manga, on July 30. The trailer previews the English dub and reveals five new cast members who play Sapphire's coworkers at a mining site. Yoshimasa Hosoya voices Rock, Mito Tsukino voices Hecate, Yusuke Tezuka voices Chorogy, Lunlun voices Chick, and Debidebi Debiru voices Tack. Mito Tsukino, Lunlun, and Debidebi Debiru are VTubers affiliated with NIJISANJI, and these are their first roles in a feature-length anime. The film stars Saya of comedy duo Lalande as Sapphire, in what Netflix says is her first leading role in a feature-length animated production. Seiran Kobayashi voices Pine, Koki Uchiyama voices Velvet, Mayumi Shintani voices Zirco, and Haruhiko Jo voices Pope. Yuuki Igarashi directs the film at his new studio OUTLINE, marking his feature-length directorial debut. The film premieres exclusively on Netflix worldwide on August 8. The story follows Sapphire, a princess who loses her homeland of Silverland to a calamity called Nergal, then finds hope in Goldland before Nergal returns.
41m ago
Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail is back in Weekly Shonen Magazine with a new short-term series, Fairy Tail: Re:Fantasia, which began serialization in the magazine's 35th issue released on July 29, 2026. The series is part of the franchise's 20th anniversary celebrations and marks Mashima's first appearance in the magazine in two years. To mark the occasion, a lineup of creators from across different publishers and editorial departments contributed illustrations of Fairy Tail characters. The contributors include George Morikawa of Hajime no Ippo, Koji Seo of Kaigo no Umi no Oto, Miki Yoshikawa of A Couple of Cuckoos, Atsuo Ueda of Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest, Yudetamago of Kinnikuman, and Yoshihiro Togashi of Hunter x Hunter. Togashi's illustration of protagonist Natsu has drawn particular attention on social media, with fans commenting on its style. The compiled volume of Fairy Tail: Re:Fantasia is scheduled for release on October 16, 2026, in regular and special editions. The special edition includes a set of 16 postcards featuring the contributed illustrations. Mashima's nationwide signing events have also been announced, with dates in Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Hakata.
41m ago
A pop-up shop for the TV anime The Elusive Samurai will run at Yurakucho Marui from August 15 to August 23, 2026, and at Namba Marui from August 28 to September 6, 2026. The event centers on a newly drawn illustration of Hojo Tokiyuki in seasonal attire, with four versions themed around spring, summer, autumn, and winter: spring with cherry blossoms, a cool summer, autumn with leaves and a Japanese umbrella, and winter with snow. The shop will sell goods using these illustrations, including acrylic stands, trading washi-style can badges, omamori-style charms, polaroid shot collections, mini hanging scrolls, and bath towels. A lottery will be held at the venue, with entry for purchases of 3,000 yen or more, and an extra entry for Epos Card users. Prizes include a big acrylic stand and mini cards. The Yurakucho venue is on the 8th floor, Space 6, and will be closed on August 19. Business hours are 11:00 to 19:00 at both locations.
51m ago
Publisher tinyBuild and Montreal-based developer Questing Goose Studio announced Probably Stolen - Cyberpunk Pawnshop Simulator on August 4, 2026. The first-person management simulation is set in the lower levels of a massive space station divided by wealth and corruption. Players run a pawnshop and recycle shop, appraising and trading items that range from worn-out gadgets to illegal cyberware and suspicious goods that may be stolen property. Using scanners and tools, players assess condition and authenticity, negotiate prices, and can repair or customize items at a workbench to increase their value. Handling prohibited goods carries risks, including forced searches that may require bribes, and wanted criminals or AI-enhanced humans taken over by self-aware chips may visit the shop. Players can report wanted criminals for a reward or trade with them, while AI humans must be shot on sight. The game includes weekly rent increases, night scavenging, crafting, and the option to contract a security company against thieves. Probably Stolen is planned for PC via Steam with a release within 2026, and Japanese display is supported. A playtest is currently open for registration on the Steam store page.
2h ago
Sony Group reported its consolidated results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 on July 31, revealing that cumulative PS5 shipments reached 95.3 million units as of June 30, 2026. This figure adds the 1.6 million units shipped from April to June 2026 to the 93.7 million units shipped as of March 31, 2026. The quarterly shipment total represents a decrease of 900,000 units from the 2.5 million units shipped in the same period last year. Sony also disclosed that PS4 and PS5 software sold 66.1 million copies in the quarter, with the digital download ratio at 82%, roughly equivalent to 54.2 million copies. The download ratio was 83% in the same period last year, 85% in the previous quarter, and 78% for the full fiscal year 2025, maintaining a level around 80%. Regarding memory market conditions, Sony stated that it has secured the memory required for its planned sales volume for fiscal year 2026, with no change to its plan to keep hardware profit or loss in line with the previous fiscal year. The announcement follows concerns over rising memory and storage prices, which had led Sony to plan sales based on memory procurement at reasonable prices.
2h ago
Naoki Yoshida, producer of Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 14 at Square Enix, said during a talk panel at the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2026 in Berlin that remaking Final Fantasy 6 or Final Fantasy 8 could result in a four-part or five-part series. The panel, held July 25-26, featured Yoshida and Final Fantasy 7 Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi discussing games that influenced them. Hamaguchi cited Final Fantasy 6 as his reason for entering the game industry, but noted that media often misreports such answers as an announcement of a remake. Yoshida responded that he understands the desire for remakes of other Final Fantasy titles following Final Fantasy 7, but the scale of such projects is considerable. He mentioned Final Fantasy 6, Final Fantasy 8, and Final Fantasy 9 as examples, suggesting a remake could become a four-part series, or five parts if done poorly. Hamaguchi reflected on the decade-long development of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, crediting his team's stability for allowing the project to reach completion, and cautioned against casually committing to a similar undertaking.
3h ago
Hound13 Inc. has re-announced that it does not officially support MODs or save file modifications for its open-world action RPG Dragon Sword: Awakening, responding to an increase in player inquiries about issues after installing such tools. The game, released on Steam on July 23, has already surpassed 20,000 concurrent players and holds a "Very Positive" rating on Steam reviews. The developer warns that using MODs or save editors may cause data corruption, crashes, progression blocks, and failures in applying updates or patches. If a problem is confirmed to stem from these tools, individual investigation and recovery support may be difficult. The announcement reiterates the team's priority on providing a stable play environment and focusing resources on issues within official support. The game was originally developed as a live-service title but was converted to a buy-to-play release, and the pre-launch FAQ already stated MOD support would not be provided at launch. Hound13 also recommends players regularly back up save files. Dragon Sword: Awakening is available on PC via Steam.
3h ago
Bandai Spirits has opened reservations for a new S.H.Figuarts action figure of Kira Yamato in his Orb Union Chief State Pilot Suit, based on his appearance in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. The figure uses a new sculpt and improves the range of motion compared to the earlier Compass Pilot Suit Ver., allowing for a wider variety of poses. It includes interchangeable face parts and accessories to reproduce the Durandal battle scene from the final episode of Gundam SEED Destiny, a feature not present in previous releases. The set contents include the main body, three types of interchangeable wrist parts for each hand, three interchangeable facial expression parts, a facial expression part for the helmet, the helmet itself, a neck part for the helmet, and a handgun. Reservations began on August 3 at general retail stores. The figure is priced at 9,900 yen including tax, with a scheduled release in January 2026. The product page is available on the Tamashii Web site for further details.
3h ago
Wonder Festival 2026 Summer, held on July 26 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, drew a large crowd of figure enthusiasts. Among the many genres on display, 'Goddess of Victory: NIKKE' stood out as a major presence, with a wide range of figures on show. The lineup included Red Hood in a bold swimsuit, Viper in a boyfriend shirt, and Anis in a star-themed outfit. The event also featured a 1/7 scale figure of Helm in an 'After Shower' costume, which is now accepting reservations on Amazon.co.jp from Good Smile Arts Shanghai. That figure stands approximately 217mm tall, includes an exchangeable embarrassed face part, and is priced at 29,600 yen with a release date of July 31, 2027. The festival also showcased figures from other franchises, including 'Azur Lane' and various anime series, but the NIKKE display was a highlight of the summer event.
3h ago
Bandai Namco Filmworks will distribute the theatrical anime Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway's Flash: The Witch of Kirke on Amazon Prime Video in Japan. Rental and purchase distribution starts August 17, and unlimited streaming begins August 31. The film is the second chapter of the Hathaway's Flash trilogy, following the 2021 first film. It is set in U.C. 0105, 12 years after Char's rebellion, and follows Hathaway Noah, leader of the anti-Earth Federation movement Mafty, as he prepares to attack the Adelaide conference. The story also centers on Kenneth Sleg of the Federation Forces, who plans to annihilate Mafty, and Gigi Andalusia, a girl with mysterious powers who departs for Hong Kong. The film was released in Japanese theaters on January 30 and has earned 2.7 billion yen at the box office, surpassing its predecessor. Kensho Ono voices Hathaway, Reina Ueda voices Gigi, and Junichi Suwabe voices Kenneth. Shukou Murase directs, Yasuyuki Muto writes the screenplay, and Hiroyuki Sawano composes the music. The opening theme is SZA's 'Snooze' and the ending theme is Guns N' Roses' 'Sweet Child O' Mine'. Prime Video also offers the first Hathaway's Flash film and Char's Counterattack.
4h ago
SpiralAI announced on August 4, 2026, that it is developing RyzaChat: AI Ryza to Tsukuru Anata Dake no Hitonatsu no Yumemonogatari, a free-scenario AI chat RPG licensed from Koei Tecmo Games. The app is set in the world of Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout and is scheduled for release on iOS and Android in August 2026. Pre-registration opened the same day. The game uses SpiralAI's proprietary SpiralLLM, trained on all scenarios and setting materials from the original Atelier Ryza, to drive text conversations with Ryza. Players can choose between RPG Mode, which advances the story, and Chat Mode, which allows relaxed interaction. All actions on Kurken Island, including gathering, alchemy, shop management, and combat, arise from conversation. The app follows five principles: assets are handcrafted under illustrator Toridamono's supervision with no image or video generation AI; Ryza's voice uses recordings made for the app by original voice actress Yuri Noguchi, processed through SpiralAI's speech synthesis; text uses SpiralLLM; the world follows the original under Koei Tecmo's supervision; and revenue returns as royalties to illustrators, voice actors, and IP holders.
4h ago
Rockstar Games has confirmed that digital download codes for the PlayStation 5 version of Grand Theft Auto VI are subject to region locks, while the Xbox version has no such restrictions. The information, published on the official support page, lists specific regions and countries where the PS5 codes are locked, including Brazil, Latin American countries, North America, South Korea, Japan, the UK, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, other Asian regions, and a combined EMEA and Asia grouping. In Japan specifically, the product code expires 170 days after the release date of November 19, 2026, due to regional regulations. The Japanese market also sees a recommendation to use the code with a PlayStation account registered in Japan to avoid activation issues. The code-in-box edition, which ships on November 12, 2026, replaces a physical disc with a download code and supports preloading. The standard edition is priced at 9,800 yen and the Ultimate Edition at 12,280 yen, both including tax, for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S release.
4h ago
ANYCOLOR announced on August 3, 2026 that pre-orders for the new merchandise line "Nijisanji Christmas Wear ~DD Sweater Style~" will open at 7:00 PM JST that same day. The lineup features five livers: Hayato Kagami, Ruri Shiba, and Chikara Shachu from Nijisanji, plus Meloco Kyoran and Shu Yamino from NIJISANJI EN. The goods include a free-size sweater priced at 15,000 yen, an acrylic stand at 1,900 yen, and a can badge at 750 yen, each available in all five types. A Christmas card is included as a purchase bonus with the sweater. Pre-orders run until August 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM JST, with shipping scheduled for early December 2026 or later. The items are sold through the Nijisanji Official Store and the NIJISANJI EN Official Store. The series is the third installment of the annual "Christmas Wear" line, which began in 2024 and has become a tradition. Meloco Kyoran's sweater design has drawn attention, with the liver herself reportedly confused about what to react to first.
5h ago
The official website for the television anime of Kei Urana's Gachiakuta manga streamed a new first look promotional video for the second season on Wednesday. The video, which was initially shown at Anime Expo 2026 and the 25th Taipei International Comics & Animation Festival earlier this month, is now available to audiences outside those events for the first time. It features new scenes from the upcoming season, including the first footage of new and returning characters, and teases the Information Broker arc from the manga. Alongside the trailer, the website released illustrations of Enjin and Zanka, which were distributed as limited-edition postcards at the two events. The first season, directed by Fumihiko Suganuma at BONES FILM, aired in 2025 and ran for 24 episodes. It won Best New Series at the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards. A release window for the second season has not been confirmed. In addition to the second season, a survival action RPG titled Gachiakuta The Game (tentative) and a stage adaptation were also announced.
5h ago
Kohei Horikoshi, the creator of My Hero Academia, is returning to Weekly Shonen Jump with a new one-shot manga titled Warawanaide yo, Shijima-san (Don't Laugh at Me, Shijima). The 61-page story is described as a "boy-meets-girl horror" manga and will appear in the magazine's combined 37th and 38th issue, which goes on sale in Japan on August 10. Shueisha released a color illustration of the story's protagonists alongside the announcement. The one-shot marks Horikoshi's first manga published in Weekly Shonen Jump since My Hero Academia concluded in August 2024 after a decade-long serialization. During the final arc of My Hero Academia, Horikoshi wrote that he had "a small desire to draw a horror manga," and after the series' final volume shipped in December 2024, he stated he planned to start a new manga "as soon as I possibly can." The same issue of Weekly Shonen Jump will also include a feature celebrating the 50th anniversary of Osamu Akimoto's KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops, with horror novelist Settsu supervising a special article and an illustrated card drawn by Akimoto as a bonus.
5h ago
Live2D Inc. released new Live2D models of Shikoku Metan and Ankomon for its free online video editor nizima ACTION!! on July 28, 2026. The models, illustrated by Sakamoto Ahiru, follow the Zundamon model added in May of the same year. Each model includes over 50 facial expressions and motions, supports hand tracking, and can be driven in real time through tracking apps such as nizima LIVE and VTube Studio. The editor also integrates with the text-to-speech software VOICEVOX, allowing users to generate character voices and sync them with the models' lip movements entirely within the browser-based tool. The models are available as sample assets in the material collection and are also distributed free on the Tohoku Zunko and Zundamon Project's official site. Live2D plans to add models for Tohoku Zunko, Tohoku Kiritan, and Tohoku Itako, collectively known as the Tohoku Three Sisters, also illustrated by Sakamoto Ahiru. Users must comply with each character's terms of use and include credit notation, such as "VOICEVOX: Shikoku Metan."
5h ago
Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara magazine and Comic Fuz website announced on Monday that creator Afro will pause both Laid-Back Camp and mono due to health issues from the stress of serializing two manga at once. The hiatus affects both series, with return dates to be announced later by their respective editors. Afro's official X account clarified that Laid-Back Camp will take a short break starting after chapter 110 part 2, which is set to be added next week on Comic Fuz, while mono will be on hiatus for an extended period. The editorial department apologized to fans awaiting new chapters. Afro launched Laid-Back Camp in Manga Time Kirara Forward in 2015, moving it to Comic Fuz in 2019, with 18 volumes published as of November 2025. The mono four-panel manga began in Manga Time Kirara Miracle! in May 2017 before moving to Manga Time Kirara Carat later that year, with five volumes released by June 2025. Both series have anime adaptations, with Laid-Back Camp's fourth season slated for 2027.
5h ago
MouseComputer announced on August 3, 2026, that it will sell limited-time gaming PCs from its NEXTGEAR brand in collaboration with Hololive VTubers Watame Tsunomaki and Towa Tokoyami. The sales period runs until 11:00 a.m. on October 5, 2026, and all purchasers receive exclusive bonus goods featuring newly drawn illustrations of the two characters. The lineup includes two mini-tower models, each available in black and white: the entry-level NEXTGEAR JG-A7G60 and the mid-range NEXTGEAR JG-A7G70. The JG-A7G60 is priced at 259,800 yen and features a Ryzen 7 5700X CPU, GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, 16GB memory, and a 1TB NVMe Gen4 SSD. The JG-A7G70 costs 429,800 yen and includes a Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU, GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, 32GB memory, and a 1TB NVMe Gen4 SSD. Both run Windows 11 Home 64-bit and are suited for gaming, streaming, and multitasking. Purchase bonuses include a desk mat, two types of clear stickers, and four types of smartphone stickers. Sales are held on the company's official online store, and the special page provides details for each model.
5h ago
BANDAI SPIRITS announced the S.H.Figuarts Full Power Frieza -Battle Scarred Edition- action figure, reproducing the character's appearance from the fierce battle on Planet Namek in Dragon Ball Z. Pre-orders open Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 16:00 through Premium Bandai. The figure carries damage paint across the entire body, inspired by scenes from the series, and includes a newly created defeated face expression part. A bonus part is an exchangeable head compatible with the separately sold S.H.Figuarts Super Saiyan Son Goku -Legendary Super Saiyan- figure, recreating the moment Goku reverts from Super Saiyan with his hair blowing in the wind. The figure stands approximately 125mm tall, made of PVC and ABS, and includes the main body, three types each of exchangeable left and right hand parts, three exchangeable head parts, exchangeable left and right ankle parts, and a tail part. The price is 9,900 yen including tax, with shipping scheduled for March 2027. BANDAI SPIRITS is the manufacturer. The product page notes that orders may close early if the preparation quantity is reached.
6h ago
Publisher Phoenixx announced on August 4 that the roguelite factory builder Lazy Witch's Factory, developed by Melt Clock, will launch in Early Access on Steam on August 21. The price is undecided. The game follows Momoko, a lazy witch voiced by Misato Fukuen, who is tricked by a demon into taking on a huge debt. Players build automated factories in hell using familiars such as mining goblins and blacksmith salamanders to produce goods and repay the debt within a 30-minute time limit. Roguelite elements mean each run offers different circumstances and random enhancement options. Players can also contract with sponsor company demons to gain skills and buffs, including dark options like forced labor or counterfeiting money. A crowdfunding campaign on CAMPFIRE in May 2026 raised 2,695,558 yen, exceeding the 1,000,000 yen target by 269%. Stretch goal achievements added two new high-difficulty modes: Disaster Response Missions and Taxation of the Factory by Chancellor Gehenna. A demo with new elements, including Momoko's voice, is available now and will be taken down when Early Access begins. At launch, the game will offer dozens of hours of content, with at least six months of planned updates before full release.
6h ago
The game variety program Game Center CX announced on August 1 that it will hold a YouTube live stream titled "Wii & PS3 Unlock!? Live Stream" on August 23 from 15:00 to 17:00. The stream will feature Section Chief Arino, played by Shinya Arino, and staff discussing whether to unlock the Wii and PlayStation 3 as challenge titles under the program's rules. The program defines retro games as software for hardware that has been on sale for more than 20 years. The Wii was released on December 2, 2006, and the PlayStation 3 on November 11 of the same year, so both reach 20 years since release this year. In the 25th season in 2021, the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance were unlocked under the same criterion. The official account posted a "hold on!" message, suggesting the debate is not settled. The stream will be held on the program's YouTube channel, and the outcome will determine whether Wii and PS3 software appears in future challenges. The announcement was made via the program's official X account on August 1.
6h ago
The theatrical anime adaptation of Mahoutsukai no Yoru received a pair of new key visuals during the FGO Fes. 2026 stage event on August 1. Aniplex released the double visual set, with one illustration drawn by original character designer and key animator Hirokazu Koyama for TYPE-MOON, and a second by animation studio ufotable. Koyama's special key visual depicts Aoko Aozaki in her school uniform standing before the mansion gate, while the ufotable visual shows Aoko and Touko Aozaki inside a grand hall lit by soft light from a skylight. The film is scheduled for a November 20 release in Japanese theaters. Aniplex also announced that advance movie ticket cards will go on sale at theaters nationwide starting August 28, priced at 1,500 yen including tax, with a limited theater- booklet titled Mahoutsukai no Yoru Magician Apprentice Reader included as a purchase bonus. The same announcement revealed a smartphone version of the visual novel, optimized from the home console edition with full voice acting, also slated for November 20.
7h ago
MSY announced on August 4, 2026 that its brand GRAPHT will release new merchandise based on the horror adventure game SIREN, timed to the story event known as the Otherworld Entry that occurs on August 3. The lineup includes two T-shirt designs, seven trading square magnets, and two embroidered stickers. Pre-orders opened on the GRAPHT official EC site, and the items are also being sold sequentially at the PlayStation Official Licensed POP UP STORE by GRAPHT, held outside the south ticket gate of JR Ikebukuro Station from August 4 to August 17. The T-shirts are priced at 5,500 yen each and come in sizes M, L, and XL. One design features the key visual of the first SIREN, while the other shows the title logo on the chest and a large print of Hanuda Village's specialty dish, Hanuda Soba, on the back. Both use DTF printing to achieve vivid colors on black fabric. The trading magnets cost 660 yen individually or 4,620 yen for a box of seven. The embroidered stickers, priced at 1,320 yen each, depict the title logo and the in-game message End Condition Achieved. They are made at embroidery workshops in the Kiryu region and can be used as stickers or iron-on patches.
7h ago
BANDAI SPIRITS announced that the first S.H.Figuarts release from the action RPG Elden Ring, Vyke of the Fingerprint Ruins, will be re-released in February 2027. Pre-orders open at general retailers on Monday, August 3, 2026. The figure stands approximately 160mm tall and is made of PVC and ABS. It includes interchangeable hands, three types for each side, Vyke's War Spear, and a Frenzied Flame effect. Soft materials are used in various places to achieve a wider range of motion. The price is 11,000 yen including tax. The distributor is BANDAI SPIRITS. The original release was the first in the S.H.Figuarts line for Elden Ring. The re-release is scheduled for February 2027, with pre-orders starting August 3, 2026. The figure is an articulated type, and the set contents are listed as the main figure, interchangeable hands, the spear, and the effect. The announcement was made by Dengeki Hobby Web on July 31, 2026. The figure is part of the S.H.Figuarts series, known for its articulation. The re-release follows the original release, which was also covered by Dengeki Hobby Web.
7h ago
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.
7h ago
Publisher Panic released Big Walk, the new cooperative multiplayer puzzle adventure from House House, the studio behind Untitled Goose Game, on August 4. The game is available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2, with the Switch 2 version priced at 2,300 yen. Big Walk supports 2 to 12 players and cross-platform play, and it is designed to be played with a group of friends from start to finish. Players control bird-like creatures with three spheres for bodies and explore a vast open-world island filled with puzzles and challenges. Communication is central to the experience, using a proximity voice chat system where voices fade with distance and muffle behind walls, and where players can temporarily lose the ability to speak. Various tools and toys, such as radios, laser pointers, binoculars, megaphones, smoke flares, whiteboards, and cowbells, help players coordinate. The game has a clear ending, but players can also ignore objectives and wander freely. Ahead of release, Big Walk earned a Metacritic score of 93, the highest for a new game this year, and many outlets, including Polygon, have called it a Game of the Year contender.
8h ago
Cygames announced the "Uma Musume no Umauma! Kentucky!" collaboration with Kentucky Fried Chicken during the official live stream "Paka Live TV #5" on July 29. The campaign runs from August 12 to September 30 at KFC locations nationwide. In the game, players can earn the collaboration costume "KFC Goodwill Ambassador Golshi," exclusive to Gold Ship, by completing missions that remain available after the campaign ends. A login bonus starting August 12 at 12:00 grants 500 jewels and the "KFC Original Chicken Barrel" item, with characters appearing on the home screen eating KFC food. KFC will sell two limited sets: the "Uma Musume no Umauma! Kobu Mayo Dip Set" on August 12 and the "Ninjin Occhahoi Set" on September 9, each priced at 1,500 yen including tax. Each set includes a serial code for the SSR support card "[Gabutto, Egao ni] Red Desire" with max performance unlocked, plus recovery items. The collaboration song "Gabutto!" will be sung by eight characters including Gold Ship, Manhattan Cafe, and Agnes Tachyon, releasing on streaming platforms and in-game on August 12.
8h ago
Double Fine Productions announced on July 29 that it has laid off 23 staff members, roughly one-quarter of its workforce. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier said the studio had about 90 employees before the cuts. The San Francisco-based studio, founded by Tim Schafer in 2000, described the decision as difficult and said it was necessary to ensure the studio's survival after regaining its independence from Microsoft. Double Fine became part of Xbox in 2019, but on July 6, 2026, it announced its independence amid a large-scale restructuring of the Xbox division. The studio regained ownership of its works and retained funding for its next title, according to Kotaku's confirmation with an Xbox spokesperson. The layoffs came about three weeks after that independence announcement. The studio said it was not a light decision for a small, tightly-knit team, but independence also entails becoming a sustainable size. It expressed support for affected staff, calling them important people who influenced the studio's games and culture. Double Fine is known for the Psychonauts series and recently released the multiplayer pottery game Kiln in April 2026.
8h ago
The week of August 3 to 9, 2026 brings a dense slate of new game releases across Japan and North America, headlined by two major titles. Game Freak's Beast of Reincarnation launches on August 4 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The completely new 3D action RPG is set in Japan in the year 4026, following Emma, a girl shunned as impure, and her partner, the rotting dog Kuu, on a journey to uncover the mystery of the world's collapse. It features a one person and one beast battle system combining Emma's real-time sword action with command instructions given to Kuu. MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls arrives on August 7 for PC and PlayStation 5 at 7,980 yen. The 4-on-4 tag-team fighting game has teams of one main fighter and three supports, with HP shared among the four. A simple input method allows anyone to pull off combos. Final Fantasy XIV also appears on Nintendo Switch 2 this week, alongside Lies of P: Complete Edition and Cotton Rock with You.
9h ago
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced the paid DLC "Anniversary Expansion Pack: Accelerating Future" for Super Robot Wars Y during a livestream held on August 1, 2026, to mark the 35th anniversary of the Super Robot Wars series. The expansion is scheduled for release on August 5, 2026, with pricing still unannounced. The DLC adds 33 area missions combining the main story and frontline missions, along with combination attacks and additional weapons that cross the boundaries between participating works. The content takes place after clearing the main story, and in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, Gundam Calibarn appears as part of the Season 2 storyline. This is described as the last additional DLC for Super Robot Wars Y, which is available on PC, PS5, and Switch. The same livestream also confirmed development of a remaster of the 2011 PSP title 2nd Super Robot Wars Z: Hakai-hen, though platform and release date details were not disclosed. A free update, version 1.4.0, is scheduled for August 4.
9h ago
Aniplex announced on July 31, 2026 that it will release a 1/7 scale figure of Saber from the ongoing collaboration between the space fantasy RPG "Honkai: Star Rail" and "Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works]". Pre-orders opened the same day on Aniplex Online and at retailers including AmiAmi. The figure is priced at 31,900 yen (tax included) and is scheduled for delivery in June 2027. The sculpt recreates the collaboration illustration by Takashi Takeuchi, with dynamic effect parts depicting the trajectory of Saber's sword to capture a moment of impact. Saber wears a special collaboration-only costume that differs from her outfit in "Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works]", sculpted down to the smallest details. The figure is a made-to-order product, with the order period running until October 21 at 23:59. A purchase bonus is a colored paper board using the collaboration illustration by Takeuchi.
10h ago
Strange Scaffold and Frosty Pop released Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?! on July 29, 2026, for PC via Steam and Xbox Series X|S. The driving action game casts the player as a truck driver who accidentally reincarnates an elf girl named Carissa into another world. To help her return, the player drives around the American rural town of Wenvaile, running over pedestrians who transform into monsters and are sent to Carissa to defeat for experience points. The goal is to steal the Scroll of Resurrection from the Skeleton King. Police pursue the player, and the game includes package delivery and star-based objectives tied to a Galactic Gate. The Steam price is 2,300 yen, with a 20 percent discount to 1,840 yen until August 13. The game does not support Japanese. The soundtrack is by David Mason, known for Dredge. Early reviews on Metacritic give the PC version a score of 68 across 13 reviews, with praise for the premise and criticism of repetition.
10h ago
Kakao Games announced on July 28, 2026 that it has signed a global publishing contract with Kong Studios for the new title Guardian Maiden. The game is a 2D pixel art RPG in development for mobile and PC, set on the continent of Midterra where humans, elves, and beastmen coexist. The story follows a hero and a holy maiden who join forces to fight evil forces. Kakao Games has acquired the rights to operate the global service for Guardian Maiden and aims for an official release within 2026. Kakao Games co-CEO Lee Si-woo called Kong Studios a company that develops games with a unique worldview and high completion, and said the two companies have worked together for a long time. Kong Studios CEO Seok Gwang-won said the game consolidates the studio's experience in dot graphics, battle action, and 2D pixel art RPGs, and called Kakao Games a reliable partner. The announcement was covered by 4Gamer.net, Inside, and Game Spark.
11h ago
Select shop BEAMS will release a collaboration collection with the animated film The Super Mario Galaxy Movie on August 1, 2026. The eight-item lineup spans open-collar shirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, long-sleeve T-shirts, a cap, and a tote bag, with prices ranging from 7,700 yen to 13,200 yen including tax. The collection applies Mario-inspired motifs such as coins, Fire Flowers, Super Mushrooms, and Question Blocks in all-over prints, and features characters including Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser in graphic designs. A signature detail is the BEAMS logo, recolored in what the sources describe as crazy colors to evoke the Mario world, a design exclusive to this collection. The Bowser T-shirt and sweatshirt use a sun-fade treatment meant to mimic vintage wear, with printed cracks that suggest age. The items will be sold at BEAMS label stores, excluding some locations, and through the official BEAMS online shop. The film is the sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, produced by Illumination's Chris Meledandri and Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, and is currently screening in theaters.
11h ago
Microsoft raised the price of every Xbox Series X and Series S model sold in Japan by 30,000 yen on August 1, 2026. The increase was confirmed at domestic retailers such as Yodobashi.com, where the Xbox Series X 1TB disc drive model now sells for 117,980 yen, the 1TB all-digital model for 109,980 yen, and the Xbox Series S 1TB all-digital model for 97,480 yen. The old prices were 87,980 yen, 79,980 yen, and 67,480 yen respectively. Microsoft had announced the worldwide revision in June, stating that 1TB models would rise by $150, though the yen amount was not specified at the time. The new prices were not yet posted on the official Xbox Japan X account or website as of the afternoon of August 1, but store listings already reflected the change. Gamers on X voiced frustration over the size of the increase, which comes amid a broader wave of hardware price hikes driven by rising storage and memory costs. Other consoles, including the PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Steam Deck, have also seen price increases recently.
12h ago
Bandai Namco Entertainment, Shueisha, and Toei Animation announced on Sunday that the One Piece Day '26 event will stream worldwide on YouTube, with X and LINE added as free livestream platforms this year. The two-day event takes place at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan on August 22-23. The August 22 stream runs from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. JST, and the August 23 stream runs from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. JST. The livestream will be archived for a limited time. The event includes the final results of the second WORLD TOP 100 character popularity poll, with rankings 100 through 31 announced on August 22 and the top 30 on August 23. A prediction campaign called WORLD TOP 100 The King of Guesses launched August 3 on the ONE PIECE BASE app, letting fans predict the final top 30 characters for digital rewards and a chance at prizes. The August 23 program features three One Piece News segments, a One Piece Card Game special panel, the finals of the 8th One Piece Knowledge King competition, an Elbaf Arc voice cast panel, and a live concert with Hiroshi Kitadani, Maki Otsuki, Aina The End, and 36km/h.
13h ago
Publisher NC announced on July 31 that it will begin accepting applications for the closed beta test of Astrae Oratio, a new RPG developed by Dynamis One, starting August 19 at 12:00. The application period runs until September 21 at 12:00. The game is set in a fictional 1989 Tokyo where magic exists, and follows an ordinary civil servant called the section chief who manages the administration of magic users living in the city and gets drawn into various incidents. Dynamis One is a Korean developer whose CEO, Park Byung-rim, previously served as development producer on Blue Archive. The scenario writer isakusan, who also worked on Blue Archive, is affiliated with the company. The title was officially announced in April under the codename Project AT. On July 28, the key visual for the clan Akina Ghost Story Research Institute was released, a group that publicly presents itself as a film appreciation club called Slash and Flesh but actually investigates urban legends and ghost stories. Details on the beta test schedule and participation method will be announced later. The game is scheduled to launch in 2026.
13h ago
Rike Games released its piggy bank smashing incremental game Bills Must Be Paid on Steam on July 30, 2026. The game is priced at 905 yen, with a 30% launch discount bringing it to 633 yen until August 13. Players control a wrist holding a hammer to smash piggy banks that appear on a desk, collecting coins to pay off time-limited bills. Each swing consumes stamina, and the run ends when the wrist is exhausted. Piggy banks vary in durability, movement, and coin value, with some restoring stamina. Funds earned can be spent on a skill tree, new hammers, and bills like water bills and parking fines. Missing a bill deadline results in a 20-50% deduction of earnings. The game recorded 3,740 concurrent players on SteamDB at the time of writing and holds a 'Very Positive' rating with 97% of 202 user reviews favorable. A demo version released in April attracted attention in China, leading to clone games on Douyin that reused the developer's assets. Rike Games filed a copyright claim with ByteDance, and the clones were removed.
13h ago
Edia released "Aretha Collection 1993-1995" on July 30, 2026, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. The collection bundles three Super Famicom RPGs from the 1990s: "Aretha: The Super Famicom" (1993), "Aretha II: Ariel's Mysterious Journey" (1994), and "Rejoice: Beyond the Aretha Kingdom" (1995). The games were originally published by Yanoman, and Edia licensed the IP from the company. The regular edition and download version cost 8,580 yen, while the special edition costs 16,280 yen, both including tax. The PS4 version is available only as a download. The collection adds a viewing mode that lets players browse setting materials and videos from the 1990s. The special edition includes a large acrylic stand, a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle, an illustration booklet, and an original soundtrack CD with unreleased demo tracks. The Aretha series ran six titles from 1990 to 1995 and was noted for its female protagonist, a rarity at the time.
13h ago
Nintendo announced on August 3 that it will air a dedicated Direct presentation for Fire Emblem: Ban Shihong, the latest entry in the Fire Emblem series for Nintendo Switch 2. The broadcast, titled Fire Emblem: Ban Shihong Direct 2026.8.4, is scheduled to start at 23:00 JST on August 4 and will run for approximately 20 minutes. The presentation will deliver detailed information about the game, which is set to release on September 17, 2026. The story takes place in a world ruled by gods and centers on the Grand Sword Tournament, where the winner is granted any wish. Players choose one of four protagonists, each with their own story and motivation for entering the tournament. The game carries a CERO rating of 15 or older. The Direct will be viewable on YouTube and through the Nintendo Today! smartphone app.
13h ago
Konami Digital Entertainment announced on August 3 that Gensou Suikoden STAR LEAP, the new mobile RPG in the Gensou Suikoden series, will launch for iOS and Android in Japan on August 7. The game is free-to-play with item-based monetization. The PC (Steam) version and the global version for iOS and Android will have their release dates announced at a later time. The story is set in Solar Calendar year 453, four years before the first Gensou Suikoden, and follows a protagonist who, after a mysterious enemy attacks a lakeside village east of the Scarlet Moon Empire, decides to rebuild the village and journey with companions. The game features a timeline turn-based battle system, including a war mode familiar to the series, and a home base where players can gather characters, strengthen weapons, cook meals to deepen bonds, and resolve requests from companions. Four new characters were revealed with voice actors: Avery (Shouta Aoi), Belladonna (Saya Kinoshita), Yume (Yuka Iguchi), and Lual (Akari Kito). A pre-release program, Gensou Suikoden Live Vol.7, is scheduled for August 6 at 20:00 on Konami's official YouTube channel.
17h ago
Spike Chunsoft announced on July 30, 2026, that it will publish the PS5 version of Funcom's open-world survival game Dune: Awakening in Japan this fall. The price has not been determined. The game is inspired by Frank Herbert's novel Dune and the 2021 film Dune: Part One, and it features an original story in which players, as intelligence agents, explore the desert planet Arrakis and investigate the disappearance of the indigenous Fremen. Survival on Arrakis requires managing water and shade, building bases against sandstorms, and avoiding giant sandworms that detect movement. The game supports solo play and online multiplayer with up to 60 players on official servers. Players can craft gadgets, weapons, and bases, and develop characters through classes and skill trees, choosing combat styles from close-quarters physical attacks to mental attacks. The PC (Steam) version launched in June 2025 and sold over 1 million copies worldwide within about two weeks. A single-player mode is scheduled for September 22, and the console version will include it from launch.
18h ago
Game Freak's new action RPG Beast of Reincarnation launched on August 4 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Happinet publishes the PS5 package version at 8,980 yen, while Fictions handles the Xbox and PC versions at 7,980 yen. The game is available on Game Pass from day one. Set in Japan in the year 4026 after the world's collapse, the story follows Emma, a protagonist shunned as a Corrupted One who has lost her emotions and memories, and her canine companion Kuu, as they travel west to defeat the Beast of Reincarnation. Director Kota Furushima, who previously worked on battle planning and sound management in the Pokemon series, said the concept is traveling with a partner, experiencing reliability and warmth alongside loneliness. The game fuses Emma's real-time action with Kuu's command-based strategy, and includes three difficulty modes. Furushima estimated the main story takes about 30 hours, with New Game Plus available for replay.
20h ago
On August 3, 2026, the production committee for the theatrical anime SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT released a new set of character cuts featuring six main characters. The film, based on FromSoftware's action-adventure game SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE, is produced by Qzil.la and directed by Kenichi Kutsuna, with character designs by Takahiro Kishida. The newly released cuts show Wolf, Kuro, Genichiro Ashina, Emma, Owl, and Isshin Ashina, each captured at a moment of resolve and unyielding conviction. Wolf, a one-armed shinobi, stands in a bamboo grove with a scar on his forehead, while Kuro, his master, holds a hand to his forehead with a smile that blends nobility and innocence. Genichiro Ashina, grandson of Isshin, wears a helmet catching ominous light, and Emma draws her sword on a dim grassland. Owl emerges from darkness, and Isshin, the Sword Saint, shows a dignified bearing despite his age. The film is scheduled for a limited three-week run in theaters nationwide starting September 4, 2026. A completion screening with stage greetings will be held on August 14 at United Cinemas Toyosu, featuring voice actors Daisuke Namikawa, Miyuki Sato, Kenjiro Tsuda, and Shizuka Ito, along with director Kutsuna.
20h ago
Battlestate Games has begun installing update 1.1.0.0 for Escape from Tarkov, bringing the game's first season, Kord Breach, to PC players. The update introduces a season system with dedicated season characters, separate from the existing PvP and PvE modes. Season characters use a new modifier system, including global modifiers applied to all players and personal modifiers that let each player combine buffs and debuffs within a cost system. This season's global modifiers include disabling insurance, an armor shortage across Tarkov, and halved item crafting times. The season runs until December 7, 2026, with progress resetting every four to six months. A free battle pass is also added, with rewards unlocked by collecting TerraGroup documentation items, and progress is shared across PvP, PvE, and season accounts. Side tasks are now tied to trader loyalty levels instead of prerequisite tasks, and party members can help progress tasks. A spectator system lets dead PMCs watch teammates. New weapons include the Norinco QBZ-191 and Howa Type 20 assault rifles. Server maintenance began at 3 PM JST and is expected to last six to eight hours.
20h ago
BANDAI SPIRITS Collectors Division announced a new S.H.Figuarts action figure of Shanks from the Marineford Summit War arc of the TV anime One Piece. The figure is a general retail product, with reservations opening Monday, August 3, 2026. It stands approximately 165mm tall and is made of PVC, ABS, and cloth. The set includes the main body, four replacement facial expression parts, two replacement right hand parts, a straw hat with hand parts, Gryphon in both sheathed and drawn states, and a cloth cape. As a bonus, it includes replacement facial expression parts compatible with the separately sold S.H.Figuarts Monkey D. Luffy -Marineford Summit War- figure. The figure is priced at 9,900 yen including tax and is scheduled for release in January 2027. The announcement comes alongside re-releases of other One Piece S.H.Figuarts figures, including Sanji, Usopp, and Tony Tony Chopper, all with pre-orders starting the same day.
20h ago
Panache Digital Games released the second gameplay commentary video for its action-adventure game 1666: Amsterdam on July 30, 2026. The video, titled "Noa & Aaron | Two Characters, Two Centuries, One Mission," introduces the two main characters and the game's central conflict. The studio is led by Patrice Désilets, known as the creator of the Assassin's Creed series. Set in Amsterdam, where supernatural events occur every 333 years, the story crosses between 1666 and 2000. Noa, living in 1666, works as an apothecary apprentice but is secretly the heir of the Xandaris family, which holds ancient knowledge. Her mission is to capture the Originals, beings corrupted by the forbidden magic called Nux, using the Heeparan artifact and the Nuifer document. Aaron, a university teacher in 2000, visits Amsterdam with his lover to celebrate the new year but is caught in a ritual and time-slips to 1666, ending up in the body of a black cat. He gains cat-like mobility and special vision to see invisible things, supporting Noa from the shadows. The game is scheduled for early access on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store in the latter half of 2026, with a playable prologue demo available now.