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Machi

2h ago

Ishii's Shibuya Scramble Stories Pulls 115 Million Yen in Crowdfunding

A talk event for the live-action adventure game Shibuya Scramble Stories was held on September 26 at 404 Not Found in Shibuya Sakura Stage. Organizers said crowdfunding through Ubgoe and CAMPFIRE reached 115,557,783 yen as of September 25, the second-highest cumulative amount for a completely new game development in Japan. The project has a 2028 release planned.

7h ago

Machi Asobi Vol.31 Decorates Tokushima Airport with Demon Slayer, LONA, Fate and More

Machi Asobi vol.31 runs on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026, in Tokushima. Ahead of the event, Tokushima Awa Odori Airport has been decorated with panels for six works. The works are Demon Slayer, whose anime series is being rebroadcast; LONA, an original anime with concept and screenplay by Akiko Nogi set to air in spring 2027; Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya FINALE, scheduled for 2027; Fate/EXTRA Record, releasing on January 28, 2027; Fate/Grand Order, described as going strong past its 10th anniversary; and Witch on the Holy Night, opening in theaters on Friday, November 20, 2026. The airport also displays image panels for Berserk of Gluttony, set to air in 2027, BanG Dream! Our Notes, released in September 2026, AnimeJapan 2027, Berserk of Gluttony, and the Palworld Official Card Game booster pack Awakened Legend, scheduled for Friday, October 30, 2026. A photo spot lets visitors pose with the airport mascot Uzupii, Tokushima Prefecture mascot Sudachi-kun, and Matsushige Town mascot Matsushige Kakaricho.

19h ago

Manga One Adds New Series From Machibari and Juan Albarran

Shogakukan's Manga One app announced its autumn serializations on Monday. Machibari and artist Seseri launch Mibun ga Gyakuten Itashimashite on October 17, with Itoko on character designs. Spanish artist Juan Albarran and Kota Matsuda launch Kyokuhoku Tengoku: Escape From The Far North on October 25. Albarran is the artist on Matagi Gunner, which ran in Kodansha's Morning from 2022 and ended at 11 volumes.

21h ago

Higure Sakino Launches Manga Adaptation Of Elina Sky Light Novels

Higure Sakino announced on X that their manga adaptation of Akane Yuzuki's Elina Sky wa Mo Machigaenai light novels will run on Takeshobo's Take Comic website starting September 28. The first two chapters had early digital releases on August 5 and September 5. Yuzuki launched the original story on Shosetsuka ni Naro in February 2025 and posted its latest chapter on September 16.

6d ago

Mugendai Myu-Type Returns To Zepp Shinjuku For Rescheduled Yume∞Mita Free Live

Mugendai Myu-Type played DAY2 of the BanG Dream! Yume∞Mita free live "Shinjuku Landing Plan" at Zepp Shinjuku (TOKYO) on Friday, September 25, 2026, performing all 11 songs including 3 anime songs. "in my words" was performed live for the first time. DAY1 was canceled because of severe weather. The set was also streamed free on YouTube.

Sep 20

Kadokawa Names Machico's "WOOHOO!" as Machisuba Theme Song

Kadokawa announced on September 20, 2026, at the "Machisuba Special Stage in TGS2026," that Machico's new song "WOOHOO!" is the theme song for the KonoSuba game "KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! ~Prosperity to This Lovable Town!~" (Machisuba). The track was written for the game. Ikuko Iijima handled lyrics and composition, and Koji Mizuguchi handled arrangement. Machico, who has sung theme songs for the KonoSuba anime, said the song is packed with the power to make a chaotic everyday more lively. The game is an otherworld trouble life RPG with an original story, supervised by original author Natsume Akatsuki with cooperation from illustrator Kurone Mishima. Kadokawa plans distribution in 2026 for PC and mobile, with the date undecided. An X campaign runs from September 20 to September 28, drawing two winners who follow the official account and repost the designated post to receive canvas art bearing Machico's handwritten autograph.

Sep 19

DARK MACHINE Stage Event Details Anime's Moving Battles and Game's 2027 Open Beta

At a Tokyo Game Show 2026 stage event on September 18, the DARK MACHINE project presented updates for the TV anime and the competitive game developed together as an esports-themed media mix. Anime director Kazuo Terada said the 11-episode broadcast, starting October 13 on Fuji Television, packs battle scenes into 10 episodes. A comic adaptation begins September 24, and the game opens beta in 2027.

Sep 18

Dark Machine the Animation Sets October 13 Debut, Manga Adaptation

Dark Machine the Animation will begin airing on Fuji TV on October 13 at 25:45 JST, with Kansai TV on October 15 and BS Fuji on October 20. The third promotional video previews the ending theme "Galaxy Mode" by Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS, out with the band's album on October 21. A manga adaptation by Kei Kondo launches September 24 in Comic Ruelle and Comic Jardin. Crunchyroll will stream the series.

Sep 17

Heart Machine Lays Off Nearly All Staff After Publisher Cancels Unannounced Title

Heart Machine announced on September 17 that it will lay off nearly all of its staff. Founder Alx Preston said on LinkedIn that a publisher cancelled an unannounced project, removing the studio's main source of funding. Preston said the studio will offer job placement support, and that he does not yet know how Heart Machine will survive.

Sep 14

LIONA Opens Steam Page For DARK MACHINE THE GAME

LIONA opened the Steam store page for DARK MACHINE THE GAME on September 14. The free-to-play mecha action shooter has a PvE mode and PvP for up to 7-vs-7, set in a dimension where humanity's memories and collective unconsciousness have materialized. Players fight as mercenaries over Parma, a high-density energy. Three machine sizes appear: Worker, Ride Loader, and Gigant Loader. The game is scheduled for release in 2027 on PC (Steam).

Sep 12

Bandai Adds Gundam GQuuuuuuX to Machibouke Gashapon Line

Bandai will release a Gashapon set titled Machibouke: The Case of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX from mid-September, priced at 400 yen per play with tax included. The lineup has four types: Amate Yuzuriha (Machu), Nyaan, Shuji Ito, and GQuuuuuuX. Each figure is sculpted at roughly 3 to 3.5 centimeters, seated with knees pulled up in a waiting pose. Details are on the Bandai product page.

Sep 11

PalVerse Hololive Vol.2 Opens For Pre-Order With Five Talents

Bushiroad Creative opened pre-orders on Amazon.co.jp for PalVerse Hololive vol.2, the second set of its deformed trading figure line. The lineup is Hoshimachi Suisei, Yuzuki Choco, Ozora Subaru, Himemori Luna, and Shishiro Botan. Each figure stands about 90mm and is made of PVC. The box is listed at 7,260 yen including tax, with a scheduled release on March 12, 2027.

Sep 9

Suisei Hoshimachi Arena Tour Finale to Screen Live in Theaters Worldwide

The final performance of Suisei Hoshimachi's arena tour 'Once Upon a Stellar' will be broadcast live in theaters in Japan and overseas. The Fukuoka show on November 12 will screen at 51 Japanese theaters and venues in Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau, Seoul, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Melbourne. Domestic tickets are 5,000 yen.

Sep 7

Dark Machine the Animation Adds Three Cast Members, Sets October 13 Debut

Dark Machine the Animation revealed three additional cast members and an October 13 debut on Fuji TV. Nao Tōyama, Nonoka Ōbuchi, and Rei Nakashima join as members of team Stellatus, an idol unit and rival to Kairi's Carbuncle team. The staff also showed mecha designs for three of Kairi's machines.

Sep 2

Gundam GQuuuuuuX Gets Machibouke Gashapon Line in September

Bandai will release the Machibouke gashapon line for Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX in mid-September. The set includes four items: Amate Yuzuriha (Machu), Nyaan, Shuji Ito, and the GQuuuuuuX mobile suit. Each figure stands about 3 to 3.5 centimeters tall and shows the character or machine in a seated waiting pose. Each pull costs 400 yen including tax.

Sep 2

Shinchosha Announces 16-Volume Haruki Murakami Complete Works Collection

Shinchosha announced on September 1 that it will publish Murakami Haruki WORKS, a 16-volume complete works collection covering nearly half a century of the author's writing, as part of its 130th anniversary program. The set opens with volume 8, the complete 1Q84 in one book, on January 27, 2027, followed by one volume every two months. Recommendation comments come from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure creator Hirohiko Araki and poet Machi Tawara.

Sep 1

Toshiko Machida's Hanako-gari Manga Ends in Three Volumes

Toshiko Machida's Hanako-gari manga ended with its final chapter on Kodansha's Pocket Magazine platform on August 27. The series launched in September 2025 and ran for three compiled volumes. Kodansha shipped the second volume on March 9 and will release the third and final volume on September 9. The story follows a Tokyo government organization that claims to protect spirits called Hanako but actually hunts and disposes of them.

Aug 30

Hoshimachi Suisei Releases New Song GUM & DROP, Co-Written in Los Angeles

Hoshimachi Suisei, the VTuber affiliated with hololive and Studio STELLAR, will digitally release her new song "GUM & DROP" on Monday, August 31. The music video arrives the same day at 8:00 p.m. The announcement came during her August 30 stream, where she debuted a new default costume and room while performing the song for the first time. Suisei wrote the lyrics herself, alongside R&B singer-songwriters Sabrina Claudio and Paris Alexa. Mikhail Beltran, known for work with Chloe x Halle and Tinashe, co-composed with Xansei, Claudio, and Alexa. TAKU INOUE, who develops the Midnight Grand Orchestra project with Suisei, joined as co-producer. The track fuses J-POP catchiness with US dance music, born from a co-writing session in Los Angeles. The release is the first under Suisei's new system, and she described the song and choreography as cute, inviting fans to copy the dance. Related announcements from the stream include a joint live with tuki. on December 20, 2026 at K Arena Yokohama, and a second Hoshizumi Pajama Party event in 2027.

Aug 30

tuki. and Hoshimachi Suisei Announce Joint Live at K-Arena Yokohama

tuki. and Hoshimachi Suisei will hold a joint live titled 'Hoshifuru Bansankai' on December 20 at K-Arena Yokohama. The key visual was drawn by wataboku. Ticket advance reception begins August 30. The two became close after posting karaoke videos in 2025, and tuki. later provided the song 'Suisei' to Hoshimachi Suisei in December 2025. Hoshimachi Suisei established her personal agency Studio STELLAR in March 2026.

Aug 30

AI Search-Ready Local Media MachiMise Kameido Reaches 50 Listed Stores

56project LLC announced that MachiMise Kameido, an AI search-ready local media platform in Kameido, Koto Ward, Tokyo, now lists 50 stores. The platform launched July 30, 2026 with 10 stores and grew fivefold in about one month, ahead of schedule. The project structures restaurant information so generative AI can recognize local independent shops.

Aug 29

Hoshimachi Suisei and Midnight Grand Orchestra to Play WONDERLIVET 2026

Hoshimachi Suisei, affiliated with hololive and Studio STELLAR, will perform at the South Korean music festival WONDERLIVET 2026 across two acts. She plays on November 20, and her project Midnight Grand Orchestra takes the stage on November 21. The festival runs November 20 to 22 at KINTEX HALL 7·8·9·10.

Aug 29

HoloLive Figures Go on Sale at Tokyo Otaku Mode

Tokyo Otaku Mode is selling three HoloLive figures: a swimsuit version of Shirogane Noel based on her first anniversary illustration, plus POP UP PARADE SP figures of Hoshimachi Suisei and Tokoyami Towa. Prices are 19,800 yen for Noel and 6,800 yen each for the other two.

Aug 27

Gundam x Hololive Collaboration Figures and Kaitai Shouki Gundam Mk-II Open Reservations

Bandai Spirits opened reservations on August 27, 2026 for several new items in its Tamashii Nations figure lines, including two METAL ROBOT Soul figures from the Gundam x hololive production collaboration. The METAL ROBOT Soul <SIDE MS> Nu Gundam [Sakura Miko Ver.] is priced at 24,200 yen, and the Sazabi [Hoshimachi Suisei Ver.] at 28,600 yen, both shipping in January 2027. Reservations for the Nu Gundam began at 16:00 and for the Sazabi at 17:00 on August 27. The figures feature special coloring based on the VTubers' image colors, dedicated bases, and collaboration markings. The company also opened reservations for the METAL STRUCTURE Kaitai Shouki RX-178 Gundam Mk-II (AEUG Specification), a 310mm figure priced at 137,500 yen, also shipping in January 2027. The Kaitai Shouki figure includes LED gimmicks and three armor deployment forms. These items were displayed at the Bandai / BANDAI SPIRITS booth at TOKYO TOY SHOW 2026, alongside other collaboration figures including RG RX-78-2 Gundam Ver.2.0 [HOLOLIVE PRODUCTION Ver.] and RG Crossbone Gundam X1 [Houshou Marine Ver.].

Aug 27

MODEROID Getter Robo Kit Nears Reservation Deadline

Good Smile Company is accepting reservations for the MODEROID Mini Gattai Henshin Getter 1, an assembly model kit from Getter Robo that lets the three Getter Machines, Eagle Go, Jaguar Go, and Bear Go, fully combine into Getter 1. The kit uses molded colors, pre-painted parts, and stickers to reproduce a color scheme close to the anime image. It features a simple transformation mechanism with no leftover parts or part swapping, and includes two Getter Tomahawk weapon parts. Priced at 3,900 yen including tax, the kit is a second re-release of a product that first came out in February 2025. Reservations close on August 26, and shipping is scheduled for December 2026. This is one of several MODEROID releases announced around the same time, including re-releases and new kits for Panzer World Galient, Iron Linebarrel, and Dancouga: Super Beast Machine God.

Aug 21

Netflix Anime NYC 2026 Roundup: Edgerunners 2, Blue Eye Samurai, The One Piece, More

Netflix used its Anime NYC 2026 presentation to announce release dates and new trailers for several upcoming anime and adult animated series. The biggest reveal was Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, which will premiere on Netflix on October 20. The sequel is a standalone 10-episode story set in Night City, following a new cast of characters on a path of redemption and revenge. Studio Trigger returns to animate, with Kai Ikarashi directing in his debut role. The series features Japanese and English voice casts, including Momoka Terasawa and Valeria Rodriguez as Roman Carax, and Akari Kito and Kimoy Lee as Talia Yang. Netflix also announced that Blue Eye Samurai season 2 will arrive in January 2027, with a third and final season planned for 2028. The One Piece, Wit Studio's CG adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's manga, received new key art and a February 2027 premiere date, adapting the first 50 chapters across seven episodes. Bass X Machina, an adult animated steampunk Western created by LeSean Thomas and starring Brian Tyree Henry, will premiere November 3. SAKAMOTO DAYS season 2 got a character trailer and a January 2027 return.

Aug 20

Love Is Like a Cocktail Creator Launches New Romantic Comedy Manga

Crystal na Yōsuke, creator of Osake wa Fūfu ni Natte kara, will launch a new romantic comedy manga titled Tokoro de Machi Chūka wa Date ni Irimasu ka? in Shogakukan's Monthly Sunday Gene-X magazine on September 18. The story follows a love triangle involving a girl who loves binge-eating, a food company salaryman, and a food blogging live-streamer.

Aug 19

Midnight Grand Orchestra Releases First EP Travelogue I Digitally

Midnight Grand Orchestra, the unit formed by Hoshimachi Suisei and TAKU INOUE, released its first EP Travelogue I on August 19. The four-track release includes Hyper Vip, Nonsense, Flash, and 404, and adds strings such as violin, viola, and cello to the unit's club sound. The EP was originally planned as a limited first edition CD bundled with soundtrack music for an original anime project, but production problems at the external production company made the release timing uncertain, so the CD sales were canceled. Streaming and download distribution proceed as planned.

Aug 19

Dark Machine The Animation Video Reveals More Cast, Opening Song, October TV Debut

The staff for Dark Machine the Animation unveiled the second promotional video on Wednesday. The video reveals four new cast members playing players from rival e-sports teams, previews the opening theme song "Sonzai Riyū Kai" by BUCK-TICK, and announces the anime's October television premiere. The series will be available for TV and streaming via Fuji TV.

Aug 18

NIKKE Characters Join Bandai Machibouke Gashapon Line

Bandai will open reservations for Goddess of Victory: NIKKE Machibouke gashapon figures on Gashapon Online starting August 19, 2026 at 11:00 AM. The lineup includes four characters: Rapi, Anis, and Neon from the Counters squad, and Little Mermaid from Old Tales. Each figure costs 500 yen including tax, and the set is made from PVC with a height of approximately 4.6 centimeters for Rapi, varying by character type. The sales period runs from August 19 at 11:00 AM through August 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM, with delivery scheduled for around late November 2026. Bandai notes that the figures may also appear at capsule vending machines nationwide before the scheduled delivery date. Order acceptance will close once the prepared quantity is reached. The Machibouke series is known for its poses of characters waiting for someone, and the NIKKE figures depict the characters waiting for the commander. The figures are distributed by Bandai, and the copyright belongs to SHIFT UP CORP.

Aug 17

Mei Nagano Stars in and Produces Himachi no Joo Live-Action Drama

Mei Nagano will star in and produce the DMM TV original drama Himachi no Joo, an adaptation of Crescent Kayahara's manga. The series is set to stream this winter. Nagano plays Ayane Ichijo, a former top cabaret hostess who returns to her hometown and works at her family's snack bar. The announcement includes a special visual of Nagano in a custom dress.

Aug 14

SF Magazine Runs Its First Poetry Feature With SF Tanka by 11 Poets

The October 2026 issue of SF Magazine, out August 25, includes the magazine's first poetry feature since its 1959 founding: an SF tanka section supervised by Yuriko Matsumura, with 11 poets including Machi Tawara, Hiroshi Homura, and Baku Yumemakura. The issue also announces winners of an SF tanka contest that drew 1,055 entries.

Aug 14

Steam Machine Restock Set for August 18 in Japan, One Per Person

KOMODO, the official distributor of the Steam Machine in Japan, announced on August 14 that it will restock the device at KOMODO STATION starting around 10 a.m. on August 18. The restock covers two models: the Steam Machine - 512GB at 189,980 yen and the Steam Machine - 512GB + Steam Controller bundle at 204,980 yen. Purchases are limited to one unit per person, and the start time may shift. The Steam Machine is a compact gaming PC running SteamOS, equipped with a semi-custom AMD CPU and GPU, and supports up to 4K gaming with FSR 4.1 upscaling. It has 16GB DDR5 RAM and 8GB GDDR6 VRAM. Sales began in June and sold out quickly despite the high price. A restock on July 17 also sold out fast. The 2TB models, priced at 249,980 yen and 264,980 yen, remain out of stock and are not part of this restock. KOMODO advises creating an account in advance and following its official X account for updates.

Aug 13

Machine Party Surpasses 1 Million Sales, Adds Local Co-Op

Oro Interactive announced on August 13, 2026 that Machine Party, the latest work from Buckshot Roulette creator Mike Klubnika, has surpassed 1 million copies sold. The game, developed with GDeavid, is a violent party game for 2 to 4 players that includes 15 mini-games where failure leads to death. It was released on July 30 and reached the milestone in about two weeks. Alongside the sales announcement, version 2.0 added local co-op, which also enables pseudo-online multiplayer through Remote Play Together. The game has 2,718 reviews on Steam with 87% positive ratings, earning a 'Very Positive' status, and its 24-hour concurrent player count exceeded about 10,000 at the time of writing. Machine Party offers a story mode and a free selection of mini-games that test reaction speed, calm judgment, and mutual trust, sometimes requiring players to pretend to cooperate before betraying others. The update also includes bug fixes and various adjustments, making the game easier to enjoy with family and friends during the Obon holiday.

Aug 11

Machinefall Dev Interview: 32 Trillion Tiles, AI Translation

Jan Zizka, the solo developer of the Earth-scale RTS Machinefall, discussed the game's 32 trillion map tiles, its Stone Age to Nuclear Age campaign, and his heavy use of generative AI for translation, music, and textures. He also noted that Tokyo is a major enemy base and that Japan is the easiest starting location.

Aug 10

Quake 30th Anniversary Episode Dawn of the Machine Launches

id Software released Dawn of the Machine, a new episode for the original Quake, on August 7, 2026. Developed by MachineGames, the update adds 19 new maps, a looping campaign, new weapons, enemies, and a deathmatch mode. It is free for owners of Quake on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, and Switch 2.

Aug 9

Thinking Machines Lab Releases Inkling-Small at a Quarter the Size

Thinking Machines Lab released Inkling-Small, an open-weight MoE model with 276 billion total and 12 billion active parameters. It delivers performance comparable to its 975-billion-parameter predecessor Inkling while using far fewer computational resources. The model is available on the Tinker service and as BF16 and NVFP4 weights on Hugging Face.

Aug 7

KonoSuba Game Machisuba Opens Pre-Registration, Reveals Teaser PV

KADOKAWA announced at the KonoSuba anime's 10th anniversary event that pre-registration for the new mobile and PC game KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! - Let's Bring Prosperity to This Beloved Town! (Machisuba) is now open on the App Store and Google Play. A teaser PV and key visual were released, and an X giveaway campaign is underway.

Aug 6

Algorithm Prescription Gets AGF2026 Stage With Cast Talk

Shochiku announced that the visual novel Algorithm Prescription will hold a special stage on November 7, the opening day of Animate Girls Festival 2026. The event takes place at Sunshine City Fountain Square in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, featuring voice actors Toshinari Fukamachi, Haruki Ishiya, and Junichi Toki.

Aug 6

Holodori Next Event Features miComet, Details Set for August 6

Cover announced that the next in-game event for the rhythm and RPG "hololive Dreams" ("Holodori") will feature the unit miComet, consisting of Sakura Miko and Hoshimachi Suisei. The event, titled "Syncing Summer Sparkle," is scheduled to begin on August 7, 2026, at 12:00. Alongside the event, three songs by the duo will be added to the game, and players can obtain miComet event memories by participating. The announcement follows a teaser on the official X account that hinted at the two talents with an ocean background and icons on their outfits. The first in-game event, "Hello! Brand New Summer!," ended on August 5, and details for the next event were scheduled to be revealed on August 6 at 18:00. "Holodori" is the first official smartphone game for the VTuber group hololive, developed jointly by Cover and QualiArts, and released on July 23. It surpassed 1 million downloads the day after release. The game is available on iOS, Android, and PC via Steam with a free-to-play model.

Aug 5

Rafal Jaki and Machine Gamu Launch Brain Alive Manga

Rafal Jaki, executive producer of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and artist Machine Gamu launched the manga Brain Alive on Kadokawa's KadoComi website on Friday. The pilot chapter is available free in English. The digital English serialization will debut this fall, with the Japanese serialization starting the same day.

Aug 4

Valve Updates Steam Machine Reservation Rules as Overseas Orders Expected by Year-End

Valve has announced the current status and rules for Steam Machine reservations, stating that overseas users who have reserved the console should be able to complete their purchase procedures by the end of 2026. The Steam Machine has been out of stock since its launch at the end of June. To process orders, Valve is sending emails with purchase procedures to users who have reserved, after randomizing the order. The company explained that launches starting at a specific date and time tend to favor bots, people with fast internet connections, and those who can adjust their lives to that time, so accepting reservations over several days and eliminating any first-come, first-served element aims to remove as much of the hurdle to purchasing as possible. For users on the waiting list, Valve stated they will not overtake users who have reserved, and they can only reserve after the reservation queue for their region's product has been processed to the end. Depending on the product, some waiting list users may be moved up to a reservation slot, and they will receive an email with purchase procedures when their turn in the random queue comes. In Japan, KOMODO STATION handles sales and does not use this system; orders are taken as soon as the store page is accessible, with stock information posted on their official X account.

Jul 31

Machine Party Launches on Steam With 15 Death Mini-Games

Oro Interactive released Machine Party on Steam on July 31, 2026. The game is a violent party game for two to four players, where every mini-game failure results in character death. It includes 15 mini-games, such as Laser Jump, where players dodge a rotating giant laser, and Hot Potato Bomb, where players pass a timed bomb. Players can progress through a Story Mode or freely select any mini-game in Minigame Selection Mode. The game is priced at 950 yen, with a 15 percent discount to 807 yen until August 14. Machine Party was developed by Mike Klubnika, known for the hit Russian roulette game Buckshot Roulette, and GDeavid, an artist known for experimental pixel art and low-poly 3D games. Alex Peipman, who composed music for Buckshot Roulette, provides the industrial BGM. The game supports Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, and other languages, totaling 13. According to Automaton, the game reached over 2,800 concurrent players shortly after launch and holds a "Very Positive" Steam user review status, with 89 percent of 373 reviews positive.

Jul 27

New KonoSuba Game Announced for Mobile and PC Release This Year

A new KonoSuba game, Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o! ~Kono Ai Subeki Machi ni Hanei o!~, was announced at the franchise's 10th anniversary event. The game features an original story supervised by original light novel author Natsume Akatsuki and illustrator Kurone Mishima. It will launch on mobile and PC this year, with pre-registration now open.

Jul 27

Crymachina 3rd Anniversary Sale Discounts Game Up to 90% Off

Furyu has launched the "Hanamaru Summer Sale" to mark the third anniversary of the action RPG "Crymachina." The sale runs until August 12, 2026, on both the Nintendo eShop and the PlayStation Store. The standard download edition is priced at 870 yen (89% off) on the Nintendo eShop and 847 yen (90% off) on the PlayStation Store. The "Hanamaru Edition" and "Ultimate Hanamaru Edition" are also discounted by 87%. The game, released on July 27, 2025, is set in a world after humanity's extinction, where mechanical girls fight to become real humans. Combined with the earlier title "Crystar," the series has sold over 770,000 copies worldwide. To celebrate the anniversary, character designer Rorua released a new illustration on the official X account. A giveaway campaign for merchandise runs until August 17, 2026.

Jul 22

Suisei Hoshimachi and Hatsune Miku Throw First Pitch at Marines Game

VTuber Suisei Hoshimachi and virtual idol Hatsune Miku threw the first pitch at a Chiba Lotte Marines game on Monday. Hoshimachi appeared on the pitcher's mound via screen and delivered a perfect pitch to Marines player Shingo Ishikawa. The event was part of Lotte's summer ice cream campaign.

Jul 20

Takashi Sorimachi's GTO Returns With New Series After 28 Years

The new GTO drama starring Takashi Sorimachi as Eikichi Onizuka premiered on July 20, 2026. It is the first series in 28 years since the 1998 adaptation. Sorimachi and Nanako Matsushima reprise their roles. Episode 1 introduces a Generation Z teacher, a student feedback system, and a truant student. The opening four minutes contain a shocking development.

Jul 20

Valve Engineer Says Memory Shortage Getting Worse, Not Better

Valve's Steam Machine launched June 23 with high prices blamed on memory shortages. Valve engineers now say the shortage is worsening and will not improve soon. The internal configuration was changed from dual-channel to single-channel because 8GB modules became impossible to procure. Suppliers predict the crisis may last until 2028-2030.

Jul 16

Steam Machine Restock Set for July 17 After Instant Sellout

KOMODO announced on July 16 that the Steam Machine, a compact gaming PC developed by Valve, will be restocked on July 17 at 10:00 AM Japan time. The device runs on SteamOS and is designed to play Steam games on a TV or monitor. It features an AMD semi-custom desktop-class CPU and GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, and AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 4.1 for up to 4K output. Two storage models are available: 512GB and 2TB. Prices range from 189,980 yen to 264,980 yen. The Steam Machine initially launched on June 23 and sold out within hours due to high demand. Resale listings on eBay reportedly reached double the official price. The restock is limited to one unit per customer, and SMS authentication may be required at purchase. The sale is available on the KOMODO STATION online store for customers in Japan and Taiwan.

Jul 15

Buckshot Roulette Developer's Machine Party Gets July 30 Release

Oro Interactive announced on July 16 that Machine Party, a violent party game for 2 to 4 players, will launch on Steam on July 30. The game is developed by Mike Klubnika, creator of the hit Russian roulette game Buckshot Roulette, and GDeavid, known for pixel art and low-poly 3D games. It features 15 death mini-games where failure results in the player's death. Players can compete in story mode or select individual mini-games. The mini-games test reaction speed, judgment, and trust, and players can betray or cooperate. The price is 950 yen. Music is by Alex Peipman, who composed for Buckshot Roulette. The game supports Japanese and 14 other languages. A new trailer was released. The Steam store page describes it as 'full of cunning means to outwit your friends'. Player appearance can be customized. This marks GDeavid's Steam debut, as he previously released on itch.io. The publisher Oro Interactive is known for titles like Order 13 and Easy Delivery Co.

Jul 14

Hololive VTubers Tackle Steins;Gate Escape Game Ahead of RE:BOOT Release

Shirakami Fubuki and Hoshimachi Suisei played a browser-based real escape game based on Steins;Gate, encountering a freeze that forced a restart. The article also recalls Oozora Subaru and Usada Pekora's first-time reactions to the series. The piece promotes the upcoming Steins;Gate RE:BOOT, which adds a new Gamma world line route.