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刀剣乱舞ONLINE
Touken Ranbu ONLINE is expanding through collaborations and merchandise, with a new sword warrior added via a Puzzgiri tie-in and a joint stage planned at TGS 2026. The game has surpassed 14 million cumulative users.
Synthesized from 30
Yomimono stories · updated
Aug 26
Touken Ranbu ONLINE continues to extend its reach through a steady stream of collaborations and merchandise. In July 2026, the game added a new sword warrior, Momotaro Sukesada, obtainable through a campaign tied to pre-registration for the upcoming puzzle spin-off Touken Ranbu Puzzgiri. The same month, a collaboration with bowling and karaoke chain ROUND1 launched, running from July 17 through October 18, featuring menus, packs, and bowling events with recorded voice by Shunichi Kojima.
Merchandise lines expanded across categories. Onkyo opened orders for a third wave of wireless earphones, with four new swordsmen each carrying newly recorded voice guidance. Bellmaison announced its first Touken Ranbu collaboration, a New Year osechi box and a quilted hanten. MegaHouse began accepting reservations for two Rukappu figures of Mikazuki Munechika and Kashuu Kiyomitsu. A nail oil line themed after 10 sword warriors launched, with a second volume already announced.
The franchise is also pushing toward Tokyo Game Show 2026. EXNOA announced that Touken Ranbu Puzzgiri will be exhibited at the DMM GAMES booth, described as its largest exhibition scale ever, with a joint stage featuring Touken Ranbu ONLINE and the puzzle RPG scheduled for September 20. The stage will include voice actors Kosuke Toriumi, Kento Hama, and Koyou Tadokoro. The game has surpassed 14 million cumulative users since launch.
Key facts
- New sword warrior
- Momotaro Sukesada, a great tachi, was added via a collaboration campaign tied to Touken Ranbu Puzzgiri pre-registration. ↗
- TGS 2026 booth
- Touken Ranbu Puzzgiri will be exhibited at the DMM GAMES booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026, with a joint stage featuring Touken Ranbu ONLINE on September 20. ↗
- Joint stage cast
- The joint stage features Kosuke Toriumi as Mikazuki Munechika, Kento Hama as Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki, and Koyou Tadokoro as Futatsuji Hirosada. ↗
- ROUND1 collaboration
- A collaboration with ROUND1 runs from July 17 to October 18, 2026, with bowling events featuring recorded voice by Shunichi Kojima. ↗
- Onkyo earphones third wave
- Orders for the third wave of wireless earphones opened July 29, with models for Kashuu Kiyomitsu, Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki, Ookurikara, and Hakusan Yoshimitsu. ↗
- Bellmaison collaboration
- Bellmaison's first Touken Ranbu collaboration includes a New Year osechi box priced at 17,800 yen and a quilted hanten in five colors. ↗
- Rukappu figures
- MegaHouse began accepting reservations for Rukappu figures of Mikazuki Munechika and Kashuu Kiyomitsu, each 110mm tall, with a Premium Bandai limited edition including a mini cushion. ↗
- Nail oil line
- A nail oil line themed after 10 sword warriors launched, with a second volume announced for production. ↗
- Cumulative users
- The game has surpassed 14 million cumulative users since launch. ↗
Timeline
- Aug 22, 2026 Sword Art Online Pop Up Store Celebrates Kirito and Asuna's Wedding Anniversary
- Aug 21, 2026 KOF '98 UMOL Turns 10 With New Ash Fighter and Anniversary Events
- Aug 20, 2026 Touken Ranbu Pazu Giri Gets TGS 2026 Booth With Joint Stage
- Aug 20, 2026 Square Enix Details Gemini-Powered Chatty Slime in Dragon Quest X Online
- Aug 18, 2026 EVE Online Studio CCP Games Rebrands as Fenris Creations After Management Buyout
- Aug 18, 2026 Sword Art Online Pop-Up Store Marks Kirito and Asuna's Wedding Anniversary
- Aug 17, 2026 EVE Online Studio CEO Explains Fenris Rebrand and DeepMind Deal
- Aug 13, 2026 Ragnarok: Adventures Auto-Battle RPG Coming to Japan
- Aug 11, 2026 SAO and Mahouka Covers Both Show Wedding Scenes
- Aug 11, 2026 Touken Ranbu Online Onkyo Collab Earphones Third Wave Opens Orders July 29
- Aug 9, 2026 This Week's Big Game Stories: Palworld Online, Attack on Titan 3, and More
- Aug 8, 2026 EVE Online Creator Says Virtual Worlds Can Surpass Reality
- Aug 7, 2026 Ragnarok Online 3 Hands-On: Classic Feel, Modern Boss Design
- Aug 7, 2026 Ragnarok Online 3 Hands-On Impressions From ChinaJoy 2026
- Aug 7, 2026 Touken Ranbu ONLINE Gets First Osechi and Hanten From Bellmaison
- Aug 6, 2026 Destiny Unchain Online TV Anime Announced
- Aug 6, 2026 EVE Online Creator Fenris Creations Partners With Google DeepMind on AI Research
- Aug 6, 2026 Touken Ranbu ONLINE Figures Join Rukappu Series
- Aug 6, 2026 Crunchyroll Adds English Dub for Middle-Aged Online Shopper Anime
- Aug 4, 2026 NGS Ver.2 Adds Limited-Time Quest Malice Stirring in the Iron Prison '26
- Aug 3, 2026 Garena to Launch Palworld Online Mobile MMORPG This Year
- Jul 22, 2026 Touken Ranbu Online Adds New Sword Warrior Momotaro Sukesada Via Puzzgiri Collab
- Jul 22, 2026 PSO2 New Genesis Star Gems Become Furusato Tax Return Gift From July 22
- Jul 18, 2026 Touken Ranbu Online and ROUND1 Launch ROUND Ichimonji Campaign
- Jul 18, 2026 Soulbound: Online Enters Early Access on Steam July 22
- Jul 17, 2026 Touken Ranbu ONLINE Nail Oils Inspired by 10 Sword Warriors Now Available
- Jul 15, 2026 PSO2 New Genesis Ver.2 Adds Limited-Time 'Soutei Enshuu' Quest
- Jul 8, 2026 PSO2 New Genesis Ver.2 Adds Rank.3 to Star Extinction Emblem Quest
- Jul 8, 2026 Fenris Creations Open-Sources Carbon Engine That Powered Eve Online
- Jul 8, 2026 Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad Trailer Shows Death Game Mode
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Noted
- third wave of wireless earphones collab opens orders July 29 · 2026-08-11
- Noted
- third wave includes four swordsmen: Kashuu Kiyomitsu, Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki, Ookurikara, and Hakusan Yoshimitsu · 2026-08-11
- Noted
- each unit includes newly recorded voice guidance, a chirimen-style pouch, and a soft case · 2026-08-11
- Noted
- orders run through September 25 · 2026-08-11
- Noted
- launched a line of nail oils themed after 10 of its sword warriors · 2026-07-17
- Noted
- called Touken Ranbu ONLINE: Fluffy Flower Dance Nail Oil Vol.1 · 2026-07-17
- Noted
- sold in sets of two bottles · 2026-07-17
- Noted
- Reservations opened on July 16, 2026 at 12:00 JST and run through August 16, 2026 · 2026-07-17
- Noted
- Each set costs 3,630 yen (tax included) · 2026-07-17
- Noted
- is scheduled to ship in January 2027 · 2026-07-17
- Noted
- The oils contain real flowers · 2026-07-17
- Noted
- are scented to evoke each sword warrior · 2026-07-17
- Noted
- The bottles are designed with motifs from the characters' attire and family crests, with gold caps · 2026-07-17
- Noted
- has surpassed 14 million cumulative users since its launch · 2026-07-17
- Announced
- production of Vol.2 · 2026-07-17
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All coverage
14h ago
GungHo Online Entertainment opened applications on October 19, 2026 for a technical test of its Steam co-op bullet hell shooter B.L.U.E. NOVA. The test runs October 30 to November 1, 2026, from 19:00 to 23:00 JST each day, and is limited to Asia, including Japan. Signups close October 29 at 10:00 JST through the Steam Playtest request button on the game's store page, with participants picked by lottery and access granted from 12:00 JST that day. GungHo says the test checks connection stability and whether large multiplayer sessions run smoothly ahead of a planned global closed beta test. Players who take part receive a limited in-game item usable after release, and may stream or post gameplay footage under the game's usage guidelines. B.L.U.E. NOVA is planned as a free-to-play release on Steam in 2027 with Japanese, English and Simplified Chinese support.
3d ago
Advance character creation for Icarus Online began on Friday, October 16, 2026 at 15:00 and runs until Wednesday, October 21 at 15:00, publisher G.O.P. announced. Players who install the client can set their server, class, gender, appearance and name before service starts on Thursday, October 22 at 15:00. Pre-registration remains open, and the 10,000-registration milestone reward has been decided.
4d ago
Touken Ranbu ONLINE added the sword warrior Asakura Toushirou to smithing after maintenance on October 13, 2026. He costs 700 of each resource and is available until 12:59 on October 27. He is a tantou of the Awataguchi school, voiced by Sho Komura with art by ZeroGo Iwamoto. A support pack and a Refinement Enhancement 2x Campaign run alongside.
4d ago
EXNOA has announced Night Shift Ward Online -New Operation-, a card battle RPG social game operated by NeuralPicks, with pre-registration open on the official website. The game is based on the 1999 adult title Night Shift Ward, released by Mink, and follows a protagonist scouted by St. Lupinus General Hospital to help build a Special Ward. A DMM points campaign runs alongside pre-registration. It is planned free-to-play for FANZA GAMES.
4d ago
KADOKAWA's online kuji service Kujibikido will run the Kino's Journey the Beautiful World Online Kuji 2026 from 12:00 on Thursday, October 22, 2026 to 11:59 on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 770 yen per draw plus shipping. Prizes use illustrations by original illustrator Kouhaku Kuroboshi and span a jacquard blanket, acrylic plates, A3 clear posters, acrylic mascots, and square can badges. A repost campaign and two bonus gift tiers run alongside.
4d ago
An online lottery marking KAITO's 20th anniversary opens on Kujibikido, the lottery service run by KADOKAWA, on October 22, 2026 at noon. Prizes use new full-body and mini-character art by Isamu and Haruaki Shiki, plus goods with Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, and MEIKO. Draws cost 770 yen. Sales end November 19.
4d ago
Affluent Inc. is accepting exhibitor applications for "Premium Lifestyle Zone by affluent," a zone inside THE GOLD ONLINE Fest 2027, set for Saturday, February 27, 2027 at Tokyo International Forum. The zone adds a fourth value to the event's aims of protecting, growing, and passing on assets. The previous edition drew more than 60 companies. General admission is free with advance reservation.
Oct 11
Automaton's 103rd weekly game article roundup collects seven stories. Pukey Goddess Shot Trick, a Russian roulette drinking game with a demon named Fam Suul, launches December 8. WonderPaws confirmed Japanese language support. Backrooms: Project Mapping, a four-player co-op mapping game, was announced. Airsoft Online began a free beta test. Dave the Diver's final DLC crosses over with Subnautica 2. Arknights: Endfield showed "Rhodes." Japanese Ramen Simulator hits early access October 9.
Oct 9
Pre-orders for the Touken Ranbu ONLINE x THE KISS Collaboration Rings Wave 1 opened on October 9, 2026 at 19:00 on Premium Bandai and FanFunMARKET. The lineup has four silver rings, each inspired by a Touken Danshi: Mikazuki Munechika, Shokudaikiri Mitsutada, Kashuu Kiyomitsu, and Goke Kanemitsu. Each ring has a center stone in its image color and an engraving on the inside, and ships in an original box.
Oct 9
Pixomnia Studio opened the free open beta test for Airsoft Online on October 8 on PC via Steam. The build supports Japanese display and a Japanese server, and runs Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Domination, and Stronghold on indoor and outdoor maps at up to 6 vs. 6. Matches use airsoft guns, selectable BBs, and a fluid-dynamics-based physics system. The beta runs until October 26, with release planned within 2026.
Oct 8
G.O.P Co., Ltd. confirmed that the PC MMORPG Icarus Online launches its official service on Thursday, October 22, 2026. The closed beta test that began September 29 ended October 6. Pre-registration stays open until just before launch, and a Pre-Character Creation Event runs from 15:00 on Friday, October 16 through 15:00 on Wednesday, October 21.
Oct 7
Sega pushed an October 7 update to PSO2 New Genesis ver.2 that adds the Halloween '26 event, running until the November 4 maintenance. Central City gets Halloween decoration, the Region Mag turns pumpkin-shaped, and Xiemi appears as a costumed navigator investigating enemy movements in Halpha. The update also brings a new Amulet equipment category, two limited-time Scratches including the 5th Anniversary Thankful Oct, and the Haunted Domain II '26 Emergency Quest.
Oct 6
Touken Ranbu ONLINE will collaborate with Special Edition Oshiro EXPO in Kumamoto 2026, held October 3 and 4 at Kumamoto Castle Hall. A third-floor corner features six Touken Danshi linked to Kumamoto and Kumamoto Castle, among them Kasen Kanesada, Hotarumaru, and Doudanuki Masakuni. Okkii Konnosuke appears at an October 3 stage event from 14:45 to 15:15. Two collaboration goods sell for 770 yen each.
Oct 6
Toyota announced on October 6, 2026 that it will exhibit a special vehicle, the Crown Crossover x Touken Danshi Mikazuki Munechika, at the second Kyoto Station Building Art Festival, Geijutsu no Eki 2026. The Crown carries blue and gold lines and a large Mikazuki Munechika emblem on the hood. The exhibition runs October 17 to November 3, 13:00 to 20:00 daily on the first floor Station Front Plaza. More collaboration plans are to be announced.
Oct 6
Sega will stream the official program NGS Headline WAVE at 21:00 on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 for the online RPG PSO2 New Genesis ver.2. Host Hasegawa Yui presents October update information, including follow-up news on the Dark Falz-class Starless Dario Rudean, with video. The Development Letter and Operation Report corners return, new collaboration information is planned, and the short anime Central! airs at the end. The pre-recorded broadcast runs on YouTube Live and the official X, with a limited Niconico run.
Oct 5
G・O・P Corporation will restart the monster-raising MMORPG Icarus Online in Japan in fall 2026 on PC via Pmang, with pre-registration open until October 22. The Japan service ran from 2015 to 2022 while the game continued overseas. For the restart, Fellows, dungeons, quests, and rewards have been renewed to global standards, and a new equipment growth system replaces the old enhancement stones. A global CBT ran until October 6.
Oct 4
Nikon Imaging Japan will host a sponsored session at VIDEOGRAPHERS TOKYO ONLINE 2026, an online event run by Vook Inc. from October 6 to October 9. On October 7, video director AKIYA and photographer Koji Ueda will walk through RAW shooting on the Nikon ZR using R3D NE, covering data management, color grading and export, plus firmware Ver.2.00.
Oct 4
Sega pushed an update to PSO2 New Genesis ver.2 on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, adding the quest "Simulated Exercise: Large Enemy Sweep Battle '26." It runs until the start of maintenance on Wednesday, October 7 and takes up to 8 players through the outer edges of Stia against giant mutated enemies. Title Tasks, limited-time Tasks, and two revival AC Scratches also went live.
Oct 3
Sega implemented an update for PSO2 New Genesis ver.2 on September 23, 2026, adding the limited-time quest The Laughing Remnant of Wisdom in the Otherworld. The quest runs from September 23 at 12:00 until maintenance begins on September 30. It is a solo quest where the player fights one-on-one against Oruta Noetika, a character who appeared in the story quest The Tower Where the Shadow Sits. An ARKS Record for the quest runs at the same time, and Title Tasks and limited-time Tasks were added with rewards including Titles. Meseta Boost does not apply to this quest. Sega also changed part of the route for the limited-time quest Ice Phantom Sweep Battle on September 23, introducing new situations and combat gimmicks. The new AC Scratch, Blazing Martial '26, runs from September 23 at 12:00 until maintenance begins on October 21. It offers costumes inspired by martial arts and kenpo styles, the motion change Ride a Rappy, a new version of the Wushu Pose lobby action, and the Hand on Hip motion. Count bonuses give 10 N-Special Ability Transfer Pass Auxiliary Tickets at 12 pulls and the weapon camo *Lotos Rune at 80 pulls.
Sep 29
KADOKAWA's online kuji service Kujibikido will run a second online kuji for the 20th anniversary of the TV anime The Familiar of Zero, with sales starting Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 12:00 and running to Wednesday, November 4 at 11:59. Draws cost 770 yen including tax, shipping separate. Prizes include character fine graphs using DVD and Blu-ray package illustrations, A3 clear posters, acrylic panels, acrylic keychains, and mini shikishi.
Sep 19
Publisher GRAVITY GAME ARISE held a playtest event in Kayabacho on August 21, 2026, showing titles headed to Tokyo Game Show 2026, with release plans announced at the venue. Minna de Kuuki Yomi. World (Korean ver.) adds Korean customs and a Korean Culture Mode, planned for 2026 on iOS and Android. Light Odyssey is a soulslike boss rush starring Bundy.
Sep 18
KOUGEI EXPO in KANAGAWA runs from Saturday, November 7 to Monday, November 9 at Pacifico Yokohama. The event includes a KOUGEI x Touken Ranbu ONLINE Collaboration Gallery featuring Higekiri, Hizamaru, Heshikiri Hasebe, Hyuga Masamune, Yamanbagiri Chougi, and Futasuji-hi Sadamune, with collaborated works on display and collaboration goods sold. A high school student flower arrangement performance and a GREEN x EXPO 2027 collaboration project are also planned.
Sep 18
GungHo Online Entertainment is showing a playable demo of Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet at its Tokyo Game Show 2026 booth in Hall 6 at Makuhari Messe. The demo is a special build running ahead of the game's spring 2027 release. Visitors can choose between two courses: a Planet Exploration Course set in the open world with the returning ninja gum action and a boss fight, and a Photo Shooting Course where the player photographs academy characters. Those who play the demo get a chance at a Gum Gacha draw. The S prize is a Nintendo Switch 2 Japanese-language, Japan-only model with a Wireless Hori Pad TURBO, awarded to one person each day. The A prize is a Gum-cchi T-shirt and the B prize is a stick balloon. Booth visitors also receive a Lucy Uchiwa fan while supplies last. Price and business model for the game are undecided.
Sep 18
GungHo Online Entertainment released the co-op communication game Minna de Chat Party on September 17 for Nintendo Switch 2 at 990 yen, tax included. Up to four players team up locally or online, splitting into guide and operator roles, and use the console's game chat to talk each other through three games: Suika Wari, Delivery Panic, and Ghost Hunt. A practice mode and an audience option are included.
Sep 16
The September 16, 2026 update adds the limited-time quest Ice Phantom Sweep Battle, set in Oltarelum's Central Frozen Soil Area, open to up to eight players. A new enemy, High Zo Marmoth, appears there. The quest runs from after maintenance on September 16 until maintenance on September 30. Mission Pass Vol. 60, a Silver Week login bonus, and the Big Bang Scratch Fever Sep'26 also arrive.
Sep 15
Bushiroad opened the Steam store page for the digital trading card game Weiß Schwarz Online on September 15, 2026, and started taking wishlist registrations. The game is developed by Furyu and Lancarse and is scheduled for release in spring 2027 on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch. It ships in two versions with different included titles. The Weiß Edition carries Aogiri High School, Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko, The Quintessential Quintuplets, and BanG Dream! MyGO!!!!!. The Schwarz Edition carries THE IDOLM@STER Shiny Colors, Sword Art Online, Touhou Project, and BanG Dream! Ave Mujica. Support is listed for Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Korean, and Spanish, and the player count is listed as one player, or one to two in online matches. A playable demo will be at the Bushiroad booth in Hall 6 of Tokyo Game Show 2026, which runs from September 17 to 21 at Makuhari Messe.
Sep 14
GungHo Online Entertainment announced on September 14, 2026 that it will release the co-op shooter B.L.U.E. NOVA on PC via Steam within 2027. The game is free-to-play with in-game purchases and is a third-person PvE bullet-hell shooter that supports single-player and online co-op for up to 30 players. The setting is the planet Deval, which humanity is developing as a new home after a superflare threatens Earth in the year 2200. The development control AI EVE goes out of control, and machine weapons rebel. Players join the USF, or New World Union Special Forces, as mercenaries called Heroes and fight the machine army Singula. The main mode is Tower Raid, where up to 30 players destroy the Master Tower at the center of the battlefield. Entering a ring with allies forms a state called R.I.N.G., which lifts reload limits and activates special moves. Six-player Boss Raids and time-limited Challenges are also included.
Sep 10
G.O.P. Co., Ltd. began accepting pre-registrations and closed beta test participants for the PC MMORPG Icarus Online on Thursday, September 10, 2026, ahead of a service launch planned within 2026. The game ran in Japan from 2015 to 2022 and continued overseas. The revived Japanese service is based on the global version, with revamped fellows, dungeons, quests, rewards, equipment growth, and a reorganized enhancement stone system.
Sep 10
G-gen Inc. will sponsor Security Online Day 2026 Autumn, held online on Thursday, September 17, 2026. Ryuki Dohara, manager of Cloud Engineering Section 2 in the Cloud Solutions Department, will speak in session B-6 from 14:30 to 15:00 on multi-cloud security with Wiz and Google Cloud, including Security Operations with Gemini. The conference is organized by Shoeisha and free with advance registration.
Sep 6
Oricon's monthly light novel ranking for August 2026 places Sword Art Online Material 1: Sugary Days first with 27,284 copies sold. Kirby: Mugen no Haguruma and Witch on the Holy Night Part 1 follow. The chart covers Japanese retail sales from August 3 to 30.
Sep 4
Bushiroad will show the first playable demo of Weiß Schwarz Online at Tokyo Game Show 2026, running September 17-21 at Makuhari Messe. The digital card game, planned for a spring 2027 release on Nintendo Switch and Steam, will be playable at the Bushiroad booth in Hall 6. The demo covers both editions, Weiß and Schwarz, with eight announced titles across anime, games, and VTuber properties.
Sep 3
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced the 'Genesis Maidens' expansion DLC for Echoes of Aincrad during Sony's State of Play stream on September 3. The DLC launches this winter. It adds a completely new side story set on Floors 1 and 2 of Aincrad, a storyline the sources describe as not depicted in the original novels or anime. Mito, the character original to the Sword Art Online: Progressive films, joins as a new ally with combination and support skills. The expansion also introduces the Curved Sword weapon type, new quest areas, and a 'Sewing' armor enhancement system that lets players attach emblem mods to armor, including a crest that raises defense and reduces damage. Echoes of Aincrad launched in Japan on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on July 9, and on PC via Steam on July 10, with the Western release following on all platforms the same day. Aimer performs the game's theme song 'Live to Survive.'
Sep 2
The September 2 update to PSO2 New Genesis ver.2 brings the Zundamon collaboration event "Super Zundamon Festival" running through October 7, with a login costume and voice ticket, daily scratch tickets, and a special SP scratch featuring Zundamon-themed hairstyles, weapon camos, and accessories. The update also adds the limited emergency quest "Moonlit Harvest," the 12-player "Assumed Exercise: Three-Lane Traverse Battle," and the 5th anniversary revival scratch.
Sep 2
Vook will hold VIDEOGRAPHERS TOKYO ONLINE 2026 from October 6 to 9, streaming 20 sessions free on YouTube Live. The theme is 'Creative is Dead,' a response to generative AI making video and visual generation easy for anyone while the meaning of 'creative' blurs. The sixth edition of the conference, first held in 2019, will question what value video creators produce. Last year's online edition drew 24,028 participants.
Sep 1
GungHo Online Entertainment announced a capital and business alliance with Sony Music Entertainment Japan. SME will acquire 12,006,500 GungHo shares from SON Financial LLC for about 28.6 billion yen (roughly US$179 million) in an off-market transaction. Pending regulatory approval, SME becomes GungHo's largest shareholder and an affiliated company. The two will explore joint development and operation of smartphone, console, and PC games, plus new projects using SME Group IP. GungHo keeps its Tokyo Stock Exchange listing.
Aug 30
Cospa is selling a limited Asuna-themed goods set from Sword Art Online, including a 500ml tumbler, an acrylic smartphone stand, and mini stickers. Reservations open September 3, 2026 on the Cospa Online Shop, with advance sales at Tokyo Game Show 2026 starting September 17.
Aug 29
Reservations for Touken Ranbu ONLINE Fuwari to Hana Mau Nail Oil Vol.2 began on Premium Bandai. The lineup covers all 10 swords, including Ookurikara, sold in five sets of two bottles each at 3,630 yen per set. Each bottle contains real flowers and a scent tied to a Touken Danshi.
Aug 29
Google DeepMind announced a research partnership with Fenris Creations, the developer of EVE Online, to study AI in the long-running space MMORPG. The persistent universe, active for over 20 years, offers an environment without resets or clear win conditions. Research targets continual learning, memory, long-term planning, and handling cooperation and competition.
Aug 29
Sony Music Entertainment and GungHo Online Entertainment announced a capital and business alliance on August 28. SME will acquire all 12,006,500 common shares held by SON Financial LLC, GungHo's current largest shareholder, at 2,385 yen per share for about 28.6 billion yen. The transfer, scheduled for December 30, 2026, gives SME a 23.29% voting rights stake, making it GungHo's largest shareholder. The companies plan to combine GungHo's game development with Sony Music Group's entertainment expertise.
Aug 28
At gamescom dev in Cologne, EVE Online executive producer Snorri Arnason explained how the game fell into stagnation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Decision-making was paralyzed, trust collapsed between developers and players, and the company's internal knowledge base eroded as veterans left. He described the rebuilding method as stating plans, explaining the reasoning, and executing, then trying again on failure.
Aug 28
Midori Amagaeru and Tsukasa Kyoka's Online: The Comic manga ended with its 255th chapter, published August 14. The adaptation, which launched on DeNA's MangaBox app in 2013, also ran in English until the app's English version was discontinued. Everystar shipped the 23rd compiled volume on February 1.
Aug 22
A Sword Art Online pop up store themed around Kirito and Asuna's wedding anniversary opens October 23 at Shinjuku Marui Annex in Tokyo. New merchandise with freshly drawn illustrations of the couple goes on sale, running through November 3 at the Annivroad by Bushiroad Creative Store location.
Aug 21
The smartphone game KOF '98 UMOL is celebrating its 10th anniversary. A new anniversary-limited fighter, Ash, appearing in a form described as gone mad in a spiral of blood, has made his debut. The game is also running several concurrent events, including the 10th Anniversary Time Machine, Lucky 7, Lucky Festival, and Competition Grand Ceremony, which run through late August and early September.
Aug 20
EXNOA announced on August 20, 2026 that the puzzle RPG Touken Ranbu Pazu Giri will be exhibited at Tokyo Game Show 2026, which runs from September 17 to September 21 at Makuhari Messe. The game will appear at the DMM GAMES booth in Hall 3, which the company says is its largest exhibition scale ever. Visitors can try the game in a hands-on trial corner before its release. Those who show staff the trial experience or a pre-registration screen receive a sticker randomly distributed from seven types, and those who show the pre-registration screen also get a To-gaki balloon. Uchiwa fans will be distributed to booth visitors. A joint stage featuring Touken Ranbu ONLINE and Touken Ranbu Pazu Giri is scheduled for the official TGS 2026 main stage program at 15:40 on September 20. The stage will feature Kosuke Toriumi as Mikazuki Munechika, Kento Hama as Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki, and Koyou Tadokoro as Futatsuji Hirosada. Application details for viewing will be announced on the official X accounts or the DMM GAMES TGS 2026 special site.
Aug 20
At Google Cloud Next Tokyo 26, Square Enix programmer Takatomo Sakuma detailed the Gemini implementation behind Chatty Slime, the AI adventure companion in Dragon Quest X Online. The feature uses a multi-agent system with the Gemini Live API, a security layer, and Google Cloud's Agent Runtime and Agent Development Kit. A closed beta ran from April to May 2026, with full release planned for the latter half of version 8.
Aug 18
CCP Games, the studio behind EVE Online, has completed a management buyout from parent company Pearl Abyss and rebranded as Fenris Creations. The move coincides with a research partnership and minority investment from Google DeepMind. CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson discussed the independence, the new name's mythological meaning, and the externally funded project EVE Frontier in a recent interview.
Aug 18
A Sword Art Online pop-up store themed around Kirito and Asuna's wedding anniversary will run from October 23 to November 3, 2026, at Annivroad by Bushiroad Creative Store in Shinjuku Marui Annex. The event will sell eight new products featuring newly drawn illustrations, including acrylic stands, a rusk can, and a mug.
Aug 17
CCP Games CEO Hilmar Veigar Petursson discussed the studio's May 2026 management buyout from Pearl Abyss, its rebranding as Fenris Creations, and a new AI research partnership with Google DeepMind. He also detailed the externally funded EVE Frontier project and the philosophy behind the company's new name.
Aug 13
GungHo Online Entertainment announced on August 13, 2026 that Ragnarok: Adventures, an auto-battle RPG in the Ragnarok Online series, will launch in Japan. The game is scheduled to begin service in 2026 on iOS and Android through the App Store and Google Play, with a free-to-play model and optional paid items. Pre-registration opened the same day via the App Store, Google Play, or by following the official X account. The title has already been released overseas under names such as Ragnarok Idle Adventure Plus. Unlike previous Ragnarok series MMORPGs, which used horizontal screens and real-time communication, Ragnarok: Adventures uses a vertical screen designed for one-handed play and an idle system where characters grow and collect items even when the game is not running. The game retains series elements including pop characters, a wide variety of jobs, skills, and stat-based character customization. It also includes strategic battles with NPC companions, guild content, town-building in a My Town area, and fishing. A campaign on the official X account runs from August 13 to August 25, 2026, offering 30 winners a 5,000 yen Amazon Gift Card for following and reposting.
Aug 11
Sword Art Online Material 1: Sugary Days releases August 7 from Dengeki Bunko, with a cover showing Kirito and Asuna in wedding attire. The Irregular at Magic High School's latest volume, Meijian Company 12, is due September 10, and its cover also features Tatsuya and Miyuki in wedding clothes, drawing fan comparisons.