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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Onkyo opens orders July 29 for the third wave of Touken Ranbu ONLINE wireless earphones, model CP-TWS01E. Four swordsmen get models: Kashuu Kiyomitsu, Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki, Ookurikara, and Hakusan Yoshimitsu. Each unit includes newly recorded voice guidance, a chirimen-style pouch, and a soft case. Orders run through September 25.
Automaton's weekly roundup highlights seven notable game stories, including the announcement of Palworld Online, a mobile MMORPG by Garena, and Attack on Titan 3, set for December 10. Other entries cover new titles from veteran creators and indie releases.
Fenris Creations CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson reaffirmed the company's 2008 mission to create virtual worlds more meaningful than real life. In an interview during his first Japan visit in 10 years, he said the declaration was serious, arguing that real-world structures like laws and money are themselves a form of game design.
Automaton played Ragnarok Online 3 at ChinaJoy 2026. The demo opens at Prontera South Gate and keeps the original's mouse-click movement and hotkey skills. Boss fights now use instanced dungeons with telegraphed attacks and cover mechanics, closer to Final Fantasy XIV or World of Warcraft. The closed beta starts August 27 in China via bilibili, with a Japan release also planned.
At ChinaJoy 2026, GRAVITY and JoyMaker showed a playable build of Ragnarok Online 3. Veteran players of the original Ragnarok Online shared their impressions with 4Gamer.net. They noted the game keeps the original's look and feel while updating systems for modern players, with faster pacing and new mechanics like auto-battle.
Bellmaison announced its first collaboration with Touken Ranbu ONLINE, featuring a New Year osechi box and a quilted hanten. The osechi, priced at 17,800 yen, includes 30 dishes and items like a calendar and furoshiki. The hanten comes in five colors based on Touken Danshi. Pre-orders begin August 3 on Bellmaison Net.
Destiny Unchain Online, the light novel and manga series by author resn and artist Yachimoto, is getting a television anime adaptation. The announcement came on Friday, August 6, 2026, alongside the launch of the anime's official X/Twitter account and a commemorative illustration drawn by Yachimoto. The story follows Kou Mitsuki, a middle school gamer known online as Crim the Headhunter, who tests a full-dive VR game developed by his father. A series of bugs traps him inside the game for three months and transforms him into a vampire girl, stranded in a remote forest at the start of the game. The series began as a web novel on Shōsetsuka ni Narō in May 2020, was later removed, and resumed serialization on Kadokawa's Kakuyomu in June 2021. Kodansha released the first print volume in November 2022, and the third volume shipped on May 29. Yachimoto launched the manga adaptation in Kodansha's Magazine Pocket app in July 2022, and the manga's 13th compiled volume released on Friday. The English version is published by Kodansha's K MANGA service.
CCP Games, the Icelandic developer behind EVE Online, has become independent through a management buyout from Pearl Abyss and rebranded as Fenris Creations. The company also announced a research partnership with Google DeepMind, with Google investing as a minority shareholder. Research themes include long-term planning, memory, and continual learning.
MegaHouse began accepting reservations on August 6, 2026 for two new figures in its Rukappu series, featuring Mikazuki Munechika and Kashuu Kiyomitsu from the sword training simulation game Touken Ranbu ONLINE. Each figure stands approximately 110mm tall and uses the Rukappu series' signature looking-up and sitting pose, designed to make eye contact easy when displayed on a desk. The neck is movable, allowing for different expressions. The standard edition of each figure is priced at 5,060 yen including tax, while a Premium Bandai limited edition priced at 5,170 yen includes an original mini cushion as a purchase bonus. Shipping is scheduled for April 2027. The Rukappu series is produced by MegaHouse and features deformed figures in poses that appear to look up at the viewer. The Touken Ranbu ONLINE game is available on PC browser, iOS, and Android platforms.
Crunchyroll announced it is adding an English dub for the television anime of Umiharu's The Daily Life of a Middle-Aged Online Shopper in Another World manga. All 13 episodes debut in English on Tuesday. The dub staff includes director Caitlin Glass, producer Samantha Herek, script adapter James Cheek, mixer Matt Grounds, and engineer Jeremy Woods.
Sega updated Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis ver.2 on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, adding the limited-time quest "Malice Stirring in the Iron Prison '26." The quest is set in the Dreizen Plant and supports up to eight participants. Its format extends the time limit each time a wave is cleared, so players aim for the final wave while managing the clock. Certain waves include gimmicks that offer advantages in combat, and using them well leaves more time for the final wave. Alongside the quest, Sega added title tasks and limited-time tasks. Completing these tasks rewards titles and the basewear "Schwar Noir V2[Ba]" and "Schwar Noir V2/B[Ba]." The update also refreshed the limited-time tasks for the ongoing Costume GET Campaign, making new items available. The quest runs from July 29 at 12:00 until August 5 at maintenance start. Separately, Sega introduced two AC Scratch lines: "Yudi Special Ability Select Jul'26" from July 29 to August 12, and the revival "Rewind Collection Aug'26" from August 1 to August 12. The latter focuses on prizes from past August AC Scratch distributions and brings back the weapon camouflage "*Randornova" as a count bonus.
Garena announced on August 3 that it is developing Palworld Online, a mobile MMORPG based on Pocketpair's Palworld IP, with a release planned within 2026 for iOS and Android. The game is being made under an official license from Pocketpair and will rebuild the original survival crafting experience for smartphones, introducing a new story setting and original side stories alongside the core elements of capturing and raising Pals, exploration, and base management. As an MMORPG, Palworld Online features a seamless open world where players can form groups, build joint bases, engage in PvE and PvP content, challenge bosses in the open world, visit other players' bases, and search for rare Pals together. The mobile version optimizes the UI and controls for touch operations, supporting one-touch play across a range of device specifications. Garena's president, Terry Zhao, said the company aims to maintain the depth, immersion, and freedom of Palworld while delivering a mobile-optimized experience. Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, noted Garena's experience in global expansion, localization, and live service operations for mobile games. Palworld Online is scheduled for release on mobile in 2026, with further details on the service start date to be announced later.
EXNOA announced a new sword warrior, Momotaro Sukesada, for Touken Ranbu ONLINE. The great tachi is obtainable through a collaboration campaign tied to pre-registration for Touken Ranbu Puzzgiri. Players can acquire a Special Exchange Ticket from a designated page to guarantee the sword. The voice actor and implementation date are to be announced.
Sega has made Star Gems, the in-game currency for the free-to-play online RPG PSO2 New Genesis ver.2, available as a return gift for the furusato tax (hometown tax donation) program of Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, where the company is based. Starting July 22, donors can contribute through portal sites including Rakuten Furusato Tax, Furusato Choice, and JRE MALL Furusato Tax. Depending on the donation amount, donors receive an item code that grants a set quantity of free Star Gems. The code is sent approximately 10 business days after payment and remains valid until March 31, 2028, at 23:59. The furusato tax system allows taxpayers to deduct donations exceeding 2,000 yen from their income and residence taxes. The return gift's content and specifications are subject to change or termination without notice.
Touken Ranbu ONLINE is collaborating with bowling and karaoke chain ROUND1 from July 17 through October 18, 2026. The ROUND Ichimonji Campaign features collaboration menus, packs, bowling events with recorded voice by Shunichi Kojima, and limited goods at select stores nationwide.
Soulbound: Online, an MMORPG blending roguelite dungeon crawling with a shared open world, launches in early access on Steam on July 22. Players can switch between a persistent open world with life skills and procedurally changing co-op dungeons. The developer, SpiderWare, plans a 12- to 18-month early access period focused on community feedback.
The smartphone game Touken Ranbu ONLINE has launched a line of nail oils themed after 10 of its sword warriors. The product, called Touken Ranbu ONLINE: Fluffy Flower Dance Nail Oil Vol.1, is sold in sets of two bottles, each set representing a pair of characters. Reservations opened on July 16, 2026 at 12:00 JST and run through August 16, 2026. Each set costs 3,630 yen (tax included) and is scheduled to ship in January 2027. The oils contain real flowers and are scented to evoke each sword warrior: for example, Mikazuki Munechika has a bellflower scent, while Kashuu Kiyomitsu has rose. The bottles are designed with motifs from the characters' attire and family crests, with gold caps. A second volume, Vol.2, has already been announced for production. The game, a sword training simulation, has surpassed 14 million cumulative users since its launch.
Sega updated PSO2 New Genesis ver.2 on July 15, 2026, adding the limited-time quest 'Soutei Enshuu: Kodai Ikyou no Jouka-sen' for up to eight players in the Ruins area. The update also includes new limited-time tasks, a costume campaign update, revival SG scratch, a summer AC scratch, and a PSO2 Day scratch with returning items.
Sega released an update for PSO2 New Genesis ver.2 on July 8, 2026, adding Rank.3 to the important target elimination quest "Star Extinction Emblem." The new difficulty features the enemy "Solas Crypt" instead of "Dark Falz Solus," with unique attack patterns. New equipment includes the ★15 "Kaiz" weapon series and special abilities "C/Peta Dryel" and "C/Refas Drye." The 58th Mission Pass and a revival AC Scratch are also available.
Fenris Creations has released its proprietary Carbon engine framework as open source on GitHub. The engine, developed and refined for over 20 years, supported Eve Online's single-shard world and its record-breaking 8,825-player battle. The repository includes over 20 modules covering physics, graphics, networking, and more.
Bandai Namco Entertainment released a new trailer for Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad on Tuesday, previewing the game's Death Game Mode. The mode is a permadeath option that deletes the player's save file upon character death, with no respawns. It is normally available only after completing the game once, but early access is included with the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions. The game launches in Japan on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on July 9, and on PC via Steam on July 10. The Western release is July 10 across all platforms. Players create their own customizable avatar and explore Aincrad alongside characters like Kirito and Asuna. Aimer performs the theme song "Live to Survive." The game has four editions: Standard, Deluxe, Ultimate, and Aincrad (Bandai Namco Store exclusive). The Ultimate Edition adds a digital soundtrack, digital artbook, an in-game armor pack, and the bonus anime "Unanswered//butterfly," which follows other characters during the original Sword Art Online story. The Deluxe Edition includes expansion DLC and a starter item pack.
Bethesda and Zenimax Online Studios, the team behind The Elder Scrolls Online, are affected by Xbox's ongoing restructuring. Bethesda's head Jill Braff told staff in an email that the company must focus on its strongest franchises. Kotaku reports that up to half of the ESO development team may be laid off, and the game's roadmap will shift.
A new original theatrical film in the Sword Art Online series, titled Sword Art Online - Integral Domain -, has been announced for a 2028 release. The film is a completely new story that continues after the Alicization arc, which concluded the main television series. Director Shingo Adachi returns, with animation production by A-1 Pictures. A teaser visual drawn by character designer Yumiko Yamamoto and a teaser promotional video were released alongside the announcement. The cast includes Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Kirito and Haruka Tomatsu as Asuna, both reprising their roles. The project was first teased at the series' 10th anniversary event in November 2022, but the title, release window, and staff details were only revealed on July 6, 2026, following a re-airing of the first season's 14th episode. The film is the first original theatrical entry in the main series since 2017's Ordinal Scale, and the first to directly continue the narrative beyond the Alicization arc. The Sword Art Online franchise has sold over 30 million copies worldwide across its light novel series.
ZeniMax Online Studios announced a review of The Elder Scrolls Online's development roadmap on July 6, the same day Microsoft laid off 1,600 Xbox employees with plans for 1,600 more. The roadmap for Season 1 and beyond will be changed, though Season 1 itself is still set to start July 9. A quest creator at ZeniMax said half her team was cut, indicating the layoffs are already affecting the game's schedule.
At IVS2026, a panel of investors and entrepreneurs from gaming, healthcare, and venture capital discussed the current state and future of AI agents. Topics included the lineage from AlphaGo to potential AI in EVE Online, the gap between sophisticated bots and LLM-based agents, and the challenge of making agents economically viable in live games.
GungHo Online Entertainment announced that the smartphone RPG Disney Pixel RPG will end service on September 30, 2026, roughly two years after its October 2024 launch. The reason was not disclosed. Paid item sales ended July 1, and gacha draws will end August 19. Unused paid currency will be refunded.
Warner Bros. Japan revealed the first English-subtitled promotional video, key visual, opening theme song artist, and November 6 streaming debut on Amazon Prime Video for Devils' Crest, the television anime of Reki Kawahara's Demons' Crest novel series. The trailer previews the opening theme song "Shinka" (Evolution) by Ado. The anime stars Haruka Shiraishi as Yuma Ashihara and Konomi Inagaki as Sawa Ashihara, with Shinji Ushiro as chief director at Production I.G and Kenichirō Komaya directing.
A 110-minute promotional anime for the new Sword Art Online game 'Echoes of Aincrad' will stream for free on YouTube from July 5, 2026, at 20:00 JST. The film, 'Unanswered//butterfly', was produced by Polygon Pictures and previously screened theatrically in May. It will not be archived, requiring real-time viewing.
GungHo Online Entertainment announced on July 1 that its smartphone RPG Disney Pixel RPG will end service on September 30, 2026, at 11:00 JST. The game launched on October 7, 2024, and will run for about two years. The announcement came via the game's official X account and a notice on the official website. Until the service ends, the developer plans to add more main story content and run various in-game events. Sales of paid items stopped on July 1. Sales of Red Crystal payment items, gacha using Red Crystals, and stamina recovery will end on August 19 at 11:00 JST. Blue Crystals will remain usable until the service termination. Unused Red Crystals will be refunded through a dedicated form after the service ends; players are advised to keep their in-game ID and inquiry code. The official website and customer support are scheduled to close on January 13, 2027. The game is a command battle RPG featuring Disney characters in pixel art, including Mickey Mouse, Pooh, Baymax, Stitch, and Maleficent in themed costumes.
Bandai Namco Entertainment America released the opening movie for the action RPG Echoes of Aincrad, featuring the theme song "Live to Survive" by Aimer. The song launches digitally Wednesday in English and Japanese. The game launches July 9 in Japan and July 10 worldwide on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
Sega will stream the official program NGS Headline WAVE for PSO2 New Genesis ver.2 on June 30 at 21:00 JST. The broadcast will reveal the July update and the roadmap for late 2026 and beyond, plus a Development Letter corner and the short anime Central!.
Manga Up! Global added three manga licenses in late June: The Lonely King and His Sunshine Bride's Happily Ever After, Yoshi no Zuikara, and Don't Pry Into People's Genders in Online Games!. The titles were released between June 24 and June 30, covering romance, slice-of-life, and BL comedy genres.
Nintendo will raise prices for all Nintendo Switch Online plans starting July 1, 2026, at 0:00 JST. The individual plan's 12-month subscription will go from 2,400 yen to 3,000 yen, a 600 yen increase. The family plan's 12-month subscription will rise from 4,500 yen to 5,800 yen, a 1,300 yen increase. For the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, the 12-month individual plan will increase from 4,900 yen to 5,900 yen, and the family plan from 8,900 yen to 9,900 yen, each a 1,000 yen increase. Shorter individual plans also increase: the 30-day plan goes from 306 yen to 400 yen, and the 90-day plan from 815 yen to 1,000 yen. Subscribers whose automatic renewal payment date falls on or after July 1 will be charged the new rates. However, current subscribers can purchase additional vouchers for the same plan at the current price before the revision to extend their subscription period. The maximum extension is 1,095 days, achieved by purchasing up to three 12-month vouchers. This allows users to lock in the lower rate for up to three years. The extension can be done through the Nintendo eShop, the official Nintendo Store, or by redeeming voucher cards from retailers.
Bandai Namco Entertainment America released the second story trailer for Echoes of Aincrad, a new action RPG set in the original Sword Art Online world. The game launches July 9 in Japan on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and July 10 on PC via Steam, with a Western release on all platforms July 10. Aimer performs the theme song.
On June 20, 2026, VTuber Sakuna Yuki streamed the demo of the new Sword Art Online game Echoes of Aincrad, which released on all platforms on June 16. The action RPG, based on the Aincrad arc, puts players in the role of a regular player rather than Kirito. Sakuna completed the roughly four-hour demo on Normal difficulty and expressed interest in the full game's Death Game mode, where a game over deletes save data. The full version launches July 9, 2026, with the Steam version following on July 10.