T.O.P held a free invitation fan meeting in Yokohama on July 9, 2026, his first in-person reunion with Japanese fans in a decade, and announced a completed new album and a Japan tour date for November.
T.O.P reunited with Japanese fans for the first time in ten years at a free invitation event held at Yokohama Pia Arena MM on July 9, 2026. The fan meeting, titled 'RE:UNION,' was open exclusively to members of his official Japanese fan community 'TOPSX JAPAN' and used an all-seat free invitation format as a gesture of thanks. During the event, T.O.P read a personal letter, reflected on his past decade including his role in 'Squid Game,' and premiered the music video for 'After the Play Ends,' a track from his April album 'ANOTHER DIMENSION.'
He also announced that work on a new album is already completed, and revealed a brand tour called 'T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026' that begins in Hong Kong on August 15, 2026, with a Japan performance scheduled for November 6 at Toyota Arena. The event footage is set to be broadcast on TV Asahi on September 12. The gathering marked a concrete step in reconnecting with his Japanese fanbase after a long absence, with both a finished album and a confirmed tour date as immediate next steps.
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SEGA released a free update on August 21, 2026, adding Cult of the Lamb collaboration content to Two Point Museum. Players explore four new survey sites in the Land of the False Bishop, create four types of special exhibits, and guide museum visitors into becoming followers. Deeper devotion lowers staff salary demands and unlocks rituals with museum benefits.
Sunrise and Production I.G revealed the full trailer and character visual for the two new Armored Trooper Votoms films, Soko Kihei Votoms Haiiro no Hexe. The trailer introduces Miyuki Sawashiro as Ash Vamps, the feared AT pilot called the Grey Witch, and Mabuki Andou as Maki Stauffenberg, an officer investigating Ash's past. Additional cast and staff were also announced.
Bandai Namco Filmworks announced a paid membership tier for the Sunrise official YouTube channel, launching September 1. The first offerings are full series streams of Armored Trooper Votoms and Future GPX Cyber Formula, including OVAs and films. Members get badges and stamps, plus a making-of video for the new Votoms film.
Kwalee announced that RetroSpace, a space horror FPS by The Wild Gentlemen, launches October 1 (October 2 Japan time) for PC and consoles. Players control a janitor escaping a station overrun by human-animal-plant hybrids, using stealth, traps, or weapons. Mutamods grant abilities with side effects, and cloning revives the protagonist with degradation.
MegaHouse has opened reservations for the first entry in its VAKIT Platoon collectible plastic kit line, a six-mecha set based on the upcoming film Armored Trooper Votoms: The Gray Witch. The set, priced at 11,880 yen including tax, is scheduled to ship in February 2027, ahead of the film's theatrical release in November 2026. Each of the six kits stands about 80mm tall and features articulated joints, with pre-painted camera lens parts. The kits come in closed packaging, and purchasing one box includes all six types. A single-item purchase is also available at 1,980 yen including tax. The set is being sold through Premium Bandai, with reservations currently open. The kits are designed for easy assembly and diorama display, and can be painted freely for additional customization. The line is published by MegaHouse under the VAKIT brand, with the film credited to Sunrise.
Indie developer RetroSpecter has revealed on Reddit that his free Steam fighting game Crashphalt, released in 2018, is being used by players as a launcher for an unofficial Undertale multiplayer mod. The game, a 2D versus action title supporting up to four players locally, saw its concurrent player count jump from single digits to over 100 in 2022 after a user published a method to enable online co-op for the Undertale Together mod via Steam Remote Play Together. Crashphalt's Steam reviews have since grown to about 550, with 95% positive, earning an Overwhelmingly Positive rating. Many of these reviews mention Undertale, which initially confused RetroSpecter. He investigated and found that his game was chosen because it supports Remote Play Together and is free, though he noted many other games meet those criteria. Rather than being upset, RetroSpecter said he is pleased the game has found new life, especially since Undertale inspired him when he started developing. He also jokingly invited Undertale creator Toby Fox to collaborate on a future project. RetroSpecter is currently working on a roguelite puzzle game called Draftula.
Crunchyroll announced the English dub cast and July 22 premiere for the Korean-animated adaptation of the Tomb Raider King webtoon. The series, which began airing in Japan on July 8, streams on Crunchyroll. Monty Thompson voices protagonist Jooheon Suh, with Cassie Ewulu, Alex Hom, and Charles Nguyen among the cast.
Sega announced on July 22, 2026, that the definitive edition of the hospital management simulation 'Two Point Hospital: Heartful Collection' will launch digitally on September 16, 2026, and physically on November 6, 2026. The digital version will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, while the packaged version will be released for PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2. Both versions are priced at 4,888 yen (tax included). The collection includes the base game from 2018 and all seven paid DLCs: Bigfoot, Pebberley Island, Close Encounters, Off the Grid, Culture Shock, Stitch in Time, and Speedy Recovery, plus all previously distributed free updates. The game features over 180 types of bizarre diseases, such as patients with lightbulb heads, and over 450 types of equipment and items for hospital customization. The release commemorates the 10th anniversary of developer Two Point Studios, which came under Sega's umbrella. Pre-orders for the packaged version began today at game retailers nationwide.
StreetComplete is an Android app that automatically finds nearby locations with incomplete OpenStreetMap data and presents them as quests. Users go to the location and answer simple questions, such as road surface or opening hours, to update the map. The app aims to make contributing to OpenStreetMap as easy as playing a location-based game.
T.O.P held a fan meeting 'RE:UNION' at Yokohama Pia Arena MM on July 9, 2026, with an all-seat free invitation format for members of his official Japanese fan community 'TOPSX JAPAN'. He read a personal letter, discussed his past decade including 'Squid Game', and thanked fans for waiting. The event featured a music video premiere for 'After the Play Ends' from his April album 'ANOTHER DIMENSION', and he announced that work on a new album is already completed. A brand tour 'T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026' begins in Hong Kong on August 15, with a Japan performance on November 6 at Toyota Arena. The event footage will be broadcast on TV Asahi on September 12.
Anime News Network published a five-part roundup of Tanabata greetings from across the anime, manga, and video game industries on July 7, 2026. The collection includes wishes and illustrations from official accounts for series such as Bungo Stray Dogs, Detective Conan, My Hero Academia, Sakamoto Days, Doraemon, Chibi Maruko-chan, Hell's Paradise, and Dragon Quest. Video game franchises like Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter, and Like a Dragon also participated, alongside creators including Hideo Kojima, Yuki Kaji, and Shoko Nakagawa. Several series tied their posts to new releases: the second season of Yoroi Shin Den Samurai Troopers premiered on July 7, My Happy Marriage released a special Tanabata illustration and announced a three-episode special for 2026, and My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren't Wicked began airing on July 8. The roundup also features greetings from manga titles like Chiikawa, MARRIAGETOXIN, and Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, as well as from studios Tatsunoko Production and Square Enix.
The second cour of the sequel series Yoroi Shinden Samurai Trooper has begun airing. Hina Naota joins the cast as Kaede Narumi, the new DST commander appearing in episode 13. The non-credit opening and ending videos for the second cour have also been released, and Blu-ray BOX volumes 3 and 4 are confirmed.
The Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers sequel anime has cast Hina Suguta as Kaede Narumi, the newly appointed DST commander, who appears in the second cour starting with episode 13. The second part of the series debuted on July 7, with new theme songs by Dannie May and karanoah. The anime streams on Crunchyroll.
Astro Production officially announced MoonHack on July 7, 2026, as the first title under its new indie game brand ASTRA. The game is an emotional cyber noir adventure with rhythm action elements, set in the year 2125 in a society where emotions, love, and creativity are managed by AI. Players follow Tsukuyomi Kaguya, an illegal old-style AI girl, and other characters branded as criminals for their humanity, as they rebel by rewriting the world's rules through song. MoonHack is scheduled for release on PC via Steam in 2027. The character design is handled by illustrator Noyu, and the music is produced by Ukiyone. A teaser promotional video featuring the song 'DANCE ALL NIGHT' was released alongside the announcement. The voice cast includes Ariyo Hanami as Tsukuyomi Kaguya. The scenario is written by Shin Kedōin, known for the Corpse Party series. The game was previously teased under the working title 'Humanity Optimization Plan Eden Protocol - Order of 2125' before an in-universe hack of its official X account led to the MoonHack reveal.
Hasegawa is reissuing the VR-747 Temjin Type a8 White Knight Order 1/100 scale plastic model kit to mark the 30th anniversary of Cyber Troopers Virtual-On. The kit, designed by Hajime Katoki, features four-color molded parts, a Sleipnir Mk.6/w weapon, and White Knight Order decals. It is priced at 5,280 yen and ships October 1, 2026.
Sega announced on June 22, 2026, that Two Point Studios' "Two Point Hospital: Heartful Collection" will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The release date and price have not been set. This definitive edition includes the 2018 base game and all seven paid DLC packs-"Bigfoot," "Pebberley Island," "Close Encounters," "Off the Grid," "Culture Shock," "Stitch in Time," and "Speedy Recovery"-plus all free updates released to date. The collection marks the 10th anniversary of Two Point Studios, founded in 2016 by veterans of "Fable" and "Black & White." The original PC version holds a 92% positive rating on Steam from roughly 26,000 reviews and has sold over 3 million units. A previous console port, the Jumbo Edition, included only four DLC packs. The Heartful Collection brings the full PC DLC lineup to current-generation consoles for the first time. Alongside the announcement, Sega launched the "Two Point Cinematic Universe" animated series and released a free "Two Point Museum" collaboration with "Dave the Diver."
Two Point Studios celebrated its 10th anniversary on June 20 with a live stream that announced Two Point Hospital: Heartful Collection, a complete console edition of the first game, and a Dave the Diver collaboration DLC for Two Point Museum. In a joint interview, studio director Gary Carr and technical director Ben Hymers reflected on the studio's first decade and the pressures of developing the Two Point series.
The staff for the sequel anime Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers released a second promotional video on Friday previewing the ending theme song for the second cours. The second part debuts July 7. New cast members include Tomoaki Maeno, Aya Endō, Hiroshi Shirokuma, Maaya Sakamoto, and Takehito Koyasu.
Ryuichi Hoshino's comic adaptation of Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, originally serialized in Comic BonBon, is now available as e-books on Kindle. Volumes 1 and 2 were released on June 17, 2026, priced at 594 yen each. The manga offers a different take from the original anime.
Astro Production, a video production company, announced the establishment of a new indie game brand called ASTRA on June 16, 2026. The brand plans to develop experience-based action adventure games that emphasize story immersion, emotional music, and integrated visual direction. Titles will launch primarily on Steam, targeting audiences in Japan and Asia.
The original anime Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus Troupe (Grow Up Show: Himawari no Circus-dan) will premiere on July 4 at 24:00 on Tokyo MX, BS11, and other channels, effectively July 5 at midnight. Aniplex, A-1 Pictures, and Psyde Kick Studio released a new main visual and two television commercials on Saturday that preview the opening theme song "Yurari Yureru" by NOMELON NOLEMON and the ending theme song "DAYS!" by Aooo. The series is set in the late 1950s to early 1960s, during Japan's economic boom when traveling circuses were a major form of entertainment. The story follows the Sunflower Circus troupe, led by ringmaster Maria, as they travel Japan despite financial struggles. Their fortunes change when circus prodigy Mizuka Tsurumaki arrives under mysterious circumstances. Tomoka Noda voices Mizuka, and Shiori Kurosaki plays Oka Kawasumi. Kanta Kamei directs, Kurehito Misaki provides original character designs, and Takeshi Kikuchi writes and oversees the series scripts. A-1 Pictures and Psyde Kick Studio are producing. The anime will stream first on ABEMA and d Anime Store in Japan before other platforms.
The staff for the sequel anime Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers announced the second part's theme songs, additional cast, and a July 7 premiere date in a new promotional video. Dannie May performs the opening "Bad Idenshi" and karanoah performs the ending "Bakemon." New cast includes Tomoaki Maeno, Aya Endo, and Hiroshi Shirokuma.
The original anime "Grow Up Show: The Sunflower Circus Troupe" has released a set of character trailers. The promos focus on the acrobat twins Aoi and Akane Yura, illusionist Imari Ogano, acrobat Isuzu Ikazuchi, flyer Oka Kawasumi, and protagonist Mizuka Tsurumaki. The series is set in 1950s Japan, during the economic boom, when circus troupes travel the country competing for a spot in the "Circus Collection" festival. The story follows Mizuka, a circus prodigy who joins the financially struggling Himawari Circus, led by ringmaster Maria. Kanta Kamei, director of the "Saekano" series, is directing the anime. Takeshi Kikuchi is the series composer and scriptwriter, and Kurehito Misaki is the original character designer. The animation is produced by A-1 Pictures and its Psyde Kick Studio label. The cast includes Tomoka Noda as Mizuka, Rie Kugimiya as Maria, and Shiori Kurosaki as Oka Kawasumi. The anime was announced in July 2025 and is set to premiere in July 2026.
Bandai Namco Filmworks announced that Armored Trooper Votoms: Die Graue Hexe will reach Japanese theaters as a two-part film series. The first part opens on November 20, 2026. The date arrived with a new trailer and key visuals. Original Votoms creator Ryōsuke Takahashi returns as supervising director. Kenji Kawai, known for his work on Mobile Suit Gundam 00, is composing the score. Mechanical design duties go to Yoshihiro Sono, who worked on Votoms: AT Stories, and Shinobu Tsuneki, whose credits include Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These. The project was first revealed in January 2026. The second film does not yet have a date. Bandai Spirits and Megahouse, two Bandai Namco subsidiaries, will produce merchandise tied to the films. Bandai Spirits plans a High Grade model kit and a Hi-Metal R figure of the Scopedog in a desert color scheme. Megahouse will release 8cm model kits in its VA-KIT Platoon line. More merchandise details are expected at the 64th Shizuoka Hobby Show, which runs May 16 and 17 at Twin Messe Shizuoka.