Fighting game player GO1 of DetonatioN FocusMe reported on July 8 that he suffered heatstroke while attending the Esports World Cup in Paris. An air conditioning malfunction on a shuttle bus from the venue caused the interior to reach 39°C. He has recovered enough to walk and eat but is discussing with organizers whether he can compete. He thanked players and staff who helped him.
The Moving Ukiyo-e Exhibition AOMORI opens July 11 at the To-o Nippo Shinmachi Building New's Hall in Aomori City. It transforms over 300 works by masters like Hokusai and Hiroshige into 3DCG and projection mapping across nine immersive spaces. This is the exhibition's first stop in the Tohoku region. Opening day features a night museum until 8pm. A special Aomori section highlights local landscapes and connections to the Nebuta festival. A shop by local craft select shop Kusamura sells exclusive goods.
Pocket Pair and Frontside 180 Studio announced an Android version of the 2D roguelike Metroidvania Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse. The game supports up to four players in co-op, with procedurally generated dungeons and possession mechanics. Pre-registration is open on Google Play Store. The Android release is priced at 780 yen.
viviON, the company behind DLsite, announced indie game label viviON Lab and cloud gaming service viviON GAMES. In an interview, executives said the initiatives aim to help creators who fear their games will go undiscovered. The label will publish across multiple platforms including Steam, DLsite, and consoles. The cloud service provides an additional entry point for players. viviON has been preparing for two to three years and plans to focus on games in 2026.
A closed beta test of BanG Dream! Our Notes, the new mobile game focused on MyGO!!!!! and Ave Mujica, suggests the title is designed as an entry point for lapsed franchise fans. The game uses Live2D animation and music videos instead of 3D live performances, includes an assist mode for rhythm game difficulty, and presents story scenes in a cinematic format. The author, a former Garupa player who had drifted away, found the game a natural way to re-engage with the franchise.
Hamster Corporation will release the 1998 musical RPG "Märchen Kingdom: The Puppet Princess" as part of its Console Archives series for Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 on July 9, 2026. The game, originally developed by Nippon Ichi Software for 32-bit home consoles, is priced at 1,500 yen. The story follows a girl named Cornet who has the mysterious ability to befriend dolls, and she sets out to rescue a prince kidnapped by villains. Players cooperate with dolls that fight alongside Cornet as they progress through the adventure. The Console Archives series aims to faithfully reproduce classic titles on modern hardware, adding features such as button and screen customization, anywhere save and load, and CRT-style screen filters. This marks the first Nippon Ichi Software title to appear in the Console Archives lineup. The game was followed by two sequels, and a 25th anniversary collection containing all three titles was released in 2024 for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
Japanese idol group Rainbow Conquistador launched a 3D VR talk show series "Kimi to Nijicon [245mm]" using Canon's EOS VR SYSTEM. The 15-episode live stream on DeoVR and YouTube is a demonstration experiment exploring whether XR goggles can become a way for fans to watch their oshi. The setup uses an EOS R5 C camera and a real-time conversion app to stream VR180 footage without PC editing.
The collaboration cafe between the TV anime Tamon-kun Ima Docchi!? and crepe shop AmoCrepe runs from July 9 to July 30 at the Ikebukuro store and Namba Marui pop-up. The menu includes six character-themed drinks, a tuna can spring roll-style crepe, and a character latte. Purchase bonuses include random mini bromides, coasters, and stickers.
V-liver Haruno Iro Sena, a participant in the Human Emergence Plan training project, appeared on the TikTok LIVE Japan official program "V Creator Broadcasting Club Season 1: Summer Night's Test of Courage" on July 7, 2026. She delivered a 15-minute segment themed around summer ghost stories and spooky tales, streamed via mirror format on the official account.
Mare, operator of game media outlet Deng Famitsu Nico Gamer and ARG group Daiyon Kyokai, exhibited a 12-title booth at BitSummit PUNCH. Five titles were selected via public call for a free special recommendation corner. Booth manager Yu Kayama said the exhibition was triggered by a need to give back to indie developers and by the gold sponsorship's Steam slot benefit.
BEREO Entertainment announced on July 8 that RITZ, a member of the South Korean VTuber group MW:MEU, has terminated her exclusive contract due to personal circumstances. RITZ will cease activities with the group. The company apologized for the sudden news and said MW:MEU will continue with a more fulfilling presence for fans.
Streamer k4sen's offline event The k4sen Con 2026 has added Junichi Kato, Moko, Oniya, and Yuyuta to its lineup. The four will appear in the stage content Real Buckshot Roulette on DAY1, August 8. Kato was previously scheduled for the same project in 2024 but withdrew before the event.
Infolens Co. will hold an official Helluva Boss pop-up store at Yurakucho Marui in Tokyo from July 18 to July 26 and at Namba Marui in Osaka from August 15 to August 23. The store will sell new items including Blind Plush Series 2, a Fizzarolli mini figure, and Youtooz figures of Blitz and Stolas. A lottery for goods is available with purchases over 5,500 yen.
Valve has released Windows drivers for its Steam Machine gaming PC, available for download from the English support site. The drivers include graphics, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and SD card reader support, allowing users to install Windows on the device. However, dual-boot is not yet possible as the SteamOS dual-boot installer is still in development.
Tsumi Juubatsu, a performer from KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO's Shoujo Kakumei Keikaku unit, will appear at the DJ event GOLD DISC on July 11 at ZEROTOKYO in Shinjuku Kabukicho. It is their first performance since last November. The lineup also includes HONK THE HORN making their debut at the event.
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.
Holostars members Izuru Kanade and Astel Leda will appear as guest performers at FouRTe Project's first offline live, "ALL IN," on August 14 at Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo. The two male VTuber groups will perform a collaboration on stage. FouRTe Project, a seven-member virtual idol group, launched in 2025 and has released six singles.
The Red River television anime has added Minami Takayama as Yuri's mother and Kazuhiko Inoue as her father. Both actors previously voiced the protagonist Yuri and co-lead Kail in a drama CD for the manga. The anime premiered on NTV and BS NTV on July 7-8 and streams on Crunchyroll.
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.
Creative Intelligence Arts posted the first update on Project Phoenix in seven years, revealing the game is still in development after raising $1.02 million via Kickstarter in 2013. The developer apologized for the long silence, cited staff departures as the main cause of delays, and now targets a 2031 release.
Denfaminicogamer reports that the monster-taming RPG MonGil: STAR DIVE features NPCs and monsters with exaggerated physical traits. Master Anna, a large-bodied NPC introduced in May 2026, gained social media traction, with a fan post receiving over 5,000 likes. The article notes the game's high 'thigh belt' rate among playable characters and the development team's focus on quirky character designs.
Gravity Game Arise announced two compilations of classic Jaleco arcade games, totaling 32 titles. Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 will release on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PS5, with 20 games revealed so far. Features include DIP switch reproduction, CRT filter, rewind, and rapid-fire functions.
Gravity Game Arise announced on July 8, 2026, that it will release JALECO ARCADE COLLECTION Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. The two volumes together contain 32 arcade titles originally published by Jaleco during the 1980s and 1990s. Twenty of those titles have been revealed so far, with the remaining 12 to be announced later. Vol. 1 includes City Connection, Formation Z, Takeda Shingen, The Lord of King, Butasan, Tenseiryū, Cybattler, Field Combat, P-47: The Freedom Fighter, and Naughty Boy. Vol. 2 includes Exerion, E.D.F. Earth Defense Force, Makai Densetsu, Iga Ninpō Den, Plus Alpha, Pop Flamer, Rod Land, Soldam, Argus, and Phantasm. Physical editions are planned for Switch and PS5. The collection includes optional features such as overseas versions of some titles, DIP switch reproduction for difficulty and lives, a CRT filter, selectable rapid fire from 10 to 30 shots per second, a rewind function, and quick save and load. Release dates and prices have not been announced.
Bandai Spirits has revealed the full lineup for Ichiban Kuji Goddess of Victory NIKKE Chapter 8, a lottery-based merchandise series themed around swimsuit versions of characters from the mobile game. The lottery launches at retail locations including Lawson and hobby shops on August 8, 2026, with online sales starting August 17. Each draw costs 850 yen. The top prizes are figures of Dorothy Serendipity and Rapi Red Hood Red Flavor, both sculpted in poses that show their backs with their weapons recreated. The Last One Prize is an Elegg Boom and Shock figure, also available through a double chance campaign. Other prizes include a life-size wall hanging featuring Helm and Elegg, a play mat with Dorothy and Rapi Red Hood, cooling towels with Blanc, Noir, Little Mermaid, and Rivarelio, acrylic stands, clear posters, photo card sets, and Hide DORO magnets. The DORO magnet is a puffy magnet of the mysterious creature that originated as a fan meme and later became an official mascot for the franchise. Bandai Spirits is the publisher.
Sony demonstrated a new '3D Meet & Greet' service using mixed reality at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026. The system, experienced by MoguLive with Vtuber Uruma Tamanami, uses pre-scanned digital twins of real spaces to let a Vtuber appear from behind doors, walk toward the user, and react to touch. The experience runs on a Meta Quest 3 headset and is designed to solve the problem of screen-mediated meet-and-greets that lack a sense of real presence.
The TV anime adaptation of Chie Shinohara's classic shoujo manga "Red River" premiered on July 7, 2026. Episode 1, directed by Kosuke Kobayashi and produced by Tatsunoko Production, opens with a kiss and includes horror sequences that surprised viewers. The series follows a modern Japanese girl summoned to the 14th-century Hittite Empire.
The urban open-world action game NTE: Neverness to Everness introduces a new playable character named Shinku, a dragon girl with a tail and horns who is both a cool school-uniform type and a nervous otaku. Her swimsuit costume is cut high on the back and thighs, covering skin but tracing every body line. A large content update called Nine Hundred Ninety-Nine Nights launches July 8, adding a board-game fantasy world for co-op adventures.
Inside participated in the Japanese closed beta test of Azur Promilia, a new fantasy open-world RPG from Manjuu Games and Yostar. The game features cute creatures called Kibo and expressive anime-style characters, but the story lacks impact, and voice acting is missing from much of Chapter 1. The battle system is a tag-based system with three team members and three Kibo, unchanged from last year's TGS demo.
The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) released the exhibitor list and visitor information for Tokyo Game Show 2026 (TGS2026) on July 8. The event will be held at Makuhari Messe from September 17 to 21, marking the 30th anniversary of the show. For the first time, TGS will run for five days, with public days expanded from two to three (September 19-21). As of July 8, 759 exhibitors have been confirmed, including 484 domestic and 275 overseas companies, occupying 3,946 booths. Exhibitors come from 51 countries and regions, surpassing last year's record of 46. Major Japanese publishers listed include Square Enix, Capcom, Sega, Konami, Bandai Namco, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Nintendo. Overseas exhibitors include IRONMACE, Project Moon, VRChat, and netmarble. CESA also announced a new Premium Ticket priced at 30,000 yen, offering three-day access, a special lounge, and priority entry. A limited "30th Anniversary Ticket" will sell for 3.3 million yen and includes a pure gold medal engraved with game title visuals, plus three one-day tickets. The main visual was created by illustrator Zashikiwarashi for the second consecutive year. The expected attendance is 300,000 people.
The "TOY STORY - PLAYFUL JOURNEY COLLECTION" event will run from July 21 to August 31, 2026, at LUMINE EST Shinjuku in Tokyo. It features limited items from 37 shops, a special cafe themed around the latest film "Toy Story 5," and exclusive novelty giveaways. The event coincides with the film's theatrical release on July 3, which marks 30 years since the first "Toy Story" debuted in Japan.
Nintendo added five titles to its Game Boy Advance Nintendo Classics and Game Boy Nintendo Classics libraries on July 8, 2026. The Game Boy Advance Nintendo Classics, available to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers, received two games: the 2005 puzzle compilation "Dr. Mario & Panel de Pon" and the 2002 action-command RPG "Tomato Adventure." "Tomato Adventure" was developed by AlphaDream, the studio later known for the "Mario & Luigi RPG" series. The Game Boy Nintendo Classics, available to standard Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, received three titles: the 1994 platformer "Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land," the 1991 action-shooter "Fortress of Fury" by City Connection, and the 1992 RPG "Selection II: Dark Seal" by KEMCO. The additions span multiple genres and publishers, with Nintendo, City Connection, and KEMCO each contributing titles.
GIGABYTE Technology will hold a free four-day exhibition at eSports Studio AKIBA in Akihabara from July 17 to 20, 2026. The event will display legacy products, host talk shows with cosplayer Rosiel Kasho and tech writer Katsuaki Kato, and offer giveaways including original Hi-Chew and clear files. A concurrent sale at Sofmap AKIBA PC Digital Building runs July 8-20 with discounts up to 75,000 yen on desktop PCs.
The official Evangelion side novel Evangelion ANIMA, written by mechanical designer Ikuto Yamashita, is being adapted into an audiobook. Volume 1 is available on Audible, with subsequent volumes releasing from around August 2026. Narrator Sasaki Aitani voices multiple characters.
Square Enix announced on July 8 that the free-to-play RPG Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis will end service on October 7, 2026 at 15:00 JST. The game, developed with Applibot, launched on iOS and Android in September 2023 and on PC via Steam in December 2023. It was billed as another possibility of the Final Fantasy VII remake and featured stories from across the compilation series, including original content like the Young Sephiroth arc. In a producer letter, Shoichi Ichikawa stated that it became difficult to balance production costs with player demand for character weapons and costumes, and that providing quality worthy of the Final Fantasy VII name was no longer feasible. Sales of the paid currency Red Crystals have stopped as of July 8 at 11:00. Refunds for unused paid currency will be issued later, with details to be announced in-game and on the official website. Players are advised not to delete the app or change devices until the refund process is complete. The game will have run for approximately three years. A roadmap for the remaining service period has been released, and a PV for a new chapter is scheduled for July 8 at 17:00.
Pearl Abyss confirmed at a July 7 shareholder meeting that the Switch 2 version of Crimson Desert is in development and has reached a stage where basic gameplay is possible. CEO Heo Jin-young said the team is focused on maintaining the game's graphics, action, and open-world experience on the platform. No release date has been set.
SCRAP and Werks Studio announced the PC release of Yuruyuru Namahai Shin Suru Oshi Wa 100-Man-Kai Shinu, a real escape game where players time-leap to save a clumsy VTuber from repeated deaths. The game launches on Steam on July 29, 2026, at 3,500 yen for the download version and 4,000 yen for the package edition with exclusive stickers. A 10% launch discount runs from July 29 to August 11.
Meta announced Muse Image and Muse Video on July 7, 2026. Muse Image is available now, generating images, GIF animations, and editing photos with tool-calling abilities like QR code creation. It ranks second in text-to-image and image editing Arena rankings. Muse Video, an initial preview, generates video with audio and ranks third in text-to-video. Both are rolling out across Meta's platforms.
Graniph will release 20 collaboration items with the anime Detective Conan on July 14, 2026. The lineup includes T-shirts, hoodies, bags, and more featuring characters like Conan Edogawa, Ran Mouri, Kaito Kid, and the Black Organization. Prices range from 1,200 yen for socks to 8,900 yen for a zip hoodie. Advance web reservations began July 8.
Indie developer Granité Works opened the Steam store page for its short adventure game Living on Plain Pasta on July 8, 2026. The game gained traction on X (formerly Twitter) for its development concept described as a 'trashy version of Coffee Talk.' In Living on Plain Pasta, the player visits the apartment of an alcoholic senior from their club who lives in a messy room and does not eat meals. Over eight days of summer, the player cooks using limited ingredients from the refrigerator, choosing two items from three to four options to respond to the senior's unreasonable requests, such as making carbonara without eggs. The senior's reaction and dialogue change depending on the dish. After meals, the player selects a destination to go out with the senior, including a convenience store, game center, laundromat, or seaside. The game features branching paths and multiple endings, with normal playtime estimated at about one hour and up to three hours for completing all events and endings. Living on Plain Pasta is scheduled for release on Steam in Q3 2026 and supports Japanese display.
Designer Shingo Kurono and graphic designer Katsuhiro Uto will hold a talk event on July 11 at the 1-1-6 gallery in Tokyo, coinciding with Kurono's solo exhibition 'POST BRANDING.' The exhibition runs July 4-12 and reconfigures a previous Berlin show, displaying work from Kurono's decade since independence. The talk is free for the first 20 attendees.
SPEED STAR Co., Ltd. will hold a 30m dash challenge at Xebio Arena Sendai on July 11, 2026. Notable participants include Tokyo 2025 World Athletics relay team member Naoki Oue, Olympic silver medalist Nobuharu Asahara, pro teams Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and 89ERS, and the Aoyama Gakuin University alumni team. A free 30m dash experience lane will be open to all. The event is a regional collaboration model.
At Anime Expo 2026, the world saw the first episode of Black Clover Season 2, directed by Ayataka Tanemura. Tanemura, who previously worked on the first season and directed the film Sword of the Wizard King, took over from Tatsuya Yoshihara. Author Yūki Tabata told Tanemura to make the battles extra cool, and the premiere includes a scene not in the manga. The episode jumps straight from the season one finale, with Asta training under Nacht Faust.
Developer Maboroshi Artworks and publisher Entalto Publishing announced a closed Steam playtest for the horror adventure game SOMBRAS: negative frames. Set in 2000s Japan, players control photography student Alterio Shiomi, exploring a town and capturing eerie scenes. The playtest aims to adjust pacing and horror elements. The game is scheduled for Q4 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Microsoft announced 10 titles coming to Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass between July 9 and 21, 2026. Two day-one new releases, Ascend to Zero and Fogpiercer, lead the lineup. Other additions include the Xbox debut of The Planet Crafter and the official launch of Palworld on July 10.
Love Box, the VTuber production operated by Blackbox Inc., announced official merchandise for its unit Rabipare!!'s offline mini live on July 11, 2026. The goods include acrylic keychains, cheki-style card gacha, can badge gacha, and talk tickets, all designed by member Yomogi Inumori. The live is part of the group's monthly real-life events blending VTuber and idol performance.
The Insipid Prince's Furtive Grab for the Throne, an anime adaptation of the manga The Seventh Prince of the Adrasia Empire, premiered on Crunchyroll. The first episode follows Arnold, the seventh prince who secretly operates as an elite adventurer named Silver while backing his twin brother Leonard's claim to the throne. A slip-up reveals his identity to a duke's daughter.
AR production company vartique began selling an official AR acrylic stand for Kodansha's Vinland Saga on its own EC site on July 7. The stand uses the company's WebAR technology ByAR, requiring no app installation. Scanning a QR code with a smartphone camera triggers animated scenes and a face/body recognition feature that lets users become a Viking. The lineup includes Thorfinn, Askeladd, Thorkell, and Canute.
Broccoli Co., Ltd. announced five major news items for the idol group HE★VENS from 'Uta no Prince-sama♪' on July 7, 2026. The announcements include a visual exhibition 'BLACK GARDEN' with merchandise and a Rockheart Castle collaboration, the second official blog book 'HE★VENS WEBLOG BOOK 2,' a temporary revival of the members' blog, a new mini album 'HE★VENS SENSATION' releasing October 14, and the eighth installment of the only shop 'HE★VENS GARDEN' in October.
Anime Feminist reviews the premiere of Black Torch, finding a protagonist defined mainly by his love for animals and a plot that follows standard shonen beats. The review notes forced fanservice, a limited source material (five volumes, cancelled), and questions whether the adaptation can deliver a satisfying conclusion.
Anime Feminist reviews the first episode of the Iron Wok Jan anime, arguing the series cannot be separated from the context of 1995 Japan. The review describes the year as a low point marked by the Kobe earthquake, the Tokyo subway sarin attack, and the end of Dragon Ball, and positions the cooking manga as a source of hope during that period.