Visual Arts is pushing new visual novel output on two fronts: the Key brand's Summer Pockets Sunnyside Stories releases December 18, and the budget brand VISUAL ARTS Scripts launched with Sayagatari on September 25. The company is still managing the fallout from a June data breach that exposed customer, partner, applicant, and employee records.
Visual Arts spent 2026 opening new routes for visual novel releases while dealing with a security incident that touched its internal systems. The first of the year's stories was not a product announcement: on June 4 the company reported that personal information may have leaked after a third party gained unauthorized access, and that master data for anemoi had appeared on an overseas website on April 19 before the game's April 24 release. Credentials for cloud storage used in an internal portal system were stolen, and the potentially affected records include names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of customers, business partners, job applicants, and employees. More than 10,000 records are indicated, and the exact number is under investigation. An initial report went to Japan's Personal Information Protection Commission on May 11, and the VA STORE suspended new orders pending safety confirmation.
In July, Visual Arts launched a new brand, VISUAL ARTS Scripts, with its first title, Sayagatari -Youtou no Yakusoku-, a PC visual novel releasing September 25. The download version has a 990 yen launch price, and the first-run limited package is 4,950 yen. Tomori Kusunoki voices the lead heroine, and the opening movie, cast, and a signing event with illustrator Riichu were revealed at announcement.
On September 28, the Key brand set December 18 for Summer Pockets Sunnyside Stories. The release adapts Summer Pockets Short Stories: In the Summer's Dazzling Light, published on the Summer Pockets official website in 2018, and adds new material. It is an omnibus of 16 episodes set on Torishirojima. Na-Ga, Fumuyun, Izumi Tsubasu, and Yuunon Nagayama are credited for character design, with scenarios by Yuu Niijima, Kai, and Hasama. Konomi Suzuki sings the opening theme, "Luster piece."
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Oct 3
Visual Arts announced on September 28, 2026 that its Key brand will release Summer Pockets Sunnyside Stories on December 18. The visual novel adapts "Summer Pockets Short Stories: In the Summer's Dazzling Light," a project published on the Summer Pockets official website in 2018, and adds new material. It is an omnibus of 16 episodes set on Torishirojima, the island from Summer Pockets, and most episodes can be read in any order. The deluxe edition costs 10,780 yen, the standard edition 3,960 yen, and the download edition 2,970 yen, all tax included. Character design is credited to Na-Ga, Fumuyun, Izumi Tsubasu, and Yuunon Nagayama. Yuu Niijima, Kai, and Hasama, who worked on Summer Pockets, wrote the scenarios. Konomi Suzuki sings the new opening theme, "Luster piece," with lyrics by Niijima and composition and arrangement by Shuhei Ohashi.
Jul 17
Visual Arts announced a new brand, VISUAL ARTS Scripts, and its first title, Sayagatari -Yōtō no Yakusoku-, a visual novel where players fight monsters and receive kisses from a heroine who seals cursed swords. The game launches September 25 on PC, with a Steam version in development. Tomori Kusunoki voices the lead heroine. The download version is priced at 990 yen as a special launch price.
Jul 17
Visual Arts, owner of Key, announced the PC novel game 'Sayagatari - Yōtō no Yakusoku -' for September 25 release. The download version is priced at 990 yen, a special launch price, and the first-run limited package is 4,950 yen. The opening movie, cast, and a signing event with illustrator Riichu were also revealed.
Jun 4
Visual Arts, the parent company of visual novel brand Key, announced on June 4 that personal information may have been leaked due to unauthorized access by a third party. The breach was discovered when master data for the newly released title 'anemoi' was found uploaded without permission on an overseas website on April 19, before the game's April 24 release. An investigation revealed that authentication credentials for cloud storage used in the company's internal portal system were stolen, making it highly likely that internal data was taken. The scope of potentially leaked personal information includes names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses of customers, business partners, job applicants, and employees, with over 10,000 records indicated. The exact number of affected individuals is still under investigation. As of the announcement, no secondary damage using the leaked information has been confirmed, and no other information beyond the 'anemoi' master data has been made public. Visual Arts submitted an initial report to Japan's Personal Information Protection Commission on May 11. The company has begun implementing preventive measures, including reviewing internal system access rights and strengthening authentication methods. The official online store VA STORE has temporarily suspended new orders until safety is confirmed.