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Game News

Prinny Party: Going Overboard! — November 12 in Japan

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The adorable — and chronically explodable — Prinny penguin is finally getting its own party game, and Nippon Ichi Software dropped the full reveal today. Prinny Party: Going Overboard! lands in Japan on 12 November 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. NIS America has confirmed a Western localisation is in the works, though a release date is yet to be announced.

Prinny Party: Going Overboard! key art featuring the Prinny and Disgaea characters
Image courtesy of NIS America / Nippon Ichi Software

What Is Prinny Party: Going Overboard?

Known in Japan as プリニーすごろく (Prinny Sugoroku), the game is NIS’s take on the board-game party genre — think Mario Party crossed with Dokapon Kingdom, filtered through the anarchic energy of Disgaea. Up to four players roll dice, move around a sprawling board, earn experience points, purchase equipment, and build facilities like armories and hospitals that rivals can drop into — for a fee, naturally.

The cooperative twist is very Nippon Ichi: when a boss spawns on the board, players can team up to bring it down — but only the one who lands the final blow gets the credit. Expect alliances to collapse at the worst possible moment. On top of that, the game features an Assembly system that lets you pass bills granting yourself special advantages, or just making everyone else’s day considerably worse.

Disgaea characters on a board game island square in Prinny Party: Going Overboard!
Image courtesy of Nippon Ichi Software

The World of Prinny Party

The game board spans multiple visually distinct biomes — frozen tundra, volcanic wastelands, lush grasslands, desert ruins, and open seas — all rendered in the chibi art style Disgaea fans will recognise immediately. Several Disgaea-universe characters appear alongside the flagship blue Prinny, who shows up briefcase in hand and ready to catch hands, as ever.

The full game board map of Prinny Party: Going Overboard! showing diverse biome regions
Image courtesy of Nippon Ichi Software

Nippon Ichi Software described the game as packed with “hachiyamecha” (ハチャメチャ — wildly chaotic) experiences that go well beyond a typical board game, promising surprises that will flip players’ expectations of the sugoroku format. The full reveal took place today on the official 日本一チャンネル YouTube livestream (Japanese).

Full reveal stream — 【ゆるっと日本一２】第2回 プロジェクトネーム「プリニーすごろく」紹介 — via 日本一チャンネル on YouTube

Platforms, Price, and When Singapore Fans Can Play

Concept art of the Prinny mascot holding a flag in Prinny Party: Going Overboard!
Image courtesy of Nippon Ichi Software

Japan pricing is set at ¥6,980 (¥7,678 with tax) across all platforms — no Switch 2 premium has been confirmed yet. No SGD pricing or Asia release date has been announced.

The good news: both the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 are region-free, so Singapore fans who want to play from day one can import the Japanese version when it drops on 12 November 2026. The PS5 physical edition will run on any region’s console too, though digital buyers will need a Japanese PlayStation Network account. As for a global release, NIS America is handling Western publishing and has confirmed a date is coming — so an English version covering Singapore and Southeast Asia should follow, even if the timing is not pinned down yet.

Game News

The Mermaid Mask Out Now on PS5 and Switch 2

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The locked-room murder is one of gaming’s most satisfying puzzles, and today SFB Games delivers its most polished version yet. The Mermaid Mask — the fourth entry in the beloved Detective Grimoire series — is out now on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

From Tangle Tower to the Mortuga Submarine

The Mermaid Mask case file notebook showing Captain Seafoam's letter and polaroid clues
Image courtesy of SFB Games

If you played Tangle Tower (2019), you already know SFB Games’ signature blend of hand-animated characters, sharp writing, and satisfying deductive puzzles. The Mermaid Mask transplants that formula to a new stage: the Mortuga Submarine, a hulking diesel vessel anchored off the abandoned fishing town of Silkwirm-on-Sea. The ship’s former captain, Magnus Mortuga, has been found dead inside a locked bulkhead room with no weapon present — an impossible crime that only Detective Grimoire can unravel.

SFB Games is also the studio behind Crow Country (2024), the acclaimed PSX-horror adventure, making them one of indie gaming’s most versatile outfits. Fans of either game should feel right at home here.

Watch the Official Trailer

The Mermaid Mask | Release Date Trailer — via SFB Games on YouTube

Eight Suspects, One Dead Captain, and a Logic Board That Does the Heavy Lifting

The Mermaid Mask deduction board showing suspects and clues around the question what happened to Magnus Mortuga
Image courtesy of SFB Games

Gameplay follows the Detective Grimoire rhythm: explore the submarine’s rooms, pick up fully 3D physical clues you can rotate to expose hidden details, and question eight fully voiced suspects — a mystic, a writer, an actor, an illusionist, and more — about their motives and alibis. Everything gets logged into a built-in notebook, which feeds into the game’s accusation board where you build the chain of events: who did it, how, and why.

The step up from Tangle Tower is in tactility — clues are three-dimensional objects you can manipulate, not just static images to click on, and the full orchestral score (performed by the Budapest Art Orchestra) gives interrogation scenes a cinematic tension that the earlier games lacked.

A Fully Voiced Cast Brings Every Suspect to Life

The Mermaid Mask suspect Wirman dialogue scene on the murder submarine
Image courtesy of SFB Games

Edwyn Tiong (Malaysian-born, based in Australia) reprises Detective Grimoire, his signature role since the original 2014 game, alongside Amber Lee Connors as the ever-sceptical Sally. The supporting cast includes Tara Langella, Steven Kearney, Justine Leah Hince, Anairis Quinones, Eric Morgan Stuart, Jacqui Bardelang, and Alex Bankier — each character expressively hand-animated and voiced to match SFB Games’ theatrical, darkly comedic tone.

Critical Reception: 9/10 at Launch

Shacknews awarded The Mermaid Mask a 9 out of 10 in their launch review, calling it a “smart, silly, and charming adventure that will lock mystery lovers into its intriguing tale” and noting it is “a captivating mystery that rewards whether you’re new to the series or have been along for the ride.”

Where to Get The Mermaid Mask in Singapore

The Mermaid Mask is available today on the PlayStation Store (PS5), the Nintendo eShop (Switch 2 and Switch), and Steam (PC). SFB Games also has a free demo on Steam if you want to sample the mystery before committing — it covers the opening chapter and gives a solid feel for the pacing. Check your regional storefront for local SGD pricing.

If you’re hunting for more puzzle and story-driven games to sink into, head to our Game News section for the latest releases landing in Singapore this month.

Game News

Star Ocean: Second Story R Is Now on Switch 2 — No Upgrade Path

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Square Enix and Gemdrops quietly dropped Star Ocean: The Second Story R onto the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop today (16 July), giving JRPG fans on Nintendo’s latest hardware access to one of the most polished remakes of the past few years. The timing lands squarely in the middle of the Star Ocean 30th Anniversary celebrations, with the franchise’s big anniversary livestream happening this Sunday, 20 July, at 7pm SGT.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R — outdoor field battle with Link Combo Dragon Roar
Image courtesy of Square Enix

What Is Star Ocean: The Second Story R?

Originally released in November 2023, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a full remake of the 1998 PlayStation classic, rebuilt around Gemdrops’ distinctive 2.5D aesthetic — 2D pixel art characters moving across richly detailed 3D environments. You choose between two protagonists at the start: Claude, a young Earth Federation officer stranded on an underdeveloped planet, or Rena, a Nedean healer who encounters him first. Their paths intertwine, but the story unfolds differently depending on whose perspective you play.

The battle system layers in “Break” mechanics and “Assault Actions” on top of the original’s real-time combat, and the soundtrack has been fully recomposed by Motoi Sakuraba — the composer behind the entire Star Ocean and Valkyrie Profile series. Three difficulty settings (Earth, Galaxy, Universe) and an expanded Private Actions system mean there’s room to go as deep as you like.

STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R – Launch Trailer — via Square Enix on YouTube

What the Switch 2 Version Brings

The Switch 2 edition runs at a higher resolution than the original Switch release, taking advantage of the hardware’s bump in output quality. Beyond the resolution lift, Square Enix has not published a detailed changelog of Switch 2-specific features — no confirmed frame-rate target or exclusive additions have been announced. The game itself is otherwise the same version that launched on PS4, PS5, Switch, and PC in 2023.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R — cave dungeon battle scene
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The Catch — No Upgrade Path, No Save Transfer

This is the part existing Switch owners need to read before purchasing. In line with several other Square Enix Nintendo Switch to Switch 2 transitions, there is no upgrade pack — you cannot pay a small fee to unlock the Switch 2 edition if you already own the Switch version. You will need to purchase the game again at its full price of US$49.99 (check your local Nintendo eShop for the regional price in Singapore dollars).

Equally important: save data does not carry over between versions. Picking up the Switch 2 edition means starting your playthrough fresh, even if you had a 40-hour file on the original Switch version.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R — party exploring a countryside village
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Is It Worth Getting?

If you already cleared the game on Switch, the Switch 2 version’s incremental visual upgrade probably doesn’t justify repurchasing — especially without save transfer. But if you’re new to Second Story R, or if the Switch 2 is simply your primary gaming platform going forward, this is an excellent entry point. The game ranked among the best JRPGs of 2023 across every platform it touched, and the 2.5D presentation holds up beautifully on a larger screen.

For Singapore JRPG fans on Switch 2, it’s also one of the deeper experiences available on the platform right now — a dual-protagonist structure with over 20 different endings and a post-game dungeon that will keep completionists busy for a long time.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R — characters on rocky cliff ruins
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Where to Get It

Star Ocean: The Second Story R for Nintendo Switch 2 is available now on the Nintendo eShop at US$49.99 (check the Singapore eShop for local pricing). If you want a deeper look at the broader franchise before diving in, tune in to the Star Ocean 30th Anniversary Livestream this Sunday at 7pm SGT — it’s free to watch and covers the series’ history and future. Check out other game news on the blog for more from the world of JRPGs and Switch 2.

Game News

Hell Maiden Hits Steam Early Access Tomorrow — Dante’s Inferno Gets an Anime Makeover

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What happens when you take Dante’s Divine Comedy, rebuild it as a 1990s anime series, and then turn that series into a Vampire Survivors-style horde survival deck-builder? You get Hell Maiden, and it drops on Steam Early Access tomorrow — 16 July 2026 — from Portuguese indie studio AstralShift.

A Second Trip Through the Nine Circles

Hell Maiden gameplay — Dante fights armoured skeleton hordes in a glowing circular arena
Image courtesy of AstralShift

The setup flips the classic poem’s premise: Dante has already reached Paradise once, but returns to Hell with no memory of how she got there or why she is back. Her only option is to fight through all nine circles again and claw her way back to the surface. It is a premise that sounds like an excuse to loop through the same content twice — except that Hell Maiden’s structure keeps each run feeling different through its card-based build system.

The core loop sits somewhere between Vampire Survivors and a roguelike deck-builder. Dante auto-attacks as waves of demons pile in, and every upgrade selection is handled through Spirit Cards — split into Weapon Cards (active attacks) and Mod Cards (passive augments). With 40-plus abilities at launch and companions from Classical literature who each unlock five new cards when rescued, there is a lot of build variety even in Early Access.

Hell Maiden | Gameplay Trailer — via AstralShift on YouTube

The Card System and Early Access Content

Hell Maiden card selection screen showing ornate Weapon Cards — Spellbound Conflagration, Will-o-the-Wisp and Defiance of Astrape
Image courtesy of AstralShift

At launch, the Early Access build covers the first two circles of Hell — Limbo and Lust — with their own enemy rosters, environmental hazards, quests and boss encounters. Four Poets of Limbo can be rescued across runs, and each one permanently unlocks a set of five new cards that expands your build options for future attempts. Additional abilities drop after each defeated boss, so the power curve within a single run feels genuinely different depending on which circles you push through.

AstralShift plans to add the remaining seven circles over the Early Access period, which is expected to run for at least a year before the full 1.0 release.

Mili Handles the Opening Theme

Hell Maiden story scene — Dante meets Homer in the Fields of Elysium
Image courtesy of AstralShift

The opening theme, “Not my Paradiso,” is by Mili — the Japanese-Canadian music collective behind tracks on the Honkai: Star Rail soundtrack and the Goblin Slayer OP. If those names ring a bell, you already have a sense of the tone: theatrical, melancholic, with gothic edges. The track premiered on YouTube today, the day before the game launches. For Singapore’s Honkai community in particular, Mili’s involvement is a genuine reason to pay attention to a game that might otherwise fly under the radar.

AstralShift’s previous games drew heavily from 1990s shoujo anime for their visual palette, and Hell Maiden extends that to a faster-paced action context — the result is something that looks closer to an animated feature than a typical horde survival game.

Where to Get It

Hell Maiden enters Steam Early Access on 16 July 2026 for Windows. SGD pricing is set by Steam’s regional pricing system — check the Steam store page directly for the Singapore price. Full controller support is included from day one. Fans of anime-style indie games and the Vampire Survivors genre would be doing themselves a disservice by sleeping on this one. Check out more game news on GameTrader for what else is launching this week.

Game News, Manga Anime

Granblue Fantasy × Bleach Collab Reveals Full 12-Character Roster — Starts 22 July

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Cygames just dropped the full character line-up for Granblue Fantasy‘s upcoming Bleach collaboration, and it is a stacked roster. BLEACH ECHOES IN THE BLUE HOLLOW runs from 22 July at 5:00 PM to 3 August at 8:59 PM (JST), landing right as Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War — The Calamity premieres on Disney+ on 25 July. Today Cygames released the GBF-style character artwork for all twelve participants — first through 4Gamer (Japanese) and Dengeki Online (Japanese) — making this the first major Bleach x GBF breakdown English-language press has not yet covered.

BLEACH ECHOES IN THE BLUE HOLLOW: Event Overview

This is a full collaboration story event inside the original browser and mobile RPG Granblue Fantasy — not Granblue Fantasy: Relink or Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, but the original gacha RPG by Cygames. Collaboration story events let players experience an original crossover scenario, earn the guest characters, and pull from a limited summon pool featuring the collab IP.

The event title, Echoes in the Blue Hollow, was officially confirmed on the official @granbluefantasy Japanese Twitter account. Full event details — story summary, battle mechanics, summon pool breakdown — are set to release on 21 July, one day before the event opens.

All 12 Characters: The Full Roster

Full character roster for Bleach Echoes in the Blue Hollow GBF collab showing all 12 characters
Image courtesy of Cygames / TV Tokyo

Today’s reveal confirms twelve characters in Granblue Fantasy’s signature watercolour-and-ink art style, spanning both the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo sides of the war:

  • Ichigo Kurosaki (CV: Morita Masakazu)
  • Byakuya Kuchiki (CV: Okiayu Ryoutarou)
  • Toushiro Hitsugaya (CV: Park Romi)
  • Rangiku Matsumoto (CV: Matsutani Kaya)
  • Kenpachi Zaraki (CV: Tateki Fumihiko)
  • Mayuri Kurotsuchi (CV: Nakao Takashi)
  • Nemu Kurotsuchi (CV: Kugimiya Rie)
  • Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez (CV: Suwa Toshiyuki)
  • Neliel Tu Odelschwanck (CV: Kiyoto Arisa)
  • Pesche Guatiche (CV: Kosuge Takahiro)
  • Dondochakka Bilstein (CV: Sato Daisuke)
  • Bawabawa (CV: Yasumoto Hiroki)

Twelve characters is a healthy pull for a GBF collab. For context, the earlier Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia events each brought in around a dozen fighters, so Echoes in the Blue Hollow is in that same tier of flagship crossover event.

Soul Society in GBF Art Style

Ichigo Kurosaki character art in Granblue Fantasy style for Bleach Echoes in the Blue Hollow collab
Image courtesy of Cygames / TV Tokyo

Ichigo gets the classic shihakushō look with his Bankai sword over his shoulder — drawn in Cygames’s signature detailed brushwork that translates manga characters into painterly GBF units surprisingly well. Byakuya comes across as particularly striking, rendered in flowing white haori with his characteristic stillness.

Byakuya Kuchiki character art in Granblue Fantasy style for the Bleach collab
Image courtesy of Cygames / TV Tokyo

Hitsugaya, Rangiku, Kenpachi, Mayuri, and Nemu round out the Soul Society side. Nemu’s inclusion alongside Mayuri is notable — she was the first character revealed who will not be part of the event summon pool, hinting she might appear as a story character or field companion rather than a gacha pull. Full details on who goes where in the summon versus story reward breakdown will be confirmed on 21 July.

Grimmjow, Nel, and the Hueco Mundo Crew

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez character art in Granblue Fantasy style
Image courtesy of Cygames / TV Tokyo

The Hollow and Arrancar contingent is where things get fun. Grimmjow looks exactly as insufferably cool as he should in GBF’s art style — blue spikes, Espada jacket, that permanently unimpressed expression. Neliel Tu Odelschwanck and her companions Pesche Guatiche, Dondochakka Bilstein, and Bawabawa (her giant pet snake) all make the cut, which is a great nod to the Hueco Mundo arc that a lot of TYBW fans have strong feelings about.

The inclusion of Pesche, Dondochakka, and Bawabawa alongside Nel suggests the event story may revisit her time in Hueco Mundo — or these three are purely comic-relief support characters in the GBF scenario, which also tracks.

Timed to TYBW The Calamity — What Singapore Players Should Know

Official Trailer | BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Final Part — The Calamity — via vizmedia on YouTube

Cygames deliberately timed the event to open on 22 July — three days before BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War — The Calamity begins airing on 25 July. Singapore fans can catch The Calamity on Disney+ Singapore as it airs. The collab runs until 3 August, giving you roughly two weeks to clear the story and farm what you need.

Granblue Fantasy is free to play on iOS, Android, and the official web browser version — no region lock, so Singapore players are in from day one. Veterans who still have rupies or crystals saved from summer campaigns will want to factor this into their pull planning; Bleach is a big IP and limited collab characters rarely return outside reruns.

For more on what’s launching this month, check our game news roundups or the full breakdown of BLEACH TYBW The Calamity on Disney+.

News

Fitness Boxing 3 Switch 2 Edition Launches Tomorrow at S$68.50

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Singapore Switch 2 owners get their next workout companion tomorrow: Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition hits the Singapore eShop on 16 July 2026 at S$68.50. Developer Imagineer has rebuilt the rhythm-boxing series from the ground up for Nintendo’s new hardware, adding a handful of features that are exclusive to the Switch 2 — and the result is a meaningful upgrade over the original Switch release that launched in December 2024.

Fitness Boxing 3 Switch 2 Edition – CameraPlay gameplay showing trainer and player camera feed
Image courtesy of Imagineer

What’s New in the Switch 2 Edition

The headlining addition is CameraPlay: plug in a compatible USB-C camera and the game overlays your real-time silhouette on screen so you can check your form as you punch. It’s the kind of feature that turns a solo workout into something closer to a mirror session with a trainer, and it’s only possible because of the Switch 2’s expanded connectivity.

Two new scoring modes raise the difficulty ceiling for veterans. Advanced Judgment evaluates not just whether you hit the beat but how accurately your speed and direction match the target, making it a sharper test of your technique than the original’s timing window. Boost Up Mode ramps the BPM up to 200 across the session, so each round gets progressively more intense until you’re punching at a flat sprint.

Work Out With Friends — GameShare and Multiplayer

Fitness Boxing 3 Switch 2 Edition – lounge menu showing GameShare Matches and workout calendar
Image courtesy of Imagineer

The other big Switch 2-exclusive feature is GameShare, which lets up to four players exercise together over local wireless using a single copy of the game. For a household that’s been debating whether to buy multiple copies, this changes the maths considerably. The lobby screen also tracks your workout streak on a calendar — useful for those of us who need to see a growing chain of ticked boxes to stay motivated.

Six Trainers, 30 Songs, and Every Workout Style

Fitness Boxing 3 Switch 2 Edition – Tai Chi mode with two trainers performing a Heel Kick
Image courtesy of Imagineer

Beyond the Switch 2 additions, the base game arrives with six fully-voiced personal trainers and 30 new instrumental tracks. Workout modes range from the standard daily boxing routines to Sit Fit Boxing (designed for seated play), Mitt Drills (targeted punch combinations), Tai Chi, and a Quick Workout option for when you only have ten minutes. A Personal Programme adjusts the day’s routine to your current condition, which is a thoughtful touch for players whose energy levels vary.

The series has surpassed three million units sold across its history, so Imagineer clearly knows the formula. The Switch 2 edition is the definitive version of that formula so far.

Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Official Trailer — via Imagineer Co., Ltd. on YouTube

Upgrading from the Original Switch Version

If you already own Fitness Boxing 3 on Switch, you can upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition for 1,100 yen via a separate Upgrade Pack on the Nintendo eShop. The Singapore eShop pricing for the upgrade has not been separately listed at time of writing, but the base new purchase is set at S$68.50. For Switch 2 owners who are new to the series, that price is in line with other first-party and publisher Switch 2 titles on the local eShop.

Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is available on the Singapore Nintendo eShop from 16 July 2026. For more Nintendo Switch 2 game news, check our dedicated coverage.

Manga Anime, News

The Vermilion Mask Anime Debuts on Crunchyroll in October 2026

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The Vermilion Mask, a dark action-fantasy manga that has been quietly building a following since its debut in Young King OURs, is getting its anime adaptation this October 2026 — and it is streaming on Crunchyroll. At its Anime Expo 2026 panel, Crunchyroll revealed the first main trailer and confirmed the full Japanese voice cast — a lineup that will make longtime anime fans do a double-take.

The Vermilion Mask teaser key visual featuring Peru, Sonarue and Mok
Image courtesy of The Vermilion Mask Production Committee

What Is The Vermilion Mask?

The manga is written by Dr. Poro and illustrated by Nabana Naba, serialised in Shonengahosha’s Young King OURs magazine. With eight collected volumes now in print — Volume 8 landed on shelves just this month on 7 July 2026 — the series has built a devoted readership on the strength of its sharp character work and its willingness to go genuinely dark.

The premise: in a world where mysterious masks grant extraordinary power at a terrifying cost, Peru d’Arrest is an apprentice to the legendary craftsman Gaston Roux. One night, possessed by Gaston’s most fearsome creation — the Mask of the Warrior God — Peru loses himself entirely, slaughtering his master and his fellow apprentices. Haunted by what the mask forced him to do, Peru dedicates himself to a single grim mission: hunt down and destroy every cursed mask Gaston ever made, before they claim any more lives.

Think of it as a story about guilt, atonement, and the impossible weight of surviving what you should not have. If you have a soft spot for morally tortured leads and dark-fantasy action in the vein of early Claymore or Dororo, this one is worth clearing space for in your autumn watch-list.

Watch the First Main Trailer

【First Main PV】TV Anime The Vermilion Mask | Streaming on Crunchyroll in October — via 【ytv animation】読売テレビ アニメ公式 on YouTube

A Star-Studded Voice Cast

The Vermilion Mask full voice cast visual with all eight main characters
Image courtesy of The Vermilion Mask Production Committee

The confirmed cast reads like a who’s who of anime voice acting:

  • Peru d’Arrest — Taihi Kimura
  • Sonarue Maywood (Sona) — Yuuki Yamamoto
  • Mok Sharib — Kazuki Ura
  • Gouon — Takanori Hoshino
  • Totoque — Wataru Komada
  • Zent — Junya Enoki (Yuji Itadori in Jujutsu Kaisen)
  • Gaston Roux — Kazuhiko Inoue (Kakashi Hatake in Naruto)
  • The Mask of the Warrior God — Akio Otsuka (Big Boss in the Metal Gear Solid series)

Having Junya Enoki, Kazuhiko Inoue and Akio Otsuka in the same cast is not a subtle signal. The production stacks generational talent alongside rising voices — and the character pairings are pointed: Otsuka voices the force that breaks Peru, while Inoue plays the master Peru loses. There are going to be some heavy scenes.

Who Is Making the Anime?

The series is produced by One Double-O and directed by Tetsuaki Watanabe, best known for directing Blue Lock Season 1. Series composition is handled by Daisuke Ohigashi, with Hisashi Higashijima as character designer and chief animation director. Music is by Alisa Okehazama. The series airs in Japan on ytv (Yomiuri TV).

When Can Singapore Fans Watch The Vermilion Mask?

The anime premieres in October 2026 as part of the autumn season and streams on Crunchyroll, which is available here in Singapore. The series is structured as a split-cour two-part production — so the October run covers the first half of the story, with a second part to follow in 2027 to complete it.

For more autumn 2026 anime worth adding to your list, head over to our Manga Anime section.

Game News

Monster Hunter Wilds Gets a Permanent Price Cut in August — New Gold Edition Revealed

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If you’ve been holding off on Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom has just made August the month to pull the trigger. The publisher announced on 14 July that the base game will receive a permanent price reduction from 4 August 2026 — no sale, no time limit, just a lower price going forward — alongside an overhaul of its digital edition lineup.

Monster Hunter Wilds open world environment with hunter in feathered armour
Image courtesy of Capcom

Monster Hunter Wilds Price Cut: How Much Are We Talking?

Capcom has confirmed the permanent price reduction but has not disclosed exact new pricing for most markets ahead of the 4 August changeover — so we’ll know the full regional picture (including the SGD price on Steam and the PlayStation Store) once the switch flips. What we do know: in Japan, the base game drops from ¥8,990 to ¥4,990 — a cut of roughly 45%. Industry sources covering other markets are quoting a similar ballpark reduction globally, which would bring the current US$69.99 / £64.99 standard price down significantly. Keep an eye on your preferred storefront from 4 August for the confirmed SGD figure.

The timing makes sense. Monster Hunter Wilds launched in February 2025 to huge sales but received a mixed critical reception — strong on spectacle and scale, shakier on performance at launch and endgame depth. Patches over the past year have addressed many of those criticisms, and with the Ascendance expansion bringing G-rank content in 2027, Capcom clearly wants to grow the player base before that drop arrives.

Monster Hunter Wilds – Launch Trailer — via Monster Hunter on YouTube

What Editions Are Changing on 4 August?

Alongside the base-game price cut, Capcom is streamlining its digital lineup. Three existing editions go off sale on 3 August at 5 PM PDT (4 August 8 AM SGT):

  • Monster Hunter Wilds Deluxe Edition
  • Monster Hunter Wilds Premium Deluxe Edition
  • Monster Hunter Wilds Cosmetic DLC Pass

Replacing them from 4 August are three new options:

  • Monster Hunter Wilds (Standard Edition) — base game at the new reduced price
  • Monster Hunter Wilds Gold Edition — bundles the base game with the Cosmetic DLC Collection (all currently available cosmetic packs), offering the most complete package in a single purchase
  • Cosmetic DLC Collection — all cosmetic packs together, for players who already own the base game
  • Extras Cosmetic DLC Pack — a selection of previously standalone cosmetic DLC
Monster Hunter Wilds combat against a large beast
Image courtesy of Capcom

Should Singapore Players Wait Until August 4?

If you haven’t bought Monster Hunter Wilds yet, yes — waiting three weeks makes clear financial sense. The base game will be permanently cheaper, the edition lineup is simpler, and if you want all the cosmetics in one go, the Gold Edition gives you that cleanly. There’s no benefit to buying at the current price before August 4 unless you need access right now.

If you already own Wilds and have been eyeing the DLC cosmetics, check whether the new Cosmetic DLC Collection or Gold Edition upgrade path works out cheaper than buying items you’re missing individually — pricing details will be live on storefronts from 4 August.

Monster Hunter Wilds desert oasis biome with wildlife
Image courtesy of Capcom

Monster Hunter Wilds is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam. Check your regional Monster Hunter storefront from 4 August for the updated SGD pricing. For more game news for Singapore players, stay tuned to GameTrader.SG.

Game News

MOTHER 3 × G-Shock DW-5600: 20th Anniversary Watch Lottery Opens 17 July

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Twenty years after MOTHER 3’s GBA release, Hobonichi has unveiled the third instalment in its ongoing MOTHER × G-Shock collaboration series — and this one is built entirely around the game’s most emotionally loaded image: the sunflower field from Chapter 6. Lottery applications open in Japan on 17 July 2026, and Singapore collectors who want one will need to move fast.

MOTHER 3 x G-Shock DW-5600 dial close-up showing MOTHER 3 logo and yellow case
Image courtesy of Hobonichi MOTHER Project

The Watch: Everything Yellow, Everything Intentional

The base model is the Casio G-Shock DW-5600 — the original square silhouette that most G-Shock fans consider the purest expression of the line. Hobonichi has dressed it in a vivid sunflower yellow that references the himawaribatake (sunflower field) scene in MOTHER 3’s Chapter 6, one of the most heartbreaking moments in JRPG history.

The dial carries the MOTHER 3 logo in the lower half of the face, with a red accent ring framing the display — a subtle echo of the MOTHER series’ trademark earthiness. Around the case, a gold-coloured protector adds a premium touch not seen on earlier entries in the collaboration series. The watch case measures 48.9 × 42.8 × 14.8 mm and carries G-Shock’s standard shock resistance and 20-bar water resistance. The back cover is engraved with 「ぽてんしゃる！」 — “Potential!” — a signature MOTHER 3 expression.

MOTHER 3 G-Shock DW-5600 backlight activated showing pixel art sunflower field
Image courtesy of Hobonichi MOTHER Project

The Hidden Detail: Light It Up

Press the light button and the DW-5600’s LED backlight reveals a pixel-art sunflower field in vivid red — the himawaribatake rendered in retro dot-art, glowing through the translucent face of the watch. It is the kind of secret that rewards the wearer rather than the observer, which feels very MOTHER in spirit.

The resin band features Doseiisan (Mr. Saturn) characters embossed into the rubber — the round, doe-eyed creatures who became one of the series’ most beloved mascots. The watch ships in a special sunflower-themed tin case, and everything about the packaging leans into the game’s bittersweet warmth.

Lifestyle shot of MOTHER 3 G-Shock watch worn alongside MOTHER 3 plushies including Doseisan and Ultimate Chimera
Image courtesy of Hobonichi MOTHER Project

Part of a Bigger 20th Anniversary Push

The G-Shock watch is the centrepiece of a broader wave of MOTHER 3 20th anniversary merchandise from Hobonichi, the company run by MOTHER series creator Shigesato Itoi. Earlier this year the Hobonichi MOTHER Project released anniversary items including a plush of the Ultimate Chimera — the game’s notoriously terrifying creature — as well as a square tote and anniversary posters. The full 20th anniversary merch collection is documented on Hobonichi’s official site (Japanese).

This is the third G-Shock collaboration in the MOTHER series. The first used a GW-M5610 base (2021–22), the second brought a GW-6900 in MOTHER Red (2024), and now the DW-5600 takes on MOTHER 3’s identity in sunflower yellow. Each one has sold out quickly on lottery.

Model wearing the yellow MOTHER 3 x G-Shock DW-5600 watch on their wrist
Image courtesy of Hobonichi MOTHER Project

How Singapore Fans Can Enter the Lottery

The watch is a Japan-only lottery item sold exclusively through Hobonichi’s online store MOTHER no Omise (Japanese). There is no confirmed international shipping or SG retail availability — you will need a Japan forwarding or proxy service to enter and receive the item.

  • Lottery opens: 17 July 2026, 11:00 AM JST (10:00 AM SGT)
  • Lottery closes: 30 July 2026, 11:00 AM JST (10:00 AM SGT)
  • Price: ¥19,800 (tax included) — roughly S$190 at current rates, before shipping and proxy fees
  • Base model: G-Shock DW-5600
  • Where to apply: Hobonichi MOTHER Project shop (Japanese)

Physical samples are on display at Hobonichi’s TOBICHI Tokyo space (Kanda, Chiyoda-ku) from 14 to 29 July if you happen to be in Japan. Given the track record of the previous two MOTHER × G-Shock releases, demand will likely far exceed supply. Have your proxy or forwarding service account set up before 17 July. For more gaming and pop-culture collectible news, browse our Game News section.