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Jax

FFXIV Fan Festival Berlin 2026: Full SGT Schedule, Evercold Reveals and What to Watch

The stage schedule for FINAL FANTASY XIV Fan Festival 2026 in Berlin is live, and the headline moment arrives at 4:00 PM SGT on Saturday, 25 July — prime Singapore time. Naoki Yoshida takes the keynote stage to make what Square Enix calls “big announcements,” and the most anticipated reveal is the new Tank job for the Evercold expansion. The venue is sold out, but the entire programme — except the two concert nights — streams free on YouTube and Twitch.

Evercold: What Berlin Is Expected to Reveal

Yoshida unveiled Evercold — FFXIV’s Patch 8.0 expansion — at the Anaheim Fan Fest in April 2026, confirming a world consumed by spreading frost, a level cap rise to 110, two brand-new jobs, a Kefka-themed ultimate raid, and an Evangelion alliance raid. Neither new job has been named or shown yet: the Tank is expected at Berlin, and the Physical Ranged DPS is widely anticipated at the Tokyo Fan Fest in October. For Singapore players, Evercold is targeting a January 2027 launch — plenty of time to catch up on Dawntrail, which is 50% off on the Square Enix Store and Mog Station until 31 July. FFXIV is also arriving on Nintendo Switch 2 in August, so the run-up to Evercold is shaping up to be a big few months.

Naoki Yoshida on stage at FFXIV Fan Fest Anaheim with the Evercold expansion logo behind him
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Full Stream Schedule in SGT

All panels stream free on the official FFXIV YouTube and Twitch. Square Enix advises against co-streaming the keynote on YouTube (Content ID risk); other platforms are fine. Concert streams require a paid virtual ticket — pricing details to be announced.

SGT Time Day 1 — Saturday, 25 July 2026
4:00 PM Keynote — Naoki Yoshida; expected new Tank job reveal for Evercold
6:15 PM Opening Ceremony
7:00 PM Development Panel — Sound Design with Go Kinuya & Masayoshi Soken
9:00 PM Community Panel — European Community Team
10:30 PM Letter from the Producer LIVE XCIII — Beastmaster deep dive with live gameplay
1:30 AM (26 Jul) 🎵 Keiko Piano Concert (paid virtual stream)
SGT Time Day 2 — Sunday, 26 July 2026
4:00 PM Crystalline Conflict Regional Championship — EU & Oceania Semifinals and Final
7:30 PM Naoki’s Room — relaxed fireside chat with Yoshi-P
10:00 PM Glamoured to Life — Cosplay Walk
1:30 AM (27 Jul) 🎵 THE PRIMALS Live (paid virtual stream)
Announcing FINAL FANTASY XIV Fan Festival 2026! — via FINAL FANTASY XIV on YouTube

Beastmaster Arrives in Patch 7.56

The Saturday late-night slot (10:30 PM – 12:30 AM SGT) is the Letter from the Producer LIVE, with Yoshida and community producer Foxclon joined by Lead Battle Content Designer Masaki Nakagawa for a two-hour deep dive into Beastmaster — FFXIV’s first new limited job since Blue Mage. Live gameplay is confirmed. The stream carries live English/Japanese interpretation throughout, so non-Japanese speakers get everything in real time. Co-streaming via Twitch is permitted.

Concert Nights — Keiko and THE PRIMALS

Both performances begin at 1:30 AM SGT and require a paid virtual ticket (pricing forthcoming). In-person tickets to hub27 in Berlin are sold out.

Night 1 (Saturday): Pianist Keiko returns for a solo concert — intimate arrangements of Eorzean themes building from quiet, crystalline passages to full cathartic crescendos. Based on her Anaheim performance, expect beloved pieces from across the entire FFXIV run.

Keiko performing at a grand piano in a white dress at an FFXIV Fan Festival, with dramatic stage lighting
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Night 2 (Sunday): THE PRIMALS, led by Sound Director Masayoshi Soken, close out the weekend with a full band set. The schedule description says it all: “bring your LED light sticks and rock along.”

THE PRIMALS band — five members in black suits, led by Masayoshi Soken
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Crystalline Conflict Championship and the Cosplay Walk

Sunday opens at 4:00 PM SGT with the Crystalline Conflict Regional Championship for Europe and Oceania. Four teams have advanced through regional rounds to compete for the title on the main stage, with Yoshida, Kevin Bouffard, and casters Rookuri and Lythi on the desk. Oceanian teams means familiar data centre names — Elemental and Materia players may spot squads they’ve run into in ranked.

Crystalline Conflict Regional Championship 2026 Europe and Oceania official logo
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Later at 10:00 PM SGT, the Cosplay Walk brings Warriors of Light in full FFXIV costume to the main stage. Previous Fan Fests have delivered breathtaking craftsmanship — Dawntrail and Shadowbringers characters are likely front and centre this year.

Cosplayer in a detailed blue FFXIV costume on the Fan Festival stage, waving to the crowd
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Bookmark the FFXIV YouTube channel now and set a reminder for 4 PM SGT on 25 July. For more events Singapore gamers should have on their radar, check our events coverage.

GTA Online: The Kortz Center Heist Is Live Today — Art Theft on PS5, Xbox, and PC

GTA Online: The Kortz Center Heist official key art
Image courtesy of Rockstar Games

Rockstar has opened the vault. The Kortz Center Heist — GTA Online’s blockbuster summer 2026 update — went live this morning on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC as part of Title Update 1.73. As we covered when the update was first announced, this is the biggest new heist to hit GTA Online in years, and Singapore players can jump in right now.

What Is the Kortz Center Heist?

The Kortz Center art gallery exterior in GTA Online
Image courtesy of Rockstar Games

The Kortz Center is Los Santos’ most prestigious cultural space — a Pacific Bluffs gallery packed with high-value artwork, tight security, and no shortage of cameras. Your job: team up with the mysterious art dealer Mr. Faber and his chief fixer Raf De Angelis, scout the building without raising any alarms, then pull off the cleanest heist in Los Santos history.

The approach is fully flexible. Go it alone or build a crew of up to three — the game scales challenge and payouts to your squad size. Rockstar is rotating in three new target paintings every week, so there’s a reason to keep coming back well after your first clean run.

The Art Studio: Your New Heist HQ

The Art Studio property upgrade in GTA Online for The Kortz Center Heist
Image courtesy of Rockstar Games

Getting into the heist takes more than just showing up at the gallery. You’ll first need to own a Prix Luxury Mansion and purchase the new Art Studio expansion. This becomes your planning hub: your in-house counterfeiter produces duplicate paintings that slot into the Kortz Center walls while the originals end up in your hands.

If you own a Mansion and played GTA Online before July 13, you’re already ahead — Rockstar credited eligible players with a free Annihilator Stealth helicopter and a GTA$1,000,000 discount on the Art Studio upgrade as part of the Fine Art Collector pre-launch programme. Everyone who played online during that window also received GTA$500,000 and a free Benefactor Turreted Limo.

Scope It, Fake It, Take It

Art counterfeiting underway inside the GTA Online Art Studio
Image courtesy of Rockstar Games

The heist unfolds in stages. First, you head to the Kortz Center itself — stroll among the exhibits like any other visitor, discreetly photograph the target paintings without alerting security, and map your getaway routes. Then it’s back to the Art Studio to lock in your approach — quiet infiltration, all-guns-blazing, or something in between. Each week’s initial painting sale carries the best payout, so timing matters.

The full scope of rewards is still being discovered by the community, but the setup rivals the scale of past GTA Online marquee heists like Cayo Perico and the Diamond Casino.

New Vehicle and What Else Is In the Update

Title Update 1.73 also adds the Grotti Veleno GT, a new Super-class sports car, with GTA+ subscribers getting one week of exclusive early access from today. Rockstar Mission Creator also received improvements in this patch.

Context worth keeping in mind: with GTA VI confirmed for 19 November 2026, The Kortz Center Heist is shaping up to be among GTA Online’s final major story DLC additions before Rockstar’s full attention shifts to the new game. If you’ve been meaning to get back in, this is the send-off worth logging in for.

The update is available now — download sizes are 1.9 GB on PS5 and 5.1 GB on Xbox Series X|S. For more game news, check our latest coverage.

Source: Rockstar Games Newswire

Octopath Traveler I & II Come to Switch 2 on 8th Anniversary

Square Enix surprised the Octopath Traveler fan base today by dropping native Nintendo Switch 2 versions of both Octopath Traveler and Octopath Traveler II during the series’ eighth anniversary broadcast — and in Japan, both are already live on the eShop right now.

Octopath Traveler key art featuring the eight protagonists
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Eight Years of HD-2D, Celebrated with a Double Drop

The original Octopath Traveler launched on Nintendo Switch on 13 July 2018 — today, eight years to the day, Square Enix marked the anniversary with a live orchestral concert, in-person events across Japan, and the surprise news that both JRPGs are now available natively on Nintendo Switch 2. The announcement came mid-stream during the official 8th Anniversary Livestream on the Square Enix YouTube channel (Japanese), making it one of the more crowd-pleasing drops the series has had.

Octopath Traveler II, which launched in February 2023 to strong critical reception, joins the original in the Switch 2 upgrade. Both titles are available digitally in Japan starting today.

Octopath Traveler II overworld — party of characters travelling by boat through a sunlit river
Image courtesy of Square Enix

What the Switch 2 Versions Actually Improve

Square Enix confirmed that the Switch 2 versions run at improved resolution and framerate — the HD-2D aesthetic, that striking fusion of 2D pixel sprites and 3D depth-of-field environments, was always stunning; running it crisper and smoother on Switch 2 should make it look even more painterly on a modern TV. Game content is otherwise identical to the original releases, including all International version content. No exclusive additions or story content have been announced.

Octopath Traveler I HD-2D town environment with pixel characters walking through a village square
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The Catch: No Upgrade Path and No Save Transfer

Here is the part that will sting for anyone who has already clocked dozens of hours on Switch: Square Enix has confirmed there is no upgrade path from the Switch 1 versions to the Switch 2 versions, and no save data transfer between them. If you want the Switch 2 versions, you are buying again from scratch. Both games are also still playable via backwards compatibility on Switch 2 — so if you own them already, you can keep playing your saves without paying twice, just without the resolution and framerate bump of the native ports.

Octopath Traveler Series 8th Anniversary Official Livestream — via Square Enix on YouTube (Japanese)

Singapore and SEA: Your Date Is 1 October 2026

Japan’s eShop gets both games today. Singapore and other western markets will need to wait until 1 October 2026 for the digital release on the Nintendo eShop. Physical editions — in game-key card format — also release on 1 October, priced at US$59.99 per game or US$74.99 for a bundle of both. SGD pricing has not been confirmed; check the Singapore Nintendo eShop and local games retailers closer to October for local prices.

The Octopath series has built a dedicated fanbase among Singapore JRPG players, and the HD-2D visual style Square Enix pioneered with these games has since spread to other titles including Triangle Strategy, Live A Live, and Octopath Traveler 0. If you missed either game on Switch, October 1 is a solid entry point — just go in knowing your Switch progress does not carry over. For more Switch 2 JRPGs to look forward to, check our Game News coverage.

Octopath Traveler II — a bustling nighttime town square filled with HD-2D pixel characters
Image courtesy of Square Enix

One Piece Episode 1169: Scopper Gaban Makes His Anime Debut

Singapore One Piece fans, last night’s episode was worth the wait. Episode 1169 — titled “The Legend Lurking in Elbaph: The Identity of the Mountain-Eater” — finally gave us Scopper Gaban, one of the most anticipated Roger Pirates in the entire series. His anime debut did not disappoint.

ONE PIECE l Episode 1169 Trailer — via Toei Animation on YouTube

Who Is Scopper Gaban — and Why Has Everyone Been Waiting?

If you have only been following the anime, the name Scopper Gaban might feel new. But among manga readers and long-time fans, he is one of One Piece’s great open questions — a name spoken alongside Gol D. Roger and Silvers Rayleigh as one of the three pillars of the Roger Pirates.

Known as the “Mountain-Eater” and the “Left Hand of the Pirate King,” Gaban served as navigator of the Roger Pirates, wielding a pair of enormous axes. His fame is said to rival Roger and Rayleigh themselves. He was present at the God Valley Incident — one of the most pivotal clashes in One Piece’s backstory — and was there when the crew first set foot on Laugh Tale and uncovered the world’s deepest secrets. After Roger disbanded the crew, Gaban slipped quietly off to Elbaph, where he married a giant woman named Ripley and raised their son Colon.

One Piece Episode 1169 Elbaf arc preview — Scopper Gaban reveal
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

Episode 1169: A Reveal That Lived Up to the Hype

Episode 1169 finds Luffy and the Straw Hats navigating the towering giants’ island of Elbaph. The episode’s centrepiece is a local guide known only as “Ya” leading the crew to a hidden chamber that holds the key to Loki’s chains. When “Ya” reveals himself as Scopper Gaban — the very same Roger Pirate who has been hiding on the island for two decades — it lands exactly as it should: a living legend stepping out of the shadows.

What makes the debut work is that Gaban does not play it completely straight. The episode gives him warmth and wit alongside the weight of his reputation. He refuses to hand over the key without a test. He wants to see for himself what the future Pirate King is made of — and that sets up everything coming next week.

One Piece Episode 1170 preview — Luffy vs Scopper Gaban on Elbaph
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

Episode 1170: Luffy vs. Scopper Gaban — Coming July 19

The title of Episode 1170, “Get the Key! Luffy vs. Scopper Gaban,” tells you exactly what to expect. Luffy will have to fight for that key. Episode 1170 airs Sunday, 19 July 2026, on Fuji TV in Japan at 11:15 PM JST, and Crunchyroll will simulcast it shortly after for Singapore and Southeast Asia viewers.

#1170 PREVIEW | ELBAPH | ONE PIECE — via ONE PIECE Official – ENG on YouTube

Watching One Piece in Singapore

One Piece streams as a weekly simulcast on Crunchyroll across Singapore and Southeast Asia. New episodes drop every Sunday night shortly after the Japan broadcast. Episode 1169 is live now, and if you want to be ready for the Luffy–Gaban showdown next Sunday, there has never been a better time to catch up on the Elbaf arc. You can also read our coverage of the latest One Piece manga spoilers for a look at where the story is headed further ahead, and browse more anime and manga news for what else is streaming this summer in Singapore.

Pokémon SV: A Dragon-Type Magikarp Is the Next 7-Star Raid Boss — Starts 17 July

The internet’s favourite punching bag has levelled up. The Pokémon Company has announced that a Dragon-type Magikarp bearing the Mightiest Mark will be the next 7-star Tera Raid boss in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet — and yes, that is the most gloriously absurd sentence in recent Pokémon history. The event launches this Thursday and runs well into August, so Singapore trainers have plenty of time to catch (and gloat about) history’s most ironic raid trophy.

The Mighty Magikarp — Dates, Tera Type and the Mightiest Mark

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Water-Type Summer Event July 2026 announcement
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The 7-star Dragon Tera Magikarp raid runs from Thursday, 17 July at 8:00 AM SGT through 6 August at 11:59 PM UTC (7 August, 7:59 AM SGT). The event was confirmed by the official @Pokemon_cojp Twitter account on 10 July.

As with all 7-star Tera Raids, this Magikarp carries the Mightiest Mark — a ribbon exclusive to event raid catches that cannot be obtained any other way. You can only catch it once per save file, so if you want one, make it count. The Dragon Tera type strips away its Water typing during the raid, opening up a different set of weaknesses than you would expect from a fish.

Magikarp the Dragon-type Tera Raid boss in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Water-Type Mass Outbreaks Across Every Region

The main event is not the only reason to log in this summer. Alongside the Magikarp raid, Water-type Pokémon mass outbreaks are running across all four playable areas during the same window:

  • Casseroya Lake (Paldea): Dondozo, Tatsugiri, and Veluza, each carrying a special personality mark
  • Paldea overworld: Psyduck and Slowpoke outbreaks
  • Kitakami: Feebas and White-Striped Basculin
  • Blueberry Academy Terarium: Lapras
Tatsugiri and Dondozo Pokémon Scarlet Violet mass outbreak Casseroya Lake
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Mark-hunting fans should prepare a sandwich with Title Power: Water before heading out — the buff raises the chances of encountering marked Water-type Pokémon during outbreaks. Feebas is particularly worth the effort, as it remains one of the harder Pokémon to find in the wild normally.

How to Beat a 7-Star Dragon-Type Magikarp

Magikarp’s natural learnset is famously limited, but The Pokémon Company does curate custom movesets for 7-star events — the full moveset will be confirmed once the raid goes live on 17 July. What we can work with going in:

  • A Dragon Tera type is weak to Dragon, Ice, and Fairy moves. Sylveon, Togekiss, Gardevoir, and Iron Valiant are all solid choices from that angle.
  • Ghost-type Pokémon are immune to Normal-type attacks, which covers Magikarp’s base attack pool. A Ghost/Dragon like Dragapult or a Fairy-type with decent bulk can cover both angles.
  • 7-star bosses enter a shield phase mid-raid, so bring a Pokémon that can stay healthy through the break and keep up damage pressure afterwards.

Once the raid is live, the Smogon community typically has optimised builds posted within hours. For more Pokémon game news, check back here — we will update if The Pokémon Company drops any additional event details before Thursday.

White Cat Project INFINITY Announced for Nintendo Switch 2 — After Eight Years, Colopl’s Hit Finally Goes Console

One of Japan’s most enduring mobile RPGs is finally making the leap to dedicated hardware. On 11 July 2026, Colopl revealed White Cat Project INFINITY — a brand-new action RPG for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, slated for release in 2027. The announcement dropped during the 12th-anniversary livestream for the original White Cat Project NEW WORLD’S mobile title (Famitsu, Japanese), and it is the first time a console version of the franchise has ever been officially confirmed.

White Cat Project INFINITY gameplay screenshot showing party battle with critical hit numbers
Image courtesy of Colopl

What Is White Cat Project?

White Cat Project (白猫プロジェクト) launched on iOS and Android in Japan in 2014 and became one of the country’s defining mobile action RPGs. The game built a massive following through its roster of expressive chibi-style characters, accessible action gameplay, and a relentless stream of collab events and story expansions. The current mobile title, NEW WORLD’S, celebrates its 12th year of continuous operation this month — an extraordinary run by any standard.

The franchise never officially launched in English, making it largely Japan-only to date. White Cat Project INFINITY has not yet confirmed any English localisation, but as a Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch title it could realistically see a wider regional release — regional availability to be confirmed closer to launch.

White Cat Project INFINITY — Announcement Trailer (Japanese) via COLOPL CHANNEL on YouTube

Character Link: The New Battle System

White Cat Project INFINITY character performing a slash attack with gameplay battle in background
Image courtesy of Colopl

INFINITY is not a port — it is a fully original console game built around a new mechanic called Character Link. Party composition matters here: pairing certain characters together unlocks unique buff effects and changes how actions evolve mid-battle. The concept Colopl describes is “exhilarating action × rapidly expanding character links,” suggesting the combat rewards experimentation with different team builds rather than just upgrading a single unit.

The game also introduces a live selection system where, during combat, players choose whether to recruit new party members or reinforce existing ones — adding a light strategy layer to the real-time action. Local multiplayer for up to four players is supported, making it a strong couch co-op option for Switch 2 owners.

50+ Playable Characters from the Franchise

White Cat Project INFINITY roster showing over 50 playable characters in chibi style
Image courtesy of Colopl

The launch roster will exceed 50 playable characters drawn from the NEW WORLD’S mobile game alongside original characters created specifically for INFINITY. For long-time fans of the mobile title, the prospect of playing favourite characters with console-quality controls and a dedicated action camera is the headline appeal.

Why This Took Eight Years — The Nintendo Patent Story

The backstory here is worth knowing. Back in 2018, Colopl announced a Switch version of White Cat Project — then quietly cancelled it. What emerged later was that Nintendo had filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Colopl in 2018, alleging that the mobile game’s touchscreen controls violated Nintendo patents related to joystick input. The lawsuit ran for three years and was settled in 2021.

That settlement almost certainly cleared the path for White Cat Project INFINITY — making this announcement a genuinely long-awaited moment for the franchise’s fans. The fact that Colopl revealed it during an anniversary stream tells you how significant they consider this milestone to be.

What Singapore Switch 2 Owners Should Know

No English localisation or precise 2027 release window has been announced. Singapore gamers with Nintendo Switch 2 or Switch who enjoy Japanese import titles should keep an eye on this — the action RPG genre and up to four-player local co-op translate well across language barriers. Whether Colopl will pursue a wider Asian release remains to be seen, but the Switch 2’s global positioning makes it more plausible than the purely mobile era ever did.

We will update this story as Colopl shares more details on pricing, regional availability, and a firm launch window. The announcement trailer above (in Japanese) gives a solid first look at the Character Link combos in motion.

Warframe Tau and Soulframe Warsongs Revealed at TennoCon 2026

After more than a decade roaming the Origin System, Warframe is finally going somewhere new. At TennoCon 2026 — Digital Extremes’ annual fan celebration — the studio pulled the curtain on Warframe: Tau, the game’s next major Narrative Chapter, alongside a raft of Soulframe news that gave Digital Extremes’ other free-to-play RPG its biggest reveal yet. Both games are free and fully accessible from Singapore across PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2.

TennoCon 2026 | Warframe: Tau | Official Trailer — via PlayWarframe on YouTube

Warframe: Tau — A Second Star Chart Beyond the Origin System

Tau is not a replacement for the Origin System — it is a second, fully separate Star Chart opening up a new region of space orbiting a binary star. The launch content centres on Fornax, a colossal Sentient ring city that doubles as one of the most distinct environments in Warframe’s history: a lawless metropolis drenched in constant black rain, where an addictive substance called Bloom keeps the population docile and a criminal underworld rules the docks, casinos and slums. Think cyberpunk noir, but built from alien biomechanical architecture.

The faction controlling Fornax is headed by the Hunra, voiced by Jonathan Bullock, a crime boss who becomes the central antagonist of the Tau chapter’s opening arc. Digital Extremes has confirmed a second, as-yet-undisclosed location will launch alongside Fornax. The entire Tau chapter arrives as a free update for all platforms later in 2026 — community director Megan Everett described it as “one of the biggest updates we’ve ever done,” while being careful to note it is not a sequel.

Warframe players in the atmospheric corridors of Fornax, the Sentient ring city in Tau
Image courtesy of Digital Extremes

Meet Brysko: The Noir Warframe Voiced by Matthew Mercer

Headlining the Tau chapter is Brysko, a new “Chimera frame” — a Sentient-hybrid Warframe rebuilt by the series veteran Albrecht Entrati. Brysko is voiced by Matthew Mercer (Critical Role, Resident Evil Village, Overwatch), making him a rare non-Protoframe Warframe to receive a named voice actor. His role is equal parts detective and enforcer: his inner monologue narrates his cynical world-view as he infiltrates Fornax’s criminal underworld on Entrati’s behalf.

His arsenal leans into the noir aesthetic. His Exalted Pistol, the Corecracker, is a heavy revolver magnum, while his Exalted Melee — Rain & Shine — are a pair of brutal brass-knuckle fist weapons. He can also deal damage with explosive playing cards, which ties into Tau’s new mini-game, Portau — Warframe’s first card-based game, playable inside Fornax’s casinos.

Brysko holds playing cards across from an alien enemy at a casino table in the Portau card mini-game
Image courtesy of Digital Extremes

Fall 2026 First: Iceblade of Narin Before Tau Arrives

Tau will not be the first major update to land before the year is out. Digital Extremes confirmed Iceblade of Narin — the studio’s traditional autumn release — is also in the pipeline for 2026. It introduces the game’s 66th Warframe, an ice-themed frame, alongside the long-awaited Banshee Deluxe Collection and rework (Banshee’s first Deluxe since 2016) and Citrine Prime Access. Full details will be presented at a live devstream from Seoul, South Korea, on 4 September 2026.

Iceblade of Narin title card for the Fall 2026 Warframe update
Image courtesy of Digital Extremes

Soulframe: Warsongs — Wolf Mounts, Ben Starr and a Darkening Fable

TennoCon 2026 did not neglect Soulframe, Digital Extremes’ slower-paced, fantasy-RPG counterpart to Warframe. The studio revealed Warsongs, the next major Fable quest for Soulframe Preludes, described by the dev team as the darkest content yet. The new Fable introduces Tempest Bayor, a rare red-armed Envoy aligned with the invading Ode forces, voiced by Ben Starr — familiar to Singapore fans from his recent breakout performance in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Alongside Bayor is his faithful raven companion and the soaring Citadel as a new hub location.

Four Soulframe players riding giant wolf mounts through a forest stream in the Warsongs reveal
Image courtesy of Digital Extremes

The headline feature for many existing Preludes players is the confirmation that wolf mounts are finally coming to Soulframe this fall. The gameplay demo showed a full four-player squad riding large wolves across Alca, and players who have completed the Orangol quest already have a wolf pup that will grow through new bonding mechanics into a full rideable companion. The update also adds a fishing mini-game woven into the narrative, and a new corrupted progression path called the Vadagar Pact, which unlocks dark Virtues — Wrath, Doom and Death — for Envoys willing to embrace corruption.

Soulframe | TennoCon 2026 Official Warsongs Trailer — via Soulframe on YouTube

Singapore Players: How to Get In Right Now

Warframe is free-to-play with no region restrictions — download it now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, or Nintendo Switch 2. The Tau chapter and Iceblade of Narin update will roll out as free downloads when they launch later in 2026. Soulframe is in Preludes (early access) and is free on PC. There is one time-sensitive action for Singapore fans: sign up at soulframe.com before 11:59 PM ET on 12 July (that is around 11:59 AM SGT on 13 July) to secure permanent access to Soulframe Preludes. Miss the window and you will need to wait for a wider public launch date, which has not been announced.

For more free-to-play and live-service gaming news, head to our Game News archive.

Reverse: 1999 × Atomic Heart Collab Starts 23 July — Free Nora, 110+ Free Pulls

Bluepoch’s time-hopping tactics RPG is crossing over with one of the more memorable FPS games of recent years. The Reverse: 1999 × Atomic Heart collaboration launches on 23 July 2026, bringing two new playable characters, an original crossover story, and more than 110 free pulls — and for the first time ever, the Chinese and international versions of Reverse: 1999 will go live on the exact same day.

Meet The Twins — Reverse: 1999’s First Dual-Afflatus Unit

The Twins character art from Reverse: 1999 x Atomic Heart collaboration
Image courtesy of Bluepoch Games

The Twins are Atomic Heart’s iconic humanoid robot bodyguards reimagined as Reverse: 1999’s newest 5-star character — and they arrive with a mechanic the game has never seen before. As the first dual-Afflatus unit, The Twins can deal damage across two Afflatus types simultaneously and equip two separate exclusive Psychubes at once, pulling the full base stats and effects from both. In a game where Psychube optimisation separates good builds from great ones, that is a meaningful mechanical edge. They will be available through a limited collaboration banner; reaching 100 summons lets you choose either The Twins or a Suitcase Impression, with additional milestone rewards at 160, 220, and 280 pulls.

Nora Is Free — Just Play the Event

Nora, Atomic Heart’s repair cabinet antagonist, joins as a free 4-star character obtainable purely through in-game collab activities. You also get a free monthly pass and a free character garment (Brimley) as part of the rewards package. For players who just want to collect without spending, the collab is unusually generous: over 110 free pulls in total, distributed across the event’s reward structure. That is enough to make multiple meaningful attempts at The Twins banner.

Vertin Goes to Facility 3826

Reverse: 1999 x Atomic Heart collaboration event key art
Image courtesy of Bluepoch Games

The event story sends Vertin, X, Madam Lucy, and Mesmer Jr. into the retrofuturistic alternate history of Atomic Heart‘s Facility 3826. If you have played Atomic Heart and want to see how Bluepoch wrote the crossover, this is an original narrative rather than a straight retelling — the Reverse: 1999 cast is inserted into an unfamiliar world rather than simply wearing Atomic Heart skins. New cosmetic garments inspired by Facility 3826’s retrofuturist aesthetic are available for existing characters alongside the new ones.

Watch the Collaboration Trailer

Reverse: 1999 x Atomic Heart – Official Collaboration Trailer — via GameTrailers on YouTube

What Singapore Players Need to Know

Reverse: 1999 is available in Singapore on Steam (PC), iOS App Store, and Google Play — no VPN needed, no regional lock. The July 23 launch is globally synchronised, so Singapore players are in the same pool as everyone else the moment the update drops. The collab also comes with a redemption code — AtomicHeartCollab0723 — that can be entered in-game for additional rewards. Bluepoch has confirmed the 110+ free pulls figure encompasses all in-game missions, login bonuses, and milestone rewards across the full event window, so you do not have to be a day-one player to collect the bulk of the freebies.

For more ongoing game events and updates, head to our Game News page.

Zenless Zone Zero 3.1: Remielle and Sigrid Arrive in the 2nd Anniversary Update

HoYoverse’s Zenless Zone Zero turns two this year, and the studio is marking the occasion properly. Version 3.1 “The Long Goodbye” goes live on 29 July 2026, bringing two new S-Rank agents — a long-lost Void Hunter and the first horse thiren ever to join the roster — along with anniversary rewards and new story chapters set in the floating city of Roscaelifer. For Singapore players, the timing could not be better: ZZZ 3.1 drops just two days before HoYoFest 2026 opens at Suntec.

Zenless Zone Zero Version 3.1 The Long Goodbye — Remielle Dan and Sigrid de L'Azur
Image courtesy of HoYoverse

Remielle Dan — The First-Generation Void Hunter

Remielle Dan arrives first, in Phase 1 of Version 3.1. She is one of the original seven agents to receive the Void Hunter designation — a first-generation operative who vanished under mysterious circumstances and has now resurfaced in the present-day story. Lore-wise she is affiliated with the Covenant of Dayat, making her one of the more unusual recruits the Cunning Hares will encounter on Roscaelifer.

Her kit is built around the Ether attribute and an Anomaly specialty, meaning she applies debuffs and triggers elemental reactions rather than dealing raw burst damage. In practice that translates to a four-move basic attack string with strong off-field follow-up potential — she pairs well with other Anomaly units already in most players’ rosters. English voice work is by Amber Lee Connors.

Agent Record | Remielle — via Zenless Zone Zero on YouTube
Remielle Dan official character art — Zenless Zone Zero Version 3.1
Image courtesy of HoYoverse

Sigrid de L’Azur — Ice Attacker from the Airspace Patrol

Phase 2 introduces Sigrid de L’Azur, the Deputy Administrative Director of the Airspace Patrol Department and — notably — the first horse thiren (a horse-human hybrid species) to become a playable agent in ZZZ. She wields a spear and shield, fights with Ice attribute in an Attack role, and has a split personality that has delighted early players on the CN server: by the book and strict on duty, but an enthusiastic baker and knitter in her downtime. The contrast is doing numbers on fan art already.

Multiple international voice actors have been confirmed: Dani Chambers (English), He Ruofan (Mandarin), Kaida Yūko (Japanese), and Kang Hae-na (Korean).

Agent Record | Sigrid — via Zenless Zone Zero on YouTube
Sigrid de L'Azur official character art — Zenless Zone Zero Version 3.1
Image courtesy of HoYoverse

Anniversary Rewards and What to Expect on 29 July

Version 3.1 is the game’s second anniversary update — ZZZ launched globally on 4 July 2024. For the first anniversary (Version 2.1), HoYoverse gave players a free S-Rank agent selector and a full W-Engine alongside the usual event rewards. Assuming similar generosity this year, players logging in around 29 July should plan for a significant haul. New Drive Disc sets and a fresh wave of story chapters covering the Roscaelifer arc’s resolution are also confirmed for this version.

HoYoverse has not yet broadcast a dedicated 3.1 Special Program (the usual community livestream with promo codes), but one is expected within the next week or two before the patch drops. Keep an eye on the Game News section for codes and patch notes when they land.

Perfect Timing for Singapore: ZZZ 3.1 + HoYoFest the Same Weekend

If you are heading to HoYoFest 2026 at Suntec Singapore Convention Centre (31 July–2 August), you will hit the ground running — ZZZ 3.1 goes live two days before the event opens, so Remielle and Sigrid will already be pullable by the time you walk through the doors. HoYoFest typically has ZZZ activations alongside Genshin, Star Rail and ZZZ exhibits, so expect demo stations for 3.1 content on-site. Tickets for HoYoFest open 16 July; details in our earlier preview.