All posts by kindaixin
kindaixin

Jax is an avid gamer since young. Starting from SUper Mario on NES, he discover his passion for the world of video gaming. Currently a PS3 and Xbox 360 gamer, Jax is actively looking for the 'next better game'. Jax is also the chief editor for GameTrader.SG blog.
Manga Anime, News

Bleach: TYBW Final Season The Calamity Streams on Disney+ This July

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The wait is almost over. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity, the fourth and final cour of the acclaimed anime adaptation, premieres in July 2026 on TV Tokyo and streams on Disney+ internationally — putting Singapore fans right in the front row for the definitive battle between Ichigo Kurosaki and Yhwach.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War The Calamity official key visual
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / VIZ Media

What is Bleach: TYBW – The Calamity?

The Calamity covers the most devastating chapter in the Quincy war saga. With the Royal Guard and the Soul Society left shattered after Part 3’s relentless onslaught, Yhwach and the surviving Sternritter march on the Soul King Palace for a final, universe-altering assault. Ichigo’s own Quincy heritage becomes a critical story point as the conflict reaches its violent and deeply emotional peak.

Series creator Tite Kubo personally suggested the tagline for this final arc: “To those once called calamities” — a line that hints at the redemptive undertones woven through the climax, as former enemies and long-forgotten warriors make their last stands.

More Original Content — A Promise From Kubo

Kubo has confirmed that The Calamity will contain even more anime-original scenes than the already-ambitious Parts 1, 2, and 3. Studio Pierrot Films is back with chief director Tomohisa Taguchi and director Hikaru Murata at the helm — the same duo responsible for Part 3’s Royal Guard battles, widely praised as a visual high-water mark for modern shonen animation. Expect expanded character moments, new confrontations, and a send-off that goes well beyond what the manga’s rushed final chapters could deliver.

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

Early Screenings Before the Broadcast Premiere

Before the TV broadcast kicks off, fans in Japan can catch the first three episodes at a special early screening on 21 June 2026. US cinemas will follow with theatrical showings from 25 to 29 June, featuring both subtitled and English-dubbed formats alongside exclusive behind-the-scenes content with Kubo, Taguchi, and Murata.

A specific premiere date within July has not yet been officially announced. With the theatrical window closing in late June, an early-to-mid July broadcast debut is the most likely outcome. We’ll update this post the moment a date is confirmed.

Bleach TYBW The Calamity promotional art
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / VIZ Media

Where to Watch Bleach: TYBW in Singapore

All three previous cours of Bleach: TYBW have streamed on Disney+ internationally, and The Calamity is expected to follow the same arrangement. Singapore subscribers can dive into Parts 1–3 right now to get caught up, and the final season should land on the platform in step with the Japanese broadcast. Keep an eye on the Manga & Anime section on GameTrader for the premiere date the moment it drops.

Last Words

Bleach has been part of Singapore’s anime scene for over two decades — from the old StarHub cable era to cosplay lineups at Anime Festival Asia and late-night Discord watch parties. The Calamity is the ending the fanbase has been waiting for: Ichigo versus Yhwach at full power, expanded by Kubo himself with new scenes the manga never had. Clear your July calendar, fire up Disney+, and prepare for the final Getsuga.

Manga Anime

PSYREN Drops Its First Animated Teaser — Satelight Anime Hits October 2026

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After 15 years of fan petitions and AnimeJapan wishlist campaigns, PSYREN fans finally have animated proof the adaptation is happening — REMOW began streaming the series’ first teaser featuring actual anime footage on 17 June, and what’s on screen is faithful to Toshiaki Iwashiro’s original art.

PSYREN – Official Teaser 1 | ENG SUB — via It’s Anime powered by REMOW on YouTube

A Shonen Jump Legend Finally Gets Its Anime

PSYREN ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2007 to 2013, spanning 196 chapters across 16 volumes. Despite wrapping over a decade ago, it never stopped being one of the most-requested anime adaptations among fans — nominated three times in AnimeJapan’s “Manga We Want to See Animated” polls. In December 2025, REMOW confirmed the anime was finally in production. Now, with the October premiere approaching, the first animated footage is here.

PSYREN anime 2026 promotional key visual
Image courtesy of SATELIGHT / REMOW

What the Animated Teaser Shows

Today’s release is the series’ second teaser overall, but the first to feature actual animated footage. It opens on an eerie lone pay phone before cutting between a bustling present-day Japan and bleak, apocalyptic sequences teasing a collapsing future. The accompanying key visual puts protagonist Ageha Yoshina front and centre, wielding his signature Melchsee’s Door PSI ability, with Sakurako Amamiya beside him near a wrecked phone booth. The atmosphere — tense, darkly stylised — is very much on-brand for the manga’s blend of mystery and psychic-action.

Staff and Full Voice Cast

Animation studio SATELIGHT — known for the Macross Delta and Symphogear franchises — is handling production, with Katsumi Ono directing. Series composition is by Shin Yoshida, with character designs by Akira Okuma. The musical score is a three-person collaboration between Takashi Ohmama, Tatsuhiko Saiki, and Shu Kanematsu.

The confirmed main cast:

  • Ageha Yoshina — Rikuya Yasuda
  • Sakurako Amamiya — Mayuko Kazama
  • Hiryu Asaga — Shunsuke Takeuchi
  • Oboro Mochizuki — Soma Saito
  • Kabuto Kirisaki — Yukihiro Nozuyama

REMOW has confirmed this will be a complete adaptation, covering Iwashiro’s story all the way through to its conclusion.

PSYREN anime main characters key visual 2026
Image courtesy of SATELIGHT / REMOW

The Story, If You Never Read the Manga

PSYREN follows Ageha Yoshina, a high schooler who finds a mysterious “red phone card” left in a public telephone booth. His childhood friend Sakurako Amamiya — who possessed an identical card — vanishes without a trace, pulling Ageha into the dangerous world of a secret organisation called Psyren. What follows is a time-travel thriller layered with psychic-power battles, survival horror, and a crumbling future Ageha has to fight to avert.

The manga earned a devoted fanbase for its tightly plotted narrative and striking battle system. If you’ve never read it, the anime is a solid reason to go in fresh — the kind of story that hits harder when you don’t know where it’s headed.

Last Words

PSYREN premieres in Japan in October 2026. Global streaming details for Singapore and SEA have not been announced yet — REMOW says the information is coming. For now, follow the It’s Anime YouTube channel for future teasers, and check out our other anime coverage for more upcoming titles this fall season.

Game News

Street Fighter 6’s Yasmine Is SEA’s New Fighter — Gameplay Trailer Out Now

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Street Fighter 6 has just made history. Capcom’s gameplay trailer for Yasmine — the franchise’s very first Filipina fighter — is now live, and for Southeast Asian fighting game fans, this one lands with real cultural weight. She’s the first of four Season 4 DLC characters, and her look, fighting style, and backstory are a love letter to the martial traditions that have shaped this part of the world for centuries.

Street Fighter 6 Yasmine key visual — Season 4 DLC character
Image courtesy of Capcom

Meet Yasmine: The Filipino High Schooler Who Fights for Family

On the surface, Yasmine is an ordinary teenager from the Philippines — shy, gentle-natured, not someone who looks for trouble. But she entered the world of street fighting with a singular mission: to find her missing older brother. The moment she draws her crescent-shaped karambit knife, the diffidence melts away, replaced by fluid, high-speed confidence. Every technique she uses was passed down by her Lolo (grandfather), keeping a tradition of Filipino martial excellence alive.

Her fighting style draws on two authentic Southeast Asian disciplines: Eskrima (also known as Arnis or Kali), the Philippines’ national martial art built around weapon-based strikes and fluid footwork; and Silat, the broader collective combat system practised across the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and beyond. Together they make for a character who dances around opponents at close range, slipping in and out with karambit counters that punish impatience.

Yasmine gameplay screenshot in Street Fighter 6
Image courtesy of Capcom

Cultural Pride, Stitched Into Every Detail

Capcom didn’t just add a fighter from the Philippines — they built Yasmine’s whole aesthetic around Filipino cultural identity. Her design is inspired by the Philippine Eagle (Agila), one of the most iconic symbols of the nation. Her karambit carries a feather charm, her belt is embroidered with “Pilipinas” written in Baybayin — an ancient pre-colonial Filipino script — and accents across her costume reference the indigenous Buscalan tattooing tradition. It’s the kind of cultural care in character design that the community will be studying and appreciating for a long time.

Watch the Gameplay Trailer

Street Fighter 6 – Yasmine Gameplay Trailer — via Street Fighter on YouTube

Street Fighter 6 Season 4: The Full Line-Up

Yasmine opens a four-character Year 4 roster that Capcom revealed at Summer Game Fest 2026. The schedule:

  • Yasmine — 3 August 2026 (first to drop)
  • Arjun — an Indian police officer turned fugitive who combines yoga-based breathing with bare-knuckle combat — Fall 2026
  • Tifa Lockhart (from Final Fantasy VII Remake) — Early 2027
  • Bosch — Nayshall tournament champion who trained under Luke — Spring 2027

Notably, the Year 4 pass contains no returning Street Fighter veterans — every slot is either a fresh original character or a guest crossover. That’s a bold roster call from Capcom, and one that signals real creative confidence in Yasmine and Arjun as new pillars of the franchise.

Street Fighter 6 Season 4 DLC characters — Yasmine, Arjun, Tifa, Bosch
Image courtesy of Capcom

How to Get Yasmine

Yasmine becomes playable on 3 August 2026. She’s available to purchase individually or as part of the Year 4 Character Pass. Street Fighter 6 runs on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC — and is one of the most active competitive titles in Singapore’s fighting game community (FGC) scene right now. Check out more game news on GameTrader.SG.

Last words

For Singapore gamers, Yasmine is more than just a new combo tool — she represents Southeast Asia taking the spotlight in one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. Eskrima and Silat have been practised across this region for centuries; seeing those arts execute frame-perfect punishes in Street Fighter 6 is something genuinely worth celebrating. Add the cultural detail Capcom has poured into her design and you have a character that will resonate well beyond the Philippines. Three August cannot come soon enough — and we’re very curious to see which Singapore FGC player claims her as a main first.

Game News

Mega Raichu X and Y Hit Pokémon GO in Super Mega Raid Day on 18 July

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It is officially a Raichu month in the Pokémon universe. Hot on the heels of Pokémon Champions landing on mobile today with a free Raichu giveaway, Niantic has announced that Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y will make their Pokémon GO debut during a Raichu Super Mega Raid Day on Saturday, 18 July 2026.

Two GO-Exclusive Mega Evolutions, One Day

These are not forms you will find in the mainline Pokémon games — Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y are Pokémon GO’s own creations, introduced via the Super Mega Raid system. Both will be available in Super Mega Raids during the three-hour window, and there is a boosted chance of encountering a Shiny Raichu for any Trainer who wins a raid. Better still, every Raichu caught from a Super Mega Raid comes with Mega Level 1 already unlocked, so you can Mega Evolve immediately after catching it — no Mega Energy grind required.

Event Details: Date, Time and Free Bonuses

The event runs from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time on 18 July 2026 — so Singapore Trainers should be ready at 2pm SGT. Here is what everyone gets for free:

  • Up to six free Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs during the event.
  • Remote Raid Pass limit raised to 20 from the evening of 17 July through to 8:00 p.m. PDT on 18 July (that is 11:00 a.m. SGT on 19 July).
  • Timed Research with a Premium Battle Pass and a Steelix encounter as rewards (note: Timed Research expires when the event ends, so complete it during the window).
Pokemon GO Raichu Super Mega Raid Day July 18 2026 — Mega Raichu X and Y debut
Image courtesy of Niantic

Paid Ticket: Worth It for Hardcore Trainers?

A paid event ticket is available for $4.99 USD (local pricing may vary) and upgrades your experience significantly:

  • Up to 14 Raid Passes from Gym Photo Discs (instead of six).
  • Increased Rare Candy XL drop rates from raids.
  • Bonus 5,000 XP and 5,000 Stardust for each Super Mega Raid completed.

If you are planning to raid hard to land a Shiny or get both Mega forms at high Mega Level, the ticket pays for itself fairly quickly on Stardust and Rare Candy XL alone.

Finding a Raid Near You

Niantic has launched a new web-based map at pokemongo.com/map to help Trainers locate nearby Super Mega Raids and community meetups in real time. For Singapore players, popular raiding spots around town — MRT hubs, parks and community centres that typically host strong Gym clusters — are the best bet for finding groups quickly. Check local Pokémon GO Singapore Telegram groups and Discord servers for community raid trains forming on the day.

Last Words

Between Pokémon Champions giving away Raichu on mobile today and now two brand-new Mega Raichu forms coming to Pokémon GO next month, The Pokémon Company has clearly decided Raichu deserves its moment in the sun. Mark 18 July on your calendar, save your free Raid Passes, and keep an eye on our Pokémon GO coverage as we get closer to the event. Gotta mega evolve ’em all.

Game News

Overwatch Season 3 Launches: Shion, Neon Junction and YOASOBI

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Overwatch Season 3: Into the Tiger’s Den went live on 16 June 2026, and it’s one of the game’s meatiest updates in a while — new Damage hero, brand-new Tokyo Hybrid map, a packed seasonal event, and a YOASOBI music collaboration dropping at the end of the month.

Season 3: Into the Tiger’s Den Official Trailer — via PlayOverwatch on YouTube

Meet Shion: Overwatch Season 3’s New Damage Hero

Shion, Overwatch Season 3 new hero, in her signature red coat
Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

Hero #52 is Shion, a Damage-class Omnic and the fearsome head of the Hashimoto Clan. She’s the first human-faced Omnic in Overwatch’s roster — designed to look close enough to human that you might not immediately clock her as a robot, which feels very intentional given her background as an infiltrator who was once captured and used as a training bot before escaping and clawing her way to the top of one of Tokyo’s most dangerous criminal organisations.

Blizzard describes her kit as built around “terrifying confidence and a taste for excess” — which, in gameplay terms, means a high-mobility, high-risk playstyle.

Shion’s Ability Kit: Dual Pistols, Dashes, Throwable Motorcycle

Shion riding and launching her motorcycle in Overwatch Season 3
Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

Here’s what Shion brings to a fight:

  • Dual Pistols — a three-round firing cadence tuned for precise target-switching rather than spray-and-pray
  • Dashes — rapid weaving through combat to maintain aggressive pressure
  • Motorcycle Launch — ride across the battlefield and convert the bike itself into a high-impact projectile weapon

Think Cassidy’s gunslinger energy but faster and with a vehicle she can throw at your face. Per the official Season 3 announcement on overwatch.blizzard.com, Shion “arrives on a motorcycle. Which you can throw at your opponents.”

Neon Junction: The New Tokyo Hybrid Map

Neon Junction — Overwatch Season 3's new Tokyo Hybrid map at night
Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

Neon Junction is the season’s new Hybrid map, set in a fictional Tokyo district packed with arcade cabinets, capsule toy shops and neon storefronts — including in-world landmarks Hobby World, Capsule Hunt Go, and the Zuiko-za theatre. As you push the payload (an ANDROMEDA III spacecraft from the fictional in-universe series Super Cosmic War: Star★Infinite), the route transitions from bright public streets into the darker backstreets where the Hashimoto Clan runs things.

It’s a strong visual design, and the payload conceit — Pia piloting a mech from a fictional tokusatsu series — is a lot of fun. Expect this one to become a fan favourite quickly.

Anima Strike: Three Weeks of Story Events

Running 16 June to 6 July, Anima Strike is a narrative event built around Neon Junction that unfolds through daily and weekly challenges. Players uncover secrets tied to the Hashimoto Clan, the Yokai underground, and the city’s subway network, with 50+ themed rewards on offer. A Prestige path unlocks after you clear the main progression track.

YOASOBI Collaboration Drops 30 June

The headline collab of the season: YOASOBI — the Japanese duo behind “IDOL” (Oshi no Ko) and countless other hits — are partnering with Overwatch in an event live from 30 June. It includes an original song, an animated music video, a short story, and dedicated cosmetics for Kiriko, Genji, Hanzo, and others.

For Singapore’s anime-and-gaming crossover crowd this is a genuine treat. YOASOBI’s music is already a constant presence at local ACG events, and seeing them officially tied into Overwatch gives fans something to look forward to as we head into the July school-holiday stretch.

Ultra Skins, Mythics and Battle Pass

Season 3 introduces a new cosmetic tier sitting above Legendary: Ultra Skins. The first two are Nyan Cafe Kiriko and Nyan Cafe Sierra, each with custom sound suites and visual effects. On the Mythic side there’s Ascendant Phoenix Illari (four-tier evolution with wing and colour customisation) and the Tokyo Rebel Hanzo Weapon Skin (ronin-themed bow with holographic dragon kill effects).

Battle Pass skins include Cyber Biker Shion (Ultimate tier) alongside Matsuri Junkrat, Vigilante Genji, and Street Rebel Lucio among the seasonal Legendaries. The Pass also unlocks up to 80 Mythic Prisms. A separate Community Crafted event (30 June to 13 July) brings creator-designed gameplay experiments for Reinhardt, Baptiste, Ashe, and Sombra.

Stadium and Hero Balance

The Stadium competitive mode gets a full roster refresh: major reworks for Hazard, Tracer, Kiriko, Sojourn, and Doomfist, grouping restrictions removed from Ranked, and a new Oasis University map added to the pool. The hero selection screen has also been redesigned with role filters, larger portraits, and one-click skin access.

Last words

Between Shion’s flashy toolkit, the Tokyo-flavoured Neon Junction, and a YOASOBI collab on the horizon, Overwatch Season 3 has something for almost everyone in Singapore’s gaming and anime scene. The season is live now across PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox — free to play as always. Check the full rundown on the official Blizzard blog and mark 30 June on your calendar for the YOASOBI drop. For more gaming coverage see our Game News section.

Manga Anime, News

My Hero Academia 10th Anniversary: Special Video Drops Today on YouTube

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The My Hero Academia anime may have aired its final episode in December 2025, but the franchise’s milestone 10th anniversary is still very much in full swing. Today, TOHO animation dropped a brand-new special video — My Hero Academia The Animation 10th Anniversary PLUS ULTRA MOVIE “You Can Be a Hero” — on YouTube, giving fans worldwide a sweeping recap of Izuku “Deku” Midoriya’s journey set to the iconic track “You Say Run.” For Singapore fans who grew up cheering on Class 1-A, this one hits differently.

Watch the 10th Anniversary PLUS ULTRA Movie

The video — released today on TOHO animation’s official YouTube channel — traces Deku’s path from quirkless kid to Symbol of Peace, stitched together from eight seasons of standout moments. It is free to watch right now, wherever you are.

My Hero Academia 10th Anniversary PLUS ULTRA MOVIE — via TOHO animation on YouTube

A Decade of Plus Ultra: How We Got Here

The anime first aired on 3 April 2016 in Japan, adapting Kohei Horikoshi’s manga from Weekly Shonen Jump. Over eight seasons and 138 broadcast episodes, the series followed a world where most people are born with “Quirks” — superpowers — and the one boy born without one who still dreams of becoming the greatest hero. By the time Season 8 concluded on 13 December 2025, the show had become one of the defining anime of its generation.

In early 2026, at the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, the final season took home Anime of the Year — a fitting send-off, and a testament to how deeply the show resonated with audiences globally, Singapore included. Walk into any anime merchandise store on our shores and the Class 1-A crew is still holding prime shelf space.

My Hero Academia 10th anniversary key visual showing Deku's journey from Season 1 to the finale
Image courtesy of TOHO animation

The “More” Epilogue Episode — And Why Asia Missed Out

One of the biggest anniversary announcements was Episode 170+1, titled More — a bonus epilogue adapting Chapter 431 of the manga, set eight years after the main story and showing a grown-up Deku and his classmates in their adult hero lives. It premiered on 2 May 2026 on Crunchyroll.

The catch? Crunchyroll’s rollout explicitly excluded Asia. Singapore fans who wanted to watch it day-one had no official streaming option in-region. Whether a Southeast Asia release window is coming has not been confirmed by Crunchyroll or TOHO animation at the time of writing — we will update this post if that changes.

My Hero Academia Episode More - visual showing the post-timeskip heroes including Deku, Shoto, and Bakugo as adults
Image courtesy of TOHO animation

My Hero Academia in Concert — A World Tour Is Underway

Beyond the screen, the 10th anniversary is getting a live orchestral treatment. My Hero Academia in Concert kicked off on 30 May 2026 at Pacifico Yokohama in Japan, with composer Yūki Hayashi — the man behind the series’ stirring score — leading live performances accompanied by scenes from the anime. The tour expanded internationally with U.S. dates confirmed for Fall 2026.

Asia tour dates beyond Japan have not been announced yet. Singapore fans who want to be first in line when (and if) local or regional dates drop should follow the official My Hero Academia X account and keep an eye on event ticketing platforms. Given the franchise’s strong regional fanbase, an Asia leg would not be a surprise.

What Singapore Fans Can Access Right Now

  • Seasons 1–8 are available on Crunchyroll in Singapore.
  • The 10th Anniversary PLUS ULTRA MOVIE video is free on TOHO animation’s YouTube channel.
  • Episode 170+1 “More”: currently unavailable in Asia via official streaming — to be confirmed.
  • “My Hero Academia in Concert” world tour: U.S. dates live, Asia dates to be announced.

In the meantime, you can catch up on more anime news on GameTrader.SG while we wait for that Asia concert announcement to drop.

Last words

Ten years is no small thing in anime. My Hero Academia ran the full distance — eight seasons, a completed manga, a global fanbase — and the anniversary celebrations are a genuine tribute to what the series meant to so many of us. Singapore fans have been with Class 1-A from the start, whether we caught it on Crunchyroll, hunted down the manga volumes at Kinokuniya, or argued over best-girl picks at AFA. Today’s free anniversary video is a gift to every one of us. Go watch it.

Game News

Echoes of Aincrad Free Demo Out Now — Save Data Carries Over

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Singapore SAO fans, your time is now — the free demo for Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online is live as of today (16 June) on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. Better yet, progress from the demo transfers directly to the full game when it ships on 9 July.

Echoes of Aincrad — Story Trailer, via Bandai Namco Entertainment America on YouTube

What the SAO Echoes of Aincrad demo covers

The demo drops you into the “beta test” section — the opening chapter of the game where Aincrad’s true nature has not yet been revealed. It is a tightly scoped slice, but a meaningful one: you get to build your avatar, learn the combat system, and get a feel for the partner AI before the full death-game reality sets in.

A few things are limited compared to the final release:

  • Character customisation is fixed to the beta test appearance
  • Difficulty capped at Story and Normal (Hard and Very Hard unlock in the full game)
  • Level cap: 15
  • Weapon proficiency cap: 3
  • Some balance specs may differ from the version that ships in July
Echoes of Aincrad — Aincrad floating castle environment
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Save data carries over — but there is a catch

Your demo save transfers to the full game, so any progress you make is not wasted. The one caveat: transferred save files cannot be switched to Death Game Mode — the permadeath mode where a game over permanently deletes your save data. If you plan to play Death Game Mode from the very start, begin a fresh run on launch day rather than carry over from the demo.

About Echoes of Aincrad

Developed by Game Studio Inc. and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, Echoes of Aincrad is a brand-new action RPG in the SAO franchise — not a retelling of the anime but a fresh story set inside Aincrad, with a fully customisable player avatar. You are not playing as Kirito: you create your own hero, forge bonds with an AI partner whose tactics adapt to yours, and climb the floors of the floating castle using Sword Skills and real-time combat. Original characters from the SAO lore, including Argo, Kirito, and Asuna, appear alongside your custom protagonist, with story and character designs overseen by series creator Reki Kawahara.

The game’s theme song is “Live to Survive” by Aimer, which debuted in the second story trailer released on 13 June.

Echoes of Aincrad — key art
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Editions and pricing

Three digital editions are available for pre-purchase on Steam (USD; check the Singapore Steam store for current SGD pricing):

  • Standard Edition — US$69.99 (base game + Proto-Elucidator Series weapon pack)
  • Deluxe Edition — US$89.99 (+ expansion DLC, Day 1 Starter Pack, early Death Game Mode unlock)
  • Ultimate Edition — US$109.99 (+ special anime app, digital artbook, soundtrack, and exclusive armour pack)

A physical Aincrad Edition collector’s set is also available in select markets, including a beanie, wall scroll, stickers, and patches. No Singapore retail pricing has been confirmed locally yet.

Last words

Singapore players can grab the demo right now from the PlayStation Store or Steam — no purchase required. The full game launches on 9 July 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and 10 July 2026 on Steam. If you are an SAO fan who has been waiting for a proper RPG that puts you inside Aincrad as your own character, this is the demo to queue up this week. Catch up on more Game News on GameTrader.SG.

Game News

The Duskbloods: FromSoftware’s Switch 2 Exclusive Eyes Summer Network Test

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After more than a year of near-total silence, The Duskbloods — FromSoftware’s brand-new Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive — is finally back in the spotlight. A closed network test is confirmed for summer 2026, and signup details are expected soon through the game’s official channels.

The Duskbloods – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

What Is The Duskbloods?

The Duskbloods is a PvPvE multiplayer action game that supports up to eight players simultaneously. You play as a Bloodsworn — a supernatural being whose power is drawn from blood — and compete across gothic, Victorian-inspired maps for the coveted prize known as First Blood. Matches blend direct combat with strategic cooperation: you can form temporary alliances, pursue side objectives, or summon companions to shift the tide. Victory Points determine the winner, but every player walks away with rewards regardless of placement.

Director Hidetaka Miyazaki — the mind behind Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring — described the game’s core appeal as its flexibility. Players can “avoid direct combat, select cooperative play, or pursue personal objectives,” he said in an interview published on Famitsu (Japanese), noting that the studio will “continue actively creating single-player games like Elden Ring” alongside this new multiplayer direction.

The Duskbloods Bloodsworn characters
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo

A New Trailer and a Long-Dormant Twitter Finally Stirs

The game resurfaced at the Nintendo Direct on 9 June 2026 with a short atmospheric teaser — the first new footage since its original April 2025 announcement. The clip leans into the game’s dark, Bloodborne-adjacent aesthetic, showcasing several of the playable Bloodsworn characters and a handful of environments. It doesn’t show gameplay, but it confirms FromSoftware’s gothic Victorian direction is firmly intact.

On 10 June, the game’s official X account posted for the first time in 14 months, breaking its silence to confirm that network test details would be announced through that channel — so if you’re keen, that’s the page to follow.

Network Test: What We Know

A closed network test is coming later this summer, though FromSoftware and Nintendo have not yet opened sign-ups or pinned down exact dates. What’s confirmed:

  • You will need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to participate.
  • The test will support the game’s full PvPvE format — up to 8 players — across multiple maps.
  • Signup details will be announced via the official X account and Nintendo’s channels.

Given FromSoftware’s track record with Elden Ring network tests, demand is likely to outstrip slots — worth watching for the registration window the moment it opens.

Why This Is a Big Deal for Switch 2 Owners

The Duskbloods is FromSoftware’s first Nintendo home console exclusive in 23 years, since Lost Kingdoms II in 2003. It’s a Switch 2 exclusive with no announced ports planned. For Singapore fans, that means the Switch 2’s local availability makes this one of the few ways anyone outside Japan can get early hands-on time — import or not, we’re in the same boat as the rest of the world.

The full game is still on track for a 2026 release, making the summer network test likely the last major preview before launch. Keep an eye on Nintendo Singapore’s official channels and the game’s X account for sign-up news.

Last Words

Singapore gamers who missed the Bloodborne window — or who have been waiting years for FromSoftware to do something genuinely new — should have The Duskbloods firmly on their radar. The gothic multiplayer concept is unlike anything the studio has shipped before, and the network test this summer will be the first real chance to feel whether it works. Watch the official X account for sign-up details, and check our Game News section for updates as they land.

Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend main trailer visual
Manga Anime, News

Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend: The Final Chapter Gets Its Main Trailer

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The final chapter of the Rascal Does Not Dream saga now has a full main trailer — and if you’ve been following Sakuta and Mai since Bunny Girl Senpai, you are going to want to watch it right now.

Main Trailer — Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend — via アニプレックス チャンネル on YouTube

What is Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend?

Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend (青春ブタ野郎はディアフレンドの夢を見ない) is the fourth and final theatrical anime film based on Hajime Kamoshida’s light novel series. It adapts the 15th and conclusive volume of the franchise, bringing the long-running story of Adolescence Syndrome to a close.

If you need a quick refresher: the Seishun Buta Yarou (Bunny Girl Senpai) universe follows university student Sakuta Azusagawa and his girlfriend, actress Mai Sakurajima, as they encounter a series of supernatural phenomena tied to adolescent emotions — known as Adolescence Syndrome. The TV series aired in 2018, followed by the theatrical film Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl in 2019, and more recently Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus in September 2025.

Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend official visual
Image courtesy of Aniplex

What does the main trailer reveal?

The main trailer, released today through the official Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend website, signals that this film will ramp up the emotional and supernatural stakes considerably. The story begins when the identity of popular internet singer “Kirishima Touko” is somehow linked to actress Sakurajima Mai — and in the wake of this revelation, dreams start bleeding into reality around Sakuta. He receives a chilling message from an alternate version of himself: “Stop Kirishima Touko — before reality is rewritten.”

Director Soichi Masui returns to helm the project at CloverWorks, alongside series composer Masahiro Yokotani and character designer Satomi Tamura. The beloved fox capture plan is back on music duties. The full cast — including Kaito Ishikawa as Sakuta Azusagawa, Asami Seto as Mai Sakurajima, Reina Ueda, and Nao Toyama — reprises their roles.

Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend main trailer still
Image courtesy of Aniplex

October 16 Japan release — what about Singapore?

Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend premieres in Japanese cinemas on 16 October 2026. Limited advance tickets with an exclusive A5 clear card bonus go on sale in Japan from 19 June 2026.

No Singapore theatrical or Asia streaming date has been announced yet. That said, the TV series and previous films in the franchise have been available to Singapore fans via Crunchyroll — so a streaming window post-Japan theatrical run is the most likely path to watch it here. We will update as soon as any Asia release details are confirmed. In the meantime, check out our latest anime coverage for what’s streaming this season.

Last words

This is the one Singapore fans of the franchise have been waiting for — the true ending to a series that has run since 2018 and built one of the most devoted anime fanbases around. Whether you’ve been watching since the original Bunny Girl Senpai or came in through the movies, the main trailer makes a strong case that CloverWorks and Masui are saving their best work for last. October 16 cannot come soon enough.