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.
Game News

Palworld 1.0 Launches 10 July — Wing Pack, World Tree and Full Release

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Pocketpair’s creature-collecting survival hit Palworld finally leaves Early Access on 10 July 2026, and Version 1.0 is far more than a version-number bump. The update introduces a brand-new endgame region, a Wing Pack that lets you fly without burning a Pal slot, full PvP, advanced breeding, and more new Pals than any previous update — all delivered as a free upgrade for everyone who already owns the game.

Palworld 1.0 Cinematic Trailer — via Pocketpair Palworld on YouTube

What Is Palworld 1.0 — and Why Does It Matter?

Palworld launched into Early Access in January 2024 and became one of the fastest-selling games in Steam history, racking up over 32 million players across platforms. The pitch — an open-world survival-crafting game where your Pals work your factory, fight at your side, and yes, wield guns — polarised the internet but absolutely resonated with players. A year and a half of updates later, 1.0 marks the moment Pocketpair considers the game feature-complete.

Lamball Pals with machine guns behind sandbags in Palworld
Image courtesy of Pocketpair

Wing Pack, World Tree and Everything New in 1.0

The headline feature is the Wing Pack, a new piece of gear equipment that lets you glide and perform aerial combat without occupying one of your five combat Pal slots. Previously, flying meant mounting a flying Pal and losing that battle slot. The Wing Pack frees you to take a full fighting team into the air — a significant shift for how late-game combat plays out.

The other massive addition is the World Tree and Sky Islands endgame region. The World Tree has been visible on the horizon since the Early Access launch but was never reachable. In 1.0 it becomes the gateway to a set of floating Sky Islands that dramatically expand the map and anchor the main story’s conclusion. New characters, story-driven missions, and an ominous new threat flesh out what has until now been a fairly thin narrative.

Players riding flying Pals over the open world in Palworld 1.0
Image courtesy of Pocketpair

New Pals push the Paldeck well past 200 entries, including weapon-transforming creatures — one is a sword-eel type that becomes a wieldable blade mid-fight — plus new fire and sky dragons. Reworked Tower Bosses and a Wildlife Sanctuary overhaul also feature.

PvP, Genetic Recombination and Server Clustering

On the systems side, 1.0 adds proper PvP — full player-versus-player combat using both weapons and Pals — alongside Genetic Recombination, an advanced breeding mechanic for optimising Pal traits that the competitive community has been asking for since launch. Server Clustering lets multiple game worlds link together, which should be a big deal for large community servers.

Boss fight against Mammorest in Palworld 1.0
Image courtesy of Pocketpair

Pocketpair recommends starting a fresh save to experience the new content fully, though existing saves will not be deleted and you are not required to restart.

Singapore Pricing and Where to Get It

Palworld 1.0 launches simultaneously on PC (Steam and Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on 10 July 2026. The rollout targets 12:30 PM JST — that is 11:30 AM SGT.

On the Singapore Steam store, Palworld is currently listed at S$18.20 (a 30% pre-launch sale, ending before the 1.0 drop). The standard price once the sale ends sits around S$26. Either way, this is one of the more affordable open-world games on PC — and if you already own it on Steam, Xbox, or PS5, 1.0 is a free update at no extra cost.

Pal performing energy attack in Palworld 1.0
Image courtesy of Pocketpair

For Singapore gamers on Xbox Game Pass (Ultimate, Premium, or PC Game Pass), Palworld 1.0 lands day one — meaning subscribers can jump in on launch day at no additional charge. PlayStation Store SG pricing for first-time buyers is to be confirmed closer to launch; check the PlayStation Store Singapore listing for the final SGD price.

Browse our other game news for more upcoming PC and console releases hitting Singapore this month.

Manga Anime

The Elusive Samurai Season 2 Premieres on Crunchyroll 17 July

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Nine days from now, the most gifted runner in Japanese history makes his comeback. The Elusive Samurai Season 2 premieres on 17 July 2026 on Crunchyroll, and with a new main trailer and opening theme now revealed, we finally know what to expect when CloverWorks returns to feudal Kamakura.

The Elusive Samurai Season 2 — the main cast gather in a lantern-lit scene
Image courtesy of Aniplex

What Is The Elusive Samurai?

Based on the manga by Yusei Matsui — the creator behind Assassination Classroom — The Elusive Samurai (逃げ上手の若君) follows Hojo Tokiyuki, the young heir to the Kamakura shogunate who survives the brutal downfall of his clan through one extraordinary, embarrassing talent: running away at superhuman speed. Set during the historical Kenmu Restoration in 14th-century Japan, the series transforms real political upheaval into something wildly funny and, quietly, a little moving.

Season 1 from CloverWorks aired in 2024 and built a strong following on Crunchyroll — particularly among fans who like their history served with exaggerated comedy faces and genuinely well-animated action. The whole first season remains on Crunchyroll if you need to catch up before 17 July.

Season 2 Trailer and Opening Theme

The Elusive Samurai Season 2 | Main Trailer — via Aniplex USA on YouTube

Aniplex dropped the main trailer at Anime Expo 2026 earlier this month, confirming the 17 July premiere alongside the opening theme: “Onigoto” (鬼ごと), performed by Japanese singer and actor Kento Nakajima. Nakajima, who has spoken about his lifelong love of history, expressed genuine enthusiasm for the role — and the track itself sounds like a fittingly propulsive way to open an episode about a boy whose survival strategy is very fast feet.

CloverWorks returns with the core production team from Season 1, and based on the trailer the animation has lost none of its expressive energy — expect more of those gleefully exaggerated comedy cuts alongside the show’s sharper dramatic moments. Season 2 continues Tokiyuki’s campaign to reclaim Kamakura, with the political stakes rising as he gathers allies across a fractured Japan.

Tokiyuki in a lively outdoor market scene from The Elusive Samurai
Image courtesy of Aniplex

How to Watch from Singapore

Crunchyroll carries The Elusive Samurai in Singapore, and Season 2 streams from 17 July — same day as the Japanese broadcast on Fuji TV’s Noitamina block (Fridays, 11:30 PM JST). Both subtitled and dubbed versions will be available. If you have been sleeping on this one, the 24-episode Season 1 run is an easy weekend binge to get ready in time.

The Elusive Samurai is one of the more distinct anime running right now — a period piece that neither romanticises nor bores you with history, created by someone who clearly knows how to make a reader (or viewer) care about a surprisingly unconventional protagonist. Singapore fans on Crunchyroll, 17 July is the date to save. Browse more upcoming anime in our Manga & Anime section.

Manga Anime, News

Witch on the Holy Night Anime Film Premieres 20 November 2026

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Singapore’s TYPE-MOON faithful, take note: Witch on the Holy Night — the anime film adaptation of Kinoko Nasu’s beloved visual novel, animated by ufotable — now has its premiere date confirmed. The film opens in Japanese theatres on 20 November 2026, with the announcement made today at a special reveal event in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

Latest promotional footage for Witch on the Holy Night — via アニプレックス チャンネル (Aniplex) on YouTube (Japanese)

What Is Witch on the Holy Night?

For the uninitiated: Witch on the Holy Night (魔法使いの夜, Mahoutsukai no Yoru, sometimes called Mahoyo) is a visual novel written by Kinoko Nasu and developed by TYPE-MOON — the studio behind Fate/stay night, Tsukihime, and Kara no Kyoukai. Originally released in Japan in April 2012, it became available in English on Steam in December 2022.

The story is set in late-1980s Japan and centres on Aoko Aozaki, an apprentice mage who reluctantly inherits her family’s magical art. She lives in a grand Western-style manor on a hill under the guidance of Alice Kuonji — a quiet, eccentric witch from England. Their world is upended when a rural transfer student named Soujyuro Sizuki stumbles into their lives. Longtime Nasuverse fans will recognise Aoko as the younger sister of Touko Aozaki from Kara no Kyoukai, making this film a key piece of prequel lore for the wider franchise.

Witch on the Holy Night anime film key visual — Aoko Aozaki and Alice Kuonji
Image courtesy of ufotable / Aniplex

Ufotable Brings the Nasuverse Back to the Big Screen

If the name ufotable means anything to you, you already know what to expect. The studio behind the Heaven’s Feel trilogy, Demon Slayer, and the original Kara no Kyoukai film series brings its signature hand-drawn fluidity and meticulous lighting to this production. Their return to the Nasuverse with Mahoyo is long overdue — the visual novel has been a fan favourite for over a decade, and this is its first animated adaptation.

Character designs are handled by Hirokazu Koyama, while the score is composed by Hideyuki Fukasawa, whose atmospheric, layered compositions have become a hallmark of ufotable’s supernatural action projects.

The Voice Cast: A Nasuverse Dream Team

The cast is stacked. Tomatsu Haruka voices Aoko Aozaki — headstrong, brash, and unexpectedly funny as a magic novice who’d rather do anything else. Hanazawa Kana plays Alice Kuonji, lending the reserved, bookish witch her signature warmth and depth. Rounding out the trio is Kobayashi Yusuke as Soujyuro Sizuki, the ordinary boy who ends up in a very extraordinary house. All three voice actors are reprising their roles from the original VN’s audio production.

Witch on the Holy Night anime film — scene from official promotional footage
Image courtesy of ufotable / Aniplex

November 20 in Japan — and When Singapore Might Follow

The film opens theatrically in Japan on 20 November 2026. No international theatrical or streaming dates have been confirmed as of this writing. That said, ufotable’s recent track record gives Singapore fans reason to be optimistic: Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle I opened across Golden Village and Cathay multiplexes locally, and the Heaven’s Feel films received dedicated Singapore screenings. A TYPE-MOON x ufotable production backed by Aniplex is exactly the kind of release that tends to get international theatrical treatment — we’ll update when distribution details arrive.

In the meantime, fans who haven’t played the original VN can pick it up on Steam — it’s considered essential Nasuverse reading. For all the other ufotable and Nasuverse titles streaming now, browse our anime section.

Witch on the Holy Night — scene from Teaser PV 2 by ufotable
Image courtesy of ufotable / Aniplex
Witch on the Holy Night Teaser PV #2 — via アニプレックス チャンネル (Aniplex) on YouTube (Japanese)

Game News

Moonlight Peaks Is Out Now — Vampire Farming Hits Switch 2

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If your gaming week already has you queuing up for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, here’s something to keep the evening cosy while you wait. Moonlight Peaks — a gothic cozy farming sim from Dutch indie studio Little Chicken and publisher XSEED Games — launched today, 7 July 2026, on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam, macOS, and Android. Early reviews are glowing, with scores sitting between 7 and 9.5 out of 10 across multiple outlets.

Stardew Valley, But Make It Vampire

Top-down farming gameplay in Moonlight Peaks showing crops and a bat familiar at night
Image courtesy of Little Chicken / XSEED Games

The premise flips the genre’s golden formula on its head: you are Count Dracula’s child, tired of the family legacy, who packs a coffin and moves to the spooky mountain town of Moonlight Peaks to start a quieter life. Because your character is a vampire, every single farming chore, foraging trip, and social outing happens at night. There is no sunrise. The day-night cycle that usually structures a cozy farming game is replaced entirely by moonrise and moonset, which critics say keeps the atmosphere spooky without ever feeling claustrophobic.

The core loop will be familiar — grow mystical crops, keep supernatural animals, craft potions, earn gold — but the nocturnal twist reshapes how it plays. Your bat familiar helps automate watering; spell-casting replaces the standard tool upgrades; and the town’s calendar is filled with supernatural festivals instead of harvest fairs.

Moonlight Peaks – Release Date Trailer — via XSEEDgames on YouTube

A Town Full of Odd but Loveable Neighbours

Dialogue scene in Moonlight Peaks with Death character in a Hawaiian shirt at a café table
Image courtesy of Little Chicken / XSEED Games

Moonlight Peaks has 24 romance-able and befriendable townspeople — a line-up that includes werewolves, witches, mermaids, a pumpkin-headed village elder, and, yes, Death himself (who appears to enjoy hanging out in casual beachwear). Reviewers have singled out the writing as a highlight, noting that each character feels distinct and the dialogue lands its jokes without trying too hard.

The town also hosts seasonal festivals that pull everyone together and unlock story beats, which gives long-term players a reason to plan their in-game schedule around events rather than just farming efficiency.

Dungeons, Spells, and Things That Go Bump

Dungeon exploration in Moonlight Peaks — blue-lit underground chamber with a supernatural creature
Image courtesy of Little Chicken / XSEED Games

Alongside the farming and socialising, Moonlight Peaks includes dungeon areas that add a light action layer to the loop — think Stardew Valley’s mines, but with more gothic architecture and stranger monsters. Spells replace weapons, and your vampire abilities give combat a distinct feel from the usual genre fare. It’s not a deep action game, but it adds enough variety to keep the nights interesting between festival days.

Town Festivals and Spooky Seasonal Events

Seasonal festival in Moonlight Peaks with pumpkins and townspeople gathered around Pumpkin Head
Image courtesy of Little Chicken / XSEED Games

Seasonal festivals are where Moonlight Peaks earns some of its best moments. The town gathers, unique characters appear, and special seasonal crops unlock. Think of it as the game’s equivalent of Stardew’s Egg Festival or Winter Star — except the centrepiece is a pumpkin-headed emcee and the decorations are considerably more gothic.

Price and How to Play

The Switch 2 Edition is priced at US$39.99 (the standard Switch and PC version sits at US$34.99 on Steam, currently discounted 15% to US$29.74 during launch week). A digital deluxe edition is also available. No SGD eShop pricing has been confirmed at time of writing — check the Singapore Nintendo eShop and major game retailers for local pricing. Physical release in Japan with English language support has been confirmed with pre-orders already open, making it a solid import option for collectors.

XSEED Games is the label behind Story of Seasons and many beloved Marvelous titles, so if Moonlight Peaks catches on it will not be the last we hear of it. Worth a look on the Switch 2 launch lineup — it is available right now.

Game News

Kyoto Xanadu Hits Asia on 15 July — SGD 70.90 on PS5

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Nihon Falcom’s Kyoto Xanadu -the Blooming Phantom- launches in Japan and Asia on 15 July 2026, and it is already live on the Singapore PlayStation Store for pre-order at SGD 70.90 on PS5. The spiritual successor to the cult 2015 action RPG Tokyo Xanadu, this is the first new Xanadu title from Falcom in over a decade — and it lands on Switch 2 and PC Steam on the same day.

From Tokyo to Kyoto — Falcom Returns to Xanadu

The Xanadu sub-series dates back to Falcom’s early PC era, but it found its widest audience with Tokyo Xanadu on the PS Vita and later PS4/PC. Kyoto Xanadu keeps the core formula — a school-life RPG wrapped around hack-and-slash dungeon crawling — but shifts the setting to an alternate-timeline Japan where Kyoto, not Tokyo, is the capital. In this world, a dimension called Xanadu is slowly bleeding into reality, spawning monsters and threatening the city’s ancient streets. Players take on the role of a transfer student who enrols at Hirasaka Academy, a school specifically established to train fighters — called Eligibles — capable of pushing back into the labyrinth.

Clouded Leopard Entertainment handles the Asian localisation and distribution, continuing the publisher’s strong track record of bringing Falcom titles to this region.

How Combat Works — Two Dimensions, One Labyrinth

Kyoto Xanadu – Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase 2.5.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

The game’s standout design is its dual combat system. Most of the dungeon unfolds as classic 2D side-scrolling action — you run, jump, and slash your way through floors packed with enemies, much like the side-scrolling sections Falcom fans know from the Ys series. Hit a Gate — special nodes scattered through the labyrinth — and the camera pulls back into full 3D, opening a larger arena where your full team’s Soul Devices, Issen counters, and Soul Accel abilities come into play against tougher enemies and bosses. Switching between the two modes mid-run is seamless, which is unusual for an action RPG and gives each layer of the dungeon a distinct feel without splitting the game into two separate modes.

Kyoto Xanadu protagonist Rei in 3D Soul Device combat
Image courtesy of Nihon Falcom

Inside Hirasaka Academy

Between dungeon runs, the game leans into a school-life simulation layer. Players attend card-deck-based classes, build relationships with their squadmates, and explore the city of Kyoto itself. The main cast includes Ren Amano, heir to a major financial conglomerate who leads the elite team Futen using Kurikara sword-type Soul Devices; Zoya, an impulsive close-range fighter who wields Shashka-type weapons; Chisa, a quiet but deadly specialist who fights with Kunai-types; and Rachana, the group’s calm strategist who covers range with Bow-type Soul Devices. The protagonist, Rei, arrives as a transfer student and quickly gets drawn into their world.

Kyoto Xanadu 2D side-scrolling combat in a Japanese castle setting
Image courtesy of Nihon Falcom

Singapore Pricing, Platforms and the Language Caveat

Here is what Singapore players need to know before pre-ordering:

  • PS5 — SGD 70.90 via the Singapore PlayStation Store. Pre-orders get a LinoN Support Card DLC (bonus valid until 15 July).
  • Nintendo Switch / Switch 2 — launching the same day via Clouded Leopard Entertainment; the Switch 2 version is digital-only with an upgrade path for Switch owners at just 150 yen.
  • PC (Steam) — available on the same date in Asia.

Language note: The Asian release — including the Singapore PS Store listing — supports Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean. There is no English text in the current Asian version. English-speaking players should hold off for the Western release, which Falcom and a yet-to-be-announced Western partner have confirmed is in the works for later in summer 2026. If you read Chinese, though, Traditional Chinese support means Mandarin-reading Singapore fans can jump in on day one.

Ren Amano character from Kyoto Xanadu with a large Soul Device weapon
Image courtesy of Nihon Falcom

Western Release and What Comes Next

A Western release date for Kyoto Xanadu is still being coordinated with a partner publisher, so an English-localised version is coming — just without a confirmed date. Given Falcom’s recent track record (the Trails and Ys series have all received solid English releases), the gap between the Japanese/Asian launch and an English version should hopefully be shorter than some of the studio’s older titles.

For more on upcoming game news landing in Singapore this month, keep an eye on the site. Kyoto Xanadu is available for pre-order on the Singapore PS Store now.

Kyoto Xanadu 3D boss encounter in the Xanadu labyrinth
Image courtesy of Nihon Falcom

Manga Anime

Sekiro: No Defeat Anime Gets September 4 Japan Theatrical Date — Then Crunchyroll

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FromSoftware’s landmark Sengoku action game finally makes the leap to anime — and the people behind it clearly understood the assignment. Sekiro: No Defeat opens in Japanese cinemas on 4 September 2026 for a three-week limited run, before heading to Crunchyroll worldwide (Singapore included) later in 2026. The full theatrical trailer landed on 26 June and the production is making waves for being entirely hand-drawn 2D — in an era when shortcuts are common, that commitment matters.

Sekiro: No Defeat key visual showing Wolf with katana
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / KADOKAWA / Sekiro:No Defeat PARTNERS

The Story: Wolf, Kuro, and the Dragon’s Curse

The film follows the core arc of the game: Wolf, a shinobi sworn to protect Kuro — the Divine Heir whose bloodline carries the Dragon’s Heritage of immortality. Every resurrection Wolf uses to survive spreads Dragonrot, a sickness that slowly claims innocent lives around him. Kuro, in desperation, chooses to sever the immortal curse even at the cost of his own life. Wolf fights fate itself to find another way.

It is a tight, concentrated story, and the production committee has deliberately leaned into the game’s psychological weight: the bond between Kuro and Wolf is front and centre, with boss battles against Genichiro Ashina, Gyoubu Oniwa, and the terrors of Senpou Temple woven through. The film holds a PG12 rating in Japan.

Sekiro: No Defeat | Official Trailer 2 — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

The Production: Qzil.la, Hand-Drawn, Zero Generative AI

The film is produced by studio Qzil.la, directed by Kenichi Kutsuna (who cut his teeth as a key animator on Bleach, One Punch Man, and Naruto: Shippuden), with Takuya Satou as screenwriter and Takahiro Kishida — the character designer behind Durarara!! and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind — handling character design. The composer is Shuta Hasunuma, while the theme song is “Blu” by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto, lending the film an extraordinary level of emotional gravitas before a single frame plays.

Qzil.la is known for its work in AI-adjacent technologies, which raised questions the moment the project was announced. The official production committee got ahead of it: they confirmed there will be no generative AI used anywhere in the animation. Every frame is hand-drawn. The film also screened in the Midnight Specials section at Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026 and was selected for the Fantasia International Film Festival.

Genichiro Ashina in combat from Sekiro: No Defeat anime
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / KADOKAWA / Sekiro:No Defeat PARTNERS

Voice Cast and the Original Game Cast

The original Japanese voice actors from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice reprise their roles:
— Daisuke Namikawa as Wolf
— Miyuki Satou as Kuro, the Divine Heir
— Kenjiro Tsuda as Genichiro Ashina
— Takaya Hashi as Owl

For fans who played the game with Japanese audio, hearing these actors inhabit those roles in full animated form is going to hit differently.

Action combat scene from Sekiro: No Defeat anime
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / KADOKAWA / Sekiro:No Defeat PARTNERS

When Singapore Fans Can Watch

The three-week Japanese theatrical window opens 4 September 2026 — that run is Japan only. For Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia, the path to the film is through Crunchyroll, which holds the exclusive worldwide streaming rights (excluding Japan, China, Korea, Russia, and Belarus). A specific streaming premiere date has not been announced yet; the most likely window is late September to October 2026, after the theatrical run closes. Crunchyroll is available in Singapore with both the free (ad-supported) and Premium tiers.

There is no confirmed Singapore theatrical run at this stage — if one is announced, we will update this post. For more anime and game adaptation news, head to our Manga & Anime section.

Game News, News

hololive Dreams Launches July 23 Worldwide — 1.3 Million Pre-Registered

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The first official hololive mobile game has a date: hololive Dreams launches simultaneously worldwide on 23 July 2026 (Thursday), developer QualiArts and COVER Corp. confirmed today. Free to download on iOS, Android, and — in a welcome addition for PC players — Steam, with cross-save supported across all three platforms. Pre-registrations crossed the 1.3 million mark today, making this one of the most anticipated VTuber game launches in years.

What Is hololive Dreams?

hololive Dreams theme park world overview showing the Dream Park in-game
Image courtesy of COVER Corp. / QualiArts

Developed by QualiArts (a CyberAgent subsidiary, as reported by Famitsu (Japanese)) in partnership with COVER Corp. — the talent agency behind hololive — hololive Dreams (nicknamed “Horodori” among fans) is a theme park management game with rhythm RPG elements, featuring over 50 hololive female VTubers as playable characters and more than 150 songs from the hololive catalogue. You build and run your dream VTuber venue, completing story events and unlocking talents through gacha.

For Singapore fans, the game needs no introduction. hololive’s fanbase here is one of the most active in Southeast Asia, with community watch parties and fan-organised events running year-round. Having all of that in an official mobile game — one that has been in development for years — is a big deal.

『ホロライブドリームス』ゲームトレーラー / hololive Dreams – OFFICIAL GAME TRAILER — via hololive Dreams ホロライブドリームス on YouTube

July 23 Worldwide — iOS, Android, and Steam at the Same Time

The simultaneous global launch on July 23 means no regional delays and no geo-blocking — Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia get it at the same time as Japan and everyone else. The Steam version launches alongside mobile, and cross-save lets you switch between your phone and PC seamlessly. The Steam Wishlist is now live for a launch-day reminder.

Note: the official FAQ says the simultaneous launch covers “most regions” (一部エリアを除く — excluding some areas). There is no indication Singapore or Southeast Asia is excluded, and no specific region has been named as an exception.

1.3 Million Pre-Registered — Rewards Stack Up

hololive Dreams story mode featuring chibi VTuber characters in a scene
Image courtesy of COVER Corp. / QualiArts

The milestone reward ladder has been ticking over steadily. At 1.3 million — the level hit today — every pre-registered player gets 3 gacha tickets on top of everything already unlocked: 10 gacha pulls’ worth of diamonds (at 500k), cosmetics for your theme park, guaranteed rarity pull tickets, and three Music Discs. The next milestone at 1.5 million adds a “Kawaii hairpin” collectible.

Pre-registration runs until July 22 — one day before launch — so there is time left to sign up and claim the full stack. A hashtag giveaway campaign is also running on the official hololive Dreams X account, with 150 winners receiving official game merchandise.

9th Anniversary Event Planned for October

QualiArts also confirmed that a special in-game event celebrating hololive’s 9th anniversary is planned for October 2026. Full details will be revealed after launch on July 23 via official programme broadcasts. Given how hololive’s annual anniversary celebrations tend to spiral into extended community events across Southeast Asia, expect this to be worth keeping an eye on.

Pre-register on the hololive Dreams official site, App Store, or Google Play. For more upcoming releases, check our game news section.

Manga Anime

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage Hits Netflix on 25 September

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After months of near-silence following the March debut of Episode 1, Netflix has confirmed that JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage will begin streaming on 25 September 2026. New episodes drop every Friday, reviving the beloved “JoJo Fridays” schedule that fans last enjoyed during Golden Wind.

JoJo Fridays Are Back — 11 New Episodes from 25 September

The 2nd Stage and 3rd Stage together cover 11 new episodes, picking up where the first episode left off. The story moves into the “Across the Arizona Desert” arc (manga chapters 12–27), where the race across North America shifts from pure horse riding into something far more dangerous: Stand battles. The vast desert terrain, searing heat, and waves of hostile competitors make this the arc where Steel Ball Run stops feeling like a sports anime and starts feeling like the JoJo you know.

The announcement was made at the Steel Ball Run panel at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles on 3 July, where composer Yugo Kanno and English dub voice actors Daman Mills (Gyro) and Kaiji Tang (Johnny) joined producers on stage to debut the new trailer.

New Cast Revealed — Mountain Tim, Hot Pants, and the President Himself

Mountain Tim close-up from Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage official trailer
Image courtesy of David Production / Warner Bros. Japan

Three characters who define the 2nd Stage were officially cast at the panel:

  • Tomoaki Maeno as Mountain Tim — the laconic Texas Ranger with a Stand that turns his own body into rope. Maeno is widely known in Singapore for voicing Zhongli in Genshin Impact, and his measured delivery is a perfect fit for Tim’s calm menace.
  • Yoko Hikasa as Hot Pants — the mysterious priest whose Stand manipulates flesh. Hikasa is a veteran of countless leading roles across two decades of anime.
  • Tomokazu Sugita as Funny Valentine — arguably the casting of the year. Sugita, already beloved in Singapore for Gintoki in Gintama and Joseph Joestar, now takes on the quietly terrifying President of the United States. Valentine is widely considered one of manga’s greatest antagonists, and Sugita’s gravity suits him perfectly.

Watch the Official Trailer

STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure 2nd STAGE | Official Trailer — via Netflix Anime on YouTube
Gyro Zeppeli and Johnny Joestar ride through the Arizona desert in Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage
Image courtesy of David Production / Warner Bros. Japan

What to Expect from the Arizona Desert Arc

For anyone who hasn’t touched the manga yet: the 2nd Stage is the point where Steel Ball Run reveals its full ambition. The race format stays — Johnny and Gyro are still chasing the prize money across North America — but other competitors now have Stands, the supernatural abilities central to every JoJo part. The Devil’s Palm stretches across the desert: a region where the land itself seems to conspire against the racers, and where each competitor’s true motivation starts coming into focus.

The Mountain Tim close-up in the trailer suggests David Production is giving him the same visual care they brought to Golden Wind’s standout characters. Funny Valentine’s introduction is still a few episodes out, but his casting alone is reason enough to lock in 25 September on your calendar.

Netflix Singapore: Stage 1 Is Already On — Stage 2 Should Follow

Stage 1 (Episode 1) of Steel Ball Run launched on Netflix Singapore in March 2026 as part of Netflix’s worldwide early distribution for the series. Based on that precedent, Singapore Netflix subscribers should be able to stream Stage 2 weekly from 25 September — though Netflix has not yet issued a region-by-region availability list, so confirm in the Netflix app once the date arrives.

If you’ve been holding off on Steel Ball Run until the release schedule sorted itself out, now is a good time to catch up on Episode 1. For more anime hitting Singapore streaming services this season, see our Manga & Anime coverage.

Manga Anime, News

Solo Leveling: Beyond the System — New Theatrical Anime Film Announced

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Solo Leveling is not done with us yet. At the Crunchyroll Showcase during Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles, English voice actor Aleks Le — the voice of Sung Jinwoo — took the stage to announce that Solo Leveling: Beyond the System, a brand-new theatrical anime film, is now in production.

Solo Leveling: Beyond the System official concept video thumbnail
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll / Aniplex

What Is Solo Leveling: Beyond the System?

The film is described as a direct continuation of the anime series, picking up following the events of Season 2. That positions it firmly within the same story continuity rather than as a spin-off or retelling, which will be welcome news to fans who have been wondering where Jinwoo’s journey goes from here. A teaser key visual and a companion concept video were released alongside the announcement, offering the first glimpse of the film’s visual direction.

Solo Leveling: Beyond the System key visual portrait
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll / Aniplex

Who Is Behind the Film?

A-1 Pictures — the acclaimed studio behind both seasons of the Solo Leveling TV series — is handling animation. The film is produced by Aniplex, Netmarble, D&C MEDIA, Kakao Piccoma, and Crunchyroll. That is a heavyweight lineup: the same group of producers that brought the original Korean web novel to global anime audiences. No director has been announced yet, and further production details are to follow.

It is worth noting that Solo Leveling made history at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, becoming the first Korean animation to sweep nine major categories including Anime of the Year. The franchise’s global momentum is very much still at full speed.

Solo Leveling: Beyond the System | Companion Concept Video — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

No Release Date Yet — Here Is What We Know

Crunchyroll confirmed the film is in production but held back on a release date, promising that more details will be announced at a later date. For Singapore fans who have been following the series on Crunchyroll, there is no confirmed theatrical or streaming window yet — but given that both seasons of the TV series were distributed globally through Crunchyroll, a wide international release for the film seems likely when the time comes.

In the meantime, catch up on both seasons of Solo Leveling on Crunchyroll, and browse our roundup of other Manga & Anime news from Anime Expo 2026.