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.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Is Out Now — Made by Ubisoft Singapore

Singapore gamers have extra reason to celebrate today — Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, the fully rebuilt remake of the fan-favourite pirate chapter, is out now on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with the PC version unlocking at 10 PM SGT tonight. The kicker: this remake was led by Ubisoft Singapore. Standard Edition on Steam is S$79.90.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: Official Game Overview Trailer — via Assassin’s Creed on YouTube

A Singapore Studio Behind a AAA Remake

Ubisoft Singapore led development of Black Flag Resynced, with many of the original game’s developers returning to the project — making this one of the highest-profile AAA titles to be helmed out of our local game development scene. The remake is built on the latest version of Ubisoft’s Anvil Engine, the same foundation that powers the current-generation AC titles.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced — character and environment gameplay
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

The original Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013) remains one of the most beloved entries in the series, celebrated for its open-world Caribbean pirate setting, Edward Kenway’s charismatic arc, and its defining naval combat. Resynced is a faithful recreation of that game, not a sequel or reimagining — but it arrives with a comprehensive suite of modernisation.

What Ubisoft Singapore Has Rebuilt

Across combat, movement, stealth, and the world itself, nearly every system has been touched. Combat shifts to a reworked parry-driven model with visceral takedowns. The stealth toolkit gains an Observe mode for pre-engagement scouting, plus the freedom to crouch or dive from any position. Parkour adds manual jumps and side ejects for more deliberate traversal.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced — stealth and combat mechanics
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

Dynamic weather reshapes both fights and exploration, while destructible environmental objects add consequence to encounters. New storylines have been written for Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet, giving fan-favourite characters expanded arcs. Matt Ryan returns to voice Edward Kenway with the original cast in tow, and the game gains a photo mode alongside ship customisation that now extends to pet companions on the Jackdaw.

Naval Combat Gets a Complete Overhaul

The Jackdaw’s Caribbean dominance is back — and it’s been rebuilt from the hull up. Secondary weapons are now part of your naval arsenal, and newly recruitable officers bring special abilities into fleet battles. The vessel itself can be customised more extensively than before, and the soundscape gains ten new sea shanties plus an original song reimagined by French composer Woodkid.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced — naval combat and the Jackdaw
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

Crucially, Ubisoft has confirmed this is not an RPG. The stat-heavy mechanics introduced in Odyssey and Valhalla are absent — Resynced keeps the original’s tight, narrative-driven pace. If you stepped away from the series during its RPG era, this is built with you in mind.

Editions and Pricing for Singapore

The Standard Edition is available on Steam SG at S$79.90. Deluxe and Collector’s Edition tiers are available at higher price points — check the Steam listing or the Ubisoft Store for current SGD pricing on those. The game is also sold through the Epic Games Store on PC, and physical copies for PS5 are available at major game retailers and electronics chains.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced — open world exploration
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

Release timing for Singapore: PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players can jump in now — console versions unlocked at local midnight. PC launches globally at 2 PM UTC (14:00 UTC), which for Singapore means the game goes live at 10 PM SGT tonight. Ubisoft Connect streaming is also available via Nvidia GeForce Now and Blacknut.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced — cinematic scene
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

Whether you’re revisiting a classic or discovering Edward Kenway for the first time, Black Flag Resynced is a major showcase of what Singapore’s games industry can ship. Follow our Singapore gaming scene coverage and game news for more on what’s landing locally this week.

New Gundam Anime Drops at SDCC — ROGUE ORBIT Revealed, Watch Live at 2AM SGT

If you have been waiting for something big from Bandai Namco on the Gundam front, this is the week it starts. The company has announced a “GUNDAM Showcase 2026 — Unveil the Next Gundam” panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, set for 23 July (Thursday, 10:30–11:30 AM Pacific Time), at which special guests from Japan will reveal a brand-new Gundam anime series and lay out where the franchise is headed next — for both domestic Japan and international markets. The entire panel will be simulcast on the official Gundam YouTube channel at 3:00 AM JST on July 24, which works out to 2:00 AM SGT for Singapore fans willing to stay up for it.

GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT – Announcement Trailer — via Bandai Namco Entertainment America on YouTube

GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT — The New Action Game Coming in 2027

Arriving alongside the SDCC announcement is GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT, a high-mobility mecha action game developed by Bandai Namco Studios Inc. and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It launches in 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam — and will be playable for the first time in public at the SDCC booth this week.

GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT — high-speed space combat with the Helix Gundam
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

ROGUE ORBIT introduces a new timeline in the Gundam saga, positioning itself as both a perfect entry point for players new to the franchise and a meaningful new chapter for long-time fans. You pilot the Helix Gundam as a soldier fighting on behalf of humanity against a powerful, unnamed threat — the kind of clean, self-contained setup that signals Bandai Namco wants ROGUE ORBIT to travel well internationally, not just in Japan. The gameplay emphasis is on fast, kinetic movement and hard-hitting combat; early footage shows fluid aerial manoeuvring and explosive mobile suit clashes that lean more action game than simulator.

GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT — Helix Gundam in fast-paced close-quarters combat
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

A Brand-New Gundam Anime — Everything Still to Be Revealed

The bigger piece of news — bigger even than the game — is the new anime series that Bandai Namco Filmworks will reveal at the SDCC panel. No title, no plot details, and no key visual have been released ahead of the event; the announcement was deliberately structured so the reveal lands live at SDCC and simultaneously on YouTube. What we do know is that Japanese staff will take the stage alongside the international announcement, and that the broadcast will cover the franchise’s direction for both the domestic Japan and global markets — suggesting this is not a Japan-only production.

Gundam has been in a genuinely interesting transitional moment. The Witch from Mercury (2022–23) was the first Gundam series in a decade to break through to a mainstream anime audience beyond the core mecha fanbase, and the upcoming ROGUE ORBIT signals that Bandai wants that momentum to carry into games. A new anime that follows The Witch from Mercury’s playbook of international co-production and global streaming would be a significant statement.

How Singapore Fans Can Watch the Reveal Live

GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT — mobile suit vs mobile suit battle scene
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

The SDCC panel runs on Thursday, 23 July at 10:30 AM Pacific Time, but the YouTube simulcast premieres at 3:00 AM JST (2:00 AM SGT) on 24 July. An archive replay will be available after the broadcast, so you are not forced to choose between sleep and the reveal — but the Gundam community is extremely active online, and major spoilers will be everywhere within minutes. If you want the uncut first look, 2AM on a Friday is your window.

For more game news and upcoming releases, keep an eye on our news section. The SDCC panel is less than two weeks away and this is shaping up to be one of the more interesting Gundam reveals in a while.

TEKKEN! CARTOON Premieres July 10 — Kazuya, Kuma and the Gang Get Adorable

The fighters of Tekken 8 are leaving the ring — and entering your feed. Bandai Namco’s official TEKKEN! CARTOON animated shorts series premieres on 10 July 2026, free to watch on the TEKKEN YouTube channel, X (Twitter), and Instagram. If you have ever wondered what Kazuya does when he is not throwing people into volcanoes, now you are about to find out.

TEKKEN! CARTOON Official Teaser Trailer — via Bandai Namco Entertainment America on YouTube

The Tekken Fighters You Know, But Make Them Cute

TEKKEN! CARTOON is an official spin-off short-form animation series produced by Bandai Namco, directed by Sohta Ozawa at NERD, with character design and animation by Amehiro. Each episode is under a minute long — perfect for a quick fix between rounds — and the episodes focus on the daily lives of the Mishima family and their circle of fighters in a laid-back, pop-art world that is very far from the blood feuds and devil genes of the main canon.

Five characters headline the first season: Paul, Yoshimitsu, Kazuya, Alisa, and Kuma. The teaser trailer already shows the kind of absurdist, slice-of-life comedy the series is going for — the Tekken roster reimagined as superdeformed, pastel-hued versions of themselves with catchy original music. King also appears in character visuals from Bandai Namco’s press materials.

TEKKEN! CARTOON key visual showing cartoon characters alongside their realistic Tekken 8 counterparts
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Where and When to Watch

TEKKEN! CARTOON launches on 10 July 2026 — that is this Thursday — and will be available globally and for free across three official Bandai Namco channels:

  • The TEKKEN YouTube channel
  • The official TEKKEN X (Twitter) account
  • The official TEKKEN Instagram

No streaming subscription needed, no region lock. Singapore and Southeast Asian Tekken fans can watch the same day as everyone else, making this one of the more accessible anime spin-offs we have seen from a major fighting game in a while. Bookmark the channels now so you do not miss the first drop.

Tekken 8 official cover art featuring Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Part of a Bigger Tekken 8 Season — Bob DLC Arrives 24 August

The CARTOON announcement did not arrive alone. Bandai Namco used EVO 2026 to reveal that Bob — the lightning-fast heavyweight from Tekken 6 — is returning as the second Season 3 DLC character. Season Pass 3 holders get early access on 19 August; general availability is 24 August 2026. Bob joins Kunimitsu as the second Season 3 addition, with further characters still to be revealed.

Whether you are here for the competitive scene, the Bob DLC, or just to watch Kuma stumble through everyday life, Tekken 8 is having a very busy second half of 2026. Follow our game news and manga and anime coverage for more updates as TEKKEN! CARTOON episodes drop.

Hatsune Miku Starry Party Is Coming to Switch 2 and PC in 2027

Your favourite virtual pop icon is swapping the rhythm stage for a party arena. Good Smile Company announced Hatsune Miku Starry Party at Anime Expo 2026, and it is exactly what Singapore Vocaloid fans have been craving — a six-player party action game featuring the full Crypton Future Media cast reimagined as Nendoroid chibi figures, heading to Nintendo Switch 2 and PC via Steam in 2027.

Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin and Kagamine Len as Nendoroid figures in Hatsune Miku Starry Party
Image courtesy of Good Smile Company

What Is Hatsune Miku Starry Party?

Developed jointly by Crypton Future Media and Good Smile Company, Starry Party (スタリパ, as fans are already abbreviating it) is a party action game built around the beloved Nendoroid figure line. Every character in the game is rendered as their compact, round-headed Nendoroid counterpart — the same design language that has made Good Smile’s collectible figures a staple at anime events from Akihabara to Singapore’s own Anime Festival Asia.

The game supports up to six simultaneous players competing across a variety of mini-games and party challenges. While the developers have teased that some stages will lean into the rhythm-game experience Miku fans know and love, there will be plenty of non-rhythm challenges as well, positioning this as a proper party title rather than a spiritual successor to the Project Diva series.

初音ミク 新作ゲーム ティザーPV「初音ミク スターリーパーティ」 — via GOOD SMILE CHANNEL on YouTube

Confirmed Playable Characters

The teaser trailer, set to the original track StargazeR by producer 骨盤P (Kotsupan-P) featuring Hatsune Miku, confirms six playable Vocaloids at launch:

  • Hatsune Miku
  • Kagamine Rin
  • Kagamine Len
  • Megurine Luka
  • MEIKO
  • KAITO

Good Smile Company has teased that more characters will be announced before launch, so the roster is not necessarily final.

Hatsune Miku Nendoroid figure glowing green in Hatsune Miku Starry Party
Image courtesy of Good Smile Company

Why Singapore Vocaloid Fans Should Be Excited

This is Miku’s first starring role in a dedicated game since Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega Mix+ launched in 2022. While she has made cameo appearances in titles like Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and crossover events in Persona 5: The Phantom X, Starry Party marks a full return to gaming as the lead.

For Singapore fans, the confirmed language list is a positive signal: the game will ship with support for English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese — all languages with strong player bases across Singapore and the broader Southeast Asian market. No Singapore-specific release date or pricing has been announced, but the multilingual support suggests a wide regional rollout is planned rather than a Japan-only or US-exclusive launch.

Close-up of Hatsune Miku's face in Hatsune Miku Starry Party teaser
Image courtesy of Good Smile Company

What We Still Don’t Know

A firm release date, pricing, and any details beyond the teaser are yet to be confirmed. With the 2027 launch window still far off, expect a fuller reveal — likely at a Nintendo Direct or a future Good Smile Company showcase — to flesh out the full mini-game roster and multiplayer modes. Keep an eye on the official X account @Starrypa_Miku for updates as they drop.

For more upcoming Switch 2 titles and Vocaloid news, check out our Game News and Manga Anime sections.

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

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.

The Elusive Samurai Season 2 Premieres on Crunchyroll 17 July

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 ClassroomThe 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.

Witch on the Holy Night Anime Film Premieres 20 November 2026

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)

Moonlight Peaks Is Out Now — Vampire Farming Hits Switch 2

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.

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

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