All posts by Nova Solaris
Nova Solaris

Zohar Is Coming to Under Night In-Birth II This Summer

Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes is getting its fourth DLC character this summer: Zohar, the claw-wielding fighter known as the Doppelganger. Developer French-Bread and publisher Arc System Works dropped the reveal trailer at EVO 2026, and alongside the character announcement comes a substantial update that rewrites several of the game’s competitive fundamentals.

Who Is Zohar?

Zohar is described in the official announcement as one of the founding members of the Bankikai — the organisation she helped build alongside Ogre and Strix. Her title, the Doppelganger, hints at some form of imitation or transformation ability, though Arc System Works hasn’t yet revealed her full fighting style. She is voiced by Aiko Okubo.

The reveal trailer is deliberately light on gameplay — a menacing close-up, a claw strike, and her character title card with the tagline “Claws encroaching unseen.” Full moveset details are scheduled to arrive before her summer release window.

A Major Competitive Update Lands With Her

Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes gameplay — Hyde vs Seth clash with blue and red energy effects
Image courtesy of Arc System Works / French-Bread

The character reveal is only part of the story. The update arriving this summer brings sweeping changes across the game:

  • Balance overhaul: A broad review of combo damage and gauge gain to curb power creep, plus revisions to the Steer Ender and Throw Escape mechanics and adjustments to powerful moves across the roster.
  • Ranked system for high-level play: High-ranked matches will now see Rating Points fluctuate alongside traditional RIP, with a dedicated ranking leaderboard added for serious competitors.
  • Improved training tools: Frame data now displays opponent information and gap frames in sequences. Frame data is also viewable in Replay Mode — a feature the competitive community has requested for a long time.
  • Mission Mode upgrade: Players can now review their previous play within Mission Mode.

The stated goal of reducing power creep positions this as a proper competitive reset, not a light patch. Players who have found certain combo routes or mechanics dominant should expect a meaningfully different meta after the update lands.

Watch the Zohar Reveal Trailer

[UNI2]Zohar Reveal Trailer — via arcsystemworks on YouTube

UNIB II in Singapore’s FGC

Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes gameplay — Merkava vs Vatista at a poolside stage
Image courtesy of Arc System Works / French-Bread

Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes is available on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. The game occupies a distinct corner of the anime fighter ecosystem — its deliberate neutral pacing and EXS gauge mechanics attract players who want more strategic depth than the faster-paced alternatives. Singapore’s FGC has a consistent UNIB presence at local brackets and online events.

Zohar is the fourth DLC slot. The Bankikai lore — with Ogre and Strix named alongside her — leaves room for more additions, though nothing beyond Zohar has been announced. Follow GameTrader game news for the full moveset reveal and a confirmed release date as we get closer to summer.

Kill Blue Season 2 Confirmed — Fujimaki’s De-Aged Hitman Is Back

The Spring 2026 anime season just delivered one of its best end-credits moments: Kill Blue Season 2 is confirmed. The second season was announced at the close of the Season 1 finale, which aired on 27 June 2026 — meaning the wait for more Juzo Ogami starts right now.

Kill Blue — Juzo Ogami, 39-year-old assassin in a 13-year-old's body
Image courtesy of CUE / Kill Blue Production Committee

The Kuroko Creator Returns to Jump

Kill Blue is written and illustrated by Tadatoshi Fujimaki, the mangaka behind Kuroko’s Basketball — a series that still sells out in Singapore’s Japanese bookstores and ran a hugely popular anime adaptation from 2012 to 2015. After Kuroko wrapped, Fujimaki took his time on a new series, and when Kill Blue debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in April 2023, it immediately stood out: darker premise, sharper comedy, and the same gift for ensemble character dynamics that made the basketball team so beloved.

The manga concluded in Jump in September 2025 across 13 collected volumes, and the anime adaptation kicked off in April 2026. It proved popular enough that a second season was greenlit before the final episode even finished airing.

Anime KILL BLUE – Main Trailer No.2 — via DMM pictures on YouTube

A Hitman in the Wrong Body

The premise is gloriously absurd. Juzo Ogami is 39 years old, a legend in the Z.O.O. assassin syndicate, and very good at his job. On a routine hit at a genetics company, he is stung by an experimental wasp that rewrites his DNA — and wakes up in the body of a 13-year-old. His mind, memories, and considerable killing instincts are all intact. His frame is not.

His handlers assign him a new mission: go undercover at a middle school, scope out whether it is safe for the syndicate boss’s daughter to enrol. Juzo intends to treat it as a quick op. What he does not count on is discovering that he genuinely likes studying — or that the school’s cast of students, teachers, and lurking threats will drag him into something far messier than a reconnaissance job.

The comedy of a cold-blooded professional navigating homeroom and PE class is played straight enough to stay funny, while the action sequences (Juzo does not stop being lethal just because he is now small) give the show real bite. The ensemble — particularly Noren Mitsuoka, whose family’s company created the wasp that de-aged him — gives Season 1 its emotional core.

Kill Blue — Juzo and Noren Mitsuoka
Image courtesy of CUE / Kill Blue Production Committee

What We Know About Season 2

The announcement was made in the end-card of Season 1’s final episode. No premiere date or episode count has been announced for Season 2, and no new visual or teaser was released alongside it — just the confirmation that the story continues.

Season 1 covered 12 episodes directed by Yasunori Ide at Studio CUE, with series composition by Hiro Kaburagi. The production team is expected to return, though this has not been formally confirmed. Given the manga is already complete at 13 volumes, Season 2 will have a full roadmap to work from.

One thing worth noting for fans of the music: the opening theme “ATTITUDE” is performed by aespa, and the ending theme “KILL SHOT” is by RIIZE. Whether the K-pop pairings carry over into Season 2 is one of the more interesting open questions.

Kill Blue — Juzo Ogami in class, textbook in one hand and gun in the other
Image courtesy of CUE / Kill Blue Production Committee

Where to Watch Kill Blue in Singapore

Season 1 is fully available now on both Crunchyroll and Netflix in Singapore, with English subtitles and a full English dub produced by Bang Zoom! Entertainment. If you have not started yet, all 12 episodes are up and a second season is already on the way — there has never been a better time to catch up. Check out our other anime coverage for more from the Spring 2026 season.

No Season 2 premiere window has been announced. Keep an eye on the official Kill Blue English site (kill-blue.us) and the official @KillBlue_en social accounts for updates.

Hokuto no Ken Anime Part 2 Confirmed for 2027 as Jagi Arrives

Omae wa mou shindeiru — and so is the wait for more. At the tail end of its 14th and final first-cour episode on June 26, the new Hokuto no Ken – Fist of the North Star anime revealed a preview for Episode 15 confirming Part 2 is on its way in 2027. The first face we see in that preview? Jagi — one of Kenshiro’s most treacherous brothers, and a villain the franchise’s dedicated fanbase has been waiting for since the reboot was announced.

First Cour Complete — All 14 Episodes Now on Amazon Prime Video

The new anime adaptation launched on April 10, 2026 on TOKYO MX and BS11 in Japan, running across 14 episodes that wrapped last Friday. This is not a sequel to the beloved 1984 Toei classic — it is a fresh, standalone retelling of Buronson and Tetsuo Hara’s legendary post-apocalyptic manga, produced by Warner Bros. Japan and directed by Hiroshi Maeda (known internationally for Hellsing Ultimate and the Aquarion franchise).

Every episode of the first cour is available now via Amazon Prime Video, which streams the series worldwide — Singapore included. The cast brings Shunsuke Takeuchi to the role of Kenshiro, with Yuichi Nakamura voicing the elegant swordsman Rei, Ruriko Aoki as Mamiya, and veteran Koichi Yamadera lending his unmistakable voice to the narration. The opening theme is Hallelujah by rock band Alexandros, while the ending pairs Toshl’s reimagining of Ai o Torimodose!! — the iconic Crystal King theme from the original anime — with the new series’ visual style. That particular casting choice should land like a fist for anyone who grew up with the 1984 run.

Rei in an action key visual from the 2026 Hokuto no Ken anime
Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Japan / 北斗の拳製作委員会

If you have not started yet, now is a good time to catch up. Fourteen episodes is a tight, well-paced first act — and Part 2 is confirmed to pick up directly from Episode 15.

Jagi Makes His Move — What the Episode 15 Preview Reveals

The preview for Episode 15 aired at the end of the first-cour finale, and it wasted no time: Jagi is here. One of the four Hokuto brothers alongside Raoh, Toki, and Kenshiro himself, Jagi is a vicious and cunning fighter who conceals the scars Kenshiro left on his face beneath a spiked metal mask — and in this new adaptation, he appears in the preview wielding a double-barrelled shotgun in his signature style. His arrival signals that Part 2 will push the story deeper into the inter-brother conflict that defines the Hokuto saga’s most memorable chapters.

Jagi official key visual from the 2026 Hokuto no Ken anime, wearing his signature masked helmet and holding a shotgun
Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Japan / 北斗の拳製作委員会

Warner Bros. Japan confirmed the 2027 broadcast and streaming window alongside the preview. A specific premiere date has not yet been announced — the official site (hokuto-anime.com) lists it as coming in 2027, and the official X account @hokutonokeninfo posted the teaser clip shortly after the finale aired.

It is worth noting that Hokuto no Ken is having a genuine cultural moment right now. Kenshiro was recently confirmed as a playable guest fighter in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, bringing him into the hands of fighting game fans for the first time in decades. The new anime and the fighting game collab together suggest the franchise’s owners are making a concerted push to reintroduce one of shonen’s all-time giants to a new generation — and it appears to be working.

Watch the Official Trailer (Warner Bros. Japan Anime)

『北斗の拳 -FIST OF THE NORTH STAR-』PV第2弾|2nd trailer! — via Warner Bros. Japan Anime on YouTube

Catching Up on Hokuto no Ken Before Part 2

Singapore fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription can start the series immediately — all 14 episodes are up and the production quality is genuinely strong. If you are new to the franchise, the quick pitch is this: in a post-nuclear wasteland, Kenshiro is a master of Hokuto Shinken, a lethal martial art that destroys enemies from within using pressure points. The manga ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1983 to 1988 and remains one of the defining works of the action genre, influencing everything from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure to modern battle shonen storytelling. This 2026 adaptation aims to be the definitive screen version, and the first 14 episodes make a strong case.

For more anime and manga news, keep an eye on GameTrader — we will update as soon as a firm Part 2 premiere date is confirmed.

Keroro Is Back: Sgt. Frog Gets Its First New Film in 16 Years

Keroro Heichou is back on the big screen for the first time in 16 years. New Theatrical Version Sgt. Frog: Upon Revival, Immediately Facing the Threat of Earth’s Destruction! (新劇場版☆ケロロ軍曹 復活して速攻地球滅亡の危機であります!) opened in Japanese cinemas today, June 26, 2026 — and the 20th anniversary theatrical comeback arrives with one of the most unexpected crossovers in recent anime memory: Mobile Suit Gundam.

Official main trailer — 【公式】ケロロチャンネル on YouTube (Japanese)

What the Sgt. Frog 2026 Anime Film Is About

The Keroro Platoon — the lovably incompetent alien invaders who have spent years failing to conquer Earth while living rent-free in the Hinata family basement — find themselves in an unlikely role reversal. When mysterious phenomena begin striking Japan nationwide and an unknown threat puts Earth on the brink of destruction, it falls to Keroro and his squad to defend the planet they were supposed to be conquering.

The 109-minute, G-rated film is directed by Yūichi Fukuda, best known internationally for helming the live-action Gintama films, with Fumitoshi Oizaki serving as assistant director. Animation is handled by BN Pictures, distributed by KADOKAWA and Bandai Namco Filmworks. The theme song, 「また帰ってきたケロッ!とマーチ」 (“We’re Back Again, Kero! March”), is performed by singer-songwriter ano.

Official key visual for the new Sgt. Frog theatrical film 2026 showing Keroro and the platoon in formal suits with Earth in the background
Image courtesy of BN Pictures / KADOKAWA

The Gundam Crossover Nobody Saw Coming

Here is the part that broke the internet in Japan back in June: the film features an official Mobile Suit Gundam crossover. The iconic RX-78-2 Gundam and Char’s Zaku II make dramatic appearances in the film’s climactic battle — a surreal collision of two of Bandai Namco’s biggest properties that feels completely at home in Keroro’s absurdist universe.

To mark the collab, legendary Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin creator Yoshikazu Yasuhiko — the original character designer for the 1979 Gundam series — drew a series of exclusive crossover illustrations placing the Keroro cast alongside Gundam pilots Amuro Ray and other iconic characters. Sgt. Frog creator Mine Yoshizaki contributed pieces on the Keroro side. The resulting artwork is genuinely stunning, blending Yasuhiko’s classic linework with Keroro’s chibi frog designs in a way that somehow works perfectly.

Official Sgt. Frog x Gundam crossover art by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko showing Amuro Ray holding Keroro with giant alien mechs in the background
Collab art by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko — Image courtesy of BN Pictures / KADOKAWA / Sotsu
Second piece of official Sgt. Frog x Gundam collab art showing Amuro Ray and Keroro on a grass field with a GM mobile suit
Collab art by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko — Image courtesy of BN Pictures / KADOKAWA / Sotsu

On the merchandise side, a limited Keroro Robo Mk-II Titans Color Gunpla kit (¥2,200) launched on June 26 alongside the film — a Gundam-style model kit of one of Keroro’s signature mechs done up in Titans dark blue, which is a crossover product that manages to be both ridiculous and highly covetable.

New Characters: Twin Brothers from Planet Keron

The film introduces two new characters: Aruru and Deruru, twin brothers from Planet Keron with a mysterious past connection to the Keroro Platoon. Both are voiced by Jesse, a member of the popular Japanese boy group SixTONES. The original Keroro voice cast returns in full: Kumiko Watanabe as Keroro, Etsuko Kozakura as Tamama, Jōji Nakata as Giroro, and Taketo Yasui as Kururu.

Third piece of Sgt. Frog x Gundam collab art showing a female Gundam pilot with Keroro and a Gundam mobile suit
Collab art courtesy of BN Pictures / KADOKAWA / Sotsu

Can Singapore Fans Watch Sgt. Frog?

For Singapore fans, the situation is familiar: the film opens today in Japan, and there is no confirmed theatrical or streaming release for Southeast Asia at this time. Sgt. Frog has strong roots in the region — the original 358-episode anime series aired extensively on Animax Asia, so a generation of Singapore, Malaysian, and Indonesian anime fans grew up watching Keroro’s botched invasion attempts. The franchise has a genuine following here.

Whether the film eventually surfaces on Crunchyroll (which holds streaming rights for much of the Keroro back-catalogue in SEA) or finds its way to physical release is to be confirmed. Crunchyroll has not announced a streaming date for the film as of publication. Import Blu-ray from Japan is likely the first option for the most eager fans, and Japanese retailers will typically ship to Singapore.

Regardless of how or when Singapore fans can watch it, the fact that Keroro is back on the big screen — and teaming up with Gundam of all things — is worth celebrating. Sixteen years is a long wait. It sounds like it was worth it.

Sources: Anime News Network (English); Anime News Network (Gundam crossover) (English); BN Pictures official site (Japanese). Check our Manga & Anime coverage for more.

Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage Key Visual — Anime Expo Reveal on 3 July

The Steel Ball Run race is still running strong. Warner Bros. Japan unveiled a brand-new key visual for Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure 2nd Stage on 26 June, and confirmed that further details about the upcoming series will be announced at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles on 3 July — just one week away. The 2nd Stage arrives on Netflix in Fall 2026 with weekly episodes, and Singapore fans streaming on Netflix are in line for the ride.

Steel Ball Run JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 2nd Stage key visual featuring Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli
Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Japan

Steel Ball Run Anime 2nd Stage: A New Key Visual and What It Signals

The new key visual, released by Warner Bros. Japan, is the clearest sign yet that production on the 2nd Stage is moving at pace. The adaptation is produced by David Production — the same studio behind every previous JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime season — and continues the story of former jockey Johnny Joestar and mysterious outlaw Gyro Zeppeli competing in the Steel Ball Run, a punishing cross-continental horse race across 1890s America for a US$50 million prize.

The 2nd Stage is set to premiere on Netflix with a weekly release schedule. That delivery format is a direct response to fan frustration over the 1st Stage debut — a standalone 47-minute special that dropped on 19 March 2026 and left the community waiting months for clarification on what came next. In April, Netflix and Warner Bros. Japan confirmed Fall 2026 weekly episodes, and the new key visual now arriving signals that the countdown is on.

STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure 2nd STAGE | Official Teaser | Netflix — via Netflix Philippines on YouTube

Into the Devil’s Palm: What the 2nd Stage Covers

The 2nd Stage takes Johnny and Gyro into the harshest stretch of the race yet — a 750-mile desert crossing centred on a supernatural location the locals fear as the Devil’s Palm. As the competitors press deeper into this cursed ground, unsettling incidents begin mounting among the other racers, and a shadowy culprit lurks within the contest itself. The 2nd Stage teaser shown at AnimeJapan 2026 in March framed the arc as both a survival test and a murder mystery, raising the stakes of the race well beyond prize money.

Steel Ball Run JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 2nd Stage announcement visual
Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Japan

Anime Expo 2026: What Singapore Fans Should Expect on 3 July

Warner Bros. Japan confirmed that new information will drop at Anime Expo 2026 on 3 July in Los Angeles. The convention’s main event days run 4–7 July, but major studios routinely hold press-only reveals on 3 July ahead of the public opening. For Steel Ball Run, that announcement could mean a firmer Fall 2026 premiere date, a full trailer, or additional character details for the Devil’s Palm arc. There’s no confirmed Singapore or SEA-specific announcement scheduled, though Netflix’s global delivery model means Singapore subscribers on Netflix will receive episodes simultaneously with the rest of the world once the weekly schedule begins.

Stay tuned — we’ll cover whatever drops on 3 July. In the meantime, check out our other anime news for everything else Singapore fans are watching this season.

Steel Ball Run JoJo's Bizarre Adventure on Netflix
Image courtesy of Netflix / Warner Bros. Japan

Sekiro: No Defeat Anime Film Hits Japan on 4 September — Crunchyroll Worldwide Streaming Confirmed

Seven years after Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice swept the Game of the Year awards and consumed an untold number of hours for players worldwide, FromSoftware’s samurai action classic is getting its anime adaptation. Sekiro: No Defeat has confirmed a Japan theatrical opening date of 4 September 2026, with advance tickets going on sale today — and Crunchyroll worldwide streaming rights already secured for audiences outside Japan.

Sekiro: No Defeat anime film official key art
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA

Studio, Director, and a Fully Hand-Drawn Approach

Animation is handled by Qzil.la, with KADOKAWA and ARCH overseeing production. Director Kenichi Kutsuna makes his feature film directorial debut on the project, with Takuya Sato on screenplay and Takahiro Kishida as character designer. The production commits to full 2D hand-drawn animation throughout — no CGI substitutes.

The film already appeared on the international festival circuit before its wide theatrical rollout, with screenings at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and the Fantasia International Film Festival. The official PV released today alongside the advance ticket announcement gives the clearest look yet at how the title’s parry-heavy combat and Sengoku Japan atmosphere translate into animation.

「SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT」PV|2026年劇場版全国公開 — via KADOKAWAanime on YouTube

Japan Theatrical Run — And When Singapore Fans Can Watch

The Japan theatrical run is a limited three-week engagement from 4 September 2026. For Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia, the good news is that Crunchyroll has confirmed worldwide streaming rights — though a specific streaming date has not been announced yet. A release following the theatrical window, likely in late 2026 or early 2027, is the most reasonable expectation based on how Crunchyroll has handled similar Japanese theatrical exclusives.

Sekiro: No Defeat anime scene promotional image
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA

There is no Singapore theatrical release confirmed at this time. Advance tickets for the Japan run are priced at ¥1,600 (approximately SGD 14.50) and are available now via participating Japanese cinema chains. The advance tickets include a collectible bonus item.

FromSoftware’s Most Award-Laden Game Gets an Anime

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice launched in 2019 and won Game of the Year at The Game Awards, among other industry honours. Its uncompromising parry-centric combat and Sengoku Japan setting built one of FromSoftware’s most devoted fanbases — one that only expanded as Elden Ring brought millions of new players to the studio’s world.

Sekiro: No Defeat anime film scene
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA

For Singapore fans who spent hours at the feet of Genichiro or the Demon of Hatred, seeing those encounters adapted into animation is the central draw. The PV leans heavily into action choreography, which should reassure anyone who worried this might become a slow character drama at the expense of its source material’s defining quality.

Sekiro: No Defeat anime promotional visual
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA

Follow developments at sekiro-anime.jp (Japanese) for the latest updates, and keep an eye on Crunchyroll for streaming details. For more anime news on GameTrader, check our dedicated section.

You Are Already Dead: Kenshiro Hits Fatal Fury This June

The post-apocalyptic heir to Hokuto Shinken is heading to South Town. SNK has confirmed Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star as the sixth and final DLC character in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves‘ Season Pass 2, launching sometime this month — and EVO 2026, which kicked off today in Las Vegas, is your first chance to play him.

Kenshiro character showcase for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
Image courtesy of SNK
FATAL FURY: CotW × FIST OF THE NORTH STAR: HOKUTO NO KEN|KENSHIRO|Character Trailer — via SNK OFFICIAL on YouTube

The Kenshiro Fatal Fury Crossover: Why This Pairing Makes Sense

For anyone who grew up watching anime in Singapore in the late 80s and 90s — or encountered the countless memes that followed — Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star (北斗の拳) needs no introduction. He is the protagonist of Tetsuo Hara and Buronson’s seminal post-apocalyptic manga, which ran in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1983 to 1988 and was adapted into a landmark 1984 anime series. His lethal martial art Hokuto Shinken — targeting pressure points to destroy opponents from the inside — gave the world one of the most quoted anime lines of all time.

SNK’s decision to cross him over into Fatal Fury is not random: both franchises are rooted in the same era of Japanese action culture, and the timing is deliberate. As SNK states in the official announcement, his arrival “coincides with the all-new Fist of the North Star: HOKUTO NO KEN anime, currently airing in Japan and around the world” — the 2026 remake series that premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 11 and is now running globally.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves gameplay
Image courtesy of SNK

How Kenshiro Plays in City of the Wolves

SNK describes Kenshiro’s kit as focused on “fast and formidable strikes, channelling point activations and status changes, and impressive combo options.” The character trailer shows a close-range, high-pressure playstyle — rapid blitz combos with body-implosion finishers that are faithful to the source material. He is voiced by Shunsuke Takeuchi in Japanese and Clayton Alexander in English.

Kenshiro is the sixth and final character in Season Pass 2, joining Kim Jae Hoon, Nightmare Geese, Blue Mary, Wolfgang Krauser, and Mr. Karate. Season Pass 2 is available standalone for US$19.99. The Legend Edition — which bundles the base game with both Season Passes 1 and 2 — is currently discounted on Steam until July 9. Check the Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Steam page for current SGD pricing. The game is also on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Xbox Series X|S.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves fighter showdown
Image courtesy of SNK

Demo Live at EVO 2026 This Weekend

EVO 2026 is running June 26–28 in Las Vegas, and Kenshiro is available on the showfloor as a playable hands-on preview. SNK has confirmed his full launch for “June 2026” without locking a specific date — with EVO underway and the demo already live, a shadow drop during the event window is looking very likely.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is in the main EVO 2026 bracket alongside Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Guilty Gear Strive, and eleven other titles. For Singapore FGC players watching from home, the pools and Showcase streams are free on EVO’s official Twitch and YouTube channels. Evening sessions in Las Vegas (PDT) land in the early morning hours SGT — PDT + 15 hours — so plan accordingly. Find more fighting game and gaming news on GameTrader.SG.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves action combat
Image courtesy of SNK

Sakamoto Days Season 2 Is Coming to Netflix in January 2027

Netflix just dropped the first teaser for Sakamoto Days Season 2, and the world’s most lovable retired hitman is trading his corner shop for a full-blown assassin academy. The second season arrives in January 2027 on Netflix worldwide — Singapore fans, mark your calendars.

Sakamoto Days | Season 2 Teaser Trailer — via Netflix Anime on YouTube

Undercover at JCC — The Season 2 Story

Season 2 picks up with Taro Sakamoto and Shin going deep undercover at the Japan Clear Creation (JCC) — the country’s elite assassin training institution. Their mission: gather intel on the mysterious figure known only as X, or “Slur,” a name that sent a chill through the final episodes of Season 1.

The execution is brilliantly absurd. Sakamoto disguises himself as his wife Aoi and poses as a student teacher, while Shin enrolls as a regular student. If Season 1 was already a masterclass in mixing domestic comedy with brutal action, Season 2 is pushing the premise to its logical extreme — and it sounds like it works perfectly.

Shin from Sakamoto Days Season 2 with blue lightning energy
Image courtesy of TMS Entertainment / Netflix

While Sakamoto and Shin navigate the academy, ORDER agents Nagumo, Shishiba, and Osaragi head to Kyoto on a separate mission — only to be ambushed by an unexpected assailant. Season 2 also reportedly digs into the shared history of young Sakamoto, Nagumo, Rion, and Slur, giving the anime the origin-story backstory the manga’s fanbase has been hungry for.

New Director, Same DNA

The behind-the-scenes lineup sees one key change: Season 1 director Masaki Watanabe steps into a Supervising Director role, handing the reins to Daisuke Nakajima — who directed the standout episode 22 of the first season. The rest of the core team is back: Taku Kishimoto on series composition, Yo Moriyama on character design, Yuki Hayashi composing the score, and TMS Entertainment handling animation production.

Nakajima set expectations high in a statement published on Netflix’s official newsroom: “I will spare nothing in depicting the stylish action and individual aesthetics of Suzuki-sensei’s uniquely vivid cast of assassins.” Based on the teaser alone, TMS looks to be pushing the visual quality up another notch — the Shin close-up alone has more crispness and energy than a lot of what Season 1 delivered in its quieter stretches.

Taro Sakamoto in the official Season 2 teaser for Sakamoto Days
Image courtesy of TMS Entertainment / Netflix

For more anime news and previews, head to our Manga & Anime section.

Where Singapore Fans Can Watch It

This one is easy: Netflix, available in Singapore from day one. Sakamoto Days Season 1 spent ten consecutive weeks in the Netflix Global Top 10 for non-English series when it launched in 2025, making it one of the platform’s biggest anime hits. Season 2 carries no region lock and no local distribution deal to wait for — if you have a Netflix subscription, you’re sorted the moment it drops in January 2027.

The teaser was revealed at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival alongside the full official key visual — a clean, bold poster of Sakamoto and Shin standing back-to-back under the words “NEXT STAGE,” with January 2027 stamped at the bottom. It’s confident, and for good reason.

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Everyday Wonders Launches 30 June — Mega Diancie ex, Cosy Cards, July Events

The next wave of Pokémon TCG Pocket packs is less than a week away, and it is exactly as cute as it sounds. Everyday Wonders (expansion code B3b) launches on 30 June 2026 at 9am SGT, bringing a fresh roster of cosy, slice-of-life card art alongside three brand-new ex Pokémon — including the format’s first-ever Mega. Singapore players can dive in the moment servers go live, and there are no regional restrictions to worry about.

Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders official trailer thumbnail — Pikachu, Piplup and Snorlax
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Watch the Everyday Wonders Official Trailer

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Everyday Wonders | Official Trailer — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel

What’s in the Everyday Wonders Card Set

Everyday Wonders is the twelfth themed expansion in Pokémon TCG Pocket and leans fully into the cuter, calmer side of Pokémon — cards show pocket monsters dozing off, posing sweetly, or simply having a blast alongside their Trainers. The confirmed card pool includes:

Four-diamond ex cards

  • Mega Diancie ex — the first Mega Pokémon to appear in TCG Pocket, making it an instant collector target
  • Dedenne ex — a Tools-synergy attacker that grows stronger the more Tool cards you have in play
  • Hisuian Zoroark ex — a dark-type fan favourite returning from the Hisui region

Other revealed cards: Pikachu, Piplup, Snorlax, Sylveon, Greedent, Hisuian Lilligant, Hisuian Goodra, Rockruff, Fidough, Yamper, Slowpoke, and Quagsire — spanning the main series and Hisui variants. New Trainer cards include Puppy Loving Girl and the Item card Small Balloon.

Pikachu card art from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders expansion
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

New Mechanics to Try Out

Everyday Wonders brings a few interesting new interactions to the Pocket metagame. Sylveon can restore 30 HP to one of your Benched Pokémon each turn while it holds a Tool card — a steady healing engine that pairs naturally with bulky, Tool-heavy builds. Dedenne ex scales its attack alongside the number of Tools in play, making the two cards obvious partners.

The new Item card Small Balloon reduces any Basic Pokémon’s retreat cost by one energy, giving faster decks some welcome flexibility. Several Pokémon in the expansion also share a move called Puppy Pile, tying Rockruff, Fidough, Yamper and the Puppy Loving Girl Trainer into a thematically cohesive puppy cluster — arguably the most aggressively adorable corner of the entire set.

Sylveon card art from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders expansion
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

July Events to Mark in Your Calendar

The expansion rolls out alongside a month-long schedule of in-game events running through July 2026:

  • Everyday Wonders Emblem Event (early to mid-July): Battle-based missions rewarding shinedust and exclusive emblems for your profile.
  • Community Week (mid-July): Trading and sharing missions that hand out Pack Hourglasses and cosmetic accessories.
  • Hisuian Zorua Drop Event (mid-to-late July): Win special battles to unlock a Hisuian Zorua promo card — a must-grab for Hisui region collectors.
  • Wonder Pick Event (mid-to-late July): A wonder pick pool featuring Growlithe and Emolga cards.

On 1 July, new collection files and display boards depicting all five of the expansion’s flagship Pokémon — Pikachu, Piplup, Sylveon, Greedent and Snorlax — will be added so you can deck out your card collection display in style.

Snorlax card art from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders expansion
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

When Singapore Players Can Open Packs

Everyday Wonders goes live at 9am SGT on 30 June 2026 (that is 6pm PDT on 29 June for those tracking the global rollout). Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is free-to-play on iOS and Android worldwide, and the new expansion is available globally with no region locking — so there is nothing standing between Singapore players and that Mega Diancie ex except Pack Hourglasses and a little luck.

Keep an eye on the Game News section here at GameTrader.SG as the July event schedule firms up and more card reveals land ahead of launch.