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Nova Solaris

Manga Anime, News

Jump Festa 2027 Set for 19–20 December at Makuhari Messe

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Singapore anime fans, mark your calendars. Shueisha has officially confirmed that Jump Festa 2027 will be held on 19–20 December 2026 at Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall in Chiba, Japan. Doors open at 9:00 AM and last entry is at 4:30 PM both days — and if the past couple of years are any guide, it is going to be one of the biggest weekends in manga and anime this year.

The announcement was published by Famitsu (Japanese) today and is the first official word from Shueisha on dates for the 2027 edition. A dedicated JF2027 page on the official Jump Festa website is expected to follow closer to the event.

What is Jump Festa?

Jump Festa is Shueisha’s annual mega-event, jointly hosted by five of Japan’s biggest manga magazines — Weekly Shonen Jump, Shonen Jump+, V Jump, Jump SQ., and Saikyō Jump. Every December it takes over Makuhari Messe — the same sprawling convention complex that hosts Tokyo Game Show — with franchise stage shows, world-premiere trailers, voice-actor appearances, exclusive merch, and enough announcement firepower to keep the anime internet buzzing for weeks.

JF2027 will occupy Halls 1–9 and Hall 11, keeping the expanded footprint that the event has used since 2026.

What to Expect in December

Shueisha hasn’t confirmed the franchise lineup for JF2027 yet — that information typically drops through individual Jump magazine announcements and the official JF website in the months leading up to the event. But based on what’s currently airing and in production, Singapore fans will almost certainly be watching for news on:

  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — Infinity Castle Part 2, with the first film having already become a generational event for SG fans
  • Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol, which has been teased in Jump magazines
  • Kagurabachi and Sakamoto Days, two of the hottest ongoing Shonen Jump manga currently in production as anime
  • One Piece — always a centrepiece of Jump Festa — now deep into the Elbaph arc
  • Haikyu!! theatrical releases
Chainsaw Man International Assassins Arc anime visual
Image courtesy of Shueisha / MAPPA

It’s worth noting that Jump Festa regularly springs genuine surprises. The Chainsaw Man: International Assassins Arc, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run anime premiere date and Black Clover Season 2 were all confirmed at Jump Festa 2026 — none of them were in the pre-event speculation lists. Expect at least one or two out-of-nowhere reveals this December.

Jump Festa 2026 Anime Heaven in Tokyo – ジャンプフェスタ2026 [4K 60fps ASMR] — via Kaibear Explores on YouTube

What Jump Festa 2026 Delivered

Jump Festa 2026 (held December 20–21, 2025 at Makuhari Messe) set a high bar. Alongside the announcements above, Shueisha used the event to drop a first trailer for the fourth and final arc of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, confirm the Elbaph arc premiere date for One Piece, and reveal a Dan Da Dan Season 3 key visual. The main Jump Super Stage was livestreamed globally — Singapore fans watching from home at 9 AM were refreshing their feeds just as fast as fans queuing at Chiba.

One Piece Elbaph arc key visual revealed at Jump Festa 2026
Image courtesy of Toei Animation / Eiichiro Oda / Shueisha

Shueisha has confirmed all three stages — Jump Super Stage, Jump Studio, and Jump Station — will return for 2027, though a full schedule and performer lineup will only be revealed later in the year.

Planning Your December Trip from Singapore

December 19–20 sits right at the start of Singapore’s year-end school holidays, which makes it a realistic travel window for families and students alike. Makuhari Messe is in Chiba — roughly 30 minutes from central Tokyo on the JR Keiyo Line — so it pairs naturally with a wider Japan year-end trip.

Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and Jetstar all fly direct Singapore to Tokyo (Narita or Haneda). Narita is marginally closer to Makuhari Messe via the JR Sobu Line or Keisei Skyliner connection. Accommodation in the Makuhari area books out fast for Jump Festa weekend, so if you are seriously considering attending in person, now is not too early to start watching flight and hotel prices.

Dan Da Dan Season 3 key visual revealed at Jump Festa 2026
Image courtesy of Shueisha / Science SARU

If you are not making the trip to Japan, the Jump Super Stage livestream is your best bet — Shueisha has streamed it globally in recent years, with some regional restrictions that have historically not affected Singapore. We will post the official stream links as they are confirmed.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Steel Ball Run anime visual from Jump Festa 2026
Image courtesy of Shueisha / David Production

Keep an eye on our manga and anime coverage — we will track every official JF2027 stage and franchise announcement as they drop in the lead-up to December.

Game News

ZeroSpace Hits Steam Early Access Today — Sci-Fi RTS Launches Now

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The wait is over: ZeroSpace, the Kickstarter-backed sci-fi strategy hybrid from Starlance Studios, has officially launched in Steam Early Access today, 20 July 2026. With over 250,000 wishlists and 40,000 players through the demo at Steam Next Fest last month, this one has been on a lot of radar screens — and now the real game is live.

ZeroSpace official Steam capsule art by Starlance Studios
Image courtesy of Starlance Studios

What Is ZeroSpace?

ZeroSpace is a cinematic sci-fi RTS with a story-rich, party-based RPG campaign — the developer’s own description, and an accurate one. You command The Protectorate in a galactic conflict set in the Orion sector, making crew decisions and mission-level choices that shape how the story unfolds. Less mindless base-clicking, more narrative weight baked into the strategy layer.

Developed by Starlance Studios together with Ironward and co-published with Gamersky Games, ZeroSpace is the studio’s debut title following a successful Kickstarter campaign. The team describes a one-year Early Access roadmap before a full release.

ZeroSpace galactic war persistent co-op mode map
Image courtesy of Starlance Studios

What’s in Early Access at Launch

ZeroSpace ships Day One with a solid content base:

  • 13 campaign story missions with interactive dialogue and crew relationship mechanics
  • 10 co-op missions with procedurally generated enemy compositions and objectives
  • Skirmish mode for custom quick battles
  • 4 main factions plus 6 mercenary factions
  • 90+ units and heroes across all factions
  • Galactic War — a persistent, MMO-style co-op mode where players fight for control across an ongoing star map

The roadmap through to full release adds more campaign missions, 4v4 PvP maps, and expanded Galactic War mechanics. The developer has confirmed that Early Access pricing may increase as content is added — so getting in now is likely the best value.

ZeroSpace hero units and faction selection screen
Image courtesy of Starlance Studios

System Requirements

ZeroSpace is a reasonably demanding PC title. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Minimum: 4-core CPU @ 3 GHz, 16 GB RAM, GTX 1080 Ti or RX 5700, 50 GB storage, Windows 10 64-bit, DirectX 11
  • Recommended: 8-core CPU @ 3 GHz, 16 GB RAM, RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6800, 50 GB storage

PC via Steam is the only platform at launch — no console release has been announced. Steam is the dominant PC gaming platform across Southeast Asia, and no region lock has been confirmed, so Singapore players can pick it up directly.

Watch the Early Access Launch Trailer

ZeroSpace – Campaign EA Launch Date Trailer — via PlayZeroSpace on YouTube

Where to Get It

ZeroSpace is available now on Steam. Check the store page directly for current pricing — the developer has noted the price is subject to increase through the Early Access period. No region lock has been announced, so the game should be accessible from Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia without a VPN.

ZeroSpace galactic war persistent co-op mode overview
Image courtesy of Starlance Studios

If you’ve been waiting for an RTS that actually gives you something to care about beyond the unit count, ZeroSpace looks like a genuine contender. The demo pulled 40,000 players in a week during Next Fest — now the real test starts. For more on what’s launching on PC and console, check out our latest game news.

Game News

Halo: Campaign Evolved Goes Gold — SG Early Access Starts This Thursday

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Halo Studios has officially confirmed that Halo: Campaign Evolved has gone gold — development on the 1.0 version is complete, and the game is on track for its July 28 global release. For Singapore players, that means the wait is almost over: early access kicks off this Thursday, 24 July, for Premium and Collector’s Edition owners, with the full launch following on Tuesday, 29 July.

As we covered earlier this month, this marks the first time a mainline Halo campaign has ever come to PlayStation — so PS5 owners in Singapore are finally getting their shot at the Chief.

Master Chief faces off against a Covenant Elite in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Xbox

When Can Singapore Players Start?

The global release date of July 28 at 8 AM PDT works out differently for the Asia-Pacific region. Halo Studios confirmed in the official launch FAQ that Singapore and other Asia-Pacific markets are on the same schedule as Japan:

  • Premium & Collector’s Edition early access: Thursday, 24 July 2026 (SGT)
  • Standard Edition global launch: Tuesday, 29 July 2026 (SGT)

If you were planning to buy a physical copy at local game retailers and electronics shops, the disc should be on shelves for the 29 July date — physical availability in retail was confirmed as part of the July Community Q&A.

Halo: Campaign Evolved | Cinematic Story Trailer — via HALO on YouTube

What the July Community Q&A Revealed

Alongside the gold announcement, Halo Studios published a detailed community Q&A on Halo Waypoint answering fan questions ahead of launch. A few highlights that were not part of earlier coverage:

  • Machinima Mode is included — it supports freecam, lowered weapons, and controlling a Spartan without needing skull unlocks, so content creators and long-time fans of the original’s machinima scene will have tools to work with from day one.
  • Weapon dropping works differently here: you can drop a weapon for a teammate without automatically swapping to whatever is on the ground, which sounds small but makes co-op much cleaner.
  • Friendly fire can be toggled on or off by the fireteam leader — handy for co-op sessions where you’d rather not grief your squadmates.
  • AI behaviours have been improved since the earlier preview build that media played ahead of launch.
  • LASO mode uses a curated assortment of skulls rather than all 42, making it — per the team — “technically more like LAASO.”
A Warthog with turret blazes through an icy Forerunner cave in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Xbox

Operation: METEORITE — The Three New Story Missions

Every edition of the game includes Operation: METEORITE, a brand-new three-mission arc set a year before the events of the original Halo. The prequel follows Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson on a clandestine UNSC operation aboard a Covenant research vessel — it is effectively new canon, filling in story that Halo: Combat Evolved only implied.

Cortana rendered in stunning detail in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Xbox

Editions, Pricing and Game Pass

The game launches at USD 49.99 for the Standard Edition. The Premium Edition (USD 59.99–69.99) adds five days of early access — so Thursday 24 July in Singapore — along with a digital art book, weapon skins, armour cosmetics, and a digital manual. The Collector’s Edition at USD 199.99 is available via Halo Waypoint and mirrors the Premium digital bonuses with physical extras.

If you are on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass, the Standard Edition is included in your subscription at launch — no extra charge. That is genuinely one of the better deals in gaming right now if you have not picked up Game Pass yet.

Pre-ordering the digital version before 7:59 AM PDT on 28 July also nets you the Foundry Armory Pack — legendary-style cosmetics for the Master Chief’s Mark V Mjolnir armour — which is also bundled with physical copies.

Sgt. Johnson leads a UNSC squad in Halo: Campaign Evolved's Operation Meteorite prequel missions
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Xbox

Steam Deck Verified, Handheld Optimized on Windows

One more piece of good news for portable players: the July Q&A confirmed Halo: Campaign Evolved has earned Steam Deck Verified status (the highest Steam Deck rating) and is rated Handheld Optimized on Windows handhelds. Given how popular handhelds are becoming in Singapore’s gaming scene, that is worth flagging — the Chief plays just as well lying on your sofa as he does at a desk.

The interior of Installation 04 stretches out against a breathtaking planetary vista in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Xbox

Nine days to go — or four if you have the Premium Edition. You can follow all our gaming news coverage here on GameTrader.SG.

News, Shop and Merchandise

Pokémon Center × Sean Wotherspoon: Pikachu, Charizard & Bulbasaur Get the Vintage Treatment

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Two worlds that feel like they were always destined to collide: Pokémon Center and Los Angeles designer Sean Wotherspoon have announced a limited collaborative plush collection featuring Pikachu, Charizard, and Bulbasaur — each reimagined using vintage-inspired fabrics and handcraft-forward construction. Pre-orders open 23 July 2026 at Pokémon Center Japan, with a global rollout expected to follow.

Pikachu, Charizard and Bulbasaur vintage plushies from the Pokémon Center × Sean Wotherspoon collaboration
Image courtesy of Pokémon Center / Sean Wotherspoon

Who Is Sean Wotherspoon?

Sean Wotherspoon portrait
Image courtesy of Pokémon Center / Sean Wotherspoon

Wotherspoon is the founder of Round Two, a vintage and sneaker boutique with outposts in Los Angeles, New York, and Tokyo. He is probably best known outside streetwear circles for winning the Nike On Air design competition in 2017 with the Air Max 1/97 “Sean Wotherspoon” — a corduroy-panelled sneaker that became one of the most hyped Nike releases of the decade and remains highly traded today. His aesthetic is rooted in 1970s–1980s Americana: chenille patches, boucle textures, varsity-jacket colour blocking, and a deliberate handmade quality that pushes back against polished mass production.

He has collaborated with major brands including adidas, Hot Wheels, and Levi’s, but a Pokémon tie-in — a franchise with its own deep 1990s nostalgia DNA — is arguably the most natural fit he has had in years.

The Plushies: Vintage Fabrics, Pokémon Souls

Pikachu plush close-up showing vintage corduroy fabric from the Sean Wotherspoon collaboration
Image courtesy of Pokémon Center / Sean Wotherspoon

The three plushies each carry Wotherspoon’s signature material language. Pikachu is rendered in a warm golden corduroy with contrast-stitched facial features and a red-velvet inner ear. Bulbasaur uses a sage-green boucle body with the iconic seed bulb rendered in a deeper forest-green pile fabric. Charizard is the centrepiece: its wings are patchworked from multiple flame-toned fabrics — rust, amber, and burnt orange — giving it a look closer to a collectible craft object than a mass-produced toy.

Charizard plush close-up showing patchwork wing fabric from the Pokémon Center × Sean Wotherspoon collaboration
Image courtesy of Pokémon Center / Sean Wotherspoon

All three are sized as display plushies rather than standard shelf plushies — approximately 30 cm each — and each comes packaged in a branded round tin decorated with vintage-style Pokémon artwork. The tin alone is being discussed heavily in the collecting community as a reason to pick up the set.

Pre-Order Details and Singapore Access

Pre-orders open at Pokémon Center Japan online on 23 July 2026. Individual pricing has not been confirmed at time of writing, but the collection is expected to be in the ¥4,000–¥6,000 per piece range based on comparable Pokémon Center limited plushies. A bundle option for all three is also anticipated.

There is no confirmed Singapore or Southeast Asia release through official channels yet. Singapore fans have two realistic options: use a proxy or forwarding service to order from Pokémon Center Japan, or watch Pokémon Center Online for a potential international drop, which has happened with previous high-demand collaborations. Given Wotherspoon’s global profile and the three-Pokémon breadth of the collab, an international rollout is plausible — just not confirmed.

For ongoing updates on Pokémon merchandise and collaborations reaching Singapore, check our Pokémon section.

Game News

BLEACH Mirrors High: Combat and Three New Kubo Characters

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Bandai Namco has dropped the first full gameplay look at BLEACH Mirrors High, the upcoming free-to-play mobile action RPG set after the Thousand-Year Blood War arc — and it comes loaded with three brand-new Soul Reapers drawn by creator Tite Kubo himself. As we covered when the game was first unveiled at Anime Expo, Mirrors High is Kubo’s most hands-on game involvement yet; the new overview trailer confirms exactly how deep that goes.

BLEACH Mirrors High – Overview Trailer — via [Global] Bandai Namco Entertainment – Mobile Games on YouTube

Three New Soul Reapers by Tite Kubo

The headline reveal: three new original squad members, all designed personally by Tite Kubo and voiced by established Japanese cast members.

Tite Kubo character design sketches for Naru Jurinna, Giro Hando, and Maiko Tokishima from BLEACH Mirrors High
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment
  • Naru Jurinna (CV: Fuka Izumi) — a spirited Soul Reaper with a brash, open style and a colourful Zanpakuto, shown wielding her blade with a confident grin.
  • Giro Hando (CV: Shogo Batori) — a tall, cool-headed figure whose stoic expression and green-bladed sword suggest a character with serious depth.
  • Maiko Tokishima (CV: Yu Sasahara) — a smaller, quick-witted Soul Reaper in a bucket hat and braid, carrying both a Zanpakuto and what appears to be a notebook — a tactician in the making.

Kubo described his character design work as something he genuinely got carried away with: he produced more designs than the team originally requested, and sat in on voice auditions and recording sessions. These three squad members join the two original protagonists — Shirin Migishima and Shirane Sanari — that were announced at Anime Expo, rounding out a cast that feels every bit like a proper Bleach ensemble.

BLEACH Mirrors High new original characters key visual featuring Giro Hando, Naru Jurinna, Maiko Tokishima, and Shirin Migishima
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Card Combat and the Soul Drive System

The overview trailer gives the clearest look yet at how BLEACH Mirrors High actually plays. Battles are built around a card-based system where you form a team of three and combine cards to build powerful combos. Signature moves trigger when the right combination clicks, and the standout finisher is the Soul Drive — a team-up technique that lets all three fighters unleash a joint attack, visually reminiscent of the choreographed battles in the manga.

The format looks designed for one-handed mobile play while still giving players meaningful decisions with each card they draw. Fan favourites like Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, Byakuya Kuchiki, Kisuke Urahara, Renji Abarai, and Toushirou Hitsugaya are all confirmed for the roster alongside the original Mirrors High cast.

Design Your Own Soul Reaper

Both the avatar and Zanpakuto customisation systems are shown in detail for the first time. Your player character is a fully customisable Soul Reaper: adjust hair, face, body type, and skin across a full colour palette, then dress them in options ranging from a classic Shihakushō to casual streetwear (yes, including a “REAPER” hoodie).

BLEACH Mirrors High player avatar customisation screen showing clothing options
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Zanpakuto customisation goes just as deep: choose the blade shape, guard, hilt, decorations, and particle effects independently to build a sword that is genuinely yours. Given how central Zanpakuto identity is to Bleach’s lore, the depth here will matter to fans.

BLEACH Mirrors High Zanpakuto customisation screen showing blade and effect options
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Closed Beta Test: 22–29 July

The closed beta test runs from 22 July (11 PM PDT) to 29 July (10:59 PM PDT) on iOS and Android. Sign-ups for the CBT closed on 13 July, so if you registered, watch your inbox for access details as the window opens this week.

A full global release date has not been confirmed yet — Bandai Namco has stated the game is coming to iOS and Android “this summer”. The game is being developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment and published globally; based on the multilingual UI shown in the trailer (including Traditional Chinese and Korean text visible in gameplay footage), a broad Asian launch including Singapore is expected when it goes live. Check the official BLEACH Mirrors High site for updates.

For more mobile game news, stay tuned to GameTrader.

Game News

Hasbro and Nintendo Announce Legend of Zelda Toy Line — First Figures Debut at SDCC Next Week

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Nintendo’s biggest fantasy franchise is about to get its most ambitious toy treatment yet. Hasbro has announced a multi-year licensing partnership with Nintendo to develop a Legend of Zelda collectibles line — and the first look arrives at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 next week, 23–26 July.

Three 6-Inch Figures Reveal at SDCC July 23–26

Three 6-inch scale figures will make their public debut at the San Diego Comic-Con 2026 show floor, though Hasbro has not yet revealed which characters lead the inaugural wave. Fan speculation points to series mainstays Link, Princess Zelda, and Ganondorf as the most likely choices, given their status as the franchise’s defining trio across every major entry — but Hasbro is keeping the big reveal for the show.

The 6-inch scale is significant. It is the same format Hasbro uses for its premium adult-collector lines: Marvel Legends and Star Wars Black Series. That puts Zelda figures alongside the industry’s gold standard in articulated collectibles — detailed sculpts, multiple points of articulation, and accessories — rather than the simplified toy-aisle product. If the line follows Hasbro’s collector playbook, Singapore fans should expect per-figure prices in line with those ranges when they arrive.

Link in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
Image courtesy of Nintendo

“By combining Nintendo’s iconic storytelling with Hasbro’s leadership in action and role-play, we’re delivering toys that invite fans to play, explore and forge their own epic adventures,” said Billy Lagor, President of Toys and Board Games at Hasbro. The broader product line — which includes not just action figures but also plushies and role-play replicas — is slated to launch in 2027.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

Why This Partnership Is Happening Now

The timing is no coincidence. Zelda is entering what may be its most commercially visible stretch ever. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026 — introducing a generation of newer fans to what many still consider the greatest action-adventure game ever made. As we covered when the remake was announced, the Switch 2 version brings full HD visuals, updated gameplay refinements, and a new audience who may never have played the N64 original.

On top of that, a live-action Legend of Zelda film directed by Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Maze Runner) is scheduled to open on 30 April 2027 — distributed by Sony Pictures. The film stars Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link. That theatrical window sits right alongside the 2027 production launch Hasbro just announced, suggesting the two are coordinated to ride the same wave of franchise momentum.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo Switch 2 key art
Image courtesy of Nintendo

What Singapore Zelda Collectors Can Expect

No Asia or Singapore-specific release details have been announced yet, but Hasbro’s major collector lines — including Marvel Legends and Star Wars Black Series — are regularly stocked at major toy retailers and electronics chains in Singapore. There is every reason to expect the Zelda line to follow the same distribution model when it rolls out in 2027.

No pricing has been confirmed at this stage. Given that the full product range is said to include action figures, plushies, and roleplay items, the line is likely to span different price points — making it accessible to casual fans as much as dedicated display-shelf collectors.

For now, all eyes are on SDCC 2026 next week. The three inaugural figures will be unveiled 23–26 July, and if Hasbro follows its usual Comic-Con playbook, expect photography and detailed reveals to surface from the show floor from July 23 onwards. We’ll cover the figure reveals as soon as they drop. Check our news section for updates.

Event

Game On, Dreamers! G.O.D. Mode — Sands Expo, 7–9 August

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Singapore’s gaming scene is about to get its biggest homegrown festival yet. Game On, Dreamers! — organised by Singapore-based GameOn Dreamers (SG) Pte Ltd and powered by amc asia! (sg) and Liminal Entertainment — is launching its inaugural G.O.D. Mode (Multiplayer Offline Digital Event) over National Day weekend: 7 to 9 August 2026 at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Halls D, E & F.

The Singapore Tourism Board is backing the event, and the team has already locked in strategic partnerships with global gaming company CAPCOM and creator network Social Seed. If that opening line-up is any indication, G.O.D. Mode is positioning itself as a permanent new fixture on Singapore’s pop-culture events calendar.

Three Zones, One Long Weekend

Players gathering around Street Fighter 6 arcade cabinets at a community event
Image courtesy of CAPCOM

The festival floor spans three distinct themed areas designed to serve every kind of gamer:

  • Dream World — immersive tech and virtual reality experiences
  • Dream Battle — the competitive esports arena, with professional tournaments and open community brackets
  • Dream Play — anime fandom, cosplay competitions, indie game developers and creator showcases

Executive Producer Terence Kuek sums it up directly: “At its heart, gaming is about connection, shared experiences and community — and that is what we want this playfest to celebrate.”

CAPCOM On Board at G.O.D. Mode — Street Fighter and More

Street Fighter 6, CAPCOM's flagship fighting game
Image courtesy of CAPCOM

The highest-profile announced partner is CAPCOM, which has signed an MOU to bring its franchises to G.O.D. Mode through competitive play, community showcases and curated experiences. Ricky Bian Li, Managing Director of CAPCOM Singapore, said: “Singapore continues to be an important market for gaming culture in Southeast Asia. We are excited to explore how our franchises can engage fans through competitive play, community showcases and curated experiences at G.O.D. Mode.”

Street Fighter 6 is the obvious CAPCOM title for Dream Battle tournament play, and the broader esports slate is expected to include Valorant, Mobile Legends, League of Legends and Dota 2 — covering the full range from FGC to MOBA to tactical shooters. Official programming details per title are to be confirmed closer to the event.

Singapore, Certified Esports Destination

The Singapore Tourism Board’s backing is deliberate: STB Director Lilian Chee noted that G.O.D. Mode “adds a fresh dimension to our vibrant events calendar, reinforcing Singapore’s destination appeal” as a hub for esports. Broadcast partner Zenway Productions is planning global streaming, with CEO Li Jianming saying the goal is to “ensure Game On, Dreamers! delivers a premium esports experience that can be enjoyed both on-site and by audiences around the world.”

The National Day weekend timing is no accident. Running from 7 to 9 August gives Singaporeans a full long-weekend reason to show up — and the event is billed as inclusive for all skill levels, with family-friendly activities alongside the pro-level competition.

G.O.D. Mode Singapore: Dates, Venue and Tickets

Dates: 7–9 August 2026
Venue: Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Halls D, E & F (10 Bayfront Avenue, Marina Bay)
Tickets: Early bird tickets on sale now at gameondreamers.com — ticket pricing to be confirmed
Social: @gameondreamers on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook

See our full list of Singapore gaming and anime events we’re tracking this year.

Game News, News

FFX Museum -幻光の記憶- Opens in Shinjuku This September — Fan Art Deadline 31 July

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Final Fantasy X turned 25 on 19 July — a landmark anniversary for one of the most beloved JRPGs ever made. Square Enix has already marked the occasion with the Switch 2 HD Remaster and Daimaru Tokyo pop-up, but the centrepiece is still to come: a dedicated museum exhibition landing in Shinjuku this September.

FINAL FANTASY X MUSEUM -幻光の記憶-

Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary artwork — Yuna and Tidus, character design by Tetsuya Nomura
Image courtesy of Square Enix. Character design: Tetsuya Nomura.

Titled FINAL FANTASY X MUSEUM -幻光の記憶- (“Museum of Phantom Light Memories”), the exhibition will run from 12 to 27 September 2026 at Lumine 0, NEWoMan Shinjuku 5F — a venue directly accessible from Shinjuku Station without stepping outside. Per the official Final Fantasy 25th anniversary page (Japanese), hours are 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, with an earlier close at 5:00 PM on the final day, 27 September. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

Ticket pricing has not yet been announced. Square Enix describes the exhibit as covering multiple displays on the game and its history, with exclusive anniversary merchandise available on-site.

Fan Art Could End Up on the Exhibition Wall

Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary character plushies — Tidus, Yuna and the full party
Image courtesy of Square Enix. Character design: Tetsuya Nomura.

Square Enix has opened an online fan art submission form ahead of the exhibition, with selected works to be displayed as part of the show. The form closes on 31 July 2026 — two weeks from now. The company is also accepting short written comments from fans (targeted at Japanese residents) for the exhibit. If you want a piece of your FFX fan art in Shinjuku, the official anniversary site (Japanese) is the place to start.

The Perfect Tokyo Game Show Side Trip

Final Fantasy X LP Vinyl Set -Eternal Calm- — two-record set with Yuna and Tidus cover art
Image courtesy of Square Enix. Character design: Tetsuya Nomura.

The dates are no coincidence: the exhibition overlaps with Tokyo Game Show 2026, scheduled for 17–21 September at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. Singapore consistently sends one of the strongest overseas contingents to TGS, and Shinjuku is an easy same-trip addition — about 50 minutes by JR from Makuhari Messe, well within day-trip range. Tidus and Yuna in a Shinjuku museum while you’re already in Tokyo for TGS is too good a combination to pass up.

For those staying home, the FINAL FANTASY X LP Vinyl Set -Eternal Calm- — two records, 20 tracks of the iconic Nobuo Uematsu and Masashi Hamauzu soundtrack, with new Tidus and Yuna sleeve art — launched on 1 July via official Square Enix channels. Anniversary merchandise tends to move quickly around exhibition periods; Singapore importers may want to get in early. The FFX/X-2 HD Remaster is also live now on Nintendo Switch 2 if you need an excuse to revisit Spira before September.

More anniversary news as it comes through — follow our Game News section for the latest on the exhibition and any ticket announcements.

Game News

Pokémon Pokopia: Zorua’s Hide-and-Sneak Contest Starts 19 July

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Pokémon Pokopia’s first big in-game contest event of the northern summer stars one of the franchise’s most mischievous Pokémon. Zorua’s Hide-and-Sneak Contest runs from 19 July to 27 July 2026 (local time), and Switch 2 owners who have rebuilt at least one Pokémon Center in their town can jump straight in.

Pokémon Pokopia – Launch Trailer – Nintendo Switch 2 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

What Is Zorua’s Hide-and-Sneak Contest?

When you log in from 19 July at 5:00 a.m. local time, Zorua will be waiting outside your Pokémon Center to explain the event. To participate you need the Transform Ditto ability, which you unlock after visiting Bleak Beach. Once you have it, you can enter timed hide-and-sneak runs and try to beat your personal best, your town’s standing record, or a Cloud Island’s all-time leaderboard.

Pokémon Pokopia Zorua Hide-and-Sneak Contest gameplay
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Your reward for competing is a trophy decoration — a new type of prize tied specifically to this event. The better your best time, the higher the trophy tier you can display in your town. No new Pokémon are unlocked through this event: Zorua was already catchable in the base game, so this contest is purely a competitive mini-game layer rather than a creature unlock.

How Multiplayer Works

The Hide-and-Sneak Contest is designed for both solo and online play. You can visit a friend’s town and compete in their version of the contest — your run counts toward that town’s leaderboard record, though only the host takes home the trophy if a new best is set. On a Cloud Island, all connected players race for the same global fastest-time record, with the prize going solely to whoever sets it.

Pokémon Pokopia Zorua sneak contest screenshot
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The multiplayer structure rewards coordination: a group of friends can rally in one player’s town, with the host standing to benefit the most from a fast collective run. If your goal is personal trophy progression, solo play in your own town may be the more reliable path.

What to Check Before 19 July

A quick pre-event checklist if you want to be ready from the moment Zorua appears:

  • Update to version 1.1.1 — the event is locked behind this patch
  • Have at least one rebuilt Pokémon Center in your town — Zorua will not appear without it
  • Unlock Transform Ditto by visiting Bleak Beach if you have not done so yet
Pokémon Pokopia multiplayer Zorua event
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The event closes on 27 July at 4:59 a.m. local time. If you are among the players picking up the Nintendo Switch 2 + Pokémon Pokopia Bundle at its 23 July launch, you will have just four days to get set up and join the contest — worth bearing in mind as you plan your first week with the game.

For upcoming Pokopia events and Pokémon news, we will keep this page updated as The Pokémon Company announces new contests and content drops.