All posts by Nova Solaris
Nova Solaris

Dragon Quest the DIVE Opens in Tokyo — VR Ride, Giant King Slime and a Collab Restaurant

Dragon Quest the DIVE — Square Enix and Tohokushinsha’s fully immersive 40th anniversary exhibition — opened its doors today in Tokyo, and from first reports, it’s something worth knowing about. Situated across multiple floors of Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado, the event runs until 6 September 2026 and offers a mix of VR rides, interactive displays, nostalgic retrospectives, and a full-themed restaurant. If you’re planning a Japan trip this summer, this is one to factor in.

Dragon Quest VR RIDE — Ride a Great Sabrecat in 360°

Dragon Quest the DIVE: Promotion Video 2 — via スクウェア・エニックス (Square Enix) on YouTube

The centrepiece is the Dragon Quest VR RIDE, an immersive attraction pairing Meta Quest 3 headsets with motion seats to place you on the back of a Great Sabrecat. The ride is a 360-degree journey through the Dragon Quest world — you gallop across grasslands, dodge monsters in forest paths, and launch into flight above the landscape with actual wind effects. It is, in short, the closest anyone will get to the real thing. Tickets are advance-purchase; check the official exhibition page for session times before you go.

Dragon Quest the DIVE exhibition floor, Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado
Image courtesy of Square Enix

What Else Is Inside Dragon Quest the DIVE

Beyond the VR Ride, the exhibition unfolds across several distinct zones:

  • Squishy King Slime: A King Slime standing over two metres tall has been installed for visitors to hug. Nearby, the Fureai Monster Lab lets you touch realistically-textured recreations of familiar monsters — Slime, Momon, and even the Lips (yes, really).
  • 40th Anniversary Town: AI image analysis transforms your photo into an illustrated resident of a Dragon Quest celebration town, giving you a personalised memento to take home.
  • Dragon Quest Memorial Wall: A retrospective zone walking through the series from the original Dragon Quest through Dragon Quest XI — featuring development materials, original artwork, and sheet music. Fans will recognise the contributions of the late Akira Toriyama, whose character designs defined the series’ visual identity over 40 years; original illustrations by Toriyama are displayed here as part of the tribute.

More gaming news at GameTrader

Dragon Quest the DIVE official merchandise lineup
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The Collab Restaurant — FAMiRES × Dragon Quest the DIVE

The dedicated restaurant on the 5th floor of Harakado is open daily 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM, with food orders accepted until 9:00 PM. The menu leans into the series’ iconography:

  • Dracky’s Caesar Salad — ¥2,200 (~S$21)
  • Bubble Slime Omelette Rice — ¥2,200 (~S$21)
  • Rockbomb Fried Chicken with Megante Sauce — ¥1,518 (~S$14)
  • Slime Cream Sodas (six varieties) — ¥1,078 each (~S$10)
  • Legendary Sword Drinks (three varieties) — ¥1,188 each (~S$11)
  • Mini Medal Pudding — ¥1,078 (~S$10)
  • 40th Anniversary Pancakes — ¥770 (~S$7)

Every collab menu order comes with an original illustrated placemat. The restaurant’s hours are separate from the main exhibition — useful if you’re visiting for dinner after the VR queue has cleared.

FAMiRES x Dragon Quest the DIVE collab restaurant menu
Image courtesy of Square Enix

How to Visit

Dragon Quest the DIVE runs from today, 17 July, through 6 September 2026 at Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado, Tokyo. Exhibition floors: 4F (MAZE) and 2F (COVER); restaurant: 5F (FAMiRES). Opening hours are 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM with last admission at 7:59 PM. The nearest stations are Harajuku (JR Yamanote Line) and Meiji-Jingumae (Tokyo Metro), both a short walk away.

Advance tickets are required for the VR RIDE — details and booking available on the official Dragon Quest 40th anniversary site. Note that entrance involves a mix of ticketed attractions and free-roam zones; check the official breakdown before planning your session.

As we covered when the Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams reveal dropped last week, Square Enix is treating this 40th anniversary as a proper moment — DQXII is confirmed, a new Monsters entry is in the works, and this exhibition is the physical centrepiece of the whole celebration. The run through 6 September overlaps neatly with Singapore’s September school break, for anyone already planning a Tokyo trip.

Fate/Grand Order Exhibition Opens in Tokyo — 11 Years of Chaldea Come to Roppongi Hills

Eleven years of Fate/Grand Order — the servants, the singularities, the heart-wrenching event stories, and the climactic conclusion of Part 2 — have been distilled into a single Tokyo exhibition that opened its doors this morning. Fate/Grand Order Exhibition: Stargazer’s Corridor (Japanese: 星見の回廊) is now running at Mori Arts Center Gallery on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, and it runs through 14 September 2026. If a Japan trip is anywhere on your radar this summer, this is the pilgrimage.

Fate/Grand Order展 -星見の回廊- チケットCM — via 【公式】Fate/Grand Order チャンネル on YouTube

Seven Zones Trace the Whole Chaldean Journey

Organised by Aniplex, the exhibition lays out the breadth of FGO’s decade-plus lifespan across seven distinct zones that you walk through in sequence. The highlight — Zone 4, Chaldea’s Journey — features a 17-metre ceiling painting that frames Mash Kyrielight’s arc from debut to the finale of Part 2: Cosmos in the Lostbelt, accompanied by newly commissioned illustrations that were made specifically for this venue. Zone 5, the Stargazer’s Corridor itself, uses video projection to put you inside the final battle, and it’s the centrepiece the title promises.

Fate/Grand Order Exhibition Stargazers Corridor floor map showing all 7 zones
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / FGO PROJECT

The remaining zones are equally worth your time. Zone 1 opens with a premiere video made for the exhibition only. Zone 2, the Production Materials Room, surfaces the scripts, storyboards, and concept illustrations that shaped every chapter — rare stuff that FGO’s overseas player base has never had a chance to see in person. Zone 3 archives items and motifs from the event stories, while Zone 6 wraps up with a Memorial Message wall signed by the staff who built the game. Zone 7 is the FGO Store, selling event-exclusive goods bearing the newly commissioned main visual artwork.

Mash at the Centre — and the Art Tells the Story

Mash Kyrielight in Shielder armour holding a crystal star, FGO exhibition visual
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / FGO PROJECT

The main visual — illustrated by Takashi Takeuchi and finished by Hiroyoshi Koyama — foregrounds Mash standing in a field of flowers, and that choice telegraphs the exhibition’s emotional angle: this is FGO’s story told through its characters as much as its lore. Every zone loops back to the human (or quasi-human) relationships that made the writing land.

Mash Kyrielight in a white dress beside an ornate embroidery wheel, FGO exhibition art
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / FGO PROJECT

All visitors receive a booklet and a random bookmark — one of 12 designs — on entry. A weekly rotating set of A5 cards (14 designs in total) is also given out, so fans who visit more than once across the run have a reason to return.

Collab Café, In-Game Bonus, and What FGO Singapore Players Can Grab Now

Close-up of Mash Kyrielight's face in warm orange tones, FGO exhibition art
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / FGO PROJECT

A collaboration café called THE SUN & THE MOON operates on the same 52nd floor throughout the exhibition run (17 July – 14 September, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM). A valid exhibition ticket or Roppongi Hills Tower entry ticket covers access — no separate booking, just show up. Menu specifics have yet to be detailed in the materials available, but expect FGO-themed drinks and desserts in line with the exhibition’s aesthetic.

For Singapore players who can’t make the trip: the official FGO game is running a commemorative in-game campaign (Japanese) tied to the opening. If you play the JP server, check the campaign page — there’s a pickup gacha and login-bonus rewards live now.

Practical Info: Tickets, Hours, and Getting There

Venue: Mori Arts Center Gallery, 52F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Dates: 17 July – 14 September 2026
Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM (last entry 7:30 PM)
Access: Direct from Roppongi Station via the underground concourse (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line or Toei Oedo Line)
Tickets (day-of): ¥3,800 standard / ¥6,800 with merchandise bundle (layered acrylic block) — children of preschool age and under, free
Timed entry is in effect; book your slot via Mori Arts Center Gallery’s site or E-plus

Singapore fans flying to Japan this northern summer already have a packed itinerary — the Dragon Quest the DIVE exhibition is also running in Harajuku through early September. Two major Tokyo exhibitions in one trip is entirely doable.

Check out other events on GameTrader.SG for more Japan pop-culture coverage.

FF Resonance Pixel Trailer: Lid, Nichol, and Four New Visions Revealed

Square Enix dropped the Pixel Trailer for Final Fantasy Resonance today, and it is the most detailed look yet at Lancarse’s HD-2D RPG since the game’s initial reveal last month. Two brand-new party members stepped into the spotlight, the Vision roster ballooned to more than ten classic Final Fantasy heroes, and a pair of new world regions opened up — all arriving on PS5, Switch 2, Switch, and PC on 22 October 2026.

If you missed the original announcement, we covered all the essentials when Square Enix first unveiled the game. Today’s trailer is a genuine follow-up with substantial new reveals.

FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE – Pixel Trailer — via Square Enix Asia on YouTube

Two New Party Members Join Rain’s Crew

The big character news in the Pixel Trailer is a pair of new playable faces neither of the earlier reveals mentioned.

Lid hails from Dirnado, the continent famous for its airship technology. She is an engineer who built her own mechanical chocobo companion — called Mechabo — from scratch. Completing Lid’s subquests unlocks new skills for Mechabo, making her side content worth chasing for gameplay reasons as well as story ones.

Nichol comes from Olderion, a naval nation protected by the Wardens of the Waters clan. He is described as a careful strategist, though the trailer makes clear his more cautious nature constantly runs up against his adventurous companions. Together, they round out a cast that now also includes the original trio of Rain, Lasswell, and Fina.

Rain and party on a grassy field in Final Fantasy Resonance, showing HD-2D character art
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Four More Visions — Cecil, Bartz, Squall, and Zidane

The Vision system — which lets party members equip crystallised essences of legendary FF heroes for stat boosts, unique abilities, and devastating Resonance finishers — now has four new confirmed entries from across the series’ history:

  • Cecil Harvey (FFIV) — Versatile kit covering light and dark attacks alongside healing, making him a Swiss-army-knife Vision for tricky encounters.
  • Bartz Klauser (FFV) — Fire and ice sword skills built for staggering enemies; a strong pick for triggering the Resonance combo window quickly.
  • Squall Leonhart (FFVIII) — Damage that scales with consecutive standard attacks, rewarding aggressive play that avoids abilities.
  • Zidane Tribal (FFIX) — Debuffs enemy vitality and speed while buffing his own stats; useful for drawn-out boss fights.

These join the previously confirmed roster of Cloud, Terra, Tidus, Y’shtola, Shantotto, and the Warrior of Light — already one of the broadest cross-series casts in any Final Fantasy title.

HD-2D town exploration in Final Fantasy Resonance with pixel characters and moogles
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The World of Lapis Opens Up

Two new locations were shown for the first time:

Dilmagia (Machinopolis) is a steel-forged industrial city and the birthplace of airship technology, home to successive generations of engineers who all share the name Cid — a classic FF nod that fans will appreciate immediately.

Olderion (Aquapolis) is a coastal naval hub protected by the Wardens of the Waters clan and, according to the trailer, watched over by a deity of water. Nichol’s home region, it also holds the esper Titan, who unleashes Gaia’s Wrath when summoned.

Airship soaring over the lush 3D world map of Final Fantasy Resonance
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Combat Depth: Stagger, Resonance, and a Colosseum

The trailer fleshed out what happens after you land a stagger: knock out the entire enemy party’s stagger gauges in a single turn and you trigger a Resonance with your equipped Vision, dealing an especially destructive burst of damage. This gives turn order and target selection real strategic weight — you want to build toward that Resonance window rather than just mashing the strongest skills available.

Espers received more detail too. Confirmed summons now include Ifrit (Hellfire), Shiva (Diamond Dust), and Titan (Gaia’s Wrath). Each fights alongside the party for three turns before unleashing their signature attack.

For post-game players, the Pixel Trailer revealed a Colosseum with tiered difficulty fights that reward progressively better items — higher leagues pit you against iconic FF bosses. There is also the Twelve Legendary Arms system: twelve exceptionally powerful weapons obtainable only by hunting sealed monstrosities scattered around Lapis. Weapon crafting with the Vision character Aileen (who needs adamantite, found in crypts and side content) rounds out the late-game loop.

Rain and party facing the armoured Sworn Six antagonists on a grand staircase in Final Fantasy Resonance
Image courtesy of Square Enix

How to Pre-Purchase Before 22 October

Final Fantasy Resonance is available to pre-purchase now on Steam and the PlayStation Store. The Standard Edition is priced at USD 49.99, the Digital Deluxe Edition at USD 59.99. Pre-purchase before 6 November 2026 to receive the Blessed Cuirass and Mist Ether bonus items. SGD pricing has not been confirmed at the time of writing; check the Steam or PlayStation Store listings for local pricing once live.

The game launches across PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, and PC on 22 October 2026. Check our Game News section for any further reveals before launch.

FFX Turns 25 This Week — Daimaru Tokyo Pop-Up Opens Tomorrow

Twenty-five years of Spira. Final Fantasy X marks its silver anniversary on 19 July 2026, and Square Enix is celebrating with a dedicated pop-up store that opens tomorrow, 17 July, at Daimaru Tokyo. The timing is sharp for Singapore fans: the FFX/X-2 HD Remaster hits Nintendo Switch 2 in Southeast Asia on 23 July, so anyone passing through Japan this week can grab exclusive merchandise before the game even drops locally.

Official Final Fantasy X 25th anniversary chibi art of Tidus and Yuna by Square Enix
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Daimaru Tokyo Pop-Up: Dates, Hours and How to Get In

The Square Enix Pop-Up Store — Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary runs at two Daimaru Matsuzakaya department stores in Japan.

  • Daimaru Tokyo (11F Event Hall, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku): 17 July – 3 August 2026, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (closes 6:00 PM on the final day). Entry passes for 17 and 18 July are distributed from 8:30 AM at the ground floor near the Louis Vuitton entrance — plan to arrive early on opening weekend.
  • Daimaru Shinsaibashi (9F Event Space, 1-7-1 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka): already open and running through 30 August 2026, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM.

Both stores feature 25th anniversary commemorative wall art and deformed character mini panels alongside the merchandise. Purchase receipts from either location count towards the free-gift spend thresholds, so splitting purchases between Tokyo and Osaka is fine.

The Full Merch Breakdown — ¥400 Capsule Toys to the Fashion Collab

The pop-up carries an extensive range across collectibles, lifestyle goods, and premium fashion. All prices are tax-inclusive.

Collectibles and Daily Goods

  • Character plushies — Tidus, Yuna, Wakka, Lulu, Auron, Kimahri, Rikku, Jecht: ¥4,400–¥4,620 each
  • Graphic T-shirts: ¥4,620 | Shoulder bag: ¥5,280 | Tote bag: ¥6,050 | Canvas pouch: ¥2,420
  • Mini clear poster box set (12 designs, two variants): ¥11,880
  • Capsule toys (mini acrylic blocks): ¥400 per play

Music and Art Books

  • LP Vinyl set −Eternal Calm− (clear-coloured pressing, 20 curated tracks, includes MP3 download): ¥9,350
  • Eternal Spira visual art book (new Tetsuya Nomura illustrations, A4 hardcover, approx. 128 pages): ¥2,750
  • Memorial album: ¥3,520
Final Fantasy X 25th anniversary premium metal pin badge tin set, featuring three enamel and metal pins with the FFX logo tin
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Free Gifts With Purchase

Spend ¥6,600 or more and you receive one random rubber coaster from a set of eight character designs (Tidus, Yuna, Lulu, Kimahri, Auron, Wakka, Rikku and Seymour) — limited to one per customer while stocks last. Spend ¥3,300 or more for a random cup marker from a separate eight-design set. Both bonuses are distributed on the day of purchase.

Final Fantasy X 25th anniversary promotional rubber coasters showing all 8 character portrait designs including Tidus, Yuna, Auron, Seymour, Rikku and more
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The Daimaru Matsuzakaya Fashion Collection

Alongside the regular pop-up is the Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary × Daimaru Matsuzakaya Collection — over 20 fashion and accessory pieces designed around the game’s themes of ephemeral beauty and elegance. Highlights include a Stadium Jumper (¥38,500), Seymour Jacket (¥22,000), character graphic tees (¥7,700), logo cap (¥5,500), and a backpack (¥15,400). Square Enix has confirmed that post-event mail-order sales are planned online (Japanese), so SG fans not making the Japan trip will be able to order select pieces after the stores close.

Watch the Switch 2 Remaster Trailer

FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster | Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date Announcement Trailer — via FINAL FANTASY on YouTube

FFX/X-2 HD Remaster Arrives on Switch 2 in SEA on 23 July

If Japan isn’t on your travel calendar, Singapore gamers still have reason to mark the calendar: Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster drops digitally on Nintendo Switch 2 in Southeast Asia on 23 July 2026, four days after the anniversary itself. The Switch 2 version adds a high-speed mode, a random encounter toggle, and sharpened visuals at full HD in handheld mode. Owners of the Torna ~ The Golden Country expansion also receive the visual upgrade free.

Final Fantasy X scene image panel strips featuring in-game screenshots of key moments, available as merchandise at the 25th anniversary pop-up store
Image courtesy of Square Enix

For those who cannot visit Japan, the Osaka Shinsaibashi store runs through 30 August, and the online sales window is coming. Check our shop and merchandise coverage for updates once Square Enix opens international ordering.

Once Upon a Katamari Rolls onto Switch 2 on 8 October — Rolling LIVE Highlights DLC Brings 10 New Quests

Bandai Namco has officially announced Once Upon a Katamari for Nintendo Switch 2, with a launch date of 8 October 2026. The reveal came via Bandai Namco Entertainment Southeast Asia’s own channel — which means Singapore fans can breathe easy on regional availability before we even have to think about it.

Once Upon a Katamari is a new entry in the long-running series, not a remaster or port. Players guide the Prince and cousins as they roll a sticky katamari ball across increasingly surreal levels, collecting pencils, cats, furniture, and eventually entire buildings until the ball is large enough to become a new star. It’s the same meditative, slightly absurd joy the franchise has always delivered, now built for Switch 2 hardware.

Rolling LIVE Highlights DLC

Announced alongside the base game is the Rolling LIVE Highlights DLC, which launches day-one and adds 10 new quests with entirely new themed environments. One of the standout stages shown is a Wild West level where you roll up cacti, tumbleweeds, bottles, and barrels across a sun-baked frontier. It’s the kind of locale the series has always thrived on — absurd, specific, and oddly satisfying to clean up.

Rolling LIVE Highlights DLC Wild West level in Once Upon a Katamari
The Rolling LIVE Highlights DLC packs 10 new quests, including this Wild West frontier stage.

Familiar Levels, Fresh Look

The base game looks to carry the eclectic level design the series built its reputation on. Official screenshots show a Japan-themed stage with a red bridge and cherry blossoms — exactly the kind of culturally vivid backdrop that made the originals memorable — as well as a high-tech space environment where a cousin navigates a satellite-strewn orbit.

Once Upon a Katamari Japan level with cherry blossom trees and red bridge
A Japan-themed stage, complete with red bridge and cherry blossoms.
Once Upon a Katamari gameplay - cousin rolling katamari in a space tech level
The cousin character takes the katamari through a space-tech level.

Customise Your Cousin

A character customisation screen lets players choose their cousin’s face before heading out to roll. It’s a small touch, but it fits the series’ playful personality — the King of All Cosmos would demand nothing less.

Once Upon a Katamari Switch 2 character customisation face select screen
Pick your cousin’s look in the new character customisation screen.
Once Upon a Katamari Nintendo Switch 2 - Available October 8
Once Upon a Katamari launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on 8 October 2026.

What to Watch For

With the SEA trailer already out, regional availability looks solid. SGD pricing hasn’t been announced yet — we’ll update when Bandai Namco confirms. In the meantime, check the Game News section as October approaches.

PlayStation Store Summer Sale 2026: Up to 75% Off for SG Gamers Until 12 August

The PlayStation Store Summer Sale 2026 is now live, offering up to 75 per cent off hundreds of PS5, PS4 and PS VR2 titles until 12 August. The sale runs in two waves: the opening catalogue is live right now, with a mid-sale refresh landing on 27 July — so it’s worth checking back even if nothing grabs your attention today.

PlayStation Store Summer Sale 2026 game selection
The Summer Sale covers hundreds of PS5, PS4 and PS VR2 titles. (Image: PlayStation Blog)

What’s in the sale

The sale spans a wide range of genres, from blockbuster action-adventure titles to indie standouts and PS VR2 experiences. Both first-party PlayStation releases and third-party titles are included, and the catalogue is broad enough that nearly any wishlist will have something discounted. The 27 July mid-sale refresh adds a second wave of reduced titles — so the total number of deals on offer will grow partway through the promotion.

Singapore accounts get SG-region pricing when browsing on PS5 or via the web store. Prices displayed on your console or the PlayStation website reflect your regional account, so there are no surprises at checkout. To see the current full lineup, head to the PlayStation Store directly from your PS5 or visit the PlayStation Store online signed in to your SG account.

Picks worth highlighting

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — Sandfall Interactive’s debut has been one of the year’s most talked-about RPGs, earning strong reviews for its painterly visual style and a combat system that blends turn-based tactics with real-time parrying. Set in a Belle Époque-inspired world shadowed by a recurring apocalypse, it’s a genuinely ambitious title from a small French studio. If you missed it at launch, the Summer Sale is an excellent entry point.

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 in-game screenshot
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the standout picks in this year’s Summer Sale. (Image: Sandfall Interactive)

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced — Ubisoft’s enhanced return to the Caribbean brings the beloved pirate-era open-world to PS5 with updated visuals and performance. Sail between islands, hunt bounties on the high seas, and manage your crew across a hand-built open world. Black Flag remains one of the most loved entries in the Assassin’s Creed series, and this PS5-native version is the definitive way to experience it — whether you’re revisiting or playing for the first time.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced key art for PlayStation
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced brings the fan-favourite pirate entry to PS5. (Image: PlayStation Blog)

When and where to shop

The PlayStation Store Summer Sale 2026 runs until 12 August 2026, with a mid-sale catalogue update going live on 27 July. Browse the full selection on your PS5 under Store > Sales, or visit the PlayStation Store website and sign in to your SG account to see the full regional catalogue with SG pricing. If something’s already on your wishlist, don’t wait too long — the best titles at the deepest discounts tend to move quickly.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Confirmed for Nintendo Switch — October 15

Switch owners were left wondering when Konami first announced Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse earlier this year — the reveal trailer pointedly omitted the Nintendo Switch logo while confirming October 15, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. That uncertainty ended today: Konami’s official Castlevania social media account confirmed the Switch version launches simultaneously on 15 October 2026, day-and-date with every other platform. No delay, no timed exclusivity — everyone gets it at the same time.

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse official key art featuring Rose Belmont and cast of characters
Image courtesy of Konami

Who Is Rose Belmont?

Belmont’s Curse centres on Rose Belmont, daughter of the legendary Trevor Belmont, wielding the Belmont family’s sacred whip, the Vampire Killer. The setting is Paris in 1499, twenty-three years after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse — and fans of the Netflix animated series will recognise the familiar timeline. A dark conspiracy lurking beneath the city’s streets pulls Rose into a conflict that echoes the battle her father fought a generation earlier.

The whip is not just a weapon here but a traversal tool: Rose can swing between anchor points, scale walls, and close gaps using the same weapon she uses to stagger and destroy enemies — a satisfying loop that keeps movement and combat intertwined.

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse – Rose Belmont swinging with the Vampire Killer whip in a gothic interior
Image courtesy of Konami

Bosses Become Power — The Arcana System

The game’s signature mechanic is the Arcana system: when you defeat a major boss — Death, Medusa, Carmilla, Joan of Arc, and others — their essence is sealed into a tarot card that grants Rose new abilities. The loadout you build through these Arcana, combined with seven categories of weapons and equippable Relics, lets you shape your playstyle as you push deeper into the Metroidvania-style map.

It’s a design philosophy that should feel immediately familiar to fans of Dead Cells — and that’s no coincidence.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Release Date Trailer — via Konami on YouTube

The Dead Cells Team Brings Their Expertise

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse – atmospheric platforming scene in crimson-lit Paris rooftops
Image courtesy of Konami

Evil Empire and Motion Twin — the studios behind Dead Cells and The Rogue Prince of Persia — are developing Belmont’s Curse for Konami. That pedigree matters: Evil Empire has spent years iterating on tight action-platformer feel, expanding Dead Cells with a consistency that is rare in the live-service era. Applying that expertise to the Castlevania formula, under the supervision of Konami and for the series’ 40th anniversary, is about as encouraging a creative pairing as you could wish for.

The gothic art direction, visible in the screenshots, leans into vivid colours over the grimdark palette many modern titles default to — closer in spirit to the classic SNES-era Castlevania games than to more recent takes on the franchise.

What About Switch 2?

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse – Rose Belmont fighting a towering boss in a candlelit grand hall
Image courtesy of Konami

Konami has not announced a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 version. The game will be playable on Switch 2 via backwards compatibility — meaning Singapore players who have already upgraded to Nintendo’s new console can still pick it up at launch without waiting for a native port. Whether a Switch 2 edition with enhanced visuals follows later has not been addressed.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse releases on Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam and Microsoft Store) on 15 October 2026. Physical pre-orders opened in Japan following today’s confirmation — digital pre-orders are expected to follow on the Switch eShop. For more game news, including our coverage of other upcoming Switch and Switch 2 titles, head to our news section.

The Splatoon Raiders Manga Launches in CoroCoro Today — Hinodeya Returns One Week Before the Game

Today in Japan, Sankichi Hinodeya begins a new chapter in the Splatoon manga story. The July issue of Shogakukan’s CoroCoro Comics — on shelves from 15 July 2026 — launches the Splatoon Raiders manga, a tie-in adaptation of Nintendo’s single-player spin-off game that arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 just eight days later, on 23 July.

Hinodeya Returns to CoroCoro

Sankichi Hinodeya is the artist and writer behind the original Splatoon manga series, which ran for 16 volumes in CoroCoro Comics from 2015 and was later extended as Splatoon 3: Splatlands. That run went on hiatus in April 2026 — and now Hinodeya is back with a new serialised adaptation tailored to the Raiders storyline. According to Anime News Network, the manga will expand the game’s lore, introduce new side characters, and dramatise key gameplay beats in Hinodeya’s signature action-comedy style.

Splatoon Raiders Nintendo Switch 2 gameplay screenshot — the mechanic protagonist on Spirhalite Islands
Image courtesy of Nintendo

A Beloved Series for Singapore Fans

The original Splatoon manga has a strong following in Singapore. Kinokuniya Orchard and major bookshops have stocked it in both its Japanese and English editions for years, and the English translation by Viz Media has run to over a dozen volumes. Viz Media also published six volumes of Splatoon 3: Splatlands, with the most recent arriving in April 2026. Singapore readers picking up the series in English are already well-placed for the Raiders manga when the English edition eventually arrives — though Viz has not yet announced a volume schedule or confirmed date for Splatoon Raiders.

Splatoon Raiders Switch 2 — Deep Cut trio Shiver Frye Big Man in the Spirhalite Islands
Image courtesy of Nintendo

What the Raiders Manga Covers

The adaptation follows the game’s central adventure: a player-mechanic protagonist teams up with Shiver, Frye, and Big Man — the trio from Deep Cut — to explore the treasure-laden Spirhalite Islands, take on waves of hostile Salmonids, and uncover the archipelago’s secrets. Hinodeya’s style suits the material well: the Splatoon manga series has always balanced slapstick comedy with genuine energy during ink-battle sequences, and the Raiders set-up of a ragtag crew hunting treasure across a mysterious island chain gives plenty to work with.

Splatoon Raiders – Announcement Trailer & More – Nintendo Switch 2 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

The Game: Splatoon Raiders on Switch 2, 23 July

As we covered when the game was announced, Splatoon Raiders is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive launching on 23 July 2026. Unlike the mainline Splatoon titles, it is primarily a single-player adventure — though co-op play for up to four is supported locally and online. Players customise their mechanic character, build gadgets, and raid the Spirhalite Islands for treasure across three difficulty modes (Tourist, Raider, Survivalist). The game also introduces HDR support to the Splatoon series for the first time, and leverages the Switch 2’s GameChat for multiplayer sessions.

Splatoon Raiders Switch 2 gameplay — Salmonid boss fight on Spirhalite Islands
Image courtesy of Nintendo

English Edition and Where to Find It in Singapore

The Splatoon Raiders manga is launching exclusively in Japanese inside CoroCoro Comics. An English edition from Viz Media is expected — the publisher has handled all previous Splatoon manga volumes for the English market — but no volume release schedule or confirmed date has been announced yet. Singapore readers who want to follow it as it serialises can pick up the monthly CoroCoro Comics magazine as a Japanese import through Kinokuniya or online import services. A compiled volume release in English typically follows the Japanese run by six to twelve months.

Splatoon Raiders Nintendo Switch 2 physical game box art
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Browse our coverage of manga and anime for more on what SG fans are reading and watching right now.

Tsugumi Project TV Anime Announced — Cult Manga from France

One of the more intriguing anime announcements to land this week is not a sequel, not a reboot, and not based on a manga you have probably heard of — yet. On 14 July 2026, Tsugumi Project (虎鶫 とらつぐみ ―TSUGUMI PROJECT―) officially received a TV anime adaptation, complete with a teaser visual and a first teaser PV from the official production. Singapore anime fans who love their science fiction dark, their action kinetic, and their post-apocalyptic lore dense should take note.

Tsugumi Project official anime teaser key visual showing Leone and Tsugumi in the irradiated wasteland
Image courtesy of TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee

What Is Tsugumi Project?

Written and drawn by artist ippatu, Tsugumi Project is a survival science-fiction action manga set in a devastated far-future Japan. Two centuries of extreme radiation have transformed the island into a forbidden zone — a no-man’s-land overrun by grotesquely mutated creatures that bear little resemblance to anything living today.

At the centre of the story is Leone, a soldier framed for a crime he did not commit and torn from his family. His punishment doubles as a suicide mission: infiltrate the irradiated zone and recover a classified weapon codenamed TSUGUMI. What he finds instead is a mysterious girl — and a journey through Old Japan that defies everything he was told about the place.

Critics and fans have compared its atmosphere and visual ambition to BLAME!, Spriggan, and AKIRA — rarefied company that gives you an instant calibration for the kind of dark, dense, aesthetically ambitious science fiction this series delivers.

Tsugumi Project manga interior page showing the irradiated wasteland and creature design
Image courtesy of TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee

From France to Japan — An Unusual Road to Anime

The origin story of Tsugumi Project is almost as unusual as the story itself. French publisher Ki-oon debuted the manga in France in 2019 — before it ever appeared in Japan. The series became a genuine hit with French and European readers, winning a dedicated following in a market that has long embraced manga wholeheartedly.

Only in 2021 did Kodansha begin serialising it in Japan through Weekly Young Magazine, reversing the typical flow of manga publication. By the time the Japanese run concluded with volume 7 in 2023, the manga had built a readership on both sides of the world. It is now complete in seven volumes — which bodes well for a cohesive anime adaptation.

Tsugumi Project manga page showing action sequence and character design
Image courtesy of TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee

The Anime: Teaser PV and What We Know

TVアニメ 『虎鷫 -TSUGUMI PROJECT-』 Teaser PV — via NBCUniversal Anime/Music on YouTube

The official teaser site at toratsugumi.jp and the series’ X account @toratsugumi_PJ are both live. The short teaser PV above delivers the first animated glimpse of the post-apocalyptic world ippatu created — all jagged, radiated ruin and looming creature silhouettes.

The production carries the banner of the TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee, with NBCUniversal Anime/Music among the credited partners — a label with strong international distribution reach that typically points toward global streaming availability, though no specific platforms have been confirmed yet.

What remains to be confirmed: the animation studio, director, voice cast, and premiere date. Author ippatu said of the announcement, as reported by Dengeki Online (Japanese): “It’s quite a surprise! This happened because everyone read it.”

Tsugumi Project character artwork from the Dengeki Online announcement feature
Image courtesy of TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee

What SG Anime Fans Should Know

Tsugumi Project is a completed seven-volume story — adapting a finished manga typically allows production teams to plan a proper beginning, middle, and end without rushing or padding. For Singapore fans of hard SF action anime, the BLAME!/AKIRA comparison is not hyperbole: this is dense, atmospheric, and unafraid to let silence and creature design do the narrative heavy lifting.

The series has been available in English through selected international channels, and a number of SG fans have already found it through fan communities and import channels. An anime adaptation with NBCUniversal involvement is likely to land on a major global streaming platform — watch @toratsugumi_PJ on X for updates. Until then, the seven-volume manga is the ideal preparation.

For more upcoming anime, check our Manga & Anime section.