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Game News

Kingdom Hearts 25th Anniversary Panel Set for D23 2026 — SG Watch Guide

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Disney has officially locked in a dedicated Kingdom Hearts panel at D23 2026 — and with Kingdom Hearts IV actively in development for Nintendo Switch 2, this is the event Singapore fans need on their calendar right now.

The session, titled “Deep Dive Into Kingdom Hearts,” is set for Saturday, 15 August at 4:30–5:30 PM PDT at the Backlot Stage of the Anaheim Convention Center. For Singapore fans, that converts to Sunday, 16 August, 7:30–8:30 AM SGT — an early alarm, but one worth setting.

Kingdom Hearts IV Sora close-up with Goofy and a kaiju shadow looming behind
Image courtesy of Square Enix

What Is the “Deep Dive Into Kingdom Hearts” Panel?

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event runs 14–16 August 2026 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Disney’s official description frames the panel as “a journey through light and darkness as we commemorate 25 years of Kingdom Hearts,” promising insights from the series’ creative minds and voice cast, and exploring how the franchise united Disney, Pixar, and Square Enix into one sprawling saga.

No specific new game announcement has been confirmed in the panel listing — but with KH IV footage debuted at the June 2026 Nintendo Direct and Kingdom Hearts IV marked as coming to Switch 2, the franchise is in its most active period in years. A release window, a new trailer, or a Disney worlds reveal would all be reasonable expectations for a dedicated 25th-anniversary showcase.

Kingdom Hearts IV Gameplay Revealed — and It Looks Different

Kingdom Hearts IV gameplay: Sora fights enemies at a neon-lit Shibuya-style urban crosswalk
Image courtesy of Square Enix

At the June 9, 2026 Nintendo Direct, Square Enix unveiled the first real gameplay look at Kingdom Hearts IV. Sora now operates in Quadratum — a grittier, hyper-realistic city that evokes Tokyo’s Shibuya district, complete with rain-slicked intersections, kaiju-scale encounters, and a Command Menu that veterans will recognise immediately. It is a striking stylistic departure from the colourful cartoon worlds of previous entries.

KH IV is confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC — but no release date has been announced, which is part of why every new reveal, panel, and event now carries so much weight.

KINGDOM HEARTS IV – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

The KH Collection Lands on Switch 2 in October

Kingdom Hearts IV: Sora unleashing a golden Keyblade attack in a rainy urban setting at night
Image courtesy of Square Enix

While the wait for KH IV continues, Square Enix is already bringing the classic trilogy to Switch 2. Kingdom Hearts Collection [I ~ III] arrives on 8 October 2026 as a native Switch 2 release — covering KH1, Chain of Memories, KH2, 358/2 Days, Birth by Sleep, and Dream Drop Distance in one package. Players who previously purchased the cloud version on the original Switch will receive a 50% discount on the upgrade.

That is a significant amount of lore to get through before KH IV arrives, and for Singapore Switch 2 owners, it is all available through the local eShop without region restrictions.

What Singapore Fans Should Watch For

Sora and Goofy in a cutscene from Kingdom Hearts III
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Tetsuya Nomura’s anniversary message earlier this year specifically mentioned the team “working hard for the 25th anniversary” — a signal that D23 is not just a retrospective celebration. Whether the panel delivers a KH IV release window, new world announcements, or something else entirely, it is the biggest scheduled Kingdom Hearts moment of 2026.

D23 panels have historically been streamed online. Monitor the official D23 website and the Kingdom Hearts official site for confirmed streaming details as August approaches. Check our gaming news — we will cover whatever Square Enix reveals on the day.

Game News

Moss: The Forgotten Relic — VR Classics Come to PS5, Switch 2 and PC on 16 July

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If you missed the Moss games when they were PS VR exclusives, Thursday is your second chance. Moss: The Forgotten Relic — developer Polyarc’s all-in-one reimagining of both Moss and Moss: Book II — launches on 16 July 2026 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam at US$19.99 (roughly S$27).

Moss: The Forgotten Relic | Announcement Trailer — via Polyarc Games on YouTube

What Is Moss: The Forgotten Relic?

Moss (2018) and Moss: Book II (2022) were among the highest-rated PlayStation VR titles of their generation, collecting over 160 awards and nominations between them. They starred Quill, a small but determined mouse hero, and leaned hard into the “Twofold” mechanic: you simultaneously control Quill through the storybook world and play “the Reader,” a guardian spirit who physically interacts with the environment — rotating platforms, clearing obstacles, nudging enemies — from an overhead perspective. The result was an adventure that felt uniquely intimate in VR.

Quill the mouse exploring ancient ruins in Moss: The Forgotten Relic
Image courtesy of Polyarc

The Forgotten Relic collects both titles — plus the Twilight Garden DLC — into a single release. Buying one game now gets you the entire Quill story arc. At roughly S$27 for the complete package, that is a reasonable ask even if you have no nostalgia for the originals.

From VR to Everyone’s Living Room

Adapting a first-person VR game for a flatscreen is a non-trivial problem: the physical sense of peering into a tiny diorama world is exactly what made Moss work. Polyarc has rebuilt the camera system entirely for flatscreen play — replacing the fixed VR viewpoint with a new “Smart Follow” system designed to keep Quill readable and the environments cinematic on a TV or laptop screen.

Puzzle-solving in the ancient fallen kingdom in Moss: The Forgotten Relic
Image courtesy of Polyarc

New cutscenes have been crafted specifically for this version, and controls have been reworked for conventional gamepads. Visuals are enhanced across the board. If you own the original Moss on Steam or PS VR, note that The Forgotten Relic is a separate purchase — not a patch to existing library copies.

What Exactly Is in the Package?

  • Moss — the original storybook adventure through the Forgotten Forest and beyond
  • Moss: Book II — the sequel that expanded Quill’s world with new factions, mechanics, and a darker tone
  • Twilight Garden DLC — previously a PS VR exclusive bonus chapter, now bundled in
Combat encounter in Moss: The Forgotten Relic featuring Quill and a boss enemy
Image courtesy of Polyarc

An optional “skip combat” accessibility feature is also included — a welcome addition that lets players who are here for the puzzles and story move through fights without getting stuck.

Where Singapore Gamers Can Pick It Up

Moss: The Forgotten Relic will be available digitally from 16 July across the PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop, Xbox Store, and Steam at US$19.99 (approximately S$27 — your storefront will show the local converted price). The PC version is also Steam Deck Verified. No physical edition has been announced. If you are on the fence, a free demo is already live on Steam so you can sample the opening chapter before committing.

Quill navigating a lush environment in Moss: The Forgotten Relic
Image courtesy of Polyarc

“For a long time, we’ve wanted more people to have the chance to experience Quill’s story,” Polyarc said when the game was announced. With two full games, the DLC, enhanced visuals, and a reworked camera all in one download at under S$30, that goal looks well within reach. Check out more game releases and news on GameTrader.

Game News

Persona 3 Turns 20 — Anniversary Remix Video Drops and P3R Hits 3 Million

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Today, 13 July 2026, marks exactly two decades since Persona 3 first launched in Japan on the PlayStation 2. To mark the occasion, Atlus has released a brand-new anniversary illustration by series character designer Shigenori Soejima and dropped a 21-minute remix video on its official YouTube channel — capping a week that also saw Persona 3 Reload confirmed to have crossed 3 million copies sold worldwide.

Twenty Years in the Dark Hour

When Persona 3 launched on 13 July 2006, it redefined what a JRPG could be. The blend of a school calendar sim with Tartarus — an ever-shifting tower that only appears during the Dark Hour, the hidden hour between one day and the next — felt genuinely unlike anything before it. SEES (the Specialised Extracurricular Execution Squad) became some of the most beloved party members in the genre, and the game’s central theme of accepting mortality gave it an emotional weight that still lands hard today.

Persona 3 went on to spawn two expanded editions (FES and Portable), a trilogy of anime films, and a much-anticipated full remake. For many Singapore fans who grew up with the PS2, P3 is where the Persona obsession started.

Persona 3 Reload Reaches 3 Million Players

Aigis in a battle in Persona 3 Reload
Image courtesy of Atlus / SEGA

Persona 3 Reload — the ground-up remake released in February 2024 — has now shipped and sold over 3 million copies worldwide across PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam. To celebrate, Atlus released a new piece of commemorative artwork by Shigenori Soejima, showing the protagonist Makoto Yuki in the series’ signature blue palette, accompanied by the handwritten message: “Happy 20th Anniversary to P3 / P3R hits 3M copies! Thank you for your support!”

The remake arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 as part of the platform’s growing library, making it the most accessible the game has ever been. Singapore players can pick it up digitally on the Switch 2 eShop, PS5 Store, or Steam right now.

Watch the 21-Minute Anniversary Remix

Persona 3 20th Anniversary Remix — via atlustube on YouTube

The centrepiece of today’s celebration is a 21-minute anniversary remix video released on the official Atlus YouTube channel (atlustube). The music was arranged by DJ VaVa and spans tracks from the original Persona 3, FES, Portable, and Reload — weaving two decades of the game’s soundtrack into a single continuous set. Pixel artist Motocross Saito contributed four animated pixel art scenes that play alongside the music, rendering iconic moments from the game in a lovingly retro style.

If you have any history with P3 — or even just fond memories of “Mass Destruction” — this is well worth your time tonight.

Social Links, School Days and Why P3 Still Holds Up

Junpei Iori and the protagonist in class at Gekkoukan High in Persona 3 Reload
Image courtesy of Atlus / SEGA

Part of Persona 3’s lasting appeal is how it balances two entirely different games in one. During the day you sit in class at Gekkoukan High, answer questions, study with friends, and deepen the Social Links that power up your Persona fusions. At night you venture into Tartarus, battling Shadows floor by floor while racing a hard calendar deadline. Neither half would work without the other — and that structure has shaped every Persona game since.

Persona 3 Reload sharpens both halves considerably: visuals rebuilt from scratch, social calendar events more fleshed out, and the combat snappier than it ever was on PS2. The Linked Episodes system also adds story vignettes for party members like Akihiko, Shinjiro, and Mitsuru that the original never gave full room to breathe.

Where to Play Persona 3 Reload in Singapore

Iwatodai Station in Persona 3 Reload
Image courtesy of Atlus / SEGA

Persona 3 Reload is available now across all major platforms in Singapore:

  • Nintendo Switch 2 — digital on the eShop
  • PlayStation 5 / PS4 — digital and physical at major game retailers
  • Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One — digital; also included in Xbox Game Pass
  • PC — via Steam

The anniversary remix video is live now on the official Atlus YouTube channel. The Soejima illustration was shared as part of the ongoing Persona 30th Anniversary celebrations — and with Persona 6 confirmed and a NIKKE × Persona crossover running this summer, twenty years in the Dark Hour has never felt more alive. Browse more gaming news on GameTrader.

Game News

DragonSword: Awakening Launches 23 July on Steam — No Gacha, Just Action

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If Dragon Nest defined your teenage years, the team behind it has been quietly building its spiritual successor — and it launches in ten days. DragonSword: Awakening, an anime-style open-world action RPG built with Unreal Engine 5, hits Steam on 23 July 2026 as a buy-to-play title priced at USD 29.99 (SGD price to be confirmed in the Steam store). No gacha, no stamina bars, no monthly battle pass. You pay once and own it.

Official Preview Trailer — via DragonSword : Awakening on YouTube

Dragon Nest DNA, Rebuilt for 2026

Developer Hound13 was founded in 2014 by veterans of Dragon Nest, the beloved fast-paced action MMORPG from Eyedentity Games that had an enormous following across Southeast Asia — Singapore very much included. CEO Park Jeong-sik directed Dragon Nest before leaving to start Hound13 with the goal of carrying that fast, combo-driven action into a new era.

The result is the Continent of Orbis: a radiant, warmly lit fantasy world that draws clear visual inspiration from classic anime and Japanese RPGs, running on Unreal Engine 5 for crisp lighting and detailed environments. Whether you are crossing rope bridges over sweeping gorges or tearing into cathedral-sized boss arenas, the production quality punches well above the game’s price point.

DragonSword Awakening — open-world exploration across the Continent of Orbis
Image courtesy of Hound13

Tag-Team Combat and 19 Heroes

The combat system is built around switching on the fly between up to three active heroes drawn from a roster of 19 characters, each with a distinct weapon archetype and status-ailment toolkit. Stacking ailments — bleed, freeze, poison — on an enemy builds up the conditions for a devastating Signal Skill chain that deals massive burst damage. It reads like a more deliberate, team-synergy version of the frenetic single-character action Dragon Nest fans know.

Beyond the main story, the game supports online co-op, letting you bring friends in for tougher encounters — a welcome layer for Southeast Asian players who have always found Dragon Nest more fun with a party.

DragonSword Awakening — boss fight in a cathedral interior
Image courtesy of Hound13
DragonSword Awakening — tag-team combat against an outdoor dragon enemy
Image courtesy of Hound13

The Publisher Fallout That Changed Everything

DragonSword: Awakening’s journey to Steam has been anything but straightforward. The game originally launched in South Korea in January 2026 under publisher Webzen as a free-to-play live-service title. One month in, Hound13 announced it was terminating the publishing contract — citing, among other issues, unpaid fees. Webzen disputed the termination, and when Hound13 announced the buy-to-play reboot in April 2026, Webzen filed an injunction to block the release.

The injunction does not appear to have succeeded: the game’s Steam page is live, the July 23 date is locked in, and Hound13 has not signalled any delay as of writing. As reported by Simulation Daily, the reboot drops the gacha entirely — cosmetics and Familiars (collectible companions) can still be purchased, but core gameplay rewards are earned through play.

DragonSword Awakening — character attacking a tree-golem enemy in a forest
Image courtesy of Hound13

What Singapore Players Need to Know

At USD 29.99 this is firmly in the range of a premium indie release — cheaper than most AAA titles and priced to compete with games like Genshin Impact‘s rough equivalent spend for a month of serious play. The SGD Steam price will be visible once the game goes live on 23 July; keep an eye on the Steam store page for the confirmed local price.

A free demo is available on Steam now if you want to try the combat before committing. Minimum specs are modest — an i5-9400F with a GTX 1660 will run it — so mid-range gaming PCs from the past few years should handle it fine. SSD storage (25 GB) is required, however.

For more game news and upcoming releases, stay tuned to GameTrader.SG.

Game News, News

Pokémon Summer Mac: McDonald’s Japan’s Biggest-Ever Pokémon Collab Turns Every Branch Into a PokéStop

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If you’re planning a Japan trip this summer, your Pokémon GO map is about to look very different. McDonald’s Japan has launched Pokémon Summer Mac (ポケモン夏マック), what it calls its biggest-ever collaboration with a single partner — a sprawling, four-wave campaign celebrating McDonald’s Japan’s 55th anniversary alongside Pokémon’s 30th. The results range from limited-edition McNuggets to a lottery-only kitchen gadget that’s already going viral, and every single McDonald’s Japan branch becomes a Pokémon GO PokéStop for six weeks this summer.

McDonald’s × Pokémon ‘Summer Chance Bag 2026’ New TV Commercial — via Oricon on YouTube

What Is Pokémon Summer Mac?

Pokémon Summer Mac official campaign art featuring original and Gen 9 starters
Image courtesy of McDonald’s Japan × The Pokémon Company

Running across four themed waves from mid-July through August, Pokémon Summer Mac is structured so there’s always something new to look forward to at McDonald’s Japan:

  • Tokuniraldo (July 15 – August 11): Limited-edition 15-piece Chicken McNuggets in a special Pokémon box featuring Pikachu and the original Kanto starters, priced at 490 yen — a 250-yen saving on the regular price. Two exclusive dipping sauces also debut alongside it: Cheese Curry Sauce and Umashio Garlic Sauce at 50 yen each.
  • Summer Chance Bag: The campaign’s anchor item — a lottery-only grab bag priced at 3,900 yen, with applications open July 10–20 and redemption from July 27 to August 2.
  • Collaboration Burger: Details drop on July 16 — still a silhouette at time of writing.
  • Pokémon Happy Meal: Full reveal on July 31.

The Summer Chance Bag: Japan’s Most Viral Pokémon Merch This Season

Jumping Pikachu Potato Timer — McDonald's Japan Summer Chance Bag 2026 exclusive
Image courtesy of McDonald’s Japan × The Pokémon Company

The star of the entire campaign is the Jumping Pikachu Potato Timer — a kitchen countdown timer shaped exactly like a McDonald’s fries box, with a Pikachu figure that pops up from the “fries” when time runs out. It’s the kind of thing that sells out within hours at any Japanese Pokémon Center, except this one is only obtainable through the McDonald’s Summer Chance Bag lottery.

Each bag (3,900 yen via the McDonald’s Japan app) contains the timer, a randomly selected colour-changing cup in a Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle design, a matching zip pouch, and 3,910 yen worth of McDonald’s food vouchers — meaning the vouchers alone more than cover the cost. One in every ten bags also includes a Golden McDonald’s Card carrying an extra 500-yen voucher. Lottery applications run until July 20, so if you have a Japan trip planned (or a friend willing to enter on your behalf), now’s the time to act.

Pokémon GO x McDonald’s Japan: Every Branch Becomes a PokéStop

For Pokémon GO players, the campaign has a separate hook: from July 20 to September 1, all McDonald’s Japan locations will temporarily appear as PokéStops in the game — the franchise’s first Pokémon GO partnership in around six years, timed to Pokémon GO’s own 10th anniversary. With over 2,900 McDonald’s branches across Japan, that’s a significant expansion of the in-game map for anyone playing while travelling.

Trainers visiting Japan between late July and early September will find PokéStops clustered along major shopping streets, in train stations and inside malls — many of which already have a McDonald’s — making the overlap between “grab a quick meal” and “spin a stop” more convenient than ever.

Japan Goes Even Further: Coca-Cola Machines Are Already Pokéstops

McDonald’s isn’t alone. Coca-Cola Japan announced on July 10 that approximately 30,000 Coca-Cola vending machines across Japan are now being progressively added as PokéStops — with select machines eventually upgrading to Gyms for battles. Both Coke ON (Coca-Cola Japan’s vending app, with 75 million downloads) and Pokémon GO share their 10th anniversaries in 2026, and a stamp campaign through the Coke ON app is also planned for September: purchase any Coca-Cola product at a participating machine and collect exclusive Pokémon GO stamps. The announcement was made via Coca-Cola Japan’s official newsroom (Japanese).

Between McDonald’s branches and Coca-Cola vending machines, large parts of urban Japan are effectively becoming a continuous Pokémon GO course this summer. For Singapore trainers doing a summer or year-end Japan trip, the window to catch both the McDonald’s PokéStop campaign (July 20 – September 1) and the Coca-Cola rollout in the same visit makes July–August 2026 one of the best times to be a Pokémon GO player in Japan. The campaign is Japan-only, but the merch — if you can win the lottery — ships a world away from anything available locally.

Full details on the collaboration burger and the Pokémon Happy Meal are still coming (July 16 and July 31 respectively). We’ll be watching. For more Japan culture and Pokémon news, check out our news archive.

Manga Anime

Blue Box Manga Ends After Five Years — Chapter 250 Is the Final Chapter

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Five years, 250 chapters, and ten million copies later, Kouji Miura’s Blue Box (Ao no Hako) has reached its final page. Chapter 250 landed in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #33 on July 13, 2026, concluding one of the most quietly beloved manga serializations in recent Jump history. If you have been reading, today is that bittersweet last chapter. If you have been waiting, the complete story is now there for you.

Five Years, Ten Million Copies, One Final Chapter

Blue Box manga final chapter — Ao no Hako ends in Weekly Shonen Jump
Image courtesy of Shueisha

Blue Box kicked off in April 2021 with a deceptively simple premise: Taiki, a first-year high school student training hard as a badminton player, develops feelings for Chinatsu, a basketball prodigy who happens to move in under the same roof. Kouji Miura built something genuinely warm from there — sports discipline, teenage awkwardness, and slow-burn romance woven tightly together across the Jump pages for over five years.

The series hit 10 million copies in circulation, a milestone that puts it comfortably in the higher tier of Jump’s modern roster. It never traded in the flashy power-scaling that dominates the magazine, and that restraint was exactly what made it resonate with its audience. Singapore and SEA fans who have been following along on Manga Plus can read the final chapter there now, free of charge — Shueisha makes the latest chapters available globally through the platform.

Blue Box by Kouji Miura concludes its Weekly Shonen Jump serialization
Image courtesy of Shueisha

Anime Season 2 Arrives on Netflix This October

Blue Box Season 2 | Official Teaser | Netflix — via Netflix Anime on YouTube

The manga ending does not slow the anime train. Blue Box Season 2 premieres on Netflix on October 4, 2026, announced at AnimeJapan 2026 back in March. Production has shifted to studio Electric Circus under new director Daisuke Sako, taking over from Season 1’s team at Telecom Animation Film. Series composition writer Yuko Kakihara and character designer Miho Tanino are back, so the visual and storytelling feel should stay consistent with what Season 1 established.

Blue Box Season 2 key visual — Chinatsu
Image courtesy of Shueisha / Blue Box Anime Production Committee

Where to Read and Watch Blue Box Now

Blue Box Season 2 promotional visual for Netflix 2026
Image courtesy of Shueisha / Blue Box Anime Production Committee

With the source material now complete, Season 2 will be adapting manga chapters that have a known, finished ending — which is actually a good position for an anime to be in. The production team knows exactly where the story goes.

If you want to read ahead of the anime, the full run is on Manga Plus (Japanese; free globally) and the Viz/Shonen Jump app (English). Season 1 is already on Netflix, and Season 2 follows on October 4. For those new to the series, you have got roughly three months to catch up — which, at 25 episodes, is genuinely manageable. For everyone who has been here since 2021: it has been a good five years. Check out our manga and anime coverage for more on what is airing this season.

Manga Anime

Chiikawa’s First Movie Opens 24 July — Is Singapore Next?

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Japan’s most adorable — and occasionally most emotionally devastating — anime franchise is heading to cinemas for the very first time. 映画ちいかわ 人魚の島のひみつ (Chiikawa Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island) opens in Japanese theatres on 24 July 2026, with a simultaneous IMAX release making it the biggest moment in Chiikawa history.

Chiikawa Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island — key visual showing the full cast on the island
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会
『映画ちいかわ 人魚の島のひみつ』予告映像 — Official trailer via 東宝MOVIEチャンネル on YouTube

The Siren Arc Finally Gets Its Big-Screen Debut

If you follow the Chiikawa manga on X, you know exactly what the Siren Arc is — and why it left so many fans wrecked. Originally posted between March and November 2023, the セイレーン (Siren) storyline is the longest and darkest narrative the series has ever told: a slow-burn island adventure that starts warmly and turns genuinely tense, with Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi facing something far more threatening than the usual monsters they subdue on commission. It trended repeatedly on Japanese social media and drew a huge international following during its original run.

The film adapts this arc faithfully, with the script written by Nagano — the original creator — herself. New voice talent joining the cast for the film includes Suzuki Minori as the Siren, a significant addition for a character who sits at the emotional heart of the story.

Chiikawa and friends in a tense night scene with the Siren in Chiikawa Movie
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会

CygamesPictures and Uma Musume’s Director at the Helm

Animation is handled by CygamesPictures, the studio that produced Uma Musume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era, with Kei Oikawa directing. The film score is composed by Tokumaru Shugo and Kamishidataru Chikara. The opening theme 「くつずれ」 (Kutsu-zure) is written by Nagano and performed by Hachiware’s voice actor Tanaka Seijin, backed by the Suginami Children’s Choir.

The full main cast returns: Aoki Haruka as Chiikawa, Ozawa Ari as Usagi, and Tanaka Seijin as Hachiware. Fans who have been waiting for Usagi’s full rapper persona to finally get a proper showcase will not be disappointed — the character’s rap debut in the film is confirmed as a centrepiece moment, and it gets the full IMAX audio treatment.

IMAX — Because Small Things Deserve a Big Screen

Chiikawa Movie IMAX triptych poster showing Hachiware MAX, Chiikawa MAX, and Usagi MAX
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会

The simultaneous IMAX release was confirmed on 9 July, and the IMAX-exclusive triptych poster — showing Hachiware, Chiikawa, and Usagi in extreme close-up with “MAX” plastered across each panel — immediately became a fan favourite. In IMAX, the film’s visuals stretch floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall, and the high-precision audio system means Usagi’s rap will be felt as much as heard.

Early viewers at participating Japanese cinemas also receive one of eight character charm mini-figures, distributed randomly at the door.

When Can Singapore Fans Watch It?

Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi watch fireworks together in a beautiful night scene from the movie
Image courtesy of Nagano / 映画ちいかわ製作委員会

Japan gets the film first on 24 July. Across Asia, Hong Kong and Macau have confirmed a 6 August theatrical release — both in Japanese with Chinese subtitles and a Cantonese dub — making it the closest option for Singapore fans who happen to be travelling in August. The Philippines has also confirmed a theatrical run via Medialink Films.

For Singapore itself, Medialink Films Singapore is the regional distributor for Southeast Asia and has been signalling interest in the local release — but no Singapore date is confirmed yet. Follow @medialinkfilmssg on Instagram for any announcement. Given that Chiikawa merch practically vanishes the moment it hits Japanese lifestyle stores in Singapore, local demand is not going to be the obstacle. Keep an eye on our manga and anime coverage and we’ll report as soon as a date lands.

Game News

Tales of Eternia Remastered Launches 16 October 2026 on PS5, Switch 2 and More

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One of the PSP era’s most beloved JRPGs is finally making the jump to modern platforms. Tales of Eternia Remastered — developed by TOSE and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment — is heading to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam on 16 October 2026, with a worldwide simultaneous release.

What Is Tales of Eternia?

Tales of Eternia Remastered - exploring the world of Inferia
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Originally released in 2001 in Japan as Tales of Destiny II — and later brought to international audiences via its PlayStation Portable version in 2006 — Tales of Eternia holds a special place for an entire generation of Singapore gamers who grew up on the PSP. The game pairs the action-RPG combat that defines the Tales series with a genuinely moving story and a cast that fans still talk about today.

The plot follows Reid Hershel, a laid-back woodsman from the world of Inferia, alongside his childhood friends Farah and Keele, and a mysterious girl named Meredy who falls from the sky speaking a language no one can understand. What starts as a rescue mission quickly escalates: the two worlds of Inferia and Celestia are on a catastrophic collision course — an event called the Grand Fall — and only Reid’s group stands between two civilisations and total annihilation. It is a classic setup, executed with heart.

Tales of Eternia Remastered – Announcement Trailer — via Bandai Namco Entertainment America on YouTube

Real-Time Combat, Remastered

Tales of Eternia Remastered - combat in the desert with four-party battle
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Tales of Eternia’s battle system — the Aggressive Linear Motion Battle System (A-LiMBS) — was ahead of its time: real-time, side-scrolling combat where you control one character while the AI manages your party, and chain attacks and Artes into satisfying combos. If you played the PSP version, it will feel exactly as you remember it, just sharper.

The remaster does not overhaul the underlying gameplay, but it adds several features that make the experience significantly more approachable in 2026:

  • Graphics Mode and SFX Mode — toggle freely between remastered visuals and audio or the original versions at any time
  • Boost Feature — adjust experience gain and encounter frequency to suit your pace
  • High-Speed Auto-Mode — speed through battles you have already mastered
  • Battle Retry and Quick Recovery — for when a tough boss takes you by surprise
  • Destination Markers — toggleable, for players who want a little guidance in the sprawling world
  • Extreme Difficulty — available from the very start for veterans who want a real challenge, with a post-game Unknown difficulty for the truly battle-hardened
Tales of Eternia Remastered - boss encounter in a lava cave
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Available on Practically Every Platform Singapore Gamers Own

Tales of Eternia Remastered - exploring a colourful pixel art town
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

The full platform list is as broad as it gets: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Whether you are on your PS5, your Switch 2 in handheld mode on the MRT, or playing on PC, you are covered. The worldwide release on 16 October means Singapore gets it on day one alongside the rest of the world — no waiting for a delayed Asian release.

Pricing has not yet been confirmed by Bandai Namco. You can wishlist the game now on Steam, and keep an eye on major game retailers and electronics chains for PS5 and Switch 2 pre-order announcements closer to launch. For more upcoming JRPG and game news, browse our Game News section.

Game News, News

Azur Lane × NieR: Automata — 2B and A2 Are Free Units

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Commanders, this one is big. Yostar has officially confirmed the Azur Lane × NieR: Automata collaboration, and in a move that has the global player community genuinely excited: both crossover units — 2B and A2 — will be free. The event is set to go live in mid-July 2026, following a full reveal at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles earlier this month.

2B Joins as a Free Light Cruiser

2B — 6-star Super Rare Light Cruiser in Azur Lane × NieR: Automata
Image courtesy of Yostar / SQUARE ENIX

YoRHa No.2 Type B — better known simply as 2B — arrives in Azur Lane as a 6-star Super Rare Light Cruiser, voiced by Yui Ishikawa reprising her iconic role. She brings her twin blades and the iconic blindfold into the Azur Lane world in an art style that blends the game’s signature ship-girl aesthetic with the mechanical, overgrown ruins of NieR’s post-apocalyptic setting.

The character art leans heavily into the NieR: Automata visual language — ruined cityscapes, trailing cables, oversized combat rigs — which Azur Lane fans in Singapore have pointed out looks stunning in the game’s gallery mode. 2B can be obtained for free through the event, meaning no premium currency is required to add her to your fleet.

A2 Joins as a Free Heavy Cruiser

A2 — 6-star Super Rare Heavy Cruiser in Azur Lane × NieR: Automata
Image courtesy of Yostar / SQUARE ENIX

Joining her counterpart is A2 (YoRHa Type A No.2), slotting in as a 6-star Super Rare Heavy Cruiser, voiced by Ayaka Suwa. Where 2B leans into the sleek, blade-forward combat look, A2’s card art is more imposing — heavier gear, a battle-worn posture, and an air of barely contained danger that matches the character perfectly. Both ships are tuned for the frontline.

What makes this especially valuable for Singapore players is that free 6-star SR units in Azur Lane are rare. Most crossover collaborations lock at least one major character behind limited-time gacha banners or premium event currency. Getting both 2B and A2 as earnable rewards is an unusually generous setup.

When Does the Azur Lane × NieR Collab Start?

The collaboration is set to begin in mid-July 2026; the exact in-game launch date is to be confirmed via the official @AzurLane_EN account on X. Yostar first teased the crossover in May 2026 before formally revealing both characters during Anime Expo 2026 (July 2–5). Event duration and any additional collaboration rewards — support ships, furniture sets, or limited-time story stages — have not yet been officially detailed.

For more mobile game and gacha news, head to our game news section. And if you missed the announcement, the official Azur Lane × NieR: Automata characters were confirmed by Yostar on the Azur Lane EN account on X.