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Game News

Granblue Fantasy: Relink — Endless Ragnarok Is Out Now on Switch 2, PS5 and PC

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Cygames has launched Granblue Fantasy: Relink — Endless Ragnarok today, 9 July 2026, on Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, PS4, and PC via Steam. The standalone release bundles the original Relink with a sweeping expansion — new story, six new playable characters, a roguelite endgame mode, and series-first multi-platform crossplay. Existing owners can upgrade from S$34.90 on Steam.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink — “Not Forgotten Sky” Endless Ragnarok Launch Trailer — via PlayStation on YouTube

What’s New in Granblue Fantasy: Relink — Endless Ragnarok

Endless Ragnarok adds a brand-new story arc that continues the Relink saga, alongside six new characters joining the playable roster. The flagship addition is The Conflux — a new solo endgame mode built around roguelite principles, where each run through unpredictable challenges yields enigmatic powers and escalating rewards. It gives the game a strong reason to keep coming back long after the main campaign wraps.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink — Endless Ragnarok new character combat
Image courtesy of Cygames

The character progression system gains master traits — an advanced layer on top of existing skill trees that lets you push characters beyond their previous limits. The summon system has also been overhauled, with new mechanics for unlocking and calling forth summons during quests. If you were already deep into the original Relink, there’s a lot here to rebuild your builds around.

Crossplay Arrives for the First Time

One of Endless Ragnarok’s headline features is multi-platform crossplay for online co-op — a first for the Relink series. Up to four players can now party up across PS5, PS4, and PC, removing the platform walls that previously split the player base. The Nintendo Switch 2 version goes one step further, adding local co-op as a Switch 2-exclusive feature for players who want to play side by side.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink — Endless Ragnarok co-op multiplayer gameplay
Image courtesy of Cygames

For Singapore’s thriving Granblue Fantasy community, this matters: crossplay means you’re no longer locked out of co-op quests depending on what platform your friends own. Link your Cygames ID to unlock additional cross-title link bonuses with other GBF games, including a Damascus Ingot and Silver Centra for returning players.

Editions and Pricing for Singapore

Endless Ragnarok releases as a full standalone game that includes both the base Granblue Fantasy: Relink and the new expansion content — ideal for anyone who missed the original. If you already own Relink on PS5, PS4, or PC, an Upgrade Kit is also available:

  • Upgrade Kit (Standard Edition): S$34.90 on Steam SG — for existing Granblue Fantasy: Relink owners
  • Full Standalone (Standard Edition): US$59.99 / approximately S$74–79 (check local PS Store and Steam SG for confirmed SGD pricing)
  • Special Edition: Includes additional in-game content (check the official site for full details)
Granblue Fantasy: Relink — Endless Ragnarok — The Conflux endgame mode
Image courtesy of Cygames

The Nintendo Switch 2 version is priced at US$59.99 and includes the base game bundled in — it’s the most complete entry point for Switch 2 owners who haven’t played Relink before. An updated free demo is also available, based on the April Open Beta with balance adjustments and UI improvements, featuring Story Mode and Quest Mode content.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink — Endless Ragnarok character roster and new characters
Image courtesy of Cygames

Whether you’re an existing Relink veteran looking for endgame depth or a newcomer picking up the franchise for the first time, today’s launch is a good entry point across every platform. Check our game news section for more on this week’s major releases.

Event

Pokémon GO Fest 2026 Is Free for All — Mega Mewtwo Debuts This Weekend

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Pokémon GO Fest 2026 is going completely free — no ticket, no paywall, no catch. For the first time in the event’s history, every trainer worldwide gets in, with Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y making their Pokémon GO world premiere across two massive raid days this Saturday and Sunday.

Incoming: Pokémon GO Fest 2026! — via Pokémon GO on YouTube

GO Fest 2026 Global: Free for the First Time in Pokémon GO’s 10-Year Run

Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Global runs on Saturday July 11 and Sunday July 12, from 10 AM to 7 PM local time each day — 10 AM to 7 PM SGT for Singapore trainers, with no time zone disadvantage. Since the first GO Fest in Chicago in 2017, every Global event has required at minimum a USD ticket purchase. This year, Niantic and The Pokémon Company are dropping the paywall entirely to mark the game’s 10th anniversary.

If you have Pokémon GO installed, you are in. There is an optional GO Pass: Road of Legends Deluxe upgrade for cosmetic bonuses and a Gold Bottle Cap, but the entire core event — raids, habitats, Special Research, and Zeraora — is available for free. For Singapore players who have always hesitated at GO Fest’s annual price tag, this is the one weekend not to miss.

Mega Mewtwo X and Y — Their Pokémon GO World Premiere

Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y make their Pokémon GO world debut at GO Fest 2026
Image courtesy of Niantic / Pokémon GO

Mega Mewtwo X headlines Saturday July 11 in Super Mega Raids, and Mega Mewtwo Y takes over on Sunday July 12. Both forms are appearing in Pokémon GO for the very first time — this is their global debut, not a rerun. Any Mewtwo caught from these Super Mega Raids arrives with at least one Mega Level already unlocked, meaning you can Mega Evolve it immediately at no initial Mega Energy cost.

Super Mega Raids are tougher than standard five-star encounters, so come prepared with a strong Electric- or Ghost-type team and a solid group of at least five trainers. Singapore’s high-density areas — Marina Bay, Orchard Road, Bugis, HarbourFront VivoCity — draw large raid groups, but the first two hours of each day tend to be the busiest. Join local Pokémon GO Telegram or Discord channels ahead of the weekend to lock in raid parties for both forms.

Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y make their Pokémon GO debuts during Pokémon GO Fest 2026 — via Pokémon GO on YouTube

Zeraora Joins Pokémon GO — Free Special Research for All

Zeraora makes its Pokémon GO debut via free Special Research during GO Fest 2026
Image courtesy of Niantic / Pokémon GO

Zeraora, the fan-favourite Thunderclap Pokémon from Pokémon: The Power of Us, makes its Pokémon GO debut this weekend through a free Special Research story available to all trainers. Complete the research steps during the July 11-12 event window to add it to your collection. Zeraora’s Electric-type moveset makes it genuinely useful in GO Battle League, so this one is worth prioritising alongside the raids.

Across both event days, all 18 Pokémon types rotate through six themed habitat zones, giving trainers the chance to earn each type’s platinum medal in a single weekend. Missed a five-star raid during the Road of Legends event that ran July 6-10? GO Fest weekend lets you re-encounter those Pokémon too.

Pokémon GO Fest 2026 event T-shirt featuring Mewtwo
Image courtesy of Niantic / Pokémon GO

Singapore GO Fest 2026 Quick Guide

  • Dates: Saturday 11 July and Sunday 12 July 2026
  • Hours: 10 AM – 7 PM SGT each day
  • Cost: Free for all trainers worldwide (no ticket needed)
  • Saturday: Mega Mewtwo X in Super Mega Raids (world premiere)
  • Sunday: Mega Mewtwo Y in Super Mega Raids (world premiere)
  • New Pokémon: Zeraora via free Special Research
  • Optional: GO Pass: Road of Legends Deluxe (cosmetic bonuses + Gold Bottle Cap)

The full breakdown including habitat rotations, bonus list, and GO Pass details is on the official Pokémon GO website.

Manga Anime

Suikoden: The Anime Brings Suikoden II to Life — October Premiere, amazarashi Opening, August Theatrical Run

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One of the most beloved JRPGs ever made is finally becoming an anime. Suikoden: The Anime, Konami Animation’s full-series adaptation of Suikoden II, has confirmed an October 2026 TV premiere — and a second promotional video released on 5 July added even more fuel to the hype, unveiling a new opening theme from Japanese rock band amazarashi and a wave of additional voice cast names including Miyuki Sawashiro.

Suikoden The Anime first promotional video
Image courtesy of Konami

What Is Suikoden: The Anime?

The series is a new production by Konami Animation adapting the story of the 1998 PS1 classic Suikoden II — widely considered one of the greatest RPGs ever made and a formative game for a generation of Singapore and Southeast Asian fans who discovered it on PlayStation. The anime follows Riou and Jowy, two young soldiers from the Highland Kingdom whose bond is tested by war, betrayal, and the weight of the 27 True Runes.

Direction is by Yūzō Satō, known for Hunter × Hunter: The Last Mission, with series composition by Michihiro Tsuchiya. The character design trio — Fumi Ishikawa (original game designs), Arata Suzuki (anime concept art), and Ryō Yamauchi (TV animation adaptation) — has been working to translate the distinctive look of Suikoden II into a full animated series.

Riou, the protagonist of Suikoden: The Anime
Image courtesy of Konami

New Trailer and amazarashi’s Opening Theme

The second promotional video, released 5 July, is the most substantial look at the series yet — and it opens with the first bars of the new theme song. “Kanashimi Sae Otonabite” (Even Sorrow Resounds) by amazarashi is the series’ opening theme, a band whose work on Dororo and Fumetsu no Anata e made them a favourite among fans of emotionally heavy anime — a fitting match for a story about friendship, war, and political betrayal.

Suikoden: The Anime — 2nd Promotional Video (opening theme: amazarashi) — via NBCUniversal Anime/Music on YouTube

Voice Cast Highlights

The main duo is played by Toshiki Kumagai (Riou) and Shimba Tsuchiya (Jowy). Jowy’s arc — starting as Riou’s closest friend and evolving into the story’s most tragic antagonist — gives Tsuchiya one of the more demanding roles in the season.

Jowy Atreides from Suikoden: The Anime
Image courtesy of Konami

Among the supporting cast, Miyuki Sawashiro (best known internationally as Celty in Durarara!! and Jolyne in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Stone Ocean) will voice Anabelle, the Mayor of Muse City — a key political figure in the Highland-City-State conflict. Hiroki Sakai joins as Jess, and King Agares Blight, the ailing Highland ruler, will be voiced by Yamanoi Hitoshi. The cast also includes Katsuyuki Konishi and Yuichi Nakamura, two veterans whose combined credits span Fate/stay night, My Hero Academia, Gintama, and dozens of other flagship titles — signalling that Konami Animation has gone all-in on the production.

Japan Theatrical Premiere and TV Broadcast

Before the series airs on TV, the first three episodes will receive a theatrical premiere in Japan on 21 August 2026 — giving audiences an early, big-screen look at the adaptation before the broadcast run begins.

The TV broadcast launches on 3 October 2026 with a 60-minute extended first episode, rolling out across TOKYO MX, Kansai TV, BS Asahi, and 32 stations nationwide.

Suikoden: The Anime promotional visual
Image courtesy of Konami

What Singapore Fans Should Know

International streaming for Suikoden: The Anime has not been confirmed yet, and there is no confirmed SG or SEA release date for the theatrical cut. Crunchyroll handled the Suikoden I & II HD Remaster marketing in the region, and NBC Universal Entertainment Japan (the distributor behind the 2nd PV) handles many titles that end up on streaming platforms globally — so a Crunchyroll or similar simulcast pick-up is plausible, but officially still to be confirmed.

For now, Suikoden: The Anime goes down as one of the most anticipated Fall 2026 series for JRPG fans and veteran anime watchers. Follow the Konami Animation official site and other anime news here for streaming announcements as they come.

Game Industry News, Game News

Tokyo Game Show 2026 Reveals 759 Exhibitors for Historic 5-Day Run

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Tokyo Game Show 2026 is already shaping up to be the most ambitious in the event’s 30-year history. The Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA) revealed today that 759 companies have committed to exhibiting at TGS 2026 — spanning 484 domestic and 275 international participants from 51 countries and regions — across 3,946 booths at Makuhari Messe, Chiba, Japan. Dates: 17–21 September 2026.

Tokyo Game Show 2026 official key visual by illustrator Warashi
Image courtesy of CESA / Tokyo Game Show

Five Days for the First Time

The headline change this year is format: TGS 2026 runs five days rather than the usual four, making it the longest Tokyo Game Show ever held. Under the anniversary theme “The Longest Five Days of Non-Stop Play” (史上最長、遊びづくしの5DAYS), the schedule is split into two business days (17–18 September, for industry and press) followed by three public days (19–21 September). Organisers expect approximately 300,000 visitors across all five days.

The expanded format is a fitting way to mark the show’s 30th anniversary, and for Singapore gamers planning a Japan trip this September, three consecutive open days gives more flexibility for travel logistics than previous years’ two-day public windows.

TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026 【ティザー動画】大公開! — via TOKYO GAME SHOW/東京ゲームショウ on YouTube

Who’s Exhibiting: The Big Names

The confirmed roster reads like a who’s-who of the global games industry. Major exhibitors already locked in include:

  • Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation)
  • Nintendo
  • Square Enix
  • Capcom
  • SEGA / ATLUS
  • Bandai Namco Entertainment
  • Konami Digital Entertainment
  • Koei Tecmo
  • LEVEL-5
  • HoYoverse
  • Nexon
  • Netmarble
  • PlatinumGames

This year’s international tally surpasses TGS 2025’s count of 46 participating countries, underlining the show’s continued growth as a global platform — and giving the event’s live streams an even broader range of titles to showcase for fans who can’t make it to Chiba in person.

Tokyo Game Show 2026 30th anniversary teaser visual featuring an animated character in front of Makuhari Messe
Image courtesy of CESA / Tokyo Game Show

Exhibition Areas and Special Events

The show floor is divided into dedicated zones: General Exhibition, Smartphone Games, Gaming Hardware, Gaming Lifestyle, AR/VR, eSports, Game Academy, Indie Games, Merchandise and Sales, Family Game Park, Business Solutions, and an AI Technology Pavilion. Red Bull returns as a sponsor with a Street Fighter 6 showmatch on the event floor, and Suzuki will display a custom Hayabusa motorcycle — proof that TGS increasingly blurs the line between gaming expo and broader pop-culture festival.

Country pavilions this year include representatives from Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Poland, Brazil, and India. Malaysia’s presence is a positive sign for Southeast Asian developers who see TGS as a springboard for reaching Japanese and wider Asian audiences.

Tokyo Game Show 2026 logo displayed in front of Makuhari Messe venue
Image courtesy of CESA / Tokyo Game Show

How to Follow TGS 2026 from Singapore

The official TGS website at events.nikkeibp.co.jp/tgs/2026/en/ carries the full exhibitor directory and will host ticket and live-stream information as the September dates approach. CESA has also confirmed a giveaway campaign for tickets, details of which will be announced through the official TGS social accounts.

For those unable to fly to Chiba, the TGS live streams on YouTube have historically been among the most-watched gaming events in Asia — expect publisher stage shows, world premieres, and hands-on coverage from the floor across all five days. We will be covering the key announcements as they drop, so follow our Game News and Game Industry News sections for the build-up to September.

Game News

Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis Shuts Down in October — Red Crystal Sales Already Stopped

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Singapore’s Final Fantasy VII fans woke up to difficult news this morning: Square Enix has confirmed that Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis will end service on 7 October 2026 at 14:00 SGT — and as of 10:00 AM SGT today (8 July), the sale of Red Crystals, the game’s premium currency, has already been permanently halted. Any Red Crystals already in your account remain spendable until the servers close.

Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis gameplay showing Aerith, Barret and Red XIII battling the Scorpion Sentinel
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Shutdown Date and Key Timing for Singapore

The server closes on 6 October at 11:00 PM PDT, which translates to 7 October at 15:00 JST and 7 October at 14:00 SGT. Both the mobile versions (iOS and Android) and the Steam PC version shut down at the same time. Red Crystal sales were cut first — disabled on 7 July at 7:00 PM PDT (8 July, 10:00 AM SGT). No new paid options will be offered between now and closure. As confirmed in the official notice, existing Red Crystals can still be used on in-game content right up until the shutdown.

Before Crisis Story Chapters Will Still Drop Before the End

Not everything stops today. Square Enix confirmed that all remaining scheduled story content will be released before closure — including the final chapters of Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII, the spinoff told from the perspective of the Turks set before the events of the original game. Chapter 1, “The Turks’ Mission Begins,” was the most recently released instalment. If you have been following the Before Crisis narrative inside Ever Crisis, there is still reason to log in over the coming months.

Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII- Chapter 1 — via スクウェア・エニックス (Square Enix) on YouTube (Japanese)
Cloud and Sephiroth face each other in Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Two Years and Ten Months of FF7 — A Brief Look Back

Ever Crisis launched on iOS and Android in September 2023 and expanded to Steam in December 2023, running for roughly two years and ten months in total. The game offered something unusual for the mobile space: a visually polished, chapter-by-chapter retelling of the entire FF7 universe — pulling from the original 1997 game, Crisis Core, Before Crisis, Dirge of Cerberus and the Compilation films all in one free-to-play package.

In their shutdown notice, Square Enix cited difficulty maintaining the standard of service quality they aimed to deliver — a common reason given when live-service mobile titles close, though a painful one when the IP is as beloved as Final Fantasy VII across Southeast Asia.

Cloud Strife in action in Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis
Image courtesy of Square Enix

What to Do Before October 7 (SGT)

Red Crystal purchases are done — no more spending is possible. Any crystals you already own can still be used on weapons, costumes and event content until the servers close. The remaining Before Crisis chapters will continue to release, so keep an eye on the official Ever Crisis site for a content schedule. If you have been putting off finishing story chapters or pulling for a specific character weapon, the 7 October deadline at 14:00 SGT is the hard stop. There will be no extensions.

For more on the games and anime Singapore fans are playing right now, check out our Game News coverage.

Game News

Silver Palace Dichotomy Beta: Sign Up Before 16 July for This Free Victorian ARPG

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If you have been watching the free-to-play game space and wondering when something genuinely visually ambitious would come along, Silver Palace might be worth a closer look — and right now is the best time to try it. Publisher Elementa and developer Silver Studio are running the Dichotomy Beta Test, the largest and most content-complete build of the UE5-powered Victorian detective ARPG yet, and sign-ups close on 16 July 2026 at 11:59pm SGT.

What Is Silver Palace?

Silver Palace Dichotomy Beta key art — two protagonists in a Victorian cityscape
Image courtesy of Elementa

Silver Palace is an open-world action RPG set in Silvernia, a sprawling Victorian-era metropolis powered by a mysterious energy source called Silverium. You play as a detective navigating an industrialised city of fog, gas-lamps, and hidden conspiracies, alongside a cast of distinct partners — each with their own fighting style and story. The game is built in Unreal Engine 5, and the results show: the reveal trailers have consistently drawn attention for their lighting and visual detail.

The developer is Silver Studio; the publisher is Elementa, which is the global interactive entertainment brand of Happy Elements’ Singapore-incorporated entity. Silver Palace is planned as a free-to-play title with gacha elements when it launches globally, though the current Dichotomy Beta has no in-game purchases and all progress is wiped at the end of the test.

Watch: The Raven and the Rose Gameplay Showcase

Silver Palace Dichotomy Beta Test Gameplay Showcase – The Raven and the Rose — via Silver Palace on YouTube

What Dichotomy Adds

Silver Palace Dichotomy Beta — exploration through Silvernia's Victorian streets
Image courtesy of Elementa

The Dichotomy name comes from its central new addition: a long-awaited male protagonist, giving players a second way to experience the story alongside the existing female protagonist — the Raven and the Rose pair of the gameplay showcase above. Both characters are guided by a mysterious narrator called Red Rose, and their paths connect across Silvernia’s narrative.

Beyond the new lead, the beta unlocks previously inaccessible city districts, introduces new supporting characters, and expands the slate of side activities: driving, chess, board games, and riding a Silverium Pegasus across the skyline. Combat has also been refined — Elementa describes the changes as delivering more fluid, responsive, and engaging battles compared to earlier test builds.

The beta is PC-only (Windows) for now; console and mobile clients are planned for the eventual global launch but not included in this round. All beta data is wiped after the test concludes.

Register Before 16 July — Here’s Where

Silver Palace Dichotomy Beta — action combat in Silvernia
Image courtesy of Elementa

Sign-ups are open at silverpalace.elementagames.com. The registration window closes on 16 July 2026 at 11:59pm SGT (UTC+8). One important note from Elementa: access is locked to the first device you log in from — switching devices mid-beta risks an account ban, so make sure you are set up on your preferred machine before you start.

If you would rather watch before you dive in, Elementa will have a playable demo at Japan Expo Paris starting tomorrow, 9 July (running through 12 July), and at gamescom Asia in Bangkok from 29 October to 1 November — so there is a physical opportunity in Southeast Asia later this year. For more upcoming game releases and betas to watch, check our game news section.

Manga Anime

Yoko Taro Directs New Evangelion Anime — Studio Khara’s Bold New Series is Officially in Production

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It’s not a drill: Studio Khara has confirmed a brand-new Evangelion anime series is in production, and the director attached to it is none other than Yoko Taro — the enigmatic auteur behind NieR:Automata, Drakengard, and some of the most emotionally devastating stories in gaming. The English version of the confirmation trailer dropped on 5 July, and the anime world hasn’t been able to stop talking about it since.

Why This Announcement Is a Big Deal

Hideaki Anno’s Studio Khara — the house that brought us the Rebuild of Evangelion tetralogy — is backing this new series, but the creative direction is being handed to Yoko Taro. That combination is genuinely unprecedented. Anno built Evangelion as a deeply personal psychological excavation; Taro is known for post-apocalyptic nihilism wrapped in subversive game design. The crossover potential for their shared obsessions — existential dread, broken protagonists, humanity’s self-destructive impulses — is enormous.

New Evangelion series – Eva unit in dramatic red lighting
The new series imagery leans into Evangelion’s iconic mech design with a striking new colour palette. (Image: Studio Khara)

The trailer itself is deliberately sparse — a piano score plays over imagery of post-apocalyptic ruins, with the title card reading “EVANGELION BRAND NEW SERIES PRODUCTION INITIATED”. No character reveals, no story details, no air date. That’s classic Anno/Khara restraint. The decision to release an English version simultaneously (rather than a delayed localisation) suggests a more internationally-focused rollout than some past entries.

What We Know (and Don’t Know)

Details are thin by design, but here’s what’s been officially confirmed so far:

  • This is a new series — not a sequel to Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 and not a remake of the original 1995 TV series
  • Yoko Taro is directing, under Khara’s production umbrella
  • Studio Khara is producing — so expect the same visual quality as the Rebuild films
  • The English confirmation trailer was uploaded to Khara’s official YouTube channel on 5 July 2026

What we don’t yet know: release window, episode count, whether it’s a streaming-first title or theatrical, and which platform(s) will carry it. Given Netflix’s recent track record with high-profile anime acquisitions (and Taro’s existing relationship with the streaming giant via the NieR:Automata Ver1.1a anime), Netflix is an obvious candidate — but that’s speculation at this stage.

Classic Neon Genesis Evangelion promotional art featuring Shinji and Rei
The original Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) redefined anime. The new series has enormous shoes to fill. (Image: Studio Khara)

Why Singapore Fans Should Pay Attention

Evangelion merchandise and events have always had a strong footprint in Singapore — the franchise reliably sells out at Animate Singapore, Kinokuniya Orchard, and Anime Festival Asia every year. A new series from Studio Khara will almost certainly trigger a fresh wave of figures, apparel, and collaborations. If past Rebuild film releases are anything to go by, local distributors will be quick to secure screening or streaming rights.

For fans of Yoko Taro’s work specifically, this feels like the creative pairing the internet manifested into existence through sheer force of will. His games consistently feature unreliable narrators, multiple-playthrough revelations, and the kind of gut-punch endings that stick with you for years. Applied to Evangelion — a franchise already built on those exact qualities — the results could be genuinely extraordinary.

We’ll be tracking every development as it comes. Watch this space, and keep an eye on Studio Khara’s official YouTube for the next update.

Manga Anime, News

Black Clover Season 2 Finally Returns in October 2026

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Five years is a long time to wait. Black Clover Season 2 is finally returning this October 2026 — and if the world premiere screening at Anime Expo 2026 is anything to go by, Asta and the Black Bulls are coming back stronger than ever. With the manga itself having completed its 11-year serialisation in May 2026, the timing of this anime comeback lands at exactly the right moment.

The Spade Kingdom Arc — Black Clover’s Best, Now Animated

Season 2 doesn’t ease you back in gently. The premiere episode, screened to a packed audience at Anime Expo 2026 on 4 July, opens in the Spade Kingdom and dives straight into the aftermath of the Spade Kingdom Raid — the story arc many fans consider the series’ creative peak. Reactions from AX attendees described the episode as distinctly “powered-up”, with particular praise going to a striking black-and-white sequence during Nacht Faust’s Mana Zone — a bold stylistic choice that signals this season won’t play it safe.

At the heart of the story is Asta’s training with his demon partner Liebe, guided by the enigmatic Black Bulls deputy captain Nacht Faust, as the two work towards mastering Devil Union Form — a temporary fusion of human and demon that amplifies Asta’s anti-magic to jaw-dropping levels. Alongside him, Noelle Silva and Yuno Grinberryall reach new heights that pay off years of patient setup for long-time readers.

Black Clover Season 2 — Asta in front of an illustration featuring Nacht, Yami, and Yuno
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Crunchyroll
Black Clover Second Season — Official Trailer 3 — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

Studio Pierrot Returns — With a Fresh Team and Higher Ambitions

Studio Pierrot is back in production, which is what fans had hoped. The studio brings a largely renewed creative team: Ayataka Tanemura takes the director’s chair (he helmed portions of the original series and directed the Sword of the Wizard King Netflix film), with series composer Keiichiro Ochi, new character designer Itsuko Takeda, and new music composer Minako Seki. The updated character designs show a noticeably more polished look for the cast, and early screenshots suggest the animation quality is aiming for the heights Pierrot reached on Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War — strong words, but the first-episode reaction from AX backs it up.

Black Clover Season 2 — official character promotional art
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Crunchyroll

WANIMA Opens the Season with “Kienai Riyuu”

The opening theme is “Kienai Riyuu” (消えない理由 — “The Reason It Won’t Fade”) by Japanese punk-rock band WANIMA. The group, known for their anthemic, full-throttle energy and previous contributions to the My Hero Academia and Haikyu!! soundtracks, is an instinctive fit for Black Clover’s never-quit spirit. Previews of the theme in the official trailer have already sparked “one of the best OPs of the year” claims online — which, for a 5-year comeback, is exactly the reception this series needed.

Black Clover Season 2 — key visual promotional art
Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Crunchyroll

Streaming for Singapore Fans

Black Clover Season 2 premieres in Japan in October 2026. Crunchyroll has confirmed streaming in international regions outside Asia. Singapore fans should watch Crunchyroll Asia‘s catalogue directly — Asia-specific streaming rights for many Studio Pierrot titles are handled separately, so a regional platform may carry it shortly after the Japan broadcast. If the original series’ distribution is any guide, it should find its way here.

Those looking to get ahead can revisit Season 1’s 170 episodes, or — since the manga completed its 11-year serialisation in May 2026 — dive into the source material now. An Official Guidebook covering the full story with creator commentary also drops in Japan on 4 August 2026. For more upcoming anime hitting Singapore-accessible platforms, check our anime and manga section.

Manga Anime

The Apothecary Diaries Movie Opens in Japan 11 December

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Maomao is heading to the big screen. Gekijōban Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Bōhi no Hihō — The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Empress’ Treasure — opens in Japanese cinemas on 11 December 2026, marking the first theatrical film for one of Crunchyroll’s most-watched anime franchises of recent years.

劇場版 薬屋のひとりごと 亡妃の秘宝 予告｜2026年12月11日（金）公開 — via TOHO animation チャンネル on YouTube

Maomao’s Next Case: Treasure, Pirates, and an Imperial Secret

The film sends Maomao and Jinshi far outside the palace on a grim errand: escort the remains of a concubine — dead five years — back to her homeland. The mission turns dangerous fast. They encounter pirates, hidden treasure, and a mysterious boy named Mu Qing who holds the key to the dead woman’s secrets. It is a self-contained story set between the events of Seasons 2 and 3, corresponding roughly to volume 4.5 of the original light novel series.

The Apothecary Diaries Movie character visuals — Maomao and Jinshi
Image courtesy of Toho Animation

New Character, Familiar Voices

The main cast returns: Aoi Yūki reprises Maomao and Takeo Ōtsuka is back as Jinshi. The film’s new face is Mu Qing, voiced by Mariya Ise — whose extensive CV includes Killua in Hunter x Hunter, Ray in The Promised Neverland, and Himeno in Chainsaw Man. Mu Qing is the mysterious boy at the centre of the film’s mystery, and his connection to the deceased consort is the thread Maomao has to unravel.

Mu Qing character visual and voice actress Mariya Ise for The Apothecary Diaries Movie
Image courtesy of Toho Animation

An Original Story, Written by the Author Herself

The screenplay is a fully original work by Hyūganatsu, the author of the Apothecary Diaries light novels — not an adaptation of an existing arc, but a story she describes as “more like the first draft of the novel.” Production is by the same team at Toho Animation STUDIO and OLM who built the television series. With Season 3 Part 1 confirmed for October 2026 and Part 2 in April 2027 — both expected on Crunchyroll — the film slots into the gap and gives fans an extra chapter while they wait for the next arc.

Japan Premiere on 11 December — International Window TBA

The premiere is Japan-only for now, with no international theatrical or streaming date announced. Both previous seasons of The Apothecary Diaries were available on Crunchyroll in Singapore, so a streaming release overseas is plausible — though Toho Animation has not set a timeline. For now, Season 3 Part 1 on Crunchyroll this October is the next guaranteed fix for Singapore fans. Stay tuned for updates as they come, and browse our anime and manga coverage for more on what is streaming this season.