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Xian Skyrider

Event

Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Free for the First Time — Singapore Guide

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Pokémon GO Fest goes free for the very first time this year — and for Singapore trainers, there is even more reason to head out this weekend. Mega Mewtwo X and Y make their Pokémon GO debut, Zeraora lands in every trainer’s inbox through a permanent Special Research, and Xurkitree is appearing in Asia-Pacific five-star raids on Sunday. Here is everything you need to know before 11 July.

When and How to Play Pokémon GO Fest 2026 Global

The event runs Saturday 11 July and Sunday 12 July 2026, from 10 am to 7 pm local time on both days — nine hours of event gameplay each day, one hour longer than previous GO Fests. For the first time ever, no ticket purchase is needed. Every trainer who opens Pokémon GO during the event weekend automatically receives access to the featured Special Research, increased Shiny encounter rates, and all event bonuses at zero cost. Simply log in and go.

Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Pikachu, Mewtwo, Tropius and Bouffalant gathered in a sunny park in Pokémon GO Fest 2026 artwork
Image courtesy of Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y Debut in GO

The headline draw is a double Mewtwo weekend. Mega Mewtwo X headlinesSuper Mega Raid Battles on Saturday 11 July, while Mega Mewtwo Y takes over Sunday 12 July. Both Mega Evolutions are appearing in Pokémon GO for the very first time. Each day also features nine different standard Mega Raids alongside the Super Mega headliner, so there are plenty of Mega Energy opportunities regardless of which form you are chasing.

Up to nine free Raid Passes per day can be earned by spinning Gym Photo Discs throughout the full calendar day (midnight to midnight SGT), not just during event hours. Spin gyms while you can and save passes for the Mewtwo you want. Timed Research lets you choose a Mega Mewtwo X or Y path for form-specific rewards — pick whichever evolution you still need for your Pokédex.

Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y facing off under the Pokémon GO Fest 2026 logo
Image courtesy of Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Zeraora — Free for Every Trainer Who Logs In

The Electric-type Mythical Pokémon from Alola makes its first ever appearance in Pokémon GO this weekend. Log in at any point during the event weekend and you receive a non-expiring Special Research story leading to a Zeraora encounter — take your time completing it after GO Fest ends if you need to. This is not a ticket bonus; it goes to every trainer who simply opens the game between 10 am Saturday and 7 pm Sunday SGT.

Zeraora the Thunderclap Pokémon crackling with electricity on a rocky mountain in Pokémon GO
Image courtesy of Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Singapore Gets Xurkitree — Asia-Pacific Exclusive on Sunday

Here is the Singapore-specific win. On Sunday 12 July, five-star raid battles in the Asia-Pacific region feature Xurkitree, the Ultra Beast with the tangle of electric cables. Other regions get different Ultra Beasts in the same timeslot, so this is a genuine Asia-Pacific exclusive for the day. If Xurkitree is missing from your regional Pokédex, round up your local raid group now — GO Fest Sundays tend to see high gym activity, making it easier to fill raid lobbies without needing Remote Raid Passes.

Twenty or more five-star Legendary Pokémon are also cycling through raids across both days alongside the Ultra Beast slot, including Regieleki, Regidrago, and the Tapu quartet.

Habitat Rotation and Wild Pokémon

Pokémon types cycle through three themed habitats across both days, each running for three-hour blocks: Stormfire Peaks boosts Ice, Electric, and Fire types; Astral Tides brings Psychic, Ghost, and Water types; and Dragonflight Summit features Flying, Rock, and Dragon types. Ground, Steel, Normal, Poison, Bug, Grass, Dark, Fairy, and Fighting types also appear in rotation. Field Research tasks refresh hourly alongside the habitat cycle.

Incense during the event (10 am–7 pm) attracts special wild Pokémon including every form of Unown, Tropius, and Bouffalant. Lure Modules placed during event hours last a full hour.

All GO Fest 2026 Bonuses at a Glance

  • Up to 9 free Raid Passes per day from Gym spins (all day, midnight–midnight)
  • Up to 6 Special Trades per day (all day)
  • 50% less Stardust on trades (all day)
  • Open up to 50 Gifts per day (all day)
  • 1-hour Lure Modules during event hours
  • Increased Shiny rates on event Pokémon throughout the weekend

For more Pokémon GO events and Singapore gaming coverage, browse our events section.

Manga Anime

Magic Knight Rayearth 2026 Anime Sets October 7 Premiere

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CLAMP’s classic 90s isekai fantasy is making its long-awaited comeback. The new Magic Knight Rayearth anime has officially locked in an October 7, 2026 premiere, with a second main trailer and brand-new key visual unveiled this weekend at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles — along with three more cast members to complete the ensemble.

Three Magic Knights, Three All-Star Voices

Magic Knight Rayearth 2026 anime key visual revealed at Anime Expo 2026
Image courtesy of TMS Entertainment

The three Magic Knights are voiced by some of the biggest names working in anime today. Ayane Sakura (Ochako in My Hero Academia, Yor in Spy x Family) takes the lead as Hikaru Shidō; Rumi Ōkubo voices Umi Ryūzaki; and Rie Takahashi — Emilia in Re:ZERO and Megumin in KonoSuba — voices Fū Hōōji. Princess Emeraude is voiced by Saori Hayami, with Yuki Ono as the antagonist Zagato and Mika Kikuchi as the magical creature Mokona.

The three cast additions announced at Anime Expo complete the core group: Yuki Kaji as the mage Clef, Emiri Katō as Presea, and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Ferio. It is a near-unprecedented concentration of top-tier voice talent for a single series, and it signals that TMS is treating this revival as a prestige production from the ground up.

Magic Knight Rayearth 2026 character key visual
Image courtesy of TMS Entertainment

Watch the New Main Trailer

TVアニメ『魔法騎士レイアース』メインPV — via TMSアニメ公式チャンネル on YouTube

The main PV showcases the three girls mid-battle in Cephiro, their armour designs faithfully updated from the original CLAMP artwork. Magic sequences, giant robot silhouettes, and an emotionally rich orchestral score that is unmistakably Kajiura all make their presence felt in just a few minutes of footage. For fans who grew up with the 90s series, it is a genuinely exciting first proper look at what this revival will deliver.

Yuki Kajiura on Music — The Score Singapore Fans Have Been Waiting For

Magic Knight Rayearth 2026 character artwork
Image courtesy of TMS Entertainment

The production team is stacked. Yuki Kajiura — the composer whose name alone is enough to guarantee sweeping, emotionally devastating music — is scoring the series alongside Takumi Ozawa and Shiho Terada. Singapore fans who followed Kajiura’s work on Sword Art Online, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero, and the Kara no Kyokai films know exactly the kind of atmospheric, orchestral magic she brings to fantasy settings.

Directing the series is Yui Miura, making his series directorial debut after serving as episode director on Ninja Kamui and Bullet/Bullet. Shigeru Murakoshi handles series composition, with character design by Satomi Watanabe. Animation production is by E&H production, with planning and production overseen by UNLIMITED PRODUCE by TMS.

The Story — and Why It Still Hits in 2026

Magic Knight Rayearth 2026 Cephiro world artwork
Image courtesy of TMS Entertainment

Magic Knight Rayearth follows three middle-school girls — Hikaru, Umi, and Fū — who are magically transported from Tokyo Tower to the fantasy world of Cephiro while on separate school trips. There, the mage Clef tells them that the world is dying: its Pillar, Princess Emeraude, has been kidnapped by the high priest Zagato, and only three fated Magic Knights can summon the legendary Rune-Gods (giant mechanical spirits) and save her.

Originally serialised by CLAMP in Monthly Shōnen Magazine from 1993 to 1995 and adapted into an anime by TMS in 1994, the series was groundbreaking — one of the earliest isekai to feature magical-girl protagonists who also pilot giant mecha, a combination that still feels fresh decades on. Many Singapore fans in their 30s and 40s caught the original on local TV, and the emotional gut-punch of the story’s mid-series twist remains legendary among those who experienced it unspoiled. This new version, with CLAMP’s involvement as original creators, promises to honour that legacy while bringing it to a new generation.

When and Where Singapore Fans Can Watch

Magic Knight Rayearth 2026 anime characters
Image courtesy of TMS Entertainment

The new anime premieres in Japan every Wednesday from October 7 at 11:45 PM on TV Asahi’s nationwide IM Animation W block. International streaming rights have not yet been officially announced for Southeast Asia, so Singapore fans should watch streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Disney+ for updates as October approaches. If you want to get ahead of the premiere, the original 1994–1996 series is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll — fair warning that the ending hits hard even on a rewatch.

For more upcoming anime check our manga and anime news for the latest.

Game News, Manga Anime

Sonic’s 35th Anniversary Short Film Revealed at Anime Expo 2026

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Sonic the Hedgehog turns 35 this year, and SEGA is celebrating in style. On the final day of Anime Expo 2026, the company unveiled Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond — a brand-new 10-minute animated short film slated for a Fall 2026 release — alongside a sneak-peek trailer that sent the audience into a frenzy. It is the latest in a long line of beloved Sonic shorts, and it looks like it could be the best one yet.

The Story: Metal Sonic Goes Full Chaos

Dr. Eggman is at it again, this time with an especially dangerous plan: harness the power of the Chaos Emeralds to steal Sonic’s life-data and evolve Metal Sonic into an unstoppable weapon. To beat a threat this powerful, Sonic cannot go it alone — the short leans hard into the bonds forged across years of adventures, bringing together Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, Shadow, Rouge, and Tails for a full team-up showdown.

Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond animated short action sequence
Image courtesy of SEGA

The title — Memories and Beyond — hints at a story that looks backward at the franchise’s history while pointing forward to what comes next for Sonic and crew. Given the short bridges directly to Sonic the Hedgehog 4, arriving in theatres in March 2027, it looks like this will be essential viewing for fans before the film lands.

Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories And Beyond | 35th Anniversary AX Sneak Peek — via Sonic the Hedgehog on YouTube

The Creative Team Behind the Short

The short was announced during a panel titled “Sonic the Hedgehog Animated Shorts: A Frame-by-Frame Retrospective”, and the talent assembled for it reads like a who’s-who of Sonic animation history. SEGA’s own Takashi Iizuka was on stage, joined by series veterans Tyson Hesse (director of the beloved Ova-style short Sonic Mania Adventures), Evan Stanley, and Alan Wan, as well as Austin Keys and Jasmin Hernandez. With Hesse and Stanley involved, expectations are sky-high — their previous Sonic shorts are some of the most-viewed pieces of Sonic content on YouTube.

Amy Rose in Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond animated short
Image courtesy of SEGA

A 35-Year Legacy Singapore Fans Grew Up With

Sonic has always had a passionate following in Singapore — from the arcade era to Sonic Riders in the early 2000s, through the Boost games on handhelds, and right up to the recent live-action film trilogy. The franchise’s animated shorts are a big part of why the fandom stays so attached between major game releases; Sonic Mania Adventures and the Team Sonic Racing Overdrive shorts racked up millions of views and introduced a whole new generation to the classic character dynamics.

Memories and Beyond arriving in Fall 2026 gives Singapore fans something to look forward to while waiting for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 in March 2027. No streaming platform has been announced yet — watch the official Sonic the Hedgehog YouTube channel for updates. In the meantime, catch up on all our anime news and previews here on GameTrader.

Manga Anime

Fate Rewinder Anime Premieres April 2027 on Crunchyroll — Bones Film’s Next Hit

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When Bones Film puts its name on a new series, Singapore’s anime community pays attention. The studio behind Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Mob Psycho 100, and Blood Blockade Battlefront has just confirmed its next project: Fate Rewinder (Unmei no Makimodoshi), the Shogakukan Award-winning time-travel manga by Fūta Kimura, is heading to Crunchyroll in April 2027. The studio dropped the first official teaser trailer at Crunchyroll’s showcase panel during Anime Expo 2026 on 3 July.

What Is Fate Rewinder?

Fate Rewinder is a time-travel action manga serialized in Monthly CoroCoro Comic by Shogakukan. It launched as a one-shot in January 2022 and moved straight into regular serialization the following month — a rapid greenlight driven by immediate reader response. Since then it has ranked first in the magazine’s popularity polls for 12 consecutive months and has collected 12 tankōbon volumes as of April 2026.

The story follows Chrono, a 14-year-old with a single unshakeable vow: to never abandon anyone. After a personal tragedy claims his sister, Chrono is recruited into the Space-Time Strategic Enforcement Unit (SSEU) — the Fate Rewinders. Every agent carries a Retry Eye: a micro-time machine implanted directly in their eye socket that lets them rewind to the moment before a fatal event and try again, as many times as it takes. Chrono’s photographic memory, analytical instincts, and extraordinary mental durability make him a fast riser in the unit, but his real goal is cracking Case 999 — his sister’s death — and bringing down the terrorist network known as the Clock Hands.

Fate Rewinder key visual showing Chrono and the full team of Rewinders
Image courtesy of Fate Rewinder Project / Shogakukan

The manga won the 71st Shogakukan Manga Awards in 2026, the same year as fellow winner Dandadan — whose anime was one of 2025’s biggest breakouts. Yen Press has licensed the English edition, with the first volume pencilled for October 2026, giving new readers a head start before the anime premiere.

The Creative Team Behind It

The production line-up is the kind that turns anime into cultural events:

  • Director: Rie Matsumoto — Best known for directing the visually adventurous Kyousogiga and the fan-favourite Blood Blockade Battlefront on Crunchyroll. Matsumoto’s kinetic, character-driven direction is a strong match for a series built on rapid-fire time loops and high-stakes action.
  • Character Designer: Toshihiro Kawamoto — Kawamoto’s credits include Cowboy Bebop and Wolf’s Rain. Seeing that design sensibility applied to Fūta Kimura’s angular, expressive character art is a genuine reason to be excited.
  • Series Composition: Kimiko Ueno
  • Music: Satoshi Murai
  • Animation Production: Bones Film

Voice Cast

Four lead roles have been confirmed:

  • Chrono — Sho Komura
  • Shirai — Kōki Uchiyama (Tomura Shigaraki in My Hero Academia, Xiao in Genshin Impact)
  • Akaba — Kohei Amasaki
  • Lemon — Reina Ueda (Himeno in Chainsaw Man, Vivy in Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song)

Watch the Official Teaser

Fate Rewinder | Official Teaser — via Crunchyroll on YouTube
Fate Rewinder official teaser — Shirai, voiced by Kōki Uchiyama
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

When and Where Singapore Fans Can Watch

Crunchyroll confirmed it will stream Fate Rewinder in all territories outside Japan, Mainland China, North Korea, and South Korea — Singapore is squarely included. Expect the show to follow Crunchyroll’s standard simulcast pattern for TV Asahi titles, with episodes dropping weekly from the April 2027 premiere window. A more specific premiere date has not yet been announced.

On the manga side, Yen Press’s English licence means the series should reach local comics and book retailers once volumes start shipping from October 2026. With 12 volumes already in print in Japanese, there is more than enough source material to read ahead of the anime.

Bones Film’s track record in Singapore — Mob Psycho 100, My Hero Academia, FMA: Brotherhood — suggests Fate Rewinder will find its audience here quickly once the full trailer drops. April 2027 is the date to mark.

Manga Anime

Star Wars: Visions – The Ninth Jedi Hits Disney+ on 5 August

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Star Wars just got a full-length anime series — and it is one Singapore fans can stream from day one. Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi, an 8-episode limited series produced by Lucasfilm and Production I.G, arrives on Disney+ on 5 August 2026.

From Short Film to Full Series: What Is The Ninth Jedi?

The series expands a story that began as a standalone short in the first Star Wars: Visions anthology (2021) and continued in Star Wars: Visions Volume 3. Now, under the new Star Wars: Visions Presents banner — designed specifically for longer-form stories spun out of the anthology — the tale gets eight full episodes to breathe.

The story follows Lah Kara, who resumes her quest to find her missing father while evading Jedi Hunters and continuing her Jedi training under Margrave Juro. It is a coming-of-age adventure set in an original corner of the galaxy far, far away, and unlike the live-action Star Wars productions, it leans fully into the aesthetic language of anime.

Watch the Official Trailer

Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi | Official Trailer — via Star Wars on YouTube

Production I.G and Kenji Kamiyama Lead the Creative Team

The pedigree here is serious. Production I.G — the studio behind Ghost in the Shell, Haikyuu!!, and Vinland Saga — handles animation, directed by Shunsuke Tada with Kenji Kamiyama serving as supervising director. Kamiyama is best known for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, and his involvement signals that this is not a lightweight side project. The script is by Mitsuyasu Sakai.

Lah Zhima with a lightsaber in Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm

The series was announced at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles, where Kamiyama, Tada, and producer Hitoshi Ito presented the first trailer and teaser artwork to a packed hall. The Anime Expo reveal underlines how deliberately Lucasfilm is positioning this as an anime property — not just a Star Wars spin-off that happens to be animated, but a work made by, and for, anime fans.

Cast: Familiar Voices and New Arrivals

The English dub brings back the full original cast: Kimiko Glenn as Lah Kara, Andrew Kishino as Margrave Juro, Masi Oka, Patrick Seitz, and Simu Liu as Lah Zhima. New additions include Young Mazino and Chase Sui Wonders, among others.

Nawaam and Lah Kara in Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm

When and Where to Watch in Singapore

All 8 episodes drop simultaneously on 5 August 2026 on Disney+. Singapore subscribers can catch it from day one — no Hulu required (Hulu remains US-only). If you have not seen the original The Ninth Jedi short, it is worth a quick rewatch on Disney+ before the premiere; the new series picks up directly from where it left off.

For more anime and animation news, see our Manga & Anime coverage.

99-99 and Ethan in Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm
Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi character poster
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm

Game News

Palworld 1.0 Launches 10 July — World Tree Region, PS5 Debut, Free for All Early Access Players

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Pocketpair’s creature-collecting survival hit Palworld exits Early Access on 10 July 2026 — nearly two and a half years after its explosive January 2024 debut. The 1.0 update lands simultaneously on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Game Pass. For anyone who already owns the game on PC or Xbox, the entire update is a free download.

Palworld 1.0 Cinematic Trailer — via Pocketpair Palworld on YouTube

What’s New in Palworld 1.0

Players riding flying Pals across a vast open landscape in Palworld 1.0
Image courtesy of Pocketpair

The scale of this update is difficult to overstate. Pocketpair confirmed that the 1.0 patch notes run to 27 PDF pages, and the centrepiece is the World Tree region — a brand-new island that roughly doubles the size of the explorable map. It brings new Pals to catch and train, expanded story beats, additional lore, and a proper narrative thread that draws the game’s world together.

Beyond the new landmass, 1.0 adds:

  • Genetic Recombination — a new breeding system allowing players to combine traits across Pals in ways Early Access never permitted
  • Full PvP mode — competitive player-versus-player, available across all platforms at launch
  • Server Clustering for dedicated servers, a major quality-of-life addition for community-hosted worlds
  • New Pals, a reworked progression system, and a deeper endgame

PS5 Day One — Palworld’s Biggest New Audience

Three Wool Pals manning machine guns in Palworld — official screenshot
Image courtesy of Pocketpair

For PlayStation players, 10 July is Day One. Palworld has lived on PC and Xbox since launch, and the PS5 version debuts with full 1.0 content from the start — no Early Access catch-up period. Singapore players can grab it from the PlayStation Store when it goes live; SGD pricing for the PS5 version was not announced at the time of writing, so check the store directly on launch day.

On PC, Palworld is available on Steam with USD $29.99 as the standard 1.0 price (regional Steam pricing applies, so the SGD amount will differ). Xbox and PC Game Pass subscribers get access as part of their existing subscription at no extra cost.

Free for Early Access Players

A line of Cattiva Pals working in an industrial base in Palworld
Image courtesy of Pocketpair

If you already own Palworld on Steam or Xbox, 1.0 arrives as a free update — no separate purchase needed. Pocketpair confirmed the release during Summer Game Fest 2026, where the team also dropped the first full cinematic trailer. The sheer scale of that changelog is a fair signal of how much has changed since Early Access began in January 2024.

For Singapore gamers who burned through Palworld in early 2024 and set it aside, 10 July is the nudge to return. And for anyone who held off waiting for a finished game, this is the release you were waiting for. Keep an eye on our game news coverage for more on the week’s biggest launches.

Manga Anime

The Elusive Samurai Season 2 Premieres July 17 on Crunchyroll

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The game of tag is back on. The Elusive Samurai Season 2 has a locked premiere date of 17 July 2026, with Crunchyroll confirmed as the streaming home outside Japan. The date was announced at Anime Expo 2026 alongside a brand-new special trailer — the clearest look yet at what Tokiyuki and his unlikely band of allies face next, and great news for Singapore fans with a Crunchyroll subscription.

The Elusive Samurai Season 2 official key visual poster — TV Anime Season 2 July 2026
Image courtesy of The Elusive Samurai Committee / Aniplex

Tokiyuki’s Story, and Why You Should Be Watching

The Elusive Samurai (逃げ上手の若君 / Nigejozu no Wakagimi) comes from Yusei Matsui — the creator of Assassination Classroom — and was adapted by CloverWorks for its first season in 2024. The premise is deceptively simple: young Hojo Tokiyuki is the legitimate heir to the Kamakura shogunate, but after a coup wipes out his family in 1333, he has exactly zero conventional fighting ability to fall back on. His one supernatural gift is evasion — he is, as the title puts it, extraordinarily good at running away. His eccentric retainer Suwa Yorishige (voiced by Yuichi Nakamura) believes the boy is destined to one day rule Japan, and gathers a band of equally unusual warriors to keep him alive long enough to prove it.

What made Season 1 stand out was how deftly it balanced its comedic DNA with real historical stakes. This is a Shonen Jump adaptation that actually cares about its period setting — the 14th-century political upheaval forms a genuine backdrop rather than wallpaper. Season 2 picks up the resistance story and, judging from the new trailer, turns up the intensity considerably.

Watch the Season 2 Special Trailer

The Elusive Samurai Season 2 | Special Trailer — via Aniplex USA on YouTube
Tokiyuki Hojo close-up from The Elusive Samurai Season 2 special trailer
Still from Aniplex USA’s official trailer

Opening Theme: “Onigoto” by Kento Nakajima

The Season 2 opening theme is “Onigoto” (鬼ごと — literally, “a game of demons” or “a game of tag with demons”), performed by Japanese actor and singer Kento Nakajima. The track gets a preview in the special trailer, and it fits the series well: propulsive, with a theatrical edge that matches Tokiyuki’s chaotic, high-speed escapes through feudal Japan. Yusei Matsui’s stories have always had a knack for pairing kinetic action with music that adds emotional texture, and “Onigoto” looks set to continue that tradition.

Returning Cast and Crew

Director Yuta Yamazaki returns for Season 2 at CloverWorks, keeping the visual identity and comedic timing intact. The full core cast is back:

  • Tokiyuki Hojo — Asaki Yuikawa
  • Shizuku — Hinaki Yano
  • Kojirou — Mari Hino
  • Ayako — Sayumi Suzushiro
  • Genba Kazama — Aoi Yuki
  • Fubuki — Kikunosuke Toya
  • Suwa Yorishige — Yuichi Nakamura

How to Catch It in Singapore

The Elusive Samurai Season 2 streams on Crunchyroll from 17 July 2026 in select countries and territories worldwide, which includes Singapore. It lands in a packed Summer 2026 anime season alongside other high-profile returns, so if you haven’t yet finished Season 1, this weekend is the time to lock in. The full first season is already available on Crunchyroll.

Event

Pokémon GO Community Day: Sobble Is Here Today — Catch It 2–5pm SGT

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Today is Community Day in Pokémon GO, and the Water Lizard Pokémon is ready for its moment. Sobble takes the spotlight on Saturday 4 July 2026 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm local time, flooding spawns island-wide for Singapore trainers who step outside. It’s a double-header weekend too — Pokémon GO’s 10th Anniversary Party kicked off this morning, so there has never been a better time to top up your Poké Balls and head out.

Sobble Community Day Hours — and Why You Should Stay Out Until 9pm

The core event window is 2:00pm – 5:00pm local time, but several bonuses continue running until 9:00pm SGT, which makes the extended session worth planning for:

  • Evolve window: You have until 9:00pm SGT to evolve Drizzile into Inteleon and receive the exclusive Hydro Cannon. Evolve at 5:01pm and you’re fine — no rush.
  • Trade bonus: Trades cost 50% less Stardust from 2:00pm to 9:00pm — great for trading duplicate Sobbles with friends for better IVs.
  • Extra Special Trade: You get one additional Special Trade (two total) during the same window.
  • Lure Modules: Each Lure Module lasts one full hour until 9:00pm — keep them spinning at busy PokéStops.
Sobble official artwork — Pokémon GO July 2026 Community Day
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Hydro Cannon and Snipe Shot — Inteleon’s New Moves

The reason Sobble Community Day matters for competitive play: evolving Drizzile during the event (or up to four hours after it ends) unlocks Hydro Cannon on Inteleon. Hydro Cannon is one of the most powerful Water-type Charged Attacks in GO Battle League — it costs just 40 Energy, hits hard, and lets Inteleon apply continuous shield pressure. Water-type attackers with legacy moves tend to hold long-term value in GO Battle League, so getting a strong IV Inteleon today is worth the effort.

On top of Hydro Cannon, Inteleon also learns its Snipe Shot signature move as a second Charged Attack — that stays available after the event permanently, not just during the window. If you’re building a GO Battle League team, an Inteleon with both Hydro Cannon and Snipe Shot is worth holding onto.

Drizzile — middle evolution of Sobble in Pokémon GO
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Full List of Community Day Bonuses

  • 🎯 2× Candy for every Pokémon caught
  • 🍬 2× Candy XL chance for Trainers Level 31 and above
  • 🥚 1/4 Egg Hatch Distance — pop your 12km eggs in now
  • 🌿 3-hour Incense — activate yours during the 2–5pm window
  • ✨ Shiny Sobble at boosted odds (approximately 1-in-20)

There’s also an optional paid Special Research ticket at US$1.99 that includes encounters with a specially-backgrounded Sobble, a Premium Battle Pass, and a Rare Candy XL. You can pick it up in the shop before the event ends today.

Inteleon learns Hydro Cannon during Pokémon GO July 2026 Community Day
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

A Big Weekend for Pokémon GO in Singapore

Community Day lands right in the middle of Pokémon GO’s 10th anniversary celebrations, which run from this morning (Saturday 4 July) through to Monday 6 July. The anniversary event stacks a further 4× Catch XP and 4× Catch Stardust on top of the Community Day session — meaning every Sobble you catch during that 2–5pm window earns bonus XP, bonus Stardust, double Candy, and a shot at a shiny. If you have a Lucky Egg in your bag, right now is the moment to pop it.

Beyond Community Day itself, the next big Pokémon GO milestone heading Singapore’s way is GO Fest 2026: Global on 11–12 July — free for all trainers logging in and featuring the global Pokémon GO debuts of Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y. More on that soon.

For more Pokémon GO and Pokémon news, head to our events hub.

Manga Anime

Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage Hits Netflix on 25 September

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JoJo fans, mark your calendars: Steel Ball Run’s 2nd Stage launches on Netflix on 25 September 2026, with new episodes dropping every Friday. The date was locked in at an Anime Expo 2026 panel at the Crypto.com Arena on 3 July, where a brand-new trailer dropped and composer Yugo Kanno performed live — the biggest Steel Ball Run news since Stage 1’s 47-minute premiere special back in March.

What the Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage Covers

A Steel Ball Run character in an intense action moment from the anime
Image courtesy of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Animation SBR Project

The 2nd Stage sends Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli into one of the race’s most brutal stretches: nearly 750 miles across the Arizona Desert through a region locals call the “Devil’s Palm,” where racers have been found dead under unexplained circumstances. The trailer preview revealed looks at Hot Pants and Mountain Tim, two fan-favourite additions who take on significant roles from here, as well as a first glimpse at the growing menace of President Funny Valentine.

Eleven episodes will cover Stage 2 and Stage 3 of the Steel Ball Run race combined, meaning the adaptation moves through a significant chunk of Hirohiko Araki’s manga at a tight but purposeful pace.

Watch the 2nd Stage Trailer

STEEL BALL RUN 2nd Stage Official Trailer (2026) — via ONE Media + on YouTube

JoJo Fridays Return — and the Production Team Behind Them

Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli in the Steel Ball Run anime
Image courtesy of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Animation SBR Project

The weekly Friday release schedule — “JoJo Fridays” — is back for the first time since Golden Wind. For Singapore JoJo communities that ran Friday watch parties during the Golden Wind run, this is a proper homecoming. Directors Yasuhiro Kimura and Hideya Takahashi (who helmed Golden Wind) are returning, as is composer Yugo Kanno, who gave both Golden Wind and Stone Ocean their sonic identity. English dub voice actors Daman Mills (Johnny Joestar) and Kaiji Tang (Gyro Zeppeli) also appeared at the panel.

Steel Ball Run is consistently ranked by fans as the peak of Araki’s writing — a race across 19th-century America that gradually reveals itself as one of the most emotionally ambitious stories in the franchise. The confirmed date and weekly cadence mean Singapore fans can now plan around it properly.

How to Watch in Singapore

Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage streams on Netflix from 25 September 2026, new episode every Friday. Netflix is available in Singapore with no regional restrictions on this series — it’s a global simultaneous release. Stage 1 (the 47-minute opening special from March) is already on the platform; catch up before the weekly run kicks off in September. Find more anime and manga news in our coverage hub.