All posts by Xian Skyrider

If you’ve been tracking the Mega Evolution TCG series, this weekend is the moment to mark on your calendar. Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black, the fifth set in the Mega Evolution run, begins prerelease events at participating Play! Pokémon retailers this Friday, July 4 — two weeks ahead of its full global launch on July 17, 2026.

What Is Pitch Black

Pitch Black is a dark-themed expansion built around the Mega Dimension content from Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and the set name is not subtle about its direction. Where earlier Mega Evolution sets spread the spotlight across multiple type identities, ME5 leans hard into shadow and sinister aesthetics — Mega Darkrai ex is the face of this expansion, and everything from the booster pack art to the colour palette reflects that.

The set ships with over 115 cards in total, including more than 35 cards with special illustration variants and over 20 Trainer cards. Its Japanese counterpart, Abyss Eye (アビスアイ), launched in Japan on May 22, which means Japanese players have had about six weeks of competitive data — useful context if you’re heading to a prerelease tournament this weekend.

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black Mega Darkrai ex booster pack — Image © The Pokémon Company

The Four Headlining Mega ex

Four Mega ex Pokémon anchor the expansion’s product line, each with its own booster pack artwork:

Mega Darkrai ex — the face of the set, and from Japanese Abyss Eye coverage, it arrives with 280 HP and a hit-hard moveset that fits the expansion’s aggressive tone
Mega Zeraora ex — a Lightning-type Mythical that pairs with Darkrai’s Darkness for what should be an interesting type-coverage combination in Standard
Mega Chandelure ex — the Ghost/Fire Pokémon from Unova gets the Mega treatment, with the eerie candle aesthetic fitting perfectly in a Pitch Black set
Mega Excadrill ex — the Ground/Steel Pokémon rounds out the headliners, giving the set broader type coverage

Beyond the main four, Bulbapedia’s set list also confirms Mega Slowbro ex, Wailord ex, and Morpeko ex among the expansion’s notable cards.

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black Mega Zeraora ex booster pack — Image © The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution | Official Trailer | Sneak Peek — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel

Products at Launch

The standard product lineup for Pitch Black includes individual booster packs (10 cards + 1 Basic Energy + 1 Pokémon TCG Live code), six-pack Booster Bundles, and a 36-pack Booster Display Box. Pokémon Center also has an Elite Trainer Box exclusive. For this weekend’s prerelease events, participating stores will be selling the Build & Battle Box early — as confirmed by Pokémon.com — which gives players a sealed pool to build from for the event format.

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black Mega Chandelure ex booster pack — Image © The Pokémon Company

Dates for Singapore Players

Prerelease events: July 4–6 at participating Play! Pokémon retailers. Check with your local store to confirm they’re running events this weekend — not every retailer holds prereleases, but Singapore’s Play! Pokémon community is well-represented across the island.

Digital play: July 16 in Pokémon TCG Live — the day before physical launch.

Full retail launch: July 17 — Pokémon Center (global) and local stockists.

For the latest on Pitch Black’s Singapore prerelease scene and any local tournament announcements, keep an eye on our Game News section and the official Pitch Black expansion page on Pokémon.com.

Manga Anime, News

Bleach TYBW: The Calamity Premieres July 25 — Kubo Chose the Final Themes

July 2, 2026 Xian Skyrider

Leave a comment

The wait is almost over. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity, the fourth and final cour of the revived anime, has locked in its premiere: July 25, 2026, at 11:00 PM JST on TV Tokyo and affiliated networks. Streaming across multiple platforms follows from July 26 — meaning Singapore fans can catch it the very same weekend it drops in Japan.

What Is The Calamity — and Why the Entire Bleach Fandom Is Watching

This is not a regular new season. The Calamity is the endgame — the final stretch of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, the storyline Tite Kubo concluded in the manga years ago that anime fans have been waiting to see faithfully adapted ever since the original Bleach anime ended in 2012.

The first three cours — The Blood Warfare (2022), The Separation (2023), and The Conflict (2024) — reset expectations for what shonen anime could look like visually. Part 4 now picks up with Ichigo Kurosaki and what remains of Soul Society’s forces in their final confrontation with Yhwach, the Quincy king whose power to rewrite fate makes him the most formidable villain the series has produced.

The official key visual released by Studio Pierrot makes the stakes clear without a word of dialogue: Ichigo, battered and kneeling, stares up at a massive dark form devouring the sky, surrounded by shattered zanpakuto blades. The Japanese text reads 後の刃は振り下ろされる — “the final blade falls.” Below it: 千年血戦篸禍進譚. The Calamity. July 25.

Yoruichi Shihouin in battle in Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War The Calamity — Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot

Kubo’s Personal Touch: Choosing Both Theme Songs Himself

One of the more striking details around The Calamity’s rollout: creator Tite Kubo personally selected both theme songs for the final arc, listening to tracks from the demo stage before making the final calls. Rather than going with well-known franchise names or returning performers, he chose new-to-most-fans artists — a deliberate move to give the finale its own distinct identity.

The opening theme is “I-BULL” by jo0ji. Each episode closes with “Spiral” by 9Lana.

It is consistent with how Kubo has approached this entire adaptation. Throughout all four cours, he has reportedly contributed story material exclusive to the anime — which means even readers who finished the manga will encounter moments they have not seen before.

Official Trailer | BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Final Part – The Calamity | INTL SUBS — via VIZ on YouTube

The Theatrical Head-Start and the Creative Team Behind It

Before the TV broadcast, the first three episodes screened in selected US theaters between June 25 and 29, part of a Viz Media theatrical event. The screenings included an exclusive behind-the-scenes conversation with Kubo, chief series director Tomohisa Taguchi, and series director Hikaru Murata — a rare window into how the final arc was assembled, as reported by ComicBook.com.

Scene from Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War The Calamity official Viz Media trailer — Image courtesy of Studio Pierrot / Viz Media

When Singapore Fans Can Watch

The broadcast starts July 25 at 11:00 PM JST — that is 10:00 PM SGT the same Saturday night. Streaming from July 26 across multiple platforms; Singapore fans who followed Parts 1–3 should find The Calamity on the same service they used for the earlier cours. If your platform of choice has not confirmed it yet, check back on or after July 26.

If you have not caught up on the previous three parts, the next three weeks are the window to do it. All prior seasons of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War run across roughly 50 episodes of visually exceptional anime — and The Calamity will not wait for stragglers.

Keep an eye on our Manga & Anime section for more Summer 2026 season coverage.

Game News

Attack on Titan 3 Confirmed — PS5, Switch 2 and PC via Steam

July 2, 2026 Xian Skyrider

Leave a comment

Seven years after Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle, Koei Tecmo and Omega Force have officially confirmed Attack on Titan 3 — a single-player action game covering the complete arc of Hajime Isayama’s landmark series, from the Survey Corps’ first battles at Shiganshina to the anime’s climactic conclusion. It is coming to PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

Young Eren Yeager in Attack on Titan 3 by Omega Force — Image courtesy of Koei Tecmo

Attack on Titan 3 Story and Gameplay

Omega Force’s mandate is ambitious: depict the entire Attack on Titan narrative in one definitive title, and then go further — the game will include brand-new story content and lore not found in the original manga or anime. All Nine Titans are confirmed to appear.

The 3D Maneuver Gear system is getting a full overhaul. Omega Force has promised faster, more acrobatic aerial combat and large-scale Titan encounters designed to push current hardware. What exactly that looks like in motion will be revealed later tonight — the Next Scouting Report broadcast goes live at July 2, 6:00 AM SGT.

What Singapore Gamers Need to Know

All four confirmed platforms — PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam on PC — are widely available through major game retailers and electronics chains in Singapore. Koei Tecmo has confirmed English text support, so there is no region barrier for local players. Japanese voice acting ships from launch, meaning the full original cast is in place.

One detail worth flagging: the game’s opening sequence is being produced by MAPPA Studio, the anime house behind the final two seasons of Attack on Titan. It will not ship with the game on day one — Koei Tecmo plans to add it via a post-launch update — but it reflects how seriously the license is being treated this time around.

Titan Eren in Attack on Titan 3 — The Rumbling arc — Image courtesy of Koei Tecmo

Watch the Next Scouting Report Tonight

Koei Tecmo is hosting the Next Scouting Report — Attack on Titan 3’s first major gameplay broadcast — on July 1 at 3:00 PM PDT / 6:00 PM EDT, landing at July 2, 6:00 AM SGT. The stream goes live on Koei Tecmo’s official YouTube channel and social platforms. Japanese voice actresses Yui Ishikawa (Mikasa Ackerman) and Shiori Mikami (Historia Reiss) are confirmed as guests. A launch window or specific release date is widely expected to be announced during the broadcast.

A.O.T. 3 — Announce Trailer via KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. on YouTube

Anime Expo 2026 Showcase

Immediately after the stream, Attack on Titan 3 makes its first public booth appearance at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles (July 2–5), where the latest trailer will screen at the AmiAmi exhibitor booth. Follow the official Koei Tecmo page for post-stream details, and browse our game news section for the full recap once the broadcast wraps.

Image courtesy of Koei Tecmo

Manga Anime, News

Crunchyroll Summer 2026 Wave 2: One Piece Heroines, Iron Wok Jan & More Coming to SEA This July

July 1, 2026 Xian Skyrider

Leave a comment

Seven new titles just landed in Crunchyroll’s confirmed Summer 2026 lineup for Southeast Asia — and this second wave is headlined by a brand-new One Piece spinoff, the long-awaited anime adaptation of cult cooking manga Iron Wok Jan!, and the return of Grand Blue Dreaming for a third season. Here’s everything arriving on the platform across the first two weeks of July, including what Singapore fans can stream with Bahasa Melayu and Chinese subtitle support.

One Piece Heroines Arrives 5 July — Nami Gets Her Own Story

The most eye-catching addition to the Crunchyroll Summer 2026 anime calendar for SEA is ONE PIECE HEROINES, a spinoff from Toei Animation that puts the spotlight on the women of the Straw Hat crew. The first story centres on Nami: after buying a pair of shoes that hurt her feet, she tracks down designer Lebno — who offers to craft her a bespoke pair, but only if she will model for him. Artisan Miucha completes the trio in what sounds like a character-driven style adventure sitting apart from the main Elbaph arc. It premieres on 5 July with a Thai dub, plus subtitles in Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, and Vietnamese.

ONE PIECE HEROINES | Official Trailer — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

Iron Wok Jan! Is Finally an Anime — Crunchyroll-Exclusive for SEA

Iron Wok Jan anime teaser PV Crunchyroll exclusive Summer 2026 — Image courtesy of NBCUniversal Anime/Music / TROYCA

If one announcement from this wave deserves its own headline, it is Iron Wok Jan! The original manga ran from 1995 to 2000 and has sold over 10 million copies — a ferocious Chinese-cuisine battle story following Jan Akiyama, a devilish chef who treats every cook-off like armed combat. It is the kind of series that defined a generation of cooking-manga fans, and an anime adaptation has been a long time coming. TROYCA, the studio behind Re:CREATORS and Aldnoah.Zero, is handling it, and even the teaser PV radiates the unhinged energy of the source material.

This one is a Crunchyroll exclusive for SEA, premiering on 5 July with subtitles in Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Melayu, Thai, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese — solid coverage for Singapore viewers, including the bilingual and Mandarin-reading crowd that the original manga spoke directly to.

Iron Wok Jan! Teaser PV — via NBCUniversal Anime/Music on YouTube

Let’s Go KAIKIGUMI and 100 Girlfriends Also Hit on 5 July

Let's go KAIKIGUMI anime teaser Crunchyroll exclusive supernatural comedy Summer 2026 — Image courtesy of TBS Anime / C-Station

Two more titles round out the Sunday 5 July drop. Let’s go KAIKIGUMI (C-Station) is a Crunchyroll exclusive supernatural comedy about a man described as being six times more afraid of ghosts than the average person, who gets roped in by the fearless Mechako to help revive her ghost-policing organisation. Subs cover Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Melayu, Thai, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.

Also returning that same day: The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You Season 3 (Bibury Animation Studios). Rentaro’s school life continues — and so does the show’s commitment to somehow adding more characters to an already packed ensemble. This one streams with a Thai dub alongside the full multilingual sub lineup.

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really Really Love You Season 3 teaser visual Crunchyroll Summer 2026 — Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Filmworks / Bibury Animation Studios

Grand Blue Dreaming Season 3 Goes to Palau — Starting 6 July

Grand Blue Dreaming Season 3 PV Iori in Palau Crunchyroll Summer 2026 — Image courtesy of NBCUniversal Anime/Music / Zero-G and Liber

Monday 6 July brings Grand Blue Dreaming Season 3 (Zero-G and Liber), and Iori’s diving-club chaos now has an international venue: Palau. Just as he is getting his head around university life, his cousin drags him off to help run a dive shop on the island. If you have seen seasons one and two, you already know what “help run a dive shop” means in this show. Streams with a Thai dub and subs in Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.

Joining it on 6 July is A Livid Lady’s Guide to Getting Even: How I Crushed My Homeland with My Mighty Grimoires (Comet), a Crunchyroll exclusive revenge fantasy in which noblewoman Elizabeth escapes prison — after being publicly betrayed by a crown prince — armed with seven legendary grimoires and a burning grudge to settle. Subs: Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Melayu, Thai, Vietnamese, SC, TC.

Grand Blue Dreaming Season 3 Full PV — via NBCUniversal Anime/Music on YouTube

The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects on 10 July

Closing out the wave on 10 July is The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects (animation studio42). Veteran soldier Dias returns from war expecting a reward, gets gifted a domain that turns out to be empty plains with a population of literally zero, and has to figure out how to build a thriving territory from nothing — with the help of a horned girl named Alna who knows the land better than she lets on. A kingdom-building fantasy with an unusually grounded hook, streaming with Thai dub and subs in Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, Vietnamese, SC, and TC.

For the full confirmed Summer 2026 anime schedule on Crunchyroll — including continuing titles like ONE PIECE Elbaph Arc Part 2, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4, and more — the seasonal lineup page has the complete calendar. Browse more of our anime and manga coverage for the rest of what is streaming this season.

Game News

Pokémon Pokopia Switch 2 Bundle Coming to Singapore on 23 July at S$769.95

July 1, 2026 Xian Skyrider

Leave a comment

Nintendo Singapore has confirmed the Nintendo Switch 2 + Pokémon Pokopia bundle, launching locally on 23 July 2026 at S$769.95. The bundle pairs the Switch 2 console with a full digital download of Pokémon Pokopia — the acclaimed life-simulation game that critics called a spiritual combination of Minecraft, Viva Piñata, and Animal Crossing — making it one of the more compelling entry points for anyone still on the fence about upgrading.

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

What Is Pokémon Pokopia?

Released worldwide on 5 March 2026 as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, Pokémon Pokopia stars a peculiar Ditto who discovers it can transform into a human and uses that ability — along with moves learned from friendly Pokémon — to restore a desolate world one crafted item at a time. It is a relaxing life simulation developed by Game Freak and Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force, and it became one of the highest-rated Pokémon games on Metacritic at launch.

Gameplay revolves around gathering materials, crafting furniture and structures, farming crops, and transforming the land using moves borrowed from Pokémon companions — Bulbasaur to grow vegetation, Lapras for water, Dragonite for flight. Each Pokémon type favours different habitats, encouraging players to diversify what they build. You can customise your Ditto’s appearance, decorate your home, and invite other players to visit.

Nintendo Switch 2 and Pokémon Pokopia bundle hardware — Image courtesy of Nintendo

Bundle Contents and Value

The S$769.95 bundle includes the full Switch 2 hardware package — console, dock, Joy-Con 2 (L) and (R) with straps, Joy-Con 2 grip, AC adapter, USB-C charging cable, and an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable — alongside a full game download of Pokémon Pokopia (internet connection and Nintendo Account required). The Expansion Pass is sold separately.

Players who already own a Switch 2 can also pick up a Pokémon Pokopia + Expansion Pass bundle through the Nintendo eShop, while newcomers get the full console hardware and game in one purchase.

Pikachu character art from Pokémon Pokopia — Image courtesy of Nintendo

Co-op, Expansion Pass, and What’s Coming

Up to four players can enjoy building together in the same town, via local wireless or online co-op. GameShare support is also available. Nintendo Switch Online is not required for local play.

The Expansion Pass is a three-part paid DLC, sold separately: Part 1 — Bubbly Basin, an underwater explorable town, arrives in August 2026, followed by Part 2 in late 2026 and Part 3 in 2027. A free Version 2.0 update in August 2026 also adds the Dive move for every player, no purchase required. We broke down the full roadmap, the free Dive update, and the early-purchase bonuses in our Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass guide.

If you have been looking for a reason to pick up a Switch 2, this bundle lands at a good moment — Pokémon Pokopia has consistent active support, the base game is around 50+ hours to settle into comfortably, and the Expansion Pass gives even more to look forward to. Find the full confirmed game list for your Switch 2 in our game news section.

Snorlax character art from Pokémon Pokopia — Image courtesy of Nintendo

Game News, Singapore Gaming Scene

Hantu and Hunted: Singapore Studio Zeevium Games Drops Gameplay Reveal

June 30, 2026 Xian Skyrider

Leave a comment

A Singapore studio just put our own folklore on the map — and made it terrifying. Hantu and Hunted (stylised HaH!), an asymmetric horror prop-hunt game built around the legendary ghosts of Southeast Asia, has dropped its official gameplay reveal. Developer Zeevium Games is a local Singapore studio, and the game is now live on Steam for wishlisting ahead of an Early Access launch targeting Q4 2026.

Hantu and Hunted – Official Gameplay Reveal | Southeast Asian Horror Prop Hunt — via Zeevium Games on YouTube

What Is Hantu and Hunted?

At its core, HaH! is an asymmetric game of hide-and-seek — but instead of cowering in a corner, the humans can morph into props to avoid detection. Meanwhile, one or more players step into the role of a Hantu, a Southeast Asian ghost with the sole purpose of sniffing out the living.

There are no guns, no upgrade trees, and no health bars to grind. Your survival depends entirely on how convincingly you can pretend to be a crate. Or a lamp. Or a durian. Yes, a durian.

Hantu and Hunted prop morph gameplay screenshot — Image courtesy of Zeevium Games

A match plays out in three acts. First, The Awakening: players pick their roles — humans scramble for cover while the Hantus lurk in the shadows. Then comes the main phase, Hide or Hunt: humans must move through the map collecting Batuprana crystals and feeding them into Rupavarna Machines to power up their escape. Working together speeds things up, but any noise draws the Hantu’s attention. Finally, The Final Escape: once the machines are humming, portals open — and it becomes a mad dash for the exit before the Hantu reaches full power.

Meet the Hantus — Southeast Asian Folklore in the Spotlight

Hantu and Hunted playable ghost characters from SEA folklore — Image courtesy of Zeevium Games

This is where HaH! stands apart from every Western prop-hunt game on the market. Instead of a generic masked killer or a jump-scare creature, the ghost roster is drawn directly from Southeast Asian mythology — the kind of folklore most Singapore kids grew up hearing about:

Pocong — the bound shroud ghost of Malay and Indonesian tradition
Kuntilanak — the malevolent female spirit that haunts tropical forests
Kuyang — the infamous flying-head entity from Borneo and Sabah lore
Hantu Raya — a powerful, commanding ghost rooted deep in Malay belief
Amalanhig — a zombie-like pursuer from Filipino mythology

Each ghost has a distinct toolkit designed to flush out hiding humans, so choosing which Hantu to play will shape your entire hunting strategy.

Your Best Weapon Is a Durian

Hantu and Hunted multiplayer prop-hunt action — Image courtesy of Zeevium Games

For the human side, the morph mechanic is everything. Players can transform into hundreds of objects scattered across each map — chairs, crates, barrels, and yes, a durian. Maps include environments like an eerie village and a floating market, both thick with furniture and everyday objects to blend into. The catch: collecting Batuprana crystals requires movement, and movement makes noise.

Tension escalates as the match goes on. Both sides unlock power spikes as crystals are collected, pushing the final moments of each round into a high-intensity finale where the Hantu reaches its most terrifying form. It is designed to be the kind of game where one wrong step triggers a full-volume Discord meltdown.

Built by Singapore, Built for Southeast Asia

Hantu and Hunted eerie village map environment — Image courtesy of Zeevium Games

Zeevium Games is a local Singapore studio, making HaH! a rare local indie production targeting the global PC market. The game launches with proximity voice chat built in — hear the Hantu breathing as it closes in on you — and it is designed explicitly for multiplayer chaos with friends.

Crucially for regional players, the game will support Malay, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese at launch, alongside English and several European languages. That language list reads like the Steam storefront’s own Southeast Asian wishlist, and it signals that Zeevium is targeting the home audience deliberately.

The Early Access launch is slated for Q4 2026 on Windows PC via Steam. No SGD pricing has been announced yet. You can add it to your Steam wishlist now to be notified when it drops. For more local and regional game releases, check out our Singapore Gaming Scene coverage.

Game News, Manga Anime

Overwatch × YOASOBI: The “Orion” Collab Is Live Today

June 30, 2026 Xian Skyrider

Leave a comment

Two cultural juggernauts just collided: YOASOBI and Overwatch have launched their crossover event today, 30 June 2026, and it runs through 20 July. Six new legendary skins, an original track called “Orion,” and a full animated music video produced by A-1 Pictures are all live in-game right now — and Singapore players can jump in immediately.

Overwatch x YOASOBI | Official Gameplay Trailer — via PlayOverwatch on YouTube

What the Overwatch × YOASOBI Collab Is About

The collaboration was unveiled at a dedicated press event in Tokyo in May, bringing together Blizzard Entertainment and the duo behind some of the biggest anime themes of the past five years — Idol (Oshi no Ko), Beastars, Blue Lock, and more. The event centres on the Shimada clan storyline, told from Kiriko’s perspective through a new in-game short story called The Fall of a Sparrow, exploring what it means to grow apart, hold on, and eventually find a way back — the three “stars” of Orion’s Belt mapped onto Kiriko, Genji, and Hanzo.

A new Tokyo-themed map, Neon Junction, was added to the game alongside the event, giving matches a futuristic J-pop cityscape backdrop complete with neon signage and floating screens.

All Six Legendary Skins — Neon Lights, Hard-Light and Kanji Motifs

Every skin in the collaboration is legendary-tier and carries YOASOBI’s signature aesthetic: neon colours, hard-light accents, kanji-inspired design details, ambient visual effects, and exclusive dance emotes set to YOASOBI’s music. The full roster:

Fox Star Kiriko — the centrepiece of the collab; her fox companion gets a spectral, glowing redesign
Dragon Star Genji — vibrant neon styling that celebrates the hero he has become
Dragon Star Hanzo — luminous hard-light accents and striking kanji details, carrying the weight of his past
Spirit Star Mizuki — premium lighting effects with a custom spirit-energy aesthetic
Space Star Juno — wonder and optimism, reimagined in neon
Fire Star Anran — bold confidence blended with kanji-inspired elements and fiery VFX

Fox Star Kiriko concept art front and back view, Overwatch x YOASOBI collab — Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

Skins can be purchased individually or as part of a YOASOBI Mega Bundle through the in-game shop. Pricing in-game follows standard Overwatch legendary skin rates. If you’re an Overwatch player in Singapore or Southeast Asia, the shop is accessible as usual — no region lock applies to this event.

Fox Star Kiriko with spirit fox companion in the Neon Junction map, Overwatch x YOASOBI — Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

“Orion” — The Song, the Story, and A-1 Pictures

YOASOBI composed the original track Orion specifically for this collaboration, blending their signature high-tempo J-pop with futuristic electronic drums and the sound of the Japanese koto — a nod to the Shimada brothers’ heritage. The song is also included on YOASOBI’s new EP THE BOOK for, released on 26 June.

Composer Ayase described the creation process as making music with “the utmost respect” for Overwatch as a work, as reported by Saiga NAK at the Tokyo announcement (Japanese). An animated music video accompanying Orion was produced entirely by A-1 Pictures — the studio behind Solo Leveling, Kaguya-sama: Love is War, and Sword Art Online — and is accessible in-game through the collab event page.

YOASOBI Overwatch collaboration vinyl record featuring Kiriko, Genji and Hanzo artwork — Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

Mizuki Spirit Star skin in the Neon Junction map, Overwatch x YOASOBI collab — Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

How Long You Have to Grab It

The Overwatch × YOASOBI event runs until 20 July 2026 — roughly three weeks from today. Once the event ends, event-exclusive cosmetics typically rotate out of the shop, so if any of the six skins appeal to you, plan your purchase before the deadline. Keep an eye on our game news section for any last-call reminders as July 20 approaches.

Manga Anime

Kagurabachi Anime Locks in April 2027, Coming to Crunchyroll

June 30, 2026 Xian Skyrider

Leave a comment

The manga that stormed Weekly Shonen Jump two years ago now has an anime date — and Singapore fans get front-row seats. Kagurabachi, Takeru Hokazono’s revenge-driven sword-sorcery epic, is officially heading to Crunchyroll worldwide in April 2027, with the first episode making its world debut at Anime Expo in Los Angeles on 3 July.

KAGURABACHI — Official Teaser Trailer — via AnimeSelect on YouTube

From Weekly Shonen Jump Page to the Screen

Serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump since September 2023, Kagurabachi wasted no time making itself known. The manga follows Chihiro Rokuhira, the teenage son of a legendary sword-maker, who picks up an enchanted blade to hunt down the sorcerers who murdered his father and stole his life’s work. Fast pacing, striking sword-fight choreography, and a protagonist who skips the hesitation have earned it a fanatically loyal readership — the series now counts over 4 million copies in circulation across eleven collected volumes (as of May 2026).

It is the kind of story that anime announcements get built around: a clear premise, instantly striking visuals, and a lead fans either back completely or want to see challenged. The first official teaser racked up 6 million YouTube views in under 24 hours when it dropped in April 2026.

Crunchyroll Confirms Singapore Streaming from April 2027

Kagurabachi Anime World Tour promotional banner featuring Anime Expo, Japan Expo, AnimagiC and Anime NYC logos — Image courtesy of Project Kagurabachi

Crunchyroll confirmed on 25–26 June 2026 that it will stream Kagurabachi worldwide from April 2027, excluding Japan, mainland China, North Korea, and South Korea. Singapore is confirmed in the streaming footprint — fans on Crunchyroll here will be able to watch alongside the simulcast when it airs.

The anime is produced by Studio Cypic, a newly relaunched identity from Cygames Pictures. Tetsuya Takeuchi serves as director, with Keigo Sasaki handling character design. The anime’s world tour premiere alone drew immediate headlines: the first 20 minutes of Episode 1 hitting the big screen at Anime Expo is a notably confident move for a pre-air event, signalling real buzz behind the production.

The Voice Cast: A Shōnen Heavyweight Lineup

Kagurabachi anime — Togo Shiba character visual, voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi — Image courtesy of Project Kagurabachi

The production has been releasing character visuals and cast reveals through June 2026. The confirmed Japanese voice cast so far:

Taihi Kimura as protagonist Chihiro Rokuhira. Kimura won Best New Actor at the 2025 Seiyu Awards — a significant vote of confidence for a lead who carries the series’ emotional core.
Tomokazu Seki as Kunishige Rokuhira, Chihiro’s father and the master swordsmith at the heart of the story. Seki is one of Japanese anime’s most recognised veteran voices.
Katsuyuki Konishi as Togo Shiba, a veteran sorcerer whose laid-back exterior hides genuine power. Cast announced 26 June 2026.

On Shiba, Konishi said: “Shiba is carefree on the surface, but deep down has a solid core and real strength,” describing his goal as capturing “the effortless confidence of someone genuinely powerful.”

KAGURABACHI｜Official Character Trailer: Shiba Togo — via CyberAgent ANIME Global on YouTube

Anime Expo World Premiere — First Footage on 3 July

Kagurabachi Anime World Tour Part 1 — full venue and date schedule for screenings at Anime Expo, Japan Expo, AnimagiC and Anime NYC — Image courtesy of Project Kagurabachi

Before the April 2027 TV premiere, the production team is taking the first episode on a global road show. The Kagurabachi Anime World Tour Part 1 kicks off at Anime Expo in Los Angeles on 3 July 2026 (4:45–6:05 PM PT), where audiences will see the first 20 minutes of Episode 1 on the big screen, followed by a special panel featuring:

Taihi Kimura (voice of Chihiro Rokuhira)
Takuro Imamura (manga editor)
Koichi Yasuda (anime producer)

The tour then moves to Japan Expo in Paris (9 July), AnimagiC in Mannheim, Germany (1 August), and Anime NYC in New York (22 August). No Singapore or Southeast Asia stop has been announced for Part 1, but with nearly ten months before the series airs, a Part 2 of the world tour remains possible — watch the official world tour page for updates. In the meantime, our anime coverage will track every new cast drop and trailer as the April 2027 date approaches.

Community, Event, News

Pokémon Center Singapore Reopens at Jewel on 1 July 2026

June 29, 2026 Xian Skyrider

Leave a comment

Mark your calendars, Trainers — the Pokémon Center Singapore reopening lands on 1 July 2026, and the revamped store at Jewel Changi Airport is unlike anything the franchise has done outside Japan. After closing in April for its biggest makeover since 2019, the world’s first permanent Pokémon Center outside Japan returns with a new Legendary mascot, a fully Singapore-inspired interior, and 20 exclusive items you won’t find anywhere else.

The Pokémon Center Singapore reopening: what’s new

This isn’t a quick touch-up. Pokémon Center SINGAPORE is the first Pokémon Center store outside Japan to receive a full-scale redesign, and the team has leaned hard into local identity. The shopfront has been reimagined to evoke the Singapore skyline, with shelving and display nooks modelled on the city’s beloved shophouses, complete with Peranakan tile-inspired backdrops and arches.

The store keeps its prime spot on level four of Jewel Changi Airport — address 78 Airport Boulevard, #04-201/202/203, Singapore 819666 — and trades daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm. If you’ve shopped here before, expect the same airport-connected convenience, just with a glow-up that finally makes the place feel unmistakably local.