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Xian Skyrider

Event

Pokemon GO July 4–6: Sobble Community Day Meets the 10th Anniversary Party

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Singapore’s Pokemon GO community has a stacked weekend ahead. On Saturday, July 4, Sobble takes the Community Day spotlight — and running right alongside it (through Monday, July 6) is the Pokemon GO 10th Anniversary Party, marking a decade since the game launched on July 6, 2016. Two events, one big weekend, and plenty of reasons to charge your phone and head out to your favourite park.

Trainers, get ready for some exciting adventures and community celebrations! — via Pokémon GO on YouTube

Sobble Community Day — Saturday, July 4, 2:00–5:00 PM

Sobble the Water Lizard Pokemon official artwork
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Sobble, the Water Lizard Pokemon (#816), appears more frequently in the wild during the three-hour Community Day window, and Shiny Sobble is making its debut. The boosted shiny odds during Community Day are roughly 1 in 20, so keep catching — the blue-and-yellow variant is worth the tap. Community Day lasts from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time, but certain bonuses extend until 9:00 PM.

👀💧 #PokemonGO — official Sobble Community Day teaser via Pokémon GO on YouTube

The Exclusive Moves: Hydro Cannon and Snipe Shot

Drizzile official artwork — evolve to Inteleon during Community Day for exclusive moves
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The main reason to play hard on July 4: evolve Sobble all the way to Inteleon during the event or within four hours of it ending (before 9:00 PM), and that Inteleon unlocks two moves it cannot learn otherwise:

  • Hydro Cannon (Charged Attack) — one of the strongest Water-type moves in Pokemon GO and an excellent raid attacker
  • Snipe Shot (Charged Attack) — a Community Day exclusive with attack-boosting potential in PvP formats
Inteleon official artwork — the final evolution of Sobble learns Hydro Cannon in Pokemon GO
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Inteleon with Hydro Cannon is shaping up as a top-tier Water attacker in GO’s current meta. If you can find a high-IV Sobble on July 4, it is worth the candy investment.

Community Day Event Bonuses

  • 1/4 Egg Hatch Distance (active during event hours)
  • 2× Catch Candy
  • 2× chance of Candy XL (Level 31+)
  • 3-hour Incense duration
  • 1-hour Lure Modules
  • One additional Special Trade per day (50% reduced Stardust cost)

A Community Day–exclusive Special Research is also available for US$1.99 (check your local App Store or Google Play for the equivalent Singapore price — the exact amount varies by platform). It includes a Special Background Sobble encounter among other rewards. From 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Sobble also continues to spawn at PokéStops with active regular Lure Modules, giving you an extra four hours to hunt after the main event closes.

Pokemon GO Turns 10 — Anniversary Party (July 4–6)

Pokemon GO 10th Anniversary Party event art featuring anniversary-themed Pokemon
Image courtesy of Niantic / Pokémon GO

Pokemon GO launched on July 6, 2016. Ten years on, the 10th Anniversary Party runs from Saturday, July 4 at 10:00 AM through Monday, July 6 at 8:00 PM local time. The anniversary event is active before and after Community Day on July 4, meaning the two events fully overlap during the 2:00–5:00 PM window.

Gimmighoul Makes Its Debut

The headline feature of the anniversary event is Gimmighoul, the Coin Chest Pokemon from Scarlet and Violet, making its Pokemon GO debut here. Gimmighoul appears holding a 10th Anniversary Coin, and Shiny Gimmighoul is available from the start. It can also appear with a Special Background. A Timed Research is available for US$1.99 (or local equivalent) and includes a guaranteed Gimmighoul encounter alongside a Super Incubator and Premium Battle Pass.

Anniversary Wild Encounters and Shinies

  • Pikachu wearing a cake hat
  • Eevee wearing a party hat
  • Wurmple wearing a party hat

All event-themed Pokemon have boosted shiny rates during the anniversary window. Earlier anniversary Pikachu forms have historically become collector’s items — the cake-hat variant is worth grabbing.

Kanto Starter Legacy Moves Return

This is the big one for meta players who missed the original Community Days. During the 10th Anniversary event, evolving the Kanto starters unlocks their Community Day legacy Charged Attacks:

  • Ivysaur → Venusaur: gets Frenzy Plant
  • Charmeleon → Charizard: gets Blast Burn
  • Wartortle → Blastoise: gets Hydro Cannon

Frenzy Plant Venusaur, Blast Burn Charizard, and Hydro Cannon Blastoise are all top-tier in both raids and certain PvP formats. This is a window to fix missing legacy moves without waiting for another anniversary event.

Anniversary Bonuses

  • 4× XP for catching Pokemon
  • 4× Stardust for catching Pokemon
  • Event-themed Pokemon more likely to be Shiny

How to Stack the Events on July 4 in Singapore

The overlap of Community Day and the Anniversary Party on July 4 is the best window of the weekend. Here is a rough plan:

  • 10:00 AM–2:00 PM — Anniversary active only: farm 4× XP and Stardust, hunt Gimmighoul, grab shiny anniversary Pokemon
  • 2:00 PM–5:00 PM — Both events running simultaneously: Sobble spawns spike, 4× XP/Stardust stays on, Community Day bonuses all active at once
  • 5:00 PM–9:00 PM — Community Day main hours end; evolve your best Drizzile into a Hydro Cannon Inteleon before the extended window closes; Sobble remains at active Lures
  • July 5–6 — Anniversary continues with 4× XP and Stardust; good days to work through Kanto starter evolutions

Popular GO spots in Singapore for Community Days include Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, East Coast Park, Pasir Ris Park, Gardens by the Bay, and the Singapore Botanic Gardens — all have dense PokéStop clusters suitable for Luring up. Check local GO communities on Facebook and Discord closer to the date for organised meetup spots and carpool plans.

For more upcoming Pokemon GO events and gaming events in Singapore, keep an eye on GameTrader.SG as the anniversary weekend approaches.

Event

Pokémon GO Fest 2026 Global: Fully Free for the First Time — Mega Mewtwo X/Y Debut, Zeraora, and a Guide for Singapore Trainers

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Pokémon GO Fest is going completely free this year — and it’s bringing two of the biggest Pokémon debuts in the game’s history along with it. GO Fest 2026: Global runs July 11–12, 2026, and for the first time since the event launched, you won’t need to buy a ticket to access the full core experience. Every trainer who logs in during event weekend gets the Special Research, the bonuses, and the increased Shiny rates at no cost.

That’s not the only first. Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y make their Pokémon GO debut during GO Fest, appearing in Super Mega Raid Battles. And Zeraora, the Thunderclap Pokémon and one of the game’s longest-absent Mythicals, arrives via a free Special Research that every trainer who logs in over the weekend will receive automatically.

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

GO Fest 2026 Global Dates, Times and What’s Free

Trainers facing Mewtwo in the Pokémon GO Fest 2026 official trailer
Image courtesy of Pokémon GO / Niantic

The event runs Saturday July 11 and Sunday July 12, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time each day. That’s a clean 9-hour window both days — in Singapore, that means 10am to 7pm SGT, a comfortable weekend slot.

Unlike past years where the best bonuses were locked behind a paid GO Pass ticket, Niantic has made the entire core GO Fest 2026 experience accessible at no cost. The free tier includes the Zeraora Special Research, all type-themed habitat hours across both days, access to Mega Mewtwo raids, increased Shiny encounter rates, and all event field bonuses. A paid GO Pass remains available for trainers who want extra perks, but the headline features are all free.

Mega Mewtwo X and Y: What the Debut Means for Your Raid Game

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

Mewtwo has anchored Pokémon GO’s raid meta for years, but its Mega Evolutions are a genuine milestone. Mega Mewtwo X (Psychic/Fighting) and Mega Mewtwo Y (pure Psychic) rank among the highest-Attack Pokémon in the mainline series, and they’re expected to make an immediate impact on the game’s top-tier raid scene when they arrive.

Both will appear in Super Mega Raids during GO Fest weekend. Any Mewtwo caught from these raids comes with at least one Mega Level already unlocked, so it can Mega Evolve without the initial energy cost. For Singapore trainers who have been stashing Mega Energy — now is the weekend to use it.

Zeraora: Singapore Trainers Can Catch the Thunderclap Pokémon for Free

Zeraora makes its Pokémon GO debut during GO Fest 2026
Image courtesy of Pokémon GO / Niantic

Zeraora is the Electric-type Mythical from Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and it has been absent from Pokémon GO until now. During GO Fest 2026 weekend, every trainer who logs in will automatically receive Special Research leading to a Zeraora encounter — no ticket or extra purchase required.

Crucially, this Special Research doesn’t expire after the event ends, so you can work through the tasks at your own pace. If you’re travelling or caught up on July 11–12, just make sure you log in at least once that weekend to claim the quest before it’s gone.

Habitat Hours, Wild Spawns and Incense Encounters

All eighteen Pokémon types rotate through three-hour themed habitat blocks across both days. Saturday covers Ice, Electric, Fire, Psychic, Ghost, Water, Flying, Rock, and Dragon. Sunday switches to Ground, Steel, Normal, Poison, Bug, Grass, Dark, Fairy, and Fighting.

Incense exclusives confirmed so far include Unown letters, Tropius, and Bouffalant — the latter two are regional Pokémon that rarely surface outside their home zones. Pikachu costumed in Team Instinct, Mystic, and Valor hats appears in Shiny-eligible form, and Kanto starters wearing Pikachu visors round out the event-themed spawns.

GO Fest 2026 Event Bonuses At a Glance

  • Up to 9 free Raid Passes per day from spinning Gym Photo Discs
  • Up to 6 Special Trades per day with 50% reduced Stardust cost
  • 1-hour Lure Module duration throughout both event days
  • Increased Shiny encounter rates for featured Pokémon
  • Extended 9-hour Party Play window each day
  • Enhanced Premier Ball effectiveness in raids

Road of Legends Prep Event: July 6–10

Before GO Fest weekend arrives, the Road of Legends event runs July 6–10. During this lead-up window, Remote Raid Pass limits are lifted — making it easier to coordinate remote raids with friends around the world heading into GO Fest. In the Asia-Pacific region, Uxie appears in five-star raids during this period; if you’re still hunting the Lake Guardian trio, this is your best window before the GO Fest chaos takes over.

No Singapore Venue, But You Don’t Need One

GO Fest 2026’s in-person community celebration venues span nine Asia-Pacific cities: Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo, Sendai, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Mumbai. Singapore isn’t on the list — but this year that matters less than ever, because the full GO Fest experience is identical whether you’re playing at an in-person venue or from your couch.

The nearest in-person options are Kuala Lumpur’s KLCC Park and Bangkok’s Chamchuri Square for those who want the IRL atmosphere, Community Ambassador activities, and on-site giveaways. Both are a short flight from Singapore and worth considering for committed GO players.

For everyone playing from home here, the action plan is simple: log in on July 11 or 12 to unlock your Zeraora Special Research, clear raid slots for Mega Mewtwo, and make the most of the free nine-raid-pass window. Check the official Pokémon GO Fest 2026 page for the latest updates. For more upcoming gaming events in Singapore, browse our Events section.

Manga Anime

Fool Night Anime: Sunrise x SHAFT Join Forces on Netflix

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One of the most striking manga you’ve probably never heard of is about to become one of the most visually distinct anime on Netflix — and it’s arriving in 2026. Fool Night, Kasumi Yasuda’s acclaimed dystopian thriller serialised in Shogakukan’s Big Comic Superior, has been confirmed as a global Netflix anime, backed by a studio pairing that has literally never happened before.

Toshiro Kamiya walks through a neon-lit dystopian city in Fool Night
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Filmworks

What Is Fool Night About?

The premise is instantly arresting. Sunlight hasn’t reached Earth in a century — thick clouds have locked the planet in perpetual winter and darkness. Plant life has collapsed, oxygen is critically scarce, and humanity’s response is a morally fraught technology called transfloration: a procedure that implants seeds into the bodies of people near death, gradually transforming them into oxygen-producing plant beings. It is presented as a choice, but one driven entirely by economic desperation.

At the centre of it all is Toshiro Kamiya, a young man struggling with poverty and his mother’s illness, confronting the question the series keeps asking: is life worth preserving if it means ceasing to be human?

Yasuda’s manga has earned serious recognition in Japan — it ranked in the prestigious Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2023 list and took home best suspense manga at the Japan Expo Daruma Awards 2023. But outside Japan it remains largely under the radar, which makes this Netflix adaptation a genuine discovery moment for anime fans in Singapore and across Southeast Asia.

A Historic Studio Pairing: Sunrise Meets SHAFT

A transflorated being cradles a dying flower in a scene from the Fool Night Netflix teaser
Image courtesy of Netflix

The production story is, on its own, something anime fans won’t forget quickly. Fool Night marks the first-ever collaboration between Sunrise and SHAFT — two of anime’s most storied studios, working together for the first time in their respective histories.

Sunrise built its legacy on the scale and ambition of Mobile Suit Gundam, Cowboy Bebop, and Code Geass. SHAFT built theirs on the visually singular, avant-garde craft of Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the Monogatari series — shows defined by daring direction and unforgettable aesthetics. The Fool Night teaser already hints at what this union looks like: Sunrise’s epic scope filtered through SHAFT’s precise, intimate visual instincts.

The Creative Team Behind Fool Night

A close-up of the Fool Night protagonist from the official Japanese teaser PV
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Filmworks

The assembled team is a who’s-who of recent prestige anime:

  • Director: Atsuyuki Yukawa, who served as unit director on Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume
  • Series Composition: Jin Tanaka (Oshi no Ko, Kowloon Generic Romance)
  • Character Design: Robert Sato
  • Sound Director: Yota Tsuruoka (A Silent Voice)
  • Composer: Tatsuya Kato (Dr. Stone)

The voice cast is equally compelling: Koki Uchiyama — the voice behind My Hero Academia’s Tomura Shigaraki and Genshin Impact’s Xiao — takes the lead as Toshiro Kamiya. Minako Kotobuki (K-On!’s Tsumugi Kotobuki) voices Yomiko Horai.

Watch the Official Fool Night Teaser

Fool Night | Official Teaser | Netflix Anime — via Netflix Anime on YouTube

Streaming on Netflix in 2026 — No Singapore Wait

Fool Night is confirmed as a Netflix worldwide exclusive debuting in 2026. An exact premiere date has not been announced yet. Netflix’s global simultaneous release model means Singapore subscribers will get it day-and-date with the rest of the world — no waiting for a regional rollout.

Given the creative pedigree, the unprecedented studio collaboration, and a story with genuinely rare ambition, this is one to add to your watchlist now. For more anime and manga news, check out our Manga Anime coverage.

Game News

BlazBlue: Central Fiction Gets Its First New Character in Nine Years

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Arc System Works dropped a genuine surprise at EVO 2026 in Las Vegas on Saturday: Trinity Glassfille, one of the most iconic never-playable figures in the BlazBlue universe, is finally joining BlazBlue: Central Fiction as a fully playable DLC character. She is the game’s first new fighter in nine years — and for anyone who has followed this anime fighter since its arcade days, that announcement landed like a gut punch in the best possible way.

BLAZBLUE CENTRALFICTION – Trinity Glassfille Character Reveal — via Arc System Works America on YouTube

Who Is Trinity Glassfille?

BlazBlue: Centralfiction title screen
Image courtesy of Arc System Works

Trinity Glassfille has been woven into the BlazBlue story since the very first game, Calamity Trigger. As one of the legendary Six Heroes — the warriors who ended the Dark War a century before the main timeline — she carries enormous lore weight. Trained at the Mage’s Guile, she developed formidable expertise in both sorcery and alchemy, and her defining trait is a compassion so deep she has always found it impossible to view even enemies without empathy.

Despite that, she was never selectable in any game in the series. She existed in story mode, dialogue, and cutscenes, but never under your thumbs in a match. Arc System Works confirmed the change in a brief but electrifying reveal at EVO 2026, dropping a new character illustration drawn by series creator Toshimichi Mori. Per the official statement, as reported by Gematsu: “Trinity Glassfille, a key character who has appeared since the early stages of the BlazBlue story, will finally be joining the roster as a playable character.”

Nine Years Since the Last New Fighter

BlazBlue: Central Fiction character select screen showing the full existing roster
Image courtesy of Arc System Works

The last DLC character added to Central Fiction was Jubei in 2017 — also a fan-demanded, long-teased figure. That was nine years ago. The game released its final update and went quiet, and for a stretch it looked like the roster was permanently closed.

What kept the community alive was Arc System Works’ rollback netcode update, which gave Central Fiction a genuine second life online. Competitive scenes across Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia kept the game going, with Singapore players among those running sets and local events long after the game’s commercial window had closed. The EVO 2026 bracket for Central Fiction this weekend drew some of the sharpest entrants in years. Producer Riku Ozawa acknowledged the gap in the pre-announcement tease, noting it had “been many years since this game released” and crediting fan support for making new character development possible at all.

What to Expect From Her Moveset

BlazBlue: Central Fiction combat gameplay — two characters clashing in a snowy stage
Image courtesy of Arc System Works

No gameplay footage has been shown — Ozawa was upfront that development only recently got underway. But Trinity’s character background offers strong hints. Her mastery of sorcery and alchemy, combined with a personality that avoids direct confrontation, points toward a zoner archetype: a fighter who controls space from range, deploys projectiles, and punishes opponents who rush in. Central Fiction‘s existing cast leans heavily toward rushdown and pressure characters, so a clean zoner would fill a meaningful gap in the meta.

The DLC will be released on PlayStation 4 and PC (Steam) — the same platforms that received the rollback netcode update. No PS5 native version, no Switch port, and no Xbox version have been announced. No release window or pricing has been set, and a proper gameplay reveal is expected at a future Arc System Works event.

A Big EVO Weekend for Arc System Works

Trinity’s announcement is the headline item in a busy EVO 2026 showing for the studio. Robo-Ky lands in Guilty Gear -Strive- on July 2, Zohar was confirmed for Under Night In-Birth II, and Id DLC plus a Switch 2 port were revealed for Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. Across the whole weekend, Arc System Works has made it clear they are not slowing down — and bringing Central Fiction back into the conversation after nine years of silence is exactly the kind of moment that reminds you why the FGC keeps showing up. For Singapore fans who stuck with the game through the post-launch years, that makes the wait feel worth it.

Stay up to date with more fighting game and game news coverage here on GameTrader.

Manga Anime, News

Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 4 Cour 2 Premieres July 11 on Crunchyroll

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After a four-year wait between seasons, the most determined bookworm in anime is back — and she’s not slowing down. WIT Studio’s Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 4: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke returns for its second cour on 11 July 2026, and the freshly released third promotional video confirms the stakes are higher than ever for Rozemyne.

Official Cour 2 PV3 (Japanese) — via 読売テレビ アニメ公式 on YouTube

New Themes, New Trailer — What the Cour 2 PV3 Shows

The third PV, released on 27 June on the official production website, previews new scenes of Rozemyne wielding ever-expanding arcanist powers against formidable opponents, alongside both new theme songs for the second half. Kana Nishino — one of Japan’s best-selling solo artists — performs the new opening, Power of Love. Singer adieu (Moka Kamishiraishi) handles the ending song, titled Wanna me.

adieu shared her thoughts on the project, as reported by Anime Corner: “I am truly happy to be able to contribute musically to a series that has been loved for so many years,” adding that working on the anime “taught me that believing in the things you love is also believing in yourself.”

Rozemyne close-up with magical water orbs in Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 4
Image courtesy of Ascendance of a Bookworm Production Committee

What the Adopted Daughter of an Archduke Arc Is About

If you haven’t caught the series yet, here’s the short version: Ascendance of a Bookworm follows Myne, a book-obsessed woman reincarnated into a fantasy world with no printing press and rampant illiteracy. The early seasons tracked her ingenious (and endlessly resourceful) campaign to bring books to the commoner class. Season 4 vaults her fully into noble archduke territory, adapting Volumes 8–12 of Miya Kazuki’s light novel series (Japanese), now running to over 30 published volumes.

The Adopted Daughter arc places Rozemyne — voiced by Yuka Iguchi — in a world of high-nobility politics, arcanist magic academies, and increasingly complex power plays. Ferdinand (Sho Hayami) returns as her complicated mentor figure, and the Cour 2 trailer hints at confrontations that dwarf anything from the earlier arcs. Director Yoshiaki Iwasaki and series composer Mariko Kunisawa are back at the helm, with WIT Studio continuing their detailed, lush visual style.

Rozemyne awakening with powerful magical energy in Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 4 Cour 2
Image courtesy of Ascendance of a Bookworm Production Committee

When and Where to Watch — Singapore Guide

Crunchyroll holds worldwide streaming rights for Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 4, explicitly covering Singapore. New Cour 2 episodes premiere every Saturday at 4:30pm SGT starting 11 July 2026 — a prime afternoon slot that makes it easy to slot into your weekend watchlist. All 13 Cour 1 episodes are already live on Crunchyroll if you need to catch up. Seasons 1 through 3 are also available there, giving newcomers the full run from the beginning.

Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 4 Cour 2 PV3 battle scene
Image courtesy of Ascendance of a Bookworm Production Committee

For more summer 2026 anime hitting Crunchyroll in Singapore, browse our anime coverage.

Game News, News

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Gets Id DLC and Switch 2 This September

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Cygames and Arc System Works had two big Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising announcements at EVO 2026, and they packaged them together: Id — the brooding swordsman from Granblue Fantasy: Relink — is the next DLC character, and the game is finally coming to Nintendo Switch 2. Both drop on September 17 as part of the version 2.60 update.

Who Is Id in Granblue Fantasy?

Id reveal close-up in Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising — white-haired swordsman with purple energy effects
Image courtesy of Cygames

Id is one of the standout characters from Granblue Fantasy: Relink, the 2024 action RPG set in the same Granblue universe. He’s a white-haired swordsman with overwhelming raw power and dark, violet-black energy — exactly the type that tends to become an instant fighting game fan favourite. The reveal clip shows those trademark effects and that cold, composed stare. If his Relink toolkit carries over in any form, expect an aggressive style that pressures at close range.

Arc System Works hasn’t released a full moveset breakdown yet. Complete character details will come closer to the September 17 release date — the teaser is deliberately light on gameplay, leaning on the character’s existing Granblue fanbase to do the work.

Switch 2 Version: A First for the Series

Nintendo Switch 2 running Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising — Switch 2 version arrives September 17
Image courtesy of Cygames

GBVSR has been a PS5, PS4 and PC (Steam) title since its 2023 launch. The Switch 2 version announced at EVO 2026 is the game’s first Nintendo platform release, and it arrives fully updated — Switch 2 players get the complete version 2.60 build including Id, the new stage and the new system mechanic from launch day.

For Singapore players who own a Switch 2 and passed on GBVSR on other platforms, September 17 becomes a clean entry point. The portability factor is a genuine upside for anyone who wants to grind matchups anywhere. No SGD pricing has been confirmed for the Switch 2 version or the Id DLC as of this writing — that should surface as we get closer to launch.

Everything in the Version 2.60 Update

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Version 2.60 update contents — arriving September 17 2026
Image courtesy of Cygames

The version 2.60 update drops simultaneously across PS5, PS4, PC and Switch 2 on September 17. Confirmed contents:

  • New DLC character: Id
  • New stage
  • New system mechanic
  • Adjustments to existing system mechanics
  • Character balance changes
  • New costume

The balance pass is described broadly — expect a meaningful tune-up to the meta rather than a light touch. Arc System Works will share specific details on the new mechanic and Id’s full kit before launch.

Watch the Official Id Reveal

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising – Id Teaser — via Cygames EN on YouTube

Where Singapore’s Fighting Game Scene Stands on GBVSR

GBVSR has found a steady home in Singapore’s fighting game community since launch. It shows up regularly at local ranbats and online brackets alongside the bigger titles, and its approachable mechanics pull in both Granblue RPG fans and dedicated anime-fighter players. The arrival of Id — a character with strong existing recognition from Relink — and the Switch 2 debut are exactly the kind of double announcement that keeps the player base engaged between major updates.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is available now on PS5, PS4 and PC via Steam. The Switch 2 version and Id DLC both arrive on September 17. Check back on GameTrader game news for full moveset details and confirmed regional pricing when they drop.

Game News, News

Avatar Legends Year 1 DLC: Iroh, Ty Lee, Lin Beifong, Bolin

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The EVO 2026 panel for Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game delivered what fans had been waiting for: the full Year 1 DLC lineup, a community vote for a fifth character, and pre-orders open now ahead of the game’s July 23 launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC Steam, and Nintendo Switch.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game | Console Pre-Order Trailer — via Paramount Games on YouTube

The Confirmed Four: Who Is Joining the Roster

Iroh leads the lineup — the tea-loving, wisdom-dispensing, lightning-wielding firebender from Avatar: The Last Airbender. His move set draws on fire breath, dragon-based techniques, and lightning, with the developers hinting that his signature wisdom will show up in “some smart tricks” that distinguish him from the Zuko and Azula already on the launch roster.

Ty Lee is the non-bender of the group, built around acrobatics, movement, and chi-blocking — expect a highly mobile, pressure-based character who can physically shut down an opponent’s bending mid-fight. From The Legend of Korra, Lin Beifong trades Toph’s raw earthbending for metalbending precision: her retractable cables are the headline tool, giving her range control and punish options unlike anyone else in the cast. Rounding out the quartet is Bolin, whose lavabending means he can literally set the ground on fire — a “floor is lava” situation that no other character in the game can create.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game Year 1 DLC lineup — Iroh, Ty Lee, Lin Beifong, Bolin
Image courtesy of PM Studios / Gameplay Group International

Vote for the Fifth Character

The fifth and final Year 1 slot goes to a fan vote — open exclusively to players who pre-order the game. Five candidates are on the table:

  • Tenzin — airbending master, mobility specialist
  • Kuvira — mid-range metalbending control character
  • Amon — the Equalist leader, chi-blocking plus bloodbending undertones
  • King Bumi — trickster earthbender with ground teleportation
  • Asami Sato — tech-based fighter using electric gloves and traps
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game Year 1 DLC voting candidates — Tenzin, Kuvira, Amon, King Bumi, Asami Sato
Image courtesy of PM Studios / Gameplay Group International

Voting opens in late summer once the game is live. Pre-order now and you’re in; the vote is not open to non-pre-order players.

Pre-Order Details and What You Get

The base game is priced at $29.99 USD. Pre-ordering — via PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store/Xbox, or Steam — gets you:

  • Closed beta access, July 2–5, 2026
  • Gold costume variants for six characters
  • Samurai Appa support skin
  • Eligibility to vote for the fifth Year 1 DLC character

The Deluxe Edition bundles the base game with a digital art book, the game’s soundtrack, unique HUDs, and the full Year 1 Pass — all five DLC characters as they release. Year 1 Pass pricing has not been announced separately.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game — Aang vs Korra gameplay
Image courtesy of PM Studios / Gameplay Group International

Availability and What It Means for Singapore Players

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game launches July 23 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam), and Nintendo Switch — with a Nintendo Switch 2 version also confirmed. Rollback netcode and full cross-play are built in from day one, which matters for the regional scene: Singapore and Southeast Asian players will share matchmaking with the broader global pool rather than being stranded in a smaller regional shard.

The beta on July 2–5 is particularly useful for the local FGC — it’s a chance to feel out the netcode and character matchups before the full release, and to lock in your DLC vote. For context on the base roster and game mechanics, see our earlier coverage of the July 23 launch announcement. For more fighting game news and game news, check the category archive.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game — Azula gameplay breakdown
Image courtesy of PM Studios / Gameplay Group International

Game News

Virtua Fighter Crossroads: First New VF in 20 Years, Made by the Yakuza Team

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Virtua Fighter is back. Twenty years after VF5 launched in arcades, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio — the team behind Like a Dragon — has announced Virtua Fighter Crossroads, a new mainline entry for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, set for 2027. This is the first genuinely new mainline Virtua Fighter since 2006, and it looks like no one has forgotten how to build a fighter.

VIRTUA FIGHTER CROSSROADS | Official Reveal Trailer — via VIRTUA FIGHTER on YouTube

What Is Virtua Fighter Crossroads?

Developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by SEGA, Crossroads was first revealed at Summer Game Fest 2026 and showcased further at EVO 2026 this week. It is a ground-up new entry — not a remaster, not a re-release — with a confirmed 2027 launch window on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam.

The game merges traditional 3D Virtua Fighter combat with a full narrative adventure campaign built along the lines of RGG’s Like a Dragon titles. SEGA describes it as “a narrative adventure that transcends the boundaries of fighting games,” and from the content shown so far, that is not marketing hyperbole: Crossroads features chapters with completion tracking, side quests, multiple protagonists with interlocking stories, and a richly detailed open city to move through.

Meet Cielo — and the New and Returning Fighters

Virtua Fighter Crossroads character select screen showing Cielo and Stella with their fighting styles and nationalities
Image courtesy of SEGA

Cielo is the game’s new protagonist: a Paraguayan-American underground MMA fighter who calls the walled city of Villaspara home. He enters the Vila Fight Fest after refusing to throw a match, and his story spirals from there. His moveset is MMA/Balanced — a grounded, read-heavy style that fits squarely into VF’s design philosophy of clean, style-pure combat.

Alongside Cielo is Stella, an American kickboxer, among other new characters yet to be revealed. Returning veterans Akira Yuki, Pai Chan and Wolf Hawkfield confirm that the series’ iconic cast has not been replaced, only expanded. The creative team behind the narrative is formidable: scenario writing draws on Shinji Yamamoto (Persona 5 Royal), direction from Takeshi Furuta (Yakuza series) and world-building by screenwriter Brad Kane, who was lead writer on Ghost of Tsushima.

VIRTUA FIGHTER CROSSROADS | Cielo Story Trailer — via SEGA on YouTube

Villaspara Looks Like Somewhere You Know

Virtua Fighter Crossroads — a detailed Southeast Asian street market in Villaspara
Image courtesy of SEGA
Virtua Fighter Crossroads — atmospheric underground arena corridor in Villaspara
Image courtesy of SEGA

Virtua Fighter Crossroads is set in Villaspara, a fictional walled city in Southeast Asia divided into a city centre, entertainment district and resort area. The environments shown so far — a sun-lit street market dense with local goods, a gritty underground fight corridor opening onto an arena — are assembled from the visual language of the region in a way that will feel immediately recognisable to players across Singapore and SEA.

This is not a generic pan-Asian backdrop. RGG Studio built Kamurocho over the course of two decades, and that same obsessive environmental detail is visible in every Crossroads screenshot. Villaspara is a city you want to walk through, which is exactly what the narrative mode asks you to do.

Story Mode, Side Quests and the Like a Dragon Blueprint

Virtua Fighter Crossroads story chapter select screen showing Vila Fight Fest missions and chapter completion tracking
Image courtesy of SEGA

The story campaign is structured in chapters with completion percentages and branching side objectives — exactly the loop RGG has refined across every Like a Dragon entry. Chapter missions carry names like “Vila Fight Fest: Round One” and “Glad Tidings of Betrayal,” pointing toward an underground fighting circuit narrative with political undercurrents. Supporting characters have their own dedicated side quests tracked alongside the main story.

Crossroads also supports fully competitive online versus play for players who want to skip the story and go straight to ranked matches. Both modes appear to run off the same underlying fighting system, so every hour spent in the campaign builds the muscle memory that transfers to competitive play.

Platforms, Release Window and What Singapore Players Need to Know

Virtua Fighter Crossroads launches in 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam. No exact date has been announced, and no Nintendo Switch 2 version has been confirmed as of this writing.

Singapore players will access it through the PlayStation Store or Steam. No SGD pricing has been announced yet. Given RGG’s track record on Like a Dragon titles — which have consistently released simultaneously worldwide — a global day-one launch is the expected outcome, though SEGA has not confirmed regional release timing.

The franchise returning after two decades is significant in itself, but the choice of developer matters more: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio knows how to build a game that makes you care about the world and the people in it before the fights even begin. Keep an eye on the latest game news as we get closer to 2027 and SEGA reveals more of the roster and story.

Manga Anime

Magic Knight Rayearth Is Back: 2026 Anime Reboot Premieres at Anime Expo

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After more than 30 years, the Magic Knights are summoned once more. CLAMP’s beloved shojo isekai Magic Knight Rayearth is getting a full anime reboot — confirmed for October 2026 on TV Asahi, with an all-star production team, a stacked new cast, and a world premiere at Anime Expo 2026 on 4 July in Los Angeles.

Magic Knight Rayearth 2026 anime teaser visual — three heroines in school uniforms with Tokyo Tower
Image courtesy of TMS Entertainment / CLAMP / E&H production

What Is Magic Knight Rayearth?

Originally a manga by CLAMP — the all-female artist collective behind Cardcaptor Sakura, Chobits, and xxxHolic — Magic Knight Rayearth ran in Kodansha’s Nakayoshi magazine from 1993 to 1996 across 29 chapters. The story follows three middle-school girls — Hikaru Shidou, Umi Ryuuzaki, and Fuu Hououji — who are suddenly transported from Tokyo Tower to the magical world of Cephiro, where they must become legendary Magic Knights to save the captive Princess Emeraude. The original 1994 anime series became a touchstone for a generation of fans across Asia, blending magical girl trappings with mecha and high fantasy in a way that felt genuinely fresh at the time.

Decades of fan demand later, TMS Entertainment and E&H production have answered the call. The new series is planned and produced by UNLIMITED PRODUCE by TMS and animated by E&H production — the studio founded by Sunghoo Park, director of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1 and Fire Force. That pedigree alone signals this is not a cheap anniversary cash-in.

Magic Knight Rayearth 2026 — the three Magic Knights standing in the world of Cephiro
Image courtesy of TMS Entertainment / CLAMP / E&H production

The Dream Team Behind the Reboot

Director Yui Miura leads the project, with Shigeru Murakoshi handling series composition. The name that will excite the most fans, though, is the composer: Yuki Kajiura — the force behind the soundtracks of Sword Art Online, Fate/Zero, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Kagurabachi — is scoring the series alongside Takumi Ozawa and Shiho Terada. Character design goes to Satomi Watanabe.

The voice cast is equally impressive. The three leads are played by Ayane Sakura (Hikaru Shidou), Rumi Okubo (Umi Ryuuzaki), and Rie Takahashi (Fuu Hououji). A second wave of casting announced in June 2026 added Saori Hayami as Princess Emeraude, Yuuki Ono as the antagonist Zagato, and Mika Kikuchi as Mokona — the series’ iconic rabbit-like mascot creature.

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

World Premiere at Anime Expo 2026 — 4 July

The Anime Expo 2026 full schedule, released today (27 June), confirms that the world premiere of the new Magic Knight Rayearth anime is set for 12:00 PM on 4 July at the JW Diamond hall in Los Angeles. Special guests attending include Rie Takahashi and Saori Hayami, who will be present for the screening of the first two episodes. Additional new details about the series are expected to be unveiled at the event. Tickets for Anime Expo (running 2–5 July at the Los Angeles Convention Center) can be found at the official Anime Expo website.

Magic Knight Rayearth 2026 anime — Hikaru Shidou with flames in a dramatic close-up
Image courtesy of TMS Entertainment / CLAMP / E&H production

What Singapore Fans Need to Know

The series broadcasts on TV Asahi every Wednesday at 11:45 PM JST within the IMAnimation W programming block, starting October 2026. International streaming has not been confirmed yet — but given that the original Magic Knight Rayearth anime is currently on Netflix, a digital route for the reboot seems plausible. No Singapore or Southeast Asia streaming announcement has been made at the time of writing; check back as details emerge closer to the October air date.

For fans who grew up in the 90s watching CLAMP’s work on local TV, this reboot hits differently. With Yuki Kajiura’s orchestral signature woven through it and a studio with recent shonen action credentials steering the visuals, the new Magic Knight Rayearth is shaping up as one of the more serious revival attempts in recent memory — rather than just a nostalgia play. Keep an eye on the AX premiere on 4 July for the first real look at what this reboot has in store.

For more anime news, check out our Manga & Anime coverage.