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Xian Skyrider

Manga Anime

The Ramparts of Ice Season 2 Hits Netflix on 1 October — What Singapore Fans Need to Know

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The Ramparts of Ice Season 2 is locked in for 1 October 2026, and Netflix is once again bringing it worldwide on the same day as Japan — which means Singapore fans can stream Koyuki Hikawa’s story the moment it drops, no delay, no waiting for a regional rollout.

A Quick Reset: Where Season 1 Left Off

Based on Kōcha Agasawa’s webtoon manga (serialised 2020–2022), the first season of The Ramparts of Ice followed Koyuki Hikawa, a high schooler who built emotional walls around herself after being bullied in middle school. She had convinced herself she was impossible to like — until persistent classmate Minato Amamiya, cheerful Miki Azumi, and easygoing Yōta Hinō started patiently dismantling those walls. The 14-episode run turned into one of Netflix’s quieter breakout romances of the spring 2026 season, earning fans across the region for its restrained, emotionally precise storytelling.

Three students in school uniforms in a hallway scene from The Ramparts of Ice
Image courtesy of Studio KAI / Netflix

What’s Coming in Season 2 — Feelings Deepen Beyond Friendship

The Season 2 announcement describes the continuation as the point where feelings deepen beyond friendship — a deliberately vague phrase that will mean something different depending on which of the four leads you are rooting for. The teaser visual shows the four protagonists with their gazes not meeting, capturing the unsettled tension that carried through Season 1’s final episodes. No episode count has been confirmed yet, and the theme songs are still unannounced.

If you have not yet seen Season 1, the official Netflix trailer below is as good a reason as any to clear your weekend. The series rewards patience: the first couple of episodes are quiet, but by mid-season it earns every emotional beat.

The Ramparts of Ice | Official Trailer #2 — via Netflix Anime on YouTube

The Same Team Returns — Studio KAI, Mankyu, and a Full Cast Reprisal

Every key name from Season 1 is back. Director Mankyu returns to the helm at Studio KAI, with series composition by Yasuhiro Nakanishi and character design handled again by Miki Ogino. The musical pairing of Kanade Sakuma and Natsumi Tabuchi continues. On the cast side, Anna Nagase reprises Koyuki Hikawa, Shōya Chiba (widely known to SG fans from roles including Minato Aqua in Oshi no Ko) returns as Minato Amamiya, Fūka Izumi comes back as Miki Azumi, and Satoshi Inomata is in again as Yōta Hinō — joined by Chiaki Kobayashi as Tsubasa Igarashi and Sakura Shinfuku as Tsukiko Shimojima.

Season 2 key art from The Ramparts of Ice
Image courtesy of Studio KAI / TBS

How and When to Watch in Singapore

Season 2 of The Ramparts of Ice premieres 1 October 2026, airing Thursdays at 11:56 p.m. JST on TBS in Japan and streaming globally on Netflix the same day. Season 1 is on Netflix Singapore right now if you want to catch up before October. English subtitles and a dubbed track were available for Season 1, and Netflix’s international pattern suggests both will carry over for Season 2 — though that has not been officially confirmed yet.

For more anime coming to Netflix and local streaming this season, we will keep you posted as premiere dates lock in.

Game News

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Open Beta Is Live — 15 Characters to Try Free Until 27 July

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The wait is over. The MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls open beta went live at 3:00 PM SGT today (24 July) and runs until Sunday 27 July at 2:59 PM SGT. Download it free right now on PS5, Steam, or the Epic Games Store — no PlayStation Plus subscription required. As we covered when the beta was announced, this is your first hands-on look at the upcoming 4v4 tag-team fighter from PlayStation Studios and Arc System Works — and with 15 of the game’s 20 launch characters playable and a story episode included, there is a lot to dig into before the 6 August release.

Danger vs Captain America battle in Marvel's New York stage in MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Image courtesy of Marvel / PlayStation Studios / Arc System Works
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls — Official Open Beta Trailer via IGN on YouTube

What Is in the MARVEL Tōkon Open Beta

The beta delivers a generous slice of the full game. Fifteen playable characters are split across four squads, six stages span Marvel locations from NYC to the Savage Land, and you get both online and offline play. Modes on offer include ranked and casual online lobbies, a local versus mode, training mode, a tutorial (Start Up Battle), the social Open Lobby, and three chapters of Episode Mode following the Amazing Guardians. The full launch roster expands to 20 fighters when the game arrives on 6 August.

Full Beta Roster — All 15 Characters Across Four Squads

Each squad has a distinct team identity and visual DNA, which also drives how they combo and assist in the 4v4 tag system:

  • Fighting Avengers: Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther
  • Unbreakable X-Men: Storm, Magik, Wolverine, Danger
  • Amazing Guardians: Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, Star-Lord, Peni Parker
  • Samurai Outriders: Ghost Rider, Blade
  • Knights of Doom: Doctor Doom, Magneto
Wolverine close-up with adamantium claws in MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Image courtesy of Marvel / PlayStation Studios / Arc System Works

One fighter worth highlighting: Blade makes his fighting-game debut in Tōkon. The Samurai Outriders squad pairs him with Ghost Rider, leaning into the dark-supernatural aesthetic that Arc System Works has rendered in their signature cel-shaded style. His moveset is built around speed and relentless pressure, and this beta is your first chance to take him out for a spin in a competitive setting.

Episode Mode: The Amazing Guardians Story

Beyond versus play, the beta includes three story chapters following Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, Star-Lord, and Peni Parker. It is a useful way to learn each character’s rhythm through light narrative framing before the ranked queue opens. Progress and unlocks do not carry over to the full game, so treat it as a preview.

Spider-Man in a comic-panel story cutscene in MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Episode Mode
Image courtesy of Marvel / PlayStation Studios / Arc System Works

How to Download the Beta in Singapore

No registration is needed. Two hours before launch, a pre-download goes live on each platform:

  • PS5: Open the PlayStation Store, search for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and grab the free Open Beta download. A PSN account is required but PS Plus is not.
  • PC (Steam): Head to the Steam store page and download the Open Beta build for free.
  • PC (Epic Games Store): Search for the title and download directly from EGS at no cost.

Cross-play between PS5 and PC is supported out of the box. The game ships with full Japanese and Korean voice tracks alongside English, and text is localised in 17 languages. The servers close at 27 July 2:59 PM SGT — after that the client goes offline until the full launch.

Ghost Rider launching a flaming attack in a New York alley in MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Image courtesy of Marvel / PlayStation Studios / Arc System Works

Full Launch on 6 August 2026

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls launches on 6 August 2026 on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. The five remaining launch characters beyond the beta’s 15 are yet to be revealed by PlayStation Studios. A physical disc edition is confirmed for PS5. Catch the latest game news and releases across our Game News section as more roster details drop ahead of launch.

Manga Anime, News

Parasyte: TAMIYA Is Coming to Netflix in 2027 — Shioli Kutsuna Stars

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Netflix has revealed its next step in the Parasyte universe. Parasyte: TAMIYA is officially in production, with Japanese actress Shioli Kutsuna playing the series’ iconic antagonist-turned-subject Ryoko Tamiya, and a 2027 global Netflix release confirmed.

Shioli Kutsuna as Ryoko Tamiya in Parasyte: TAMIYA alongside the original manga illustration
Image courtesy of Netflix / Kodansha

A Different Kind of Parasyte Story

Hitoshi Iwaaki’s original Parasyte manga (1988–1995, roughly 25 million copies sold) centred on high school student Shinichi Izumi and his right-hand parasite Migi as they fought to survive in a world suddenly crawling with body-snatching organisms. Ryoko Tamiya was always the franchise’s most unsettling side story: a parasite who, unlike her more violent kin, chose to observe, adapt, and quietly question whether wiping out humanity was really the smartest play.

In TAMIYA, that inner conflict becomes the entire series. Tamiya inhabits the body of a high school biology teacher, starts out attacking humans without hesitation, then something shifts. Living day-to-day alongside the people she was built to prey on, she begins to suspect that coexistence might serve her kind better than predation. Netflix describes the series as a “science fiction action-thriller merging deep human drama with unprecedented VFX sequences.”

Shioli Kutsuna as Tamiya — Three Registers in One Role

Casting Shioli Kutsuna (known internationally from Deadpool 2 and the live-action Detective Conan films) is a bold choice: she plays Tamiya in three distinct registers — the original human host, the parasite that seizes her body, and the evolving hybrid being that emerges between them. Kutsuna has described it as “the most challenging role I have ever played in my acting career,” as relayed in The Hollywood Reporter, noting she spent six months fully embodying the character.

The Same Team Behind Parasyte: The Grey

The creative engine here will feel very familiar. Yeon Sang-ho — the Korean filmmaker behind Train to Busan, Hellbound, and the 2024 hit Parasyte: The Grey — serves as creator and co-writer, working again with longtime collaborator Ryu Yong-jae. Yeon is quoted in The Hollywood Reporter describing Tamiya as “a fascinating villain whose existential struggle deepens the original work beyond simple heroics into something philosophically richer.”

Episode directing duties fall to Kensaku Kakimoto (Glass Heart) and Kazuhiro Nakagawa (Double; Bullet Train Explosion). Production is again handled by South Korean company WOWPOINT, which produced The Grey.

Key art from the Parasyte 2014 anime adaptation by Madhouse, featuring Ryoko Tamiya (far left) among the franchise's main cast
Image courtesy of Madhouse / Parasyte (2014 anime)

What Singapore Fans Can Expect

Parasyte: The Grey landed on Netflix in April 2024 and shot up the platform’s global charts within days, becoming one of the most-watched Korean series of that year. For Singapore fans who tore through it in a weekend, TAMIYA follows a completely different character thread — but keeps the same production company, the same creative architect, and the same willingness to use the franchise’s body-horror premise to ask genuinely uncomfortable questions about identity and survival.

Unlike The Grey, which required no prior knowledge of the source material, TAMIYA goes deeper into the manga’s lore — particularly Tamiya’s arc involving pregnancy and motherhood, which is one of the manga’s most quietly devastating subplots. Readers of Iwaaki’s original work will have plenty of context; newcomers will still be able to follow Kutsuna’s performance as the entry point.

No episode count or exact premiere date has been announced. The series is currently in post-production, and Netflix has confirmed a 2027 global release window — meaning Singapore subscribers will get it simultaneously with the rest of the world. Find out more at the official Netflix announcement (Japanese) and follow our Manga Anime coverage for updates as the release approaches.

Manga Anime

Fairy Tail Re:Fantasia Manga Launches 29 July — Natsu and Guild Return After 9 Years

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Nine years is a long time to wait for your favourite guild to come back — and for Singapore’s Fairy Tail fans, that wait is almost over. Fairy Tail Re:Fantasia, a brand-new manga miniseries written and drawn by original creator Hiro Mashima, launches on 29 July 2026 in Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine (Issue #35). It’s the first new Fairy Tail story from Mashima himself since the original series concluded in 2017, and it arrives as the franchise celebrates its 20th anniversary.

What Is Fairy Tail Re:Fantasia?

Re:Fantasia is described by Kodansha as a “short-term intensive serialisation” — a tightly paced miniseries rather than an open-ended ongoing run. The series will feature the core Fairy Tail cast, including Natsu, Lucy, Erza, Gray, Wendy, and Happy. Full story details are being held back until Chapter 1 drops on 29 July, so what exactly “Re:Fantasia” means for the timeline and continuity will become clear when the first pages hit newsstands in Japan and digital platforms simultaneously.

What we do know: Mashima announced a launch date move, pulling the debut forward by one week from the originally planned 5 August date, after completing the manuscript faster than editors anticipated. That’s Mashima at his most fired-up.

Natsu Dragneel with the main Fairy Tail cast sketches in the background
Image courtesy of Kodansha / Hiro Mashima

Hiro Mashima Is Writing and Drawing Every Page

This is the creative team — not a spinoff handled by an assistant or a licenced tie-in. Mashima himself is both writing and illustrating Re:Fantasia, just as he did all 545 chapters of the original run and the ongoing sequel Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest (handled with co-artist Atsuo Ueda). The 20th anniversary miniseries is his own personal celebration, and he made that clear when the milestone was announced earlier this year.

“Even though the manga ended quite some time ago, the fact that we can still celebrate it like this is entirely thanks to the unwavering support of all the readers. From this year into next year, we’re preparing lots of new goods and events, so please look forward to them. Let’s celebrate the 20th anniversary together! I’m fired up!”

— Hiro Mashima, via Anime Corner

FAIRY TAIL 20th Anniversary -Special PV- — via マガジンチャンネル on YouTube

Where Singapore Fans Can Read Fairy Tail Re:Fantasia

Fairy Tail manga cover featuring the full ensemble cast by Hiro Mashima
Image courtesy of Kodansha / Hiro Mashima

Singapore readers have a few options to follow Re:Fantasia from day one:

  • Crunchyroll Manga — Crunchyroll’s manga service, which launched support for Singapore in June 2026, carries Kodansha titles and is likely to carry Re:Fantasia simultaneously with Japan. Check the Crunchyroll app to confirm availability on launch day.
  • K Manga — Kodansha’s own manga app supports English-language access to Weekly Shōnen Magazine titles for readers in select regions; check regional availability in-app.
  • Magazine Pocket (digital) — Kodansha’s Japanese-market digital service for subscribers in Japan.

If you’re a physical volume collector, an English-language collected edition will almost certainly follow, though no release date has been announced yet. Keep an eye on our manga and anime coverage for updates.

Twenty Years of Fairy Tail

The original Fairy Tail manga ran in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from August 2006 to July 2017, spanning 63 volumes and 545 chapters. The anime adaptation — produced by A-1 Pictures and later Satelight/CloverWorks — aired from 2009 to 2019 and is still widely streamed today. The sequel series Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest has been running since 2018 and recently received its own anime adaptation, keeping the guild’s adventures alive.

Re:Fantasia represents something different: a tightly focused 20th-anniversary project where Mashima steps back in to close the loop personally. Whether it’s a reimagining of the guild’s origins, a new adventure set after the main series, or something else entirely will be clear in less than a week. For now, mark 29 July on your calendar and dust off your guild card.

Game News

Final Fantasy X|X-2 HD Remaster Is on Switch 2 Tomorrow — What SG Fans Need to Know

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Final Fantasy X turns 25 this month, and Square Enix is marking the occasion with a Switch 2 debut that finally delivers features long-time fans have been requesting for years — and does it as a Switch 2-exclusive package landing on the Nintendo eShop tomorrow, 23 July.

Tidus overlooking the ruins of Zanarkand at sunset in Final Fantasy X HD Remaster
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Two Classics, One Switch 2 Package

The collection bundles Final Fantasy X HD Remaster and Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster in a single purchase — both based on the International versions, which means every piece of bonus content that never made it to the original Western PS2 releases is here: Dark Aeons, Penance, Last Mission, and the full Creature Creator system. Between the two games you are looking at well north of 100 hours if you chase the platinum-equivalent completion.

Blitzball arena interior in Final Fantasy X HD Remaster
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The music is the fully remastered orchestral score — not the original MIDI tracks — and the character, monster, and background visuals have all been rebuilt in full HD. For anyone who remembers squinting at blurry PS2 textures on a modern TV, the difference is striking.

FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster | Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date Announcement Trailer — via FINAL FANTASY on YouTube

What Is Actually New on Switch 2

This is the headline for anyone who played the original Switch release from 2019: the Switch 2 version adds high-speed mode and a no random encounters toggle — two quality-of-life features that have been part of the PC (Steam) version for years but were absent from the original Switch and console releases. High-speed mode accelerates battles and movement so grinding the Sphere Grid or farming AP does not become a full-time job; the encounter toggle lets you explore at your own pace without interruption.

Tidus, Auron and the party in the ruins of Zanarkand in Final Fantasy X HD Remaster
Image courtesy of Square Enix

If you are coming to FFX for the first time, these additions meaningfully reduce the friction that put off a lot of players on earlier console versions. If you are a veteran revisiting Spira after years away, toggling encounters off while you revisit Besaid Island or Mi’ihen Highroad is a small luxury that makes a big difference.

The Fine Print Before You Buy

A few things worth knowing before you head to the Nintendo eShop tomorrow:

  • Switch 2 exclusive. This version is not compatible with the original Nintendo Switch. It is a separate product, not a free upgrade. If you own the Switch 1 version, you will need to purchase this separately.
  • Save data does not carry over. Progress from your Switch 1 save cannot be imported into the Switch 2 version.
  • Digital launch: USD $49.99. The Singapore eShop listing is expected live from 23 July — check the SG Nintendo eShop for local SGD pricing.
  • Asia physical Game-Key Card also out 23 July. A physical Game-Key Card edition for Asia launches on the same day digitally — useful if you prefer a box on the shelf, though note it functions as a download code rather than a game cartridge.
  • File size: 27.8 GB. Clear some space on your Switch 2 before download.

FFX remains one of the most beloved JRPGs in Singapore — a game many local players first encountered on PS2 around 2001–2002 — and 25 years on it still holds up as both a mechanically satisfying and emotionally resonant ride. Whether you are picking it up for the first time or returning for a nostalgia run, the Switch 2 version is the best console version yet. Check out our other game news for more Switch 2 coverage.

Manga Anime

Summer Time Rendering Is Getting a Live-Action Film in 2027

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The official X account for Yasuki Tanaka’s Summer Time Rendering dropped one of the more elegantly timed announcements in recent anime history: on 22 July 2026 — the exact in-universe date on which the story’s events begin — the production confirmed that a live-action film is coming to Japanese theatres in 2027, with Ken Ninomiya directing.

Summer Time Rendering second key visual featuring Shinpei, Ushio and Haine
Image courtesy of Summer Time Rendering Production Committee

The July 22 Announcement — A Date Fans Will Recognise

The announcement came via @summertime_PR on X, which noted: “We were finally able to announce this on 22 July, the day the story begins.” For anyone who watched the anime or read the manga, that detail lands differently — the story opens with protagonist Shinpei Ajiro returning to Hitogashima island on exactly this date, and the entire time-loop narrative spirals outward from that single afternoon. Announcing a live-action adaptation on the in-universe opening day is exactly the kind of move that only works if a franchise is beloved enough for fans to feel it immediately.

No cast has been confirmed yet. No studio or distributor announced beyond the director’s name and the 2027 Japan theatrical target. But for a series that flew under the radar at launch and quietly became one of the most talked-about anime of 2022, this is already a significant moment.

Summer Time Rendering anime promotional poster
Image courtesy of Summer Time Rendering Production Committee

Who Is Ken Ninomiya?

Ken Ninomiya (二宮健) is a Japanese director born in 1991 who has built a reputation for sharp, stylised live-action films aimed at younger adult audiences. His international breakout, The Limit of Sleeping Beauty, screened at festivals across Asia and Europe. He followed that with Chiwawa (2019), adapted from a manga by Kyoko Okazaki, which won Best Japanese Film of 2019. His most recent credit is Six Survivors.

His track record with manga adaptations and genre material involving young casts makes him a credible fit for Summer Time Rendering, which blends supernatural horror, mystery, and emotional drama on a claustrophobic island setting. Live-action adaptations of this kind of material can go very wrong, but Ninomiya’s body of work suggests he understands tone.

Summer Time Rendering anime key art with main cast
Image courtesy of Summer Time Rendering Production Committee

The Anime Singapore Watched on Disney+

Singapore was among the first markets outside Japan to get Summer Time Rendering when Disney+ added the anime in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore in June 2022. The 25-episode series — animated by OLM, directed by Ayumu Watanabe, and scored by MONACA — follows Shinpei as he discovers that shadow-doubles of islanders are replacing and killing people, while he himself is trapped in a time loop that resets on his death.

The anime earned an 8.2 on IMDb and built a dedicated following that tends to be vocal about how well the adaptation handled Tanaka’s pre-planned narrative. The manga ran in Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ from October 2017 to February 2021, and the tight, closed story structure meant the anime adaptation felt complete rather than cut short — which is part of why it has stayed in conversation long after the final episode aired.

What to Expect From the Film

Almost nothing concrete is confirmed beyond director and year: no distributor for Singapore or Southeast Asia, no casting, no production house. It is worth noting that a live-action project was mentioned alongside the original anime announcement in October 2021, suggesting this film has been in development for several years and has now finally found its shape.

Whether the film reaches Singapore cinemas will depend on international distribution arrangements that haven’t been announced. Given that Disney+ held the streaming rights for the anime in this region, it would not be surprising to see them involved — but that is speculation for now. We will update this as production news comes in.

For a story whose entire architecture hinges on a single date repeating differently every time, starting the live-action chapter on 22 July feels like exactly the right opening move. Keep an eye on more anime news on GameTrader.SG as the cast and production details roll in.

Game Review

Super Robot Wars 35th Anniversary Livestream: Tune In 1 August at 7pm SGT

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Super Robot Wars turns 35 this year, and Bandai Namco is marking the milestone with a dedicated anniversary livestream on 1 August 2026 at 20:00 JST — that’s 19:00 SGT. The stream will air on the official Bandai Namco Entertainment YouTube channel, and it’s free to watch.

What’s in the Programme

The broadcast is split into two parts. Part 1 features game updates: series producer Kota Toma will present news on Super Robot Wars Y alongside series producer Matsumoto-P, who covers Super Robot Wars DD. A live JAM Project concert — the band has performed opening themes for the franchise for decades — closes out Part 1. Part 2 shifts to merchandise announcements and collectibles. Hosting duties go to series presenter Hisanori Yoshida and comedy duo Gattsuki Taika.

Combattler V launches its Lancer Cutter attack in Super Robot Wars Y
Combattler V in action — one of dozens of classic series in SRW Y. Image courtesy of Bandai Namco.

35 Years of Giant Robots

The first Super Robot Wars launched on Game Boy on 28 April 1991, letting players combine mecha from multiple anime series in a single strategy game. The franchise has since spanned consoles, handhelds, and mobile, becoming the de-facto crossover celebration of the super-robot genre.

The most recent mainline entry, Super Robot Wars Y, is available in English on PlayStation (Singapore PS Store) and Nintendo Switch. Its latest expansion, Infinite Darkness (released 22 April 2026), added six new series to the roster: Space Runaway Ideon, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack, THE iDOLM@STER Xenoglossia, Star Driver the Movie, Cross Ange: Rondo of Angels and Dragons, and Eureka Seven: Hi-Evolution.

Gundam Wing Zero in a space battle in Super Robot Wars Y
Gundam Wing Zero takes to space in SRW Y. Image courtesy of Bandai Namco.

Launch Trailer

SUPER ROBOT WARS Y — Launch Trailer (Bandai Namco Entertainment America)
Jet Jaguar faces a city threat in Super Robot Wars Y
Jet Jaguar, Toho’s cult kaiju hero, joins the crossover in SRW Y. Image courtesy of Bandai Namco.

How to Watch

The stream goes live on 1 August 2026 at 19:00 SGT (20:00 JST) on the Bandai Namco Entertainment YouTube channel. No sign-up is required — just set a reminder and tune in.

Manga Anime

Kagurabachi Is Back 27 July — Chapter 126 in Weekly Shonen Jump

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Kagurabachi is coming back sooner than expected — Shueisha has confirmed that Chapter 126 will run in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 35 on 27 July 2026, wrapping up Takeru Hokazono’s rest break roughly a week ahead of the August window fans had been told to anticipate.

Kagurabachi Chapter 126 Drops 27 July — Day-One Simulpub Confirmed

Kagurabachi protagonist Chihiro Rokuhira in a colored manga panel
Image courtesy of Shueisha / Kagurabachi

Chapter 126 lands in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 35 on 27 July 2026, confirmed via Siliconera and Viz Media’s updated simulpub schedule. When creator Takeru Hokazono announced the break in late June following Chapter 125, the original messaging pointed to a return sometime in August without giving a specific date. The Issue 35 confirmation moves that forward by a week or more.

Hokazono explained the break simply, as reported by ComicBook: “I’ll be taking a small break. Please wait patiently while I work on making Kagurabachi even better!”

Singapore readers can read Chapter 126 free on Manga Plus (manga.plus) the same day as the Japanese release — no regional delay. Paid subscribers on the Viz Media Weekly Shonen Jump platform get access on the same schedule.

Where the Story Left Off Before the Hiatus

Kagurabachi Volume 9 manga cover art showing Chihiro in an intense battle close-up
Image courtesy of Shueisha / Kagurabachi

Chapter 125 left the story mid-tension, with Chihiro Rokuhira and Subaru Urita working through the mounting pressure of the Datenseki arc. The series has been drilling into the origins of the Seitei War and the history of Enchanted Blades — lore-heavy territory that has kept the stakes feeling substantial even as the action ramps up.

Physical edition readers have two release windows to note. Volume 12 of the Japanese edition arrives on 4 September 2026. For English readers, Viz Media’s Volume 8 (chapters 66–74) is due on 4 August 2026 — look for it at Singapore bookshops carrying the Viz Manga range.

The April 2027 Anime Keeps Rolling While the Manga Rests

Kagurabachi anime official teaser still from Crunchyroll
Image courtesy of Shueisha / Project Kagurabachi
Kagurabachi | Official Teaser | Crunchyroll — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

The anime side of Kagurabachi has been moving along while the manga took its break. Produced by studio Cypic (also behind Umamusume: Cinderella Gray and The Summer Hikaru Died), the adaptation is locked for an April 2027 debut on Crunchyroll with worldwide simulcast confirmed, Singapore included.

The cast announced so far: Taihi Kimura as Chihiro Rokuhira, Tomokazu Seki as Kunishige Rokuhira, and Katsuyuki Konishi as Togo Shiba. A global World Tour of early episode screenings kicked off at Anime Expo in July 2026 and continues at Japan Expo, AnimagiC, Otakon, and Anime NYC. No Singapore or SEA screening has been announced yet — we’ll update as dates emerge closer to the Spring 2027 premiere.

For more on what’s new in manga and anime, check our latest coverage while you count down to 27 July.

Game News

Persona 4 Revival: Chie’s Trailer Is Live — New VA, Same Iconic Kick

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Atlus has released the Persona 4 Revival Chie Satonaka character trailer, putting the Investigation Team’s resident martial arts enthusiast in the spotlight ahead of the remake’s February 2027 launch. Singapore JRPG fans, the karate-green tracksuit is officially confirmed for the new era.

Chie Satonaka in Persona 4 Revival: Tomoe, Galactic Punts and a New Look

Chie Satonaka executing a flying kick with her Persona Tomoe in Persona 4 Revival
Image courtesy of Atlus

According to the official Persona 4 Revival Asia character page, Chie is described as “an energetic and sociable girl who sits next to the protagonist in class” with “a strong sense of justice” and a double passion for kung fu films and, naturally, meat. Her Persona is Tomoe — drawn from legendary female warrior Tomoe Gozen — and she fights up close, knocking enemies across the screen with physical skill-heavy combos.

Her iconic Galactic Punt is back and enhanced for the remake. Atlus has also introduced Series Finale attacks, high-damage super moves that function similarly to Persona 5 Royal’s Showtime sequences. In Chie’s case, her Prime Time Finish sends her and Tomoe diving in together for a devastating flying kick, exactly the kind of moment P-Studio knows fans wanted to see in full modern fidelity.

Persona 4 Revival – Official Characters Overview — via IGN on YouTube

A New English Voice for a Beloved Fighter

Chie Satonaka character art portrait from Persona 4 Revival
Image courtesy of Atlus

Anne Yatco takes over as Chie’s English voice actress, replacing Erin Fitzgerald, who had voiced the character in Persona 4 Golden and through years of spin-offs and appearances. Atlus has recasted the entire English cast for Persona 4 Revival — the same total-recast approach the studio used for Persona 3 Reload — with Japanese voice actors reprising their original roles. Yui Horie, who has played Chie since the original 2008 Persona 4, returns in Japanese.

Fitzgerald addressed the change on Bluesky with a statement that resonated widely in the fan community, as reported by GamesRadar: “Everything in life is transient. I celebrate that the experience happened. I am grateful that I lived it FULLY. Thank you for sharing the journey with me.” She added a brief personal note to the characters she voiced alongside — Yukiko and Yosuke.

It is worth saying plainly: recasting a beloved English cast is always divisive, and Persona 4 Golden’s voice work is genuinely iconic for a generation of JRPG players. That said, Atlus’s handling of Persona 3 Reload’s new cast ultimately won most fans over once the game was in hand. The proof for Revival will be in the playthrough.

Chie Satonaka Social Link scene at a restaurant in Persona 4 Revival
Image courtesy of Atlus

What Singapore Fans Need to Know Before February 2027

Atlus has been releasing individual character trailers at a steady pace: the protagonist Yu Narukami led the way, then Rise Kujikawa debuted at Anime Expo, then came Yosuke Hanamura, and now Chie. Still waiting in the wings: Yukiko Amagi, Kanji Tatsumi, Naoto Shirogane, and Teddie. Expect the trailer cadence to run through the rest of 2026.

Persona 4 Revival launches on 18 February 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam and Microsoft Store). It hits Xbox Game Pass on Day One. Singapore fans can pre-order digitally now; local SGD pricing has not been confirmed yet. MAPPA is animating every cutscene, which sets a high bar for a Persona title visually. For P4 veterans on PS Vita and PS4, this is shaping up to be the definitive version of a game that has never been anything less than special.

Follow GameTrader’s game news coverage for every update on Persona 4 Revival as launch gets closer.