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Xian Skyrider

Game News

HoYoverse Confirms ZZZ × Honkai: Star Rail Crossover — Pom-Pom Is Already in New Eridu

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If you’ve been exploring New Eridu lately and spotted a familiar orange Bangboo lurking near the video store — no, you’re not hallucinating. Pom-Pom, the beloved Astral Express conductor from Honkai: Star Rail, is already in Zenless Zone Zero, and HoYoverse has officially confirmed what this means: a full ZZZ × Honkai: Star Rail crossover is coming in Winter 2026.

Zenless Zone Zero Version 3.1 “The Long Goodbye” Special Program — via Zenless Zone Zero on YouTube. The crossover announcement was made during this broadcast.

ZZZ × Honkai Star Rail Crossover Confirmed

During the Zenless Zone Zero Version 3.1 “The Long Goodbye” Special Program on 17 July 2026, HoYoverse officially announced that a crossover between ZZZ and Honkai: Star Rail is in the works. The reveal was framed with typical HoYo humour: the official ZZZ X account posted that, after a “technical evaluation,” developers were “temporarily unable to fix the bug where Pom-Pomboo suddenly appeared on Sixth Street” — and so, to celebrate the little visitor, the collaboration was confirmed instead.

Pom-Pomboo, the mysterious Bangboo that is actually Pom-Pom from Honkai: Star Rail, spotted in Zenless Zone Zero
Image courtesy of HoYoverse

The crossover is officially scheduled for Winter 2026, which most fans expect to fall somewhere between December 2026 and early 2027. No specific in-game patch date has been announced yet. Detailed content reveals will come through official HoYoverse channels as the collaboration draws closer.

Where to Find Pom-Pomboo in New Eridu Right Now

Sixth Street in New Eridu, Zenless Zone Zero
Image courtesy of HoYoverse

The in-game teaser is already live. If you log into ZZZ now, you can track down Pom-Pom — disguised as a mysterious Bangboo called “Pom-Pomboo” — at three locations on Sixth Street in New Eridu:

  • Random Play Video Store — near the videotape display, browsing for a book titled Pom-Pom’s Bizarre Adventure
  • Club 404
  • Gadget Store

The character has unique voicelines at each spot — well worth checking out if you’re an HSR fan who’s made the leap to ZZZ (or vice versa).

Which Characters Might Cross Over? (Leaks — Not Confirmed)

Zenless Zone Zero characters in action
Image courtesy of HoYoverse

HoYoverse has not officially revealed which characters will appear in the crossover. Leaks circulating in the community suggest the following, though none of this is confirmed — treat it as speculation until HoYoverse says otherwise:

  • Robin (HSR) may join ZZZ’s Agent roster
  • Astra Yao and Ellen Jo (from ZZZ) may become playable in Honkai: Star Rail, reportedly tied to HSR patch 4.7

Whether the cross-over characters will be fully playable Agents/characters or limited cameos also hasn’t been confirmed. Full details to be confirmed by HoYoverse ahead of the Winter window.

What This Means for Singapore’s HoYo Community

Zenless Zone Zero Sixth Street environment
Image courtesy of HoYoverse

Both Zenless Zone Zero and Honkai: Star Rail have enormous player bases in Singapore, and a crossover between the two is likely to be the kind of event that brings lapsed players back to both games simultaneously. ZZZ itself only launched on Steam in June with Version 3.0, so there’s a whole new PC audience ready for its first major HoYo cross-game event.

Timing-wise, if the Winter 2026 window lines up with the holiday season, it could overlap nicely with the end-of-year school break — a peak gaming period for Singapore players. Local fans heading to HoYo FEST 2026 at Suntec (31 July – 2 August) might even get a first look at crossover merchandise or teaser artwork at the booth.

In the meantime, ZZZ Version 3.1 “The Long Goodbye” itself launches on 29 July 2026, bringing new S-Rank Agents Remielle Dan and Sigrid de L’Azur alongside second-anniversary rewards. Plenty to do while waiting for Winter.

News

Pokémon × UNIQLO UT Wave 2 Drops 24 July — Pixel Art Tees Confirmed for Singapore

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UNIQLO’s Pokémon 30th-anniversary UT collaboration is back for a second wave — and this drop fully commits to retro. Eight graphic tees built from the original Game Boy’s monochrome pixel art hit stores on 24 July, with the collection already confirmed for Singapore through the UNIQLO Singapore UT page, listed there as “Launching Late July.”

From Watercolour to Game Boy Grey

Pokémon 30th Anniversary Red Version promotional artwork with Trainer Red, Charmander, and the 30th anniversary logo
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / UNIQLO

The first wave of UNIQLO’s Pokémon anniversary UT (March 2026) celebrated the franchise through Ken Sugimori’s original watercolour illustration style. Wave 2 takes the opposite approach, dialling back to Pokémon Red and Green’s 160×144 Game Boy display. Every adult design in this collection uses the same dot-matrix sprites that appeared on screen back in 1996 — black and white, no gradients, pure nostalgia.

The Men’s Line: Four Kanto Designs

UNIQLO Pokémon 30th anniversary UT men's collection: four designs including Mewtwo, Red Version, Pikachu pocket tee, and Kanto Gym Pokémon
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / UNIQLO

Four adult graphic tees make up the collection, priced at ¥1,990 each in Japan (sizes XS to 4XL):

  • Pokémon UT Red Version — The opening-screen pixel art (Trainer Red and Charmander mid-battle) printed on a white tee, exactly as it appeared in the game.
  • Pokémon UT Kanto Gym — A light grey tee with the eight Gym Leaders’ partner Pokémon marching across the chest (Onix, Starmie, Raichu, Vileplume, Weezing, Alakazam, Arcanine, Rhydon), plus the eight Gym Badges embroidered on the left sleeve as a discrete detail.
  • Pokémon UT Mewtwo and Mew — White shirt with Mewtwo rendered as No. 150 on the front in the original Japanese Pokédex label style; flip the shirt and Mew appears as a hidden print on the back hem.
  • Pokémon UT Pikachu Evolution — A black pocket tee with original-sprite Pikachu on the chest pocket, with Raichu hidden inside the pocket lining — the evolution reveal you have to earn by actually opening the pocket.

Kids’ Line: Same Pixel DNA, With Colour

UNIQLO Pokémon 30th anniversary UT kids' collection featuring Gengar, Pikachu, and Red Version designs
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / UNIQLO

The kids’ range (¥990, sizes 100–160 cm) pulls the same retro sprites but adds colour, landing on a different wavelength from the adult monochrome line. The four children’s designs include a light blue Red Version screen tee, a Pikachu multi-expression tee, a white tee with a pixel lineup of fan favourites (Charizard, Caterpie, Jigglypuff, Eevee, Dragonite), and — the standout of the kids’ set — a black Gengar tee, No. 094 rendered in purple pixel art.

The Gengar shirt is the only piece across both adult and kids’ lines to spotlight a Pokémon outside of the Kanto trio and Pikachu/Mewtwo. On a black base with purple pixel sprite, it reads like a proper Halloween piece and will likely sell fast.

Getting It in Singapore

The UNIQLO Singapore website already has the Pokémon 30th Anniversary section active with a “Launching Late July” label, placing the local on-sale date in line with Japan’s 24 July launch. The collection should be available both in-store at UNIQLO outlets across Singapore and through the UNIQLO Singapore online store — SGD pricing has not been confirmed, but the Japan price of ¥1,990 per adult tee is roughly SGD $18–20 at current rates.

If the first-wave sell-through is anything to go by, the Gengar and Kanto Gym tees will be the first to go in the more popular sizes. UNIQLO’s larger stores (ION Orchard, Jewel Changi Airport, VivoCity) tend to carry the fuller UT size range, so those are worth heading to early if you need XS or XL options.

Game News, Guides

Mega Raichu X and Y Hit Pokémon GO Today — Full Raichu Raid Day Guide

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Pokémon GO trainers, the moment is here — Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y are making their world debut in Super Mega Raids today, 18 July 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (local time). Both forms are brand new to Pokémon GO, originating from Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A, and you have exactly three hours to add them to your Pokédex. Here’s everything you need to know before you head out.

Two New Mega Forms — and One Is Already the Best Electric Attacker in the Game

Mega Raichu X — official Pokémon GO model
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Niantic

As confirmed on the official Pokémon GO site, both Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y appear exclusively in Super Mega Raids during today’s event window. Both are Electric-type bosses, and both share the same weakness: Ground-type moves. Bring your best Groudon, Garchomp, Rhyperior, or Excadrill and you’ll be well covered.

On the competitive side, Mega Raichu Y launches with an ATK stat of 339, instantly making it the strongest Electric-type attacker in Pokémon GO — a significant meta shake-up for raid teams. Whether you’re farming Gyarados or Water-type raid bosses, Mega Raichu Y is going straight into the Electric attacker slot.

Any Raichu you catch from a Super Mega Raid today will have Mega Level 1 already unlocked, saving you a chunk of Mega Energy on the first evolve. Shiny Raichu also has a boosted encounter rate from these raids — fingers crossed for that golden spark.

We covered the initial announcement back in June — check that post for the original reveal context. Everything below is the confirmed event-day detail.

All the Free Bonuses — Stack Them

Mega Raichu Y — official Pokémon GO model
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Niantic

Even without spending anything, today comes stacked with free perks:

  • Up to 6 free Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs (versus the usual one per day)
  • Remote Raid Pass limit raised to 20 — this window opened yesterday at 5:00 PM PDT and closes tonight at 8:00 PM PDT (roughly 11:00 AM SGT on Sunday 19 July), so remote raiding with your group is very much on the table
  • Timed Research: complete the event tasks to earn a Premium Battle Pass and an encounter with Steelix
  • Boosted Shiny Raichu encounter chance from Super Mega Raids

Spin Gyms early and hold the passes — you want all six available the moment the clock hits 2:00 PM.

Is the Paid Ticket Worth It?

The Raichu Super Mega Raid Day Ultra Ticket Box is available at US$4.99 (or equivalent in your region — check the in-game shop for your local pricing tier). Ticket holders get:

  • 14 total Raid Passes from Gym spins during the event (8 extra on top of the free 6)
  • Increased Rare Candy XL drop rate from Raid Battles
  • +5,000 XP per Super Mega Raid win
  • +5,000 Stardust per Super Mega Raid win
  • A bonus Premium Battle Pass included in the bundle

If you plan to raid eight or more times and want to fast-track Mega Raichu Y’s energy for future use, the Stardust and XL Candy bonuses make this reasonable value. Casual players who just want one clean encounter of each form should be fine on the six free passes.

Head to your nearest Gym before 2:00 PM, stock up on Potions and Revives, and coordinate with your local raid group — Super Mega Raids typically need a solid group to clear comfortably. Browse our Pokémon GO guides for more battle tips, and happy raiding, Singapore!

Game News, Shop and Merchandise

Dragon Quest Capserium: Slimes Pop Up Inside Terrarium Gachapon This Week

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If you have ever wanted a Dragon Quest monster encounter to live permanently on your desk, Bandai just made it happen. The Capserium Dragon Quest (カプセリウム ドラゴンクエスト), a new entry in Bandai’s Premium Gashapon line produced under licence from Square Enix, has begun rolling out at capsule vending machines across Japan this week — and the concept is quietly brilliant: the capsule itself becomes the terrarium.

Dragon Quest Capserium Slime variant terrarium gachapon, green lid, three blue Slimes on a grassy hill
Image courtesy of Bandai / Square Enix

A Monster Has Appeared — Right on Your Desk

Bandai’s Capserium series transforms a standard gashapon sphere into a sealed, globe-shaped display case. There is no assembly required beyond dropping the diorama pieces inside the transparent shell; the lid screws on and the whole thing sits on any flat surface as a self-contained miniature scene.

The Dragon Quest version leans hard into the series’ iconic battle-encounter moment. Each capsule recreates that familiar message window as a physical placard at the base of the diorama — the same black text box that has been stopping adventurers in their tracks since 1986. Part of Dragon Quest’s ongoing 40th anniversary celebrations, the range celebrates forty years of Slimes, Metal Slimes, and everything in between.

Update from the DRAGON QUEST Team — via DRAGON QUEST on YouTube

Three Monsters, Three Battle Scenes

The launch set has three variants, each pairing a monster with a matching field environment lifted straight from the games:

  • Slime (green lid): Three cheerful blue Slimes cluster on a grassy highland, a miniature pine tree standing watch in the background. Message window: “スライムが あらわれた！” (A Slime appeared!)
  • Hagure Metal (black lid): The notoriously elusive Metal Slime — high EXP, famously prone to running — stands on a cracked stone floor surrounded by crumbling columns and ancient rock formations, a ruins encounter brought to life. Message window: “はぐれメタルが あらわれた！” (A Metal Slime appeared!)
  • Slime Tsumuri (blue lid): The shell-wearing Slime Tsumuri emerges on a sandy beach scene with palm trees swaying overhead — arguably the most summer-ready desk ornament in the lineup.
Dragon Quest Capserium Hagure Metal (Metal Slime) variant terrarium gachapon, black lid, silver Metal Slime on a ruins diorama
Image courtesy of Bandai / Square Enix
Dragon Quest Capserium Slime Tsumuri variant terrarium gachapon, blue lid, beach scene with palm trees
Image courtesy of Bandai / Square Enix

All three are priced at 600 yen each (tax included) at gachapon vending machines. The product is rated ages 15 and up due to small components. These are not blind-box products in the traditional sense — while you are still pulling from a machine at random, there are only three designs, so collectors who know which variant they want can keep going until they land it.

Dragon Quest fans in Singapore will recognise this is part of a broader wave of 40th anniversary merchandise and experiences in Japan this year, including the recently opened Dragon Quest the DIVE VR experience in Tokyo. Browse other gaming merch and collectible news on GameTrader.

How Singapore Fans Can Import Them

Capserium Dragon Quest is a Japan-only gashapon release and will not appear at local game retailers or electronics chains. That said, it is available not just through physical vending machines but also via Japanese online retailers including Amazon Japan, Rakuten, DMM.com and Yahoo Shopping Japan — all of which support forwarding and proxy shopping services.

The 600 yen base price works out to roughly S$5–6 per capsule before shipping. Factor in international freight and proxy service fees and each terrarium will likely land closer to S$15–25 all-in, depending on how many you order and how you consolidate the shipment. Ordering three at once to complete the set in one shipment is almost always the most cost-effective approach.

If Dragon Quest Slime merchandise history is any guide, the Hagure Metal variant will be the first to sell out — rare-monster items consistently move fastest. If that is the one you want, do not sleep on it.

Event

AFA Singapore 2026 Returns to Suntec: Save the Date — November 27–29

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AFA Singapore 2026 is confirmed: Anime Festival Asia returns to Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre from 27 to 29 November 2026. This year carries extra weight — AFASG26 falls in the year Singapore and Japan mark 60 years of diplomatic relations, and organisers SOZO Pte Ltd have already framed the event around that milestone, promising three nights of Japanese anisong concerts, an expanded Creator’s Hub, and the full AFA lineup that fans have come to expect every November.

AFA Singapore 2026 — Dates, Venue, and Getting There

AFA Singapore 2026 event poster with confirmed November 27-29 dates
Image courtesy of Anime Festival Asia

Mark your calendar: Friday 27 November through Sunday 29 November 2026, 10am–9pm daily, at Suntec Singapore, 1 Raffles Boulevard. The nearest MRT stations are Esplanade (CC3) and Promenade (CC4/DT15). Suntec’s sprawling convention halls have hosted every Singapore AFA in recent memory and remain one of the few venues in the city with the floor space to accommodate a multi-hall anime expo at this scale.

Ticketing is not yet open, and the artist lineup has not been announced. The official page at animefestival.asia/afasg26 is currently in exhibitor-recruitment mode. Based on the cadence of previous years, ticket tiers and the concert lineup tend to land around 8–10 weeks before the event — so expect first announcements from late September 2026. We will have coverage here the moment they drop.

What AFA Singapore Looks Like Inside

Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2026 banner
Image courtesy of Anime Festival Asia

The confirmed programming segments for AFASG26:

  • Exhibition Hall — publisher and IP booths, exclusive merchandise, and interactive brand experiences
  • Creator’s Hub — artist alley with original and fan-inspired goods from Singapore-based and visiting creators
  • Cosplay Hub — cosplay showcases and the Cosplay Singles Competition
  • AFA Next Stage — the main entertainment stage hosting live acts, voice actor panels, and community events
  • Three nights of anisong concerts — Japanese artists performing live on consecutive evenings (lineup TBA)
  • Anime Showcases — back-to-back screenings and previews of upcoming and current titles
  • Food Street — on-site dining

The 60th Anniversary Angle

Sixty years of Singapore-Japan diplomatic ties is not a small milestone. Since 1966, that relationship has shaped everything from how Singapore’s tech sector was built to how Japanese pop culture — manga, anime, games, music — has been woven into daily life here for generations. AFA is, in many ways, a direct product of that cultural exchange. Running it in the anniversary year raises the stakes: expect higher-profile talent, milestone-themed collaborations, and programming that acknowledges just how deeply these two countries have influenced each other’s entertainment industries.

AFA Singapore 2025 Official Anime Trailer — via AFA – Anime Festival Asia on YouTube (a 2026-specific trailer has not yet been released)

Save the Date Now

No tickets on sale yet — but if you are planning to come in from Malaysia, Indonesia, or further afield, or intend to queue for specific limited merch, blocking out the last weekend of November now is worth doing. Accommodation around Suntec books up for major conventions faster than most first-timers expect.

AFA has been running since 2008 and is the longest-running anime convention in Southeast Asia. AFASG26 is shaping up to be one of its most milestone-laden editions. We will keep this page updated as ticket tiers, headliners, and the exhibitor list come in. More Singapore events coverage at GameTrader.SG →

Game News, News

FFXIV Mobile Shuts Down in September — Global Version Officially Cancelled

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If you have been holding out hope for a global launch of Final Fantasy XIV Mobile, today is not the news you wanted. Square Enix and Lightspeed Studios — Tencent’s game development arm — announced on 17 July 2026 that the China-exclusive mobile adaptation will end service on 30 September, and that the once-promised worldwide release has been cancelled entirely.

FINAL FANTASY XIV MOBILE | Global Official Reveal Trailer — via LightSpeed Studios on YouTube
Final Fantasy XIV Mobile in-game entertainment venue scene
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Mobile Eorzea Is Closing Its Doors

Final Fantasy XIV Mobile launched in mainland China in June 2025, developed by Lightspeed Studios under an official licence from Square Enix. The project was ambitious — a mobile adaptation of one of the most beloved MMORPGs ever made, with producer and director Naoki Yoshida personally involved in its introduction to players. It ran for just over thirteen months.

The shutdown announcement, posted in-game and signed by the FINAL FANTASY XIV MOBILE (Chinese Edition) Operations Team, cited “adjustments in business operations and changes in the market environment” as the reason Tencent and Square Enix mutually agreed to terminate their licensing agreement. The statement was frank about the disappointment this would cause beyond China’s borders as well: “To everyone who has been looking forward to the global version, we also offer our sincere apologies for being unable to meet your expectations.”

The Shutdown Timeline

Official FFXIV Mobile shutdown notice dated July 17 2026
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The winddown has already begun. Here is every date to know:

  • 18:00 (UTC+8), 17 July 2026 — In-game top-ups and new user registrations suspended. (This has already taken effect as of today.)
  • 11:00 (UTC+8), 30 September 2026 — Game servers shut down; the official website goes offline; players can no longer log in.
  • 11:00 (UTC+8), 15 October 2026 — Community forums and dedicated customer support close.

After the servers go dark, player account data and character information will be deleted in accordance with China’s Personal Information Protection Law. No compensation or refund scheme has been announced.

What Singapore Players Need to Know

Final Fantasy XIV Mobile gameplay screenshot: Warrior of Light riding a chocobo
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The China-only mobile release was always a closed door for Singapore players — you were never able to download it through official regional channels. The news that stings here is the global version. Square Enix had been hinting at an international launch, Lightspeed Studios had set up a dedicated global website with pre-registration pages, and the reveal trailer released through the official LightSpeed Studios channel framed the game for a worldwide audience. Many Singapore fans of the PC MMORPG signed up, watched the trailers, and waited.

That wait is now over. With the licensing agreement terminated, there is no partner to carry the project forward and no timeline to revive it. The main Final Fantasy XIV on PC — the Dawntrail-era live game, with the Evercold expansion confirmed for January 2027 — is completely unaffected and continues as normal. But the mobile dream is done.

It is worth remembering how much anticipation this project carried. FFXIV is not a small IP in Singapore; the game has a vocal, active local community, and a polished mobile port that retained the look and feel of Eorzea on the go was exactly the kind of project that could have pulled in a whole new generation of players. The studio had the backing of Tencent’s Lightspeed, one of the largest game developers in the world. And it still did not survive its first year in the market.

A Short but Earnest Run

Reading the official shutdown letter, there is a genuine warmth to it that is easy to miss beneath the corporate language. The operations team described the player community as having “truly brought Mobile Eorzea to life,” praised the veteran Warriors of Light who mentored newcomers through Eorzea’s complexity, and called those shared mornings and nights “a memory we will always treasure.” Whatever the commercial realities were, the people who worked on it clearly cared.

For Singapore players who had been watching from the sidelines, that sentiment lands differently. We never got to step into Mobile Eorzea, and now we never will. If you have been on the fence about the PC version of Final Fantasy XIV, the upcoming Evercold expansion in January 2027 is as good an entry point as any — the News section will keep you covered on all things FFXIV going forward.

Game News, Game Preview

Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters Arrives 28 August — World Youth Arc on PS5, Switch & PC

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Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters is arriving worldwide on 28 August 2026 — and if you grew up watching Tsubasa Ozora bend physics on a football pitch, Bandai Namco and developer Tamsoft’s sequel is shaping up as the biggest Captain Tsubasa game yet. The follow-up hits PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam, bringing the beloved World Youth arc to life with over 110 playable characters and some of the most over-the-top super moves we have seen in a sports title in years.

Japan national team in Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

Two Story Modes: Build Your Own Footballer or Play the Legend

Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters offers two distinct single-player campaigns. New Stars Mode is the bigger deal for newcomers — you create a fully customisable footballer and join Japan’s national youth squad, experiencing the World Youth arc alongside Tsubasa from the perspective of your own character. You build bonds with the established cast to unlock their signature moves, and your choices shape how the journey unfolds.

Legendary / Advanced Mode takes the canon further with original storylines not found in Yoichi Takahashi’s manga, developed under the creator’s personal supervision. Think of it as an official what-if expansion to the source material — Takahashi is directly involved, so the power fantasy stays true to how he writes his characters.

Two players contest a tackle in Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

Watch the Story Trailer

CAPTAIN TSUBASA 2: WORLD FIGHTERS – Story Trailer — via Bandai Namco Entertainment America on YouTube

22 National Teams — Including Asia

One of the best things about the World Youth arc for an Asian audience is that the stage is genuinely global. Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters ships with 22 national teams, and the roster is not just a European-heavy selection — Asian sides are represented, meaning Singapore fans who grew up cheering for different Asian squads in the original anime will find familiar strips on the pitch. Screenshots show Japan facing Saudi Arabia, among other matchups.

Japan vs Saudi Arabia in Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco
Asian team striker unleashing a super move in Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

Super Moves That Make Real Football Look Boring

This is not a FIFA-style simulation and it never pretended to be. Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters packs 150+ new super moves — volleys wrapped in lion spirits, hurricane shots, goalkeeper blocks that look like the final round of a fighting game. The new Chain System rewards sustained possession by ramping up your shot power and charge speed, making every well-built attack sequence feel increasingly dangerous. Goalkeeper duels now have their own tactical depth too: you wear down a keeper over the course of a match by testing their trajectory-reading and positioning, rather than simply hammering the shot button.

Character unleashing a lion-spirit super move in Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

Editions, Pricing and Where to Pre-Order

Three editions are available for pre-order now across all platforms:

  • Standard Edition — base game
  • Deluxe Edition — base game + season pass bonus + three DLC character packs
  • Ultimate Edition — everything in Deluxe plus the Ultimate Pack

The Steam base price is listed at USD 59.99 (approximately S$80+ at current rates). SGD pricing at local game retailers is to be confirmed closer to the 28 August launch. The game also carries 100+ music tracks composed by Tadayoshi Makino and a Collection Mode housing in-game movies, music and a character gallery for fans who want to spend hours with the lore outside of a match.

Pre-orders are live now on Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox, and Nintendo eShop. For more upcoming gaming releases, check our Game News section or browse the full Game Previews archive.

Game News

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Free Open Beta Starts 24 July — No PS Plus Needed

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Arc System Works and Marvel Games are handing Singapore players a free weekend pass to one of 2026’s most-anticipated fighting games. MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls launches its open beta on Thursday 24 July at 3:00 PM SGT, letting PS5 and PC players try the 4v4 tag-team brawler at no cost before its August 6 release — and you don’t need a PlayStation Plus subscription to get in.

No Sign-Up, No PS Plus — Just Download and Play

Getting into the beta couldn’t be simpler. No registration code, no waitlist, no PlayStation Plus membership required — just head to the PlayStation Store or Steam (and Epic Games Store), download the open beta client, and start playing from 24 July. All you need is an internet connection and a PlayStation Network account. Pre-downloads open two hours before the beta goes live, so queue it up on Wednesday evening and you’ll be ready the moment the gates open at 3 PM SGT.

The open beta runs for a clean 72 hours, closing at approximately 3:00 PM SGT on Monday 27 July, giving Singapore players a full weekend plus a Monday afternoon to clock in some hours before the full game ships.

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls | Open Beta Trailer — via MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls on YouTube

What’s Included: 15 Characters, Episode Mode, and Full Online

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls — team battle gameplay
Image courtesy of Marvel Games / Arc System Works

The open beta is generous: 15 of the 20 launch characters are playable, spanning all four announced teams. The headline addition is Blade, who becomes playable for the very first time outside of closed testing, appearing alongside Ghost Rider in the Samurai Outriders faction. The full beta roster breaks down as:

  • 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

Beyond the roster, the open beta opens up a surprising amount of content for a pre-release trial. Episode Mode unlocks the first three chapters of the Amazing Guardians storyline, giving players a taste of the game’s story campaign as Spider-Man assembles his team. For competitive players, Online Casual and Ranked Matches are live, along with a full Open Lobby that supports up to 16 avatars with social features. Training Mode, local Versus, and the Start Up Battle tutorial round out the package — six stages across iconic Marvel locations are included too.

Singapore Schedule — When to Queue Up

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls — 4v4 tag-team combat
Image courtesy of Marvel Games / Arc System Works

Convert from Pacific Time and the beta lands squarely over the Singapore weekend:

  • Opens: Thursday 24 July, 3:00 PM SGT
  • Closes: Monday 27 July, ~3:00 PM SGT

That covers the full weekend from Thursday afternoon through to Monday — prime time for ranked sessions, local couch battles, and grinding through Episode Mode between matches. Rollback netcode is confirmed for online play, which should keep the experience clean for SEA players connecting to regional servers.

The Full Roster Awaits at Launch — August 6

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls — stage environments
Image courtesy of Marvel Games / Arc System Works

The five missing characters from the open beta fill out the fifth team at launch on 6 August 2026 (7 August in Japan and Australia). Singapore pricing was confirmed at SGD 79.90 for the Standard Edition, SGD 113.90 for Digital Deluxe, and SGD 139 for the Ultimate Edition. Deluxe and Ultimate editions include the Year 1 pass covering post-launch fighters and content.

How to Download the Open Beta

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls — key art
Image courtesy of Marvel Games / Arc System Works
  • PS5: Search “MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Open Beta” on the PlayStation Store
  • PC (Steam): Find the open beta on the Steam store page
  • PC (Epic Games Store): Search for the open beta on the Epic Games Store

Pre-downloads go live two hours before start time — mark your calendar for Thursday 24 July and queue the download by early afternoon SGT. For the full character roster, SGD pricing, and story details, read our earlier coverage from the EVO 2026 reveal. Browse more game news on GameTrader.SG.

Game News

Fatal Fury CotW Season 3: Laocorn Gaudeamus Finally Playable, Rick Strowd Drops 23 July

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SNK dropped a full Season 3 announcement trailer for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves on 16 July, confirming six more DLC fighters arriving monthly through December 2026. The complete lineup had a genuine surprise at the end of the schedule: Laocorn Gaudeamus, the Armour of Mars-wielding villain from the Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture anime film, is finally making his first playable appearance in a game — 32 years after his big-screen debut.

As we covered on Thursday when the teaser first surfaced, Duck King and Kim Kaphwan were already confirmed. The full trailer fills in the entire roadmap and puts Rick Strowd squarely in next-week territory.

The Full Season 3 Roster and Schedule

FATAL FURY: CotW | Season 3 Announcement Trailer — via SNK OFFICIAL on YouTube

One new fighter per month, every month, through the end of 2026:

  • July 23: Rick Strowd
  • August: Duck King
  • September: Kim Kaphwan
  • October: ??? (mystery)
  • November: Laocorn Gaudeamus
  • December: ??? (mystery)

Six characters in six months is an unusually fast cadence for a modern fighting game — SNK has maintained it since Season 1 — and the Season 3 lineup suggests they are not slowing down. Each character is available as part of a Season 3 pass or individually at launch.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Season 3 animated trailer
Image courtesy of SNK

Laocorn Gaudeamus: The 1994 Film Villain Finally Gets a Fight

Laocorn Gaudeamus is the main antagonist of Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture, the 1994 anime film that served as a capstone to the Real Bout era’s storyline. In the film, Laocorn fuses with the three pieces of the Armour of Mars — an ancient relic granting immense defensive power and devastating offensive abilities. He has been a fan favourite among viewers who grew up with the film, but has never appeared as a playable character across the franchise’s three-decade run.

His November slot puts him alongside the two mystery characters as the closing act of Season 3. Whether October and December bring back returning veterans or introduce new entrants, Laocorn is already the standout addition of the pass — and his Armour of Mars powerset has obvious potential in a game built around REV-charged super states.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Season 3 characters
Image courtesy of SNK

Rick Strowd, Duck King and Kim Kaphwan: What to Know

Rick Strowd (July 23) is a Native American boxer from Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers, known as the White Wolf of the Ring. His moveset revolves around energy-infused punches and vacuum air currents — a style that looks well-suited to City of the Wolves’ aggressive REV system. Duck King (August) returns with his breakdancing-based fighting style and his signature chick companion P-chan. Kim Kaphwan (September) looks noticeably older than fans are used to — the taekwondo master’s sons are already in the game, so seeing the veteran arrive next feels like the natural conclusion of that family arc.

Fatal Fury City of the Wolves Season 3 mystery characters
Image courtesy of SNK

For the Singapore FGC: with EVO Singapore 2027 confirmed at Marina Bay Sands, City of the Wolves is almost certain to be on the tournament slate, and every Season 3 character will be live well before January. Rick Strowd drops first — this Wednesday, 23 July.

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