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Xian Skyrider

Game News

Jujutsu Kaisen × Monster Strike Collab 3 Is Live — Gojo and Itadori Finally Ascend

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Jujutsu Kaisen’s biggest Monster Strike moment yet is live. Gojo Satoru, Yuji Itadori, and Kento Nanami have received their first-ever True Divine Evolution forms — the game’s highest upgrade tier — while five brand-new characters make their gacha debut. Monster Strike’s third Jujutsu Kaisen collaboration started today at noon JST, and it’s the most substantial of the three events so far.

Gojo, Itadori and Nanami True Divine Evolution showcase — via モンスト（モンスターストライク）公式 on YouTube

Wave 1 Fan Favourites Finally Get Their True Divine Evolution

The headline act is what long-time MonSt JJK players have been waiting for. Three characters from the original collaboration are receiving True Divine Evolution (真獣神化), Monster Strike’s top-tier upgrade: Gojo Satoru (Dark attribute, ★6), Yuji Itadori (Fire, ★6), and Kento Nanami (Light, ★6) all ascend to their definitive in-game forms with completely new ability sets. If you’ve held onto these units through two previous collaborations, that patience just paid off in a big way.

Gojo Satoru True Divine Evolution form in Monster Strike JJK Collab 3
Image courtesy of MIXI

Five New Characters Join in Wave 3

Wave 3 adds more new characters than either previous collab. Leading the limited gacha are three ★6 units: Yuta Okkotsu (Water) — the lead protagonist of the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 prequel and among the most-requested Monster Strike additions — Choso (Wood), and Maki Zenin (Dark). Panda and Takaba Haruaki also join as additional gacha units. For Singapore fans who caught the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 film, seeing Yuta finally enter the Monster Strike roster is a long-overdue arrival.

Yuta Okkotsu making his Monster Strike debut in JJK Collab 3
Image courtesy of MIXI

Wave 2 Characters Get Their Upgrades Too

The collab doesn’t leave Wave 2 players behind. Nobara Kugisaki, Megumi Fushiguro, and Mei Mei all unlock Beast God Evolution Kai (獣神化・改) — one step below True Divine Evolution — boosting their stats ahead of the new Wave 3 challenge quests. If you skipped the previous event, Wave 2 characters are also available to pull again during this period.

Yuji Itadori receiving his first True Divine Evolution in Monster Strike
Image courtesy of MIXI

Event Schedule, Missions, and Playing from Singapore

The Collab 3 gacha and collaboration quests — five stages ranging from ★5 to ★6 — run until 11:59 JST on 2 August 2026. A daily Shibuya Incident Mission continues until 5 August, awarding 20 points per day redeemable for characters, stamps, and voice sets. Login stamps through the event distribute True Beast Soul materials (needed for the new True Divine Evolutions) daily, so logging in consistently pays off.

Monster Strike is a Japan-primary title — Singapore players who run the game on a Japanese App Store account can access this event in full. MIXI opened a Web Shop pre-sale at midnight JST, twelve hours before the in-app gacha launched, offering 30 total pulls across three 10-pull sets for ¥7,800 (around S$72). The Web Shop also lets you pull on all three collab gacha batches — Wave 1, Wave 2, and Wave 3 — at the same time.

Monster Strike Jujutsu Kaisen Collaboration 3 event banner
Image courtesy of MIXI

With JJK Season 4 Part 2 on the horizon, the franchise is about as hot as it gets right now. Check more mobile and game news on the GameTrader blog.

Event

WSBG Asia 2026: Singapore’s Biggest Board Game Weekend Is in Its Final Day

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Singapore’s largest competitive board game carnival closes its three-day run today, and if you haven’t been yet, there may still be time to make it to Pico Creative Centre for the final sessions of WSBG Asia 2026.

WSBG Asia 2026 — 16 Games, One Path to the Final Four, featuring real players at the tournament
Image courtesy of WSBG Asia

Asia’s Biggest Board Game Championship, Right Here in Singapore

WSBG Asia is the official Asia satellite of the World Series of Board Gaming (WSBG), backed by the Singapore Tourism Board. Building on its inaugural 2025 edition, the 2026 event is significantly larger — more championship titles, a bigger game library, and an experience that literally takes place on the Singapore Flyer.

The event spans three zones: competitive tournament brackets, a sprawling Carnival Zone, and exclusive social game experiences, making it accessible to everyone from first-timers to seasoned competitive players.

Compete for a Seat at the Vegas Global Final

This is where the stakes get real. WSBG Asia 2026 runs official tournaments across 16 championship titles. Every Asia Champion walks away with a Global Ticket — a first-round bye at the WSBG Global Final in Las Vegas. The overall grand champion also takes home a SGD $1,000 flight sponsorship to make the trip.

Brackets run across Phoenix Games and Asian Playoffs formats. If your game of choice is sold out, waitlist slots can be applied for at thejokergame.com/wsbg-waitlist.

WSBG Asia 2026 新加坡 — via Joker Game 愚人博弈 on YouTube

The Carnival Zone — 250+ Games for Everyone

Not here to compete? The Carnival Zone is a library of over 250 board games, open to Carnival ticket holders. It’s a space built for exploring, demoing, and casual play — with scheduled workshops running throughout the weekend:

  • Intro to Tabletop Gaming
  • Becoming a Game Master
  • How to Design Your Own Board Game

Social game experiences on offer include Blood on the Clocktower, Joker Game Experience, The Hero Is Dead, and Murder Mystery of The Dead — familiar names to anyone in Singapore’s tabletop scene.

Players at a WSBG Asia event session with the WSBG Asia Singapore banner in the background
Image courtesy of WSBG Asia

Celebrity Lineup — Including The Devil’s Plan’s Tino

WSBG Asia 2026 has put together a pan-Asian creator lineup that bridges competitive gaming and tabletop culture:

  • Dr. huoshu — Tsinghua PhD, strategy icon, and brain-show TV star with over 5 million followers
  • Xiao Cang — esports veteran and the iconic Mandarin voice of League of Legends, with over 7 million followers
  • Tino — familiar to Singapore fans of Netflix’s The Devil’s Plan, and a board game YouTuber with 42K followers
  • Jiaqi Lin — China’s number-one board game content creator with 3 million followers
WSBG Asia 2026 Dream Lineup of Game Icons featuring Dr. huoshu, Xiao Cang, Tino, and Jiaqi Lin
Image courtesy of WSBG Asia

The World’s Highest Board Game Match — On the Singapore Flyer

The VIP Skyline Challenge is the event’s signature set piece. A featured board game match is played by invited guests and celebrities inside a Singapore Flyer capsule — billed as the world’s highest rotating board game showcase. VIP ticket holders get a dedicated viewing window, premium hospitality, priority access to guest interactions, and an exclusive commemorative gift pack.

Can You Still Go Today?

Today (Monday 13 July) is the final day of WSBG Asia 2026. Walk-in Carnival Zone access may still be available, though most competitive tournament brackets will have concluded their qualifying rounds. For live availability, check the official event page or Klook.

Events like WSBG Asia — Singapore Tourism Board-supported, with Las Vegas qualifier routes and a multi-million-follower creator roster — reflect just how far Singapore’s tabletop gaming scene has come. Keep an eye on our events archive for more of what’s on.

Game News

Hi-Fi RUSH Gets Its Asia Physical Debut This Thursday — PS5 Deluxe Edition Lands 16 July

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Hi-Fi RUSH was one of those rare games that arrived fully formed and instantly felt special — a rhythm-action title so tightly designed that the entire world, from enemies to light fixtures, pulses to the beat. It launched as a surprise Xbox and PC exclusive in January 2023, and while it eventually came to PS5 as a digital download in September of that year, a physical edition has never existed in Asia — until now. SuperDeluxe Games is releasing the Hi-Fi RUSH Deluxe Edition for PlayStation 5 across Asia on 16 July 2026, giving Singapore PS5 players their first chance to own it in a box.

Hi-Fi RUSH - Chai overlooks the vibrant Vandelay city skyline
Image courtesy of Tango Gameworks / Krafton

Beat the World to Your Own Guitar

For anyone who hasn’t played it: Hi-Fi RUSH puts you in the red sneakers of Chai, a wannabe rockstar who accidentally fuses a music player to his chest during an experimental procedure at the mega-corporation Vandelay Technologies. The result? Every punch, dodge, and guitar smash connects to the rhythm of the soundtrack — and the entire world follows. Enemies bounce on the beat, industrial machinery clanks in time, and city platforms pulse with every bar. The combat is intuitive enough to pick up in minutes but rewards players who truly lock into the groove with satisfying combo multipliers and score bonuses.

The game’s art style draws from classic anime and American comics, giving it a look that feels immediately at home for fans of the genres GameTrader readers know and love. It earned strong praise globally — Metacritic scores of around 87 on both Xbox and PS5 — and built a devoted fanbase that pushed hard for a wider physical release.

Hi-Fi RUSH | Official Trailer — via Hi-Fi RUSH on YouTube

The Asia Deluxe Edition: What’s in the Box

The physical Deluxe Edition, published in Asia by SuperDeluxe Games, is the most complete package Hi-Fi RUSH has ever received. Here’s what’s inside:

  • PS5 game disc with the complete Hi-Fi RUSH experience
  • Premium artbook featuring exclusive concept art and developer commentary
  • 3-disc original soundtrack
  • Trading cards
  • Reversible cover sleeve and three-sided slipcase box

The disc also bundles every free content update — including the well-received Arcade Challenge mode — plus three DLC costume packs: Bossplay, Traditional Garb, and Teamplay. Crucially for Singapore players, the Asia edition carries full multi-language support, with in-game text and audio options covering English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, and more, so there’s no barrier to jumping in.

Hi-Fi RUSH - Chai explores a volcanic industrial zone
Image courtesy of Tango Gameworks / Krafton

From Tokyo Studio to Krafton — The Story Behind the Game

Hi-Fi RUSH was created by Tango Gameworks, a studio founded in Tokyo in 2010 by Shinji Mikami, the legendary creator of Resident Evil. The game’s sun-soaked, music-driven world was a striking departure from the studio’s earlier horror work on The Evil Within and Ghostwire: Tokyo, and it landed as their most celebrated release by far.

In a move that shocked the industry, Microsoft shut Tango Gameworks down in June 2024 amid broader restructuring cuts. The studio sat dark for just a few months before South Korean publisher Krafton — best known globally for PUBG — stepped in and acquired both the studio and the Hi-Fi RUSH IP in August 2024. Around 50 of the original staff returned, and Hi-Fi RUSH’s future is again in motion under Krafton’s stewardship. The Asia physical release is the first major release under the new ownership.

Hi-Fi RUSH - Chai faces the Vandelay executive lineup on screen
Image courtesy of Tango Gameworks / Krafton

Where to Get It in Singapore

The Hi-Fi RUSH Deluxe Edition Asia (PS5) ships 16 July 2026. It’s available from online game importers that carry Japanese-region releases and ship to Singapore — check stock at your preferred gaming importer, as quantities on collector’s editions like this tend to be limited. All PS5 games are region-free, so the Japan-region disc plays without issue on any Singapore PS5 console.

Whether you’re a rhythm-game fan who never got the chance to try Hi-Fi RUSH, or a collector looking for a premium physical package, Thursday is the day to pull the trigger. For more upcoming game releases, see our Game News section.

Game News

Culdcept Begins Launches 16 July — The 10-Year Wait Is Over

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Ten years is a long wait. Culdcept Begins, the first brand-new entry in the cult card-and-board hybrid series since 2016’s Culdcept Revolt, launches this Thursday 16 July on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch (digital), and eventually PC — and Famitsu’s 33/40 preview scores published today suggest the decade-long break has done the series nothing but good. If you’re planning to grab the eShop version, the 10% early bird discount disappears at launch, so there’s no reason to delay.

Monopoly Meets Magic: The Gathering, Completely Reborn

Culdcept Begins board gameplay showing isometric map and card hand
Image courtesy of NEOS Corporation

If you’ve never played a Culdcept game, the elevator pitch is this: imagine Monopoly’s territory loop, but every time two players land on the same square their creature cards fight it out in real-time battle — and instead of buying houses, you’re deploying monsters, casting spells, and stacking terrain bonuses from a custom 40-card deck. The player who accumulates the target amount of “magic points” through tolls and battles wins.

Culdcept Begins keeps that DNA fully intact while introducing a brand-new cast, a new story, and over 400 creature, item, and spell cards sporting redesigned art that leans into a warm, illustrated-book style. Board layouts are also fresh, including new terrain types that interact with specific element affinities on the cards.

Famitsu’s Verdict: 33/40

Culdcept Begins card collection screen showing hundreds of creature cards to collect
Image courtesy of NEOS Corporation

Famitsu’s four reviewers handed Culdcept Begins a combined score of 9/8/8/8 (33 out of 40) in preview scores published this week, ahead of the 16 July launch. Reviewers praised the “well-established system combining Monopoly and card battles” and flagged a noticeably polished UI alongside shorter average play sessions compared to older entries in the series. The depth-versus-accessibility balance was a recurring highlight: one reviewer called it a game that “offers deep strategic depth while remaining accessible,” aided by a story mode that walks new players through the rules at a comfortable pace. A growth-points system that rewards progress even when you retire from a match mid-game also earned specific praise as a quality-of-life upgrade long-time fans will appreciate.

Switch 2 Extras: GameShare and Mouse Mode

Culdcept Begins card battle screen — Minotaur versus Kobold
Image courtesy of NEOS Corporation

The Switch 2 Edition adds two features that fit Culdcept perfectly. GameShare lets up to four players join a local session wirelessly — including Switch 1 owners — even if only one person at the table owns the game, which makes it ideal as a family or friends night pick-up. Mouse Mode support is the other one: if you’ve ever wanted to flick through a 400-card hand using a mouse cursor, you can now.

A dedicated physical Switch 2 edition is available at launch in a Standard box and a Limited SteelBook version that includes a soundtrack CD and a set of ten creature-card replicas for collectors.

Culdcept BEGINS – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – Announcement Trailer — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

Where to Get It — and Why to Move Quickly

Culdcept Begins ice spell battle effect in creature combat
Image courtesy of NEOS Corporation

Culdcept Begins is available to pre-order now on the Nintendo Singapore eShop (Switch 2 Edition) and Switch edition. The standard digital prices are US$54.99 (Switch 2) and US$44.99 (Switch) — check the Singapore eShop for your local SGD price. Until the game launches on 16 July a 10% early bird discount is active, bringing those prices down to US$49.49 and US$40.49 respectively. The physical Switch 2 Standard edition is priced at US$54.99; the SteelBook is US$89.99. A PC version via Steam is planned for Q4 2026.

For more game releases and gaming news, check back on the blog as 16 July approaches.

Rayman and friends in the Once Upon a Time level from Rayman Legends Retold
Game News

Rayman Legends Retold Gets Surprise Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Crossover Skin Ahead of October Launch

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Ubisoft just dropped a fun surprise for fans of both Rayman and Assassin’s Creed: Rayman Legends Retold will include a playable Edward Kenway skin from Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag — and it’s already confirmed ahead of the game’s October 1, 2026 launch on PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

The crossover skin, revealed just hours ago, sees the iconic pirate-assassin dressed in his signature white hood and dual hidden blades leap into the vibrant side-scrolling world of Rayman. It joins previously announced crossover costumes for AstroBot and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — a crossover lineup that spans both PlayStation exclusives and third-party darlings.

Rayman Legends Retold - Once Upon a Time level
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

What Is Rayman Legends Retold?

If you missed the June reveal during PlayStation’s State of Play, here’s the quick brief: Rayman Legends Retold is a reimagined remake of the beloved 2013 platformer, rebuilt from the ground up by Ubisoft Milan and Ubisoft Montpellier. The original game’s gorgeous UbiArt 2D visuals have been replaced with a 2.5D Snowdrop engine presentation — think lush 3D environments viewed from a side-scrolling perspective, peppered with full 3D cinematics.

But it’s not just a visual upgrade. The Retold version brings:

  • A brand-new sixth realm with an original storyline
  • Fully voiced cinematics featuring the returning cast
  • Four new musical stages (in addition to the classic ones)
  • Dragon rides starring Toad and company
  • A new Cave of Trials challenge mode
  • Improved Kung Foot mini-game with new arenas
  • 1–4 player local and online co-op

And here’s the kicker: every copy of Rayman Legends Retold includes Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition for free — the 2011 predecessor rebuilt in 4K/60fps with new collectibles and QoL improvements. That’s two full games in one package.

RAYMAN LEGENDS RETOLD | Reveal Trailer — Ubisoft
Rayman Legends Retold - Dragon Ride featuring Toad
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

Editions and Pricing

Three editions are available at launch:

  • Standard Edition — USD $39.99 (~SGD 53–55): Base game + Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition
  • Deluxe Edition: Adds the Retro Pack — four classic costumes (Classic Rayman, Betilla, Retro Hunter, Electoon Teensie) plus an Art Gallery unlock
  • Launch Edition: Includes the Hoodlum Havoc Pack with two Rayman 3-inspired costumes (available for a limited time at launch)

The game is rated E10+ by the ESRB and weighs in at 23.4 GB on Nintendo Switch 2. It will also be available on GeForce Now and Blacknut cloud gaming platforms at launch.

Rayman Legends Retold - Lucha Chase gameplay
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

Worth the Wait for Singapore Gamers?

At roughly SGD $53–55 for a package that includes two games, plus a stacked Deluxe Edition and a growing roster of fun crossover skins, Rayman Legends Retold is shaping up to be one of the better-value platformers of 2026. Switch 2 owners in Singapore should note the 23.4 GB download requirement — make sure your microSD card is ready.

Rayman Legends Retold launches October 1, 2026 on PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Store). Pre-orders are live now.

Game News

Once Human Hits PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on 25 August — Free with New First-Person Mode

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PS5 owners, it is finally happening. NetEase Games and Starry Studio have confirmed that Once Human, their wildly popular free-to-play survival MMO, launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on 25 August 2026 — and it will cost you nothing to download. After two years as a PC-exclusive, the game is finally crossing over to the consoles that dominate Singapore living rooms.

A Whole New Way to Play: First-Person Mode

Once Human gameplay screenshot showing exploration
Image courtesy of NetEase Games

The console launch is not just a straight port. Starry Studio is introducing a first-person perspective that sits alongside the existing third-person camera — players can swap between the two at any time, even mid-combat. Weapon animations have been rebuilt from the ground up to match the tighter viewpoint, and the shift fundamentally changes how shooting and resource gathering feel. For players who found third-person survival games a little removed, first-person Once Human is worth a serious look.

4K at 60fps or 120fps — Your Call

Console players get two graphics presets out of the box. Quality Mode delivers a native 4K image at 60 frames per second, while Performance Mode trades some resolution for a buttery 120fps on compatible displays. PS5 players also get DualSense haptic feedback tuned to the game’s world — low-frequency rumbles when giant creatures are nearby, and trigger resistance that shifts during boss encounters. It is a small thing, but it makes the PS5 version feel genuinely at home on the platform.

Once Human screenshot showing the post-apocalyptic world
Image courtesy of NetEase Games

Cross-Play and Cross-Progression From Day One

This is the detail that matters most for Singapore’s gaming scene. Once Human on console will launch with full cross-play and cross-progression between PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. If you have been grinding on Steam since the 2024 PC launch, every hour carries over. If your friends are on different platforms, you are in the same session regardless. That kind of parity at a free-to-play title’s console debut is not something to take for granted — and it makes the August 25 date relevant to everyone, not just newcomers.

For an overview of what has been happening in recent game releases, check out our Game News section.

300+ Hours of Content at Launch

Once Human console launch promotional art
Image courtesy of NetEase Games

Console players are not getting a reduced build. The launch version ships with six full scenarios and an additional PVP spin-off, adding up to more than 300 hours of Day One content. There is also a paid option for players who want to hit the ground running: a Starter Pack at USD 9.99 and a Radiance Pack at USD 14.99 are available as pre-purchase options, though the base game remains entirely free.

Watch the Console Launch Trailer

Once Human | Global Console Launch on Aug 25 (PT) — via Once Human on YouTube
Once Human screenshot showing game environment
Image courtesy of NetEase Games

Once Human launched on PC in July 2024 and has accumulated a massive player base across Southeast Asia. The August 25 console release opens that same world to anyone with a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S — no purchase required. Mark the date.

Game News

Marvel Rivals Season 9: Jubilee and the Mystery of Thebes

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Marvel Rivals’ ninth season kicked off on 10 July UTC — and it is one of the most ambitious shakeups the free-to-play hero shooter has seen yet. Season 9: The Mystery of Thebes adds a brand-new Strategist hero, rewrites the Team-Up system from the ground up, overhauls Black Widow, and sets the stage for an Egyptian murder mystery starring Apocalypse himself. Here is everything you need to know.

Season 9: The Mystery of Thebes // Dev Vision Vol. 19 — via Marvel Rivals on YouTube

Meet Jubilee — Marvel Rivals’ Newest Season 9 Strategist

Jubilation Lee — Jubilee character art as a Strategist in Marvel Rivals Season 9
Image courtesy of NetEase Games / Marvel

Jubilation Lee — 千歡 — arrives as the 52nd hero on the roster, slotting in as a Strategist. For those who know their X-Men lore, Jubilee is a Chinese-American mutant famous for her pyrotechnic plasma bursts; here, her kit leans into a darker, vampiric side that fits Season 9’s Apocalypse storyline perfectly.

Her primary attack fires automatically, simultaneously damaging enemies and restoring health to nearby allies. A deployable bubble provides field control, a knockback ability pushes enemies away in a pinch, and her Ultimate unleashes an area-of-effect fireworks show that deals damage, heals allies, and sends foes flying. Her Vampiric Kin Team-Up with Blade enhances her Vampiric Field so it continuously heals teammates within range — making the Jubilee/Blade pair a potentially potent double act.

For Singapore players, there is a nice cultural hook here: Jubilee is one of Marvel’s most prominent Asian heroes, and seeing her Chinese name rendered in-game alongside her English one is a small but meaningful touch. She is available immediately — Marvel Rivals remains fully free-to-play on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, as well as on PS5, PS4 and Xbox Series X/S.

The Team-Up System Got a Ground-Up Rebuild

The biggest mechanical change in Season 9 is not a new hero — it is the complete overhaul of the Team-Up system, which touches over 80% of the roster. Every hero now has two independent Team-Up ability loadouts. Before a match you pick one; in the spawn room you can swap. Each loadout has a base effect that is always active and an enhanced effect that only triggers when the right partner is on your team.

The old Anchor mechanic — which gave flat bonus stats to anchoring heroes — is gone entirely. NetEase says this was creating unintended power skews across the roster, and with the Anchor gone the team has rebalanced the entire cast. A new Regenerative Shields health type also debuts: shields begin auto-regenerating five seconds after you last took damage, then fully restore over the following five seconds. Mobile and diving heroes benefit most. Ultimate energy generation has also been dialled back slightly for Vanguards, Duelists and Strategists alike, so expect slower ult cycles across the board.

Black Widow Gets a New Combat Identity

Natasha Romanoff is one of the most-played heroes in competitive lobbies, and Season 9 hands her a significant rework. The mandatory aim-down-sights (ADS) mechanic has been removed from her primary fire — her gun now fires faster in standard mode. Her Electro-Plasma blast, previously locked behind her Ultimate, becomes a standard ability with a slow effect attached.

Her new Ultimate grants a temporary sniper mode with piercing bullets and an expanded hitbox. Sprint and super-jump are restored without stamina limits. On paper this makes Black Widow more fluid to play at all skill levels while giving high-level players a sharp, timing-based Ultimate to master.

Thebes Map and The Hood Are Still to Come

Marvel Rivals Season 9 launch skins — Wolverine: Bloodless Berserker, Jubilee: Midnight Mutant, Rogue: Raider Prime
Image courtesy of NetEase Games / Marvel

Season 9 is a two-part rollout. The Convoy map Thebes — a sprawling Egyptian-inspired stage tied directly to the Apocalypse storyline — arrives on 23 July. The mid-season update also brings the second new hero of the season: The Hood, a Marvel villain wielding a magical crimson hood that grants him supernatural powers. His kit has not yet been revealed, but his silhouette closed out the Season 9 story trailer.

30 July brings the Path to Doomsday — Avengers: Age of Ultron event, introducing Avengers Tower as a playable stage. The season also features a detective mini-game called Death of Apocalypse where players gather clues to unravel who killed the ancient mutant villain — a story-driven hook that sets the season’s Egyptian murder-mystery tone.

Watch the official Marvel Rivals site and their news page for exact SGT-converted times for the Thebes map and The Hood’s debut, as well as any new game news in the weeks ahead.

Battle Pass “The Faith-Harvesting Engine” — Egyptian Skins Galore

Marvel Rivals Season 9 Battle Pass — The Faith-Harvesting Engine featuring Egyptian-themed skins
Image courtesy of NetEase Games / Marvel

Season 9’s battle pass is titled The Faith-Harvesting Engine and leans hard into ancient Egyptian aesthetics. Ten new costumes are included across the full pass, with confirmed highlights being Iron Man: Iron Pharaoh and Deadpool: Dead Mummy. The revealed artwork also shows Egyptian riffs on Star-Lord, Loki, Rocket Raccoon and more. The thematic consistency this season is noticeably strong — unlike some past passes that felt like mismatched grab-bags, everything here has a coherent ancient-Egypt-meets-Marvel identity.

Season 9 is live now across all platforms. If you have not logged in for a while, this is as good a re-entry point as any — a rebuilt meta, a new support hero who suits Singapore’s party-queue culture, and months of Egyptian-flavoured content ahead.

Game News

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort — All 12 Sports Confirmed, Launches 22 October

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Nintendo has confirmed Nintendo Switch Sports Resort for Switch 2, bringing the spirit of the beloved Wii Sports Resort back to life with a lineup of 12 motion-control sports and a global release date of 22 October 2026. First revealed at the June 9 Nintendo Direct, this is shaping up to be one of the most accessible Switch 2 launches of the autumn — and with the first public playable demo coming to San Diego Comic-Con later this month, the hype is only building.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

All 12 Sports in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort

Nintendo has confirmed the complete roster of sports, and it’s a mix that should satisfy veterans of both the original Wii Sports Resort and last generation’s Nintendo Switch Sports:

  • Tennis — the motion-control classic, reimagined for Joy-Con 2
  • Bowling — curve shots and 100-pin challenges make their return
  • Archery — aim with precision using full-arm positioning
  • Boxing — jab and hook with both controllers
  • Volleyball — timed two-hand motion for serves, bumps and spikes
  • Table Tennis — fast-paced precision rallies
  • Basketball — dribble, pass and shoot your way to the hoop
  • Golf — updated swing tracking with Joy-Con 2’s improved motion sensors
  • Thumb Wrestling — a tactile new addition unique to this entry
  • Prop Plane — pull-back aerial racing returns from the Wii era
  • Skateboarding — uses the Joy-Con 2’s new mouse controls for trick flicks
  • Power Cruising — jet-ski racing on open water
Volleyball gameplay in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort for Switch 2
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Skateboarding Puts Joy-Con 2’s Mouse Mode in the Spotlight

The Skateboarding sport is the clearest signal of what Nintendo is trying to do with this game. It specifically uses the Joy-Con 2’s mouse-control feature — the flat-surface detection built into the base of each controller — to read trick timing and flick inputs. It’s the same kind of hardware showcase that made people buy Wiimotes for the original game, only this time the controller tech genuinely is a step up. Nintendo is using Sports Resort to prove the Joy-Con 2 can feel different, not just better.

Skateboarding sport in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort using Joy-Con 2 mouse controls
Image courtesy of Nintendo

First Hands-On at SDCC 2026 This Month

Before the October launch, Nintendo is bringing Switch Sports Resort to San Diego Comic-Con 2026 (23–26 July, The Pointe at Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel). Four of the 12 sports will be playable on a first-come, first-served basis from 9:30 a.m. PT daily — the first time anyone outside Nintendo has been able to touch the game. On 23 July specifically, Nintendo is also running a special event where social-media creator The Rizzler will compete against attendees from 1:30–3:30 p.m. PT.

Singapore fans not heading to California: keep an eye on Nintendo’s Asia social channels. Nintendo has typically followed up major U.S. demo events with regional previews ahead of Asia launches, so a hands-on event closer to home before October is plausible.

Bowling gameplay in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Release Date, Platform and Pricing for Singapore

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, launching globally on 22 October 2026. The US price is US$49.99; Nintendo Asia has not yet announced confirmed SGD pricing. The game supports 1–4 players locally and requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership for online multiplayer modes.

For Singapore players who already own a Switch 2, this looks like one of the stronger casual multiplayer launches of the year — and with 12 sports at a single price, it’s a better value proposition out of the box than anything the original Switch era offered. Follow our game news coverage for any Singapore eShop pricing and regional release updates closer to October.

Tennis gameplay in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort for Nintendo Switch 2
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Manga Anime

One Piece Chapter 1188 “Void” Spoilers — Imu Stabs Luffy, Zoro vs Sommers, Break After This Chapter

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Early spoilers for One Piece Chapter 1188 are circulating ahead of the official release on 12 July 2026 (~10 pm SGT on MangaPlus and Viz). The chapter is titled “Void” — a name that lands with full weight once you see what Imu does with it.

Imu One Piece Elbaf arc Toei promotional art
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

Imu’s Void Sword Hits Luffy

The chapter’s centrepiece: Imu drives the Void Sword directly into Luffy. Luffy is in Gear 5 genie form — the towering rubbery giant he debuted against Kaidou — and the strike lands anyway. The Void Sword, consistent with its established ability to erase whatever it cuts from existence, appears to interact with Gear 5’s reality-bending properties in a way that is left deliberately unresolved at chapter’s end. Whether Luffy’s Devil Fruit can heal or resist a conceptual erasure is the cliffhanger the chapter hangs everything on.

Imu’s line as the blade connects: “Joyboy could never be this weak.” It’s a pointed dismissal — Imu has been hunting the meaning of Joy Boy across centuries, and whatever they found (or didn’t find) in Luffy, this moment reads as contempt.

Luffy Gear 5 Elbaf arc One Piece Toei Animation
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

Joy Boy Flashback

Chapter 1188 includes a brief Joy Boy flashback — a smile, shown in silhouette. No dialogue, no context given beyond the visual. Oda has deployed this device before (Laugh Tale, the Void Century panels) to signal mythological weight without committing to explanation yet. Placed directly against Imu’s dismissal of Luffy, the juxtaposition is doing heavy lifting for whatever revelation is being built toward.

Subplots: Zoro, Sanji, Robin

Zoro One Piece Elbaf arc Toei anime screenshot
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

Three other fights and plot threads advance in parallel:

  • Zoro vs Sommers — the Elbaf commander introduced earlier in the arc, whose weapon set mirrors a giant-scale sword style. The exchange is brief this chapter but confirms Zoro is still in the thick of it on the battlefield.
  • Sanji vs Killingham — another World Government figure. Sanji’s fight has been building since Killingham’s entrance; chapter 1188 moves the confrontation forward without resolving it.
  • Robin at the Owl Library with Saul — Robin’s reunion with Giant Saul (alive, as revealed in the Elbaf arc) continues in a quieter register. She reaches what spoilers describe as the Owl Library — a repository within Elbaf carrying records the World Government missed in its historical purges. Given Robin’s entire arc is about recovering the true history, this location is significant. A rescue team is also shown moving toward Gunko, the imprisoned giant girl whose storyline has run alongside the main Elbaf conflict.

For context on how Luffy reached this confrontation with Imu, see our recap of One Piece Chapter 1186.

Official Release & Break Notice

One Piece — via ONE PIECE Official – ENG on YouTube

Chapter 1188 releases officially on 12 July 2026 on MangaPlus (free) and Viz / Shonen Jump (subscriber). After this chapter, One Piece goes on break — the next chapter is currently scheduled for 26 July 2026. That’s a two-week gap, so chapter 1188 will need to carry a lot of weight before the wait begins.

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