Category Archives: Event

Event

Riftbound Regional Qualifier Comes to Singapore EXPO — US$25,000 at Stake This September

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Singapore just became the most important date on Riftbound’s 2026 competitive calendar. Riot Games’ League of Legends Trading Card Game is heading to Singapore EXPO for its penultimate Regional Qualifier of the year — a US$25,000 prize pool event running 4–6 September 2026 that brings the top Riftbound players from across Southeast Asia under one roof. If you have a deck built and a Riot Account linked, this one’s for you.

Riftbound Regional Qualifier Singapore 2026 banner featuring Marina Bay Sands
Image courtesy of Riot Games

What Is Riftbound?

Launched in October 2025 by Riot Games, Riftbound is a physical trading card game built around the League of Legends universe — the same Champions, factions, and lore that tens of millions of players already know from the MOBA. Rather than a purely digital experience like its predecessor Legends of Runeterra, Riftbound is a full tabletop TCG sold in booster packs and preconstructed decks at game stores.

The game officially arrived in Southeast Asia in July 2026 alongside the launch of Vendetta, its fourth set. Vendetta centres on legendary rivalries from Runeterra — Zed vs. Shen, Nasus vs. Renekton, Jayce vs. Viktor — and introduced three new mechanics: Flow (playing cards from your discard), Burn (milling your deck for value), and Empower (paying resources to unlock upgraded abilities). If you have been picking up the Vendetta Booster Displays or Showdown Decks from local game stores, this is the set driving the Singapore RQ meta.

Riftbound Regional Qualifier coverage — Singapore will be broadcast in the same format — via Riftbound on YouTube

Dates, Venue, and Schedule

The event runs at Singapore EXPO, 1 Expo Dr, Singapore 486150 across three days. Badge collection opens Thursday 4 September from 2–6 PM SGT, making that afternoon purely for check-in. Competition begins in earnest on Friday 5 September with the hall opening at 12 PM (11:30 AM for Premium badge holders), and continues through Sunday 6 September with hall doors at 9 AM (8:30 AM Premium). Badge collection is open from 8 AM on both competitive days.

Competitors need a valid Riot Account and must connect it with their Riftbound Gaming Network account before arriving. Badges — Competitor and Premium Competitor tiers — are available through Eventbrite; check the listing for current availability and pricing.

What’s Up for Grabs

Riftbound Singapore Regional Qualifier prize breakdown showing Jayce cards and cash prizes
Image courtesy of Riot Games

The prize pool totals US$25,000, with cash rewards tied to exclusive Riftbound cards and playmats at every placing:

  • Champion: US$6,000 + exclusive Jayce, Brilliant Inventor art card & Champion Promo Playmat
  • 2nd place: US$3,000
  • 3rd–4th: US$2,000 each
  • 5th–8th: US$1,000 each
  • 9th–16th: US$500 each
  • 17th–32nd: US$250 each

Everyone who places in the Top 128 receives a Jayce, Brilliant Inventor alt-art promo card and a Lux Crownguard Crystal Rose Playmat. Even participation earns you a Jayce, Brilliant Inventor Promo. On top of that, all competitors who place receive Regional Championship invitations and Future Regional Qualifier Competitor Passes, keeping your competitive journey alive after Singapore.

OfflineTV, DSG, and Live Coverage

Riftbound player at a Regional Qualifier event holding a Riftbound card
Image courtesy of Riot Games

This is not purely a competitive event. Members of OfflineTV — including Toast, Sydeon, Yvonnie, Brodin, and Frodan — plus DSG friends will be on the floor on Friday and Sunday recording content, so expect the event floor to have that distinct creator energy on top of the tournament drama.

The main event broadcast runs live on both YouTube and Twitch starting at 10 AM SGT each day, cast by Casanova, Courtney Smith, Carix, and Logan Potter. Even if you are not competing, the Singapore RQ is worth watching live — bracket play and feature matches will be streaming throughout the weekend.

Feature match at a Riftbound Regional Qualifier with judges overseeing the game
Image courtesy of Riot Games

First Major Riftbound Event in SEA

Singapore is hosting the penultimate Regional Qualifier of the 2026 Vendetta season, making it the biggest organised Riftbound event Southeast Asia has seen. For Singapore and Philippine players especially, this is the most accessible RQ on the calendar — a real shot at earning a Regional Championship invitation without flying to Europe or North America.

Flagship Games SG has been stocking Riftbound singles and sealed product locally since the SEA launch, so if you still need cards to complete your deck before the event, local game stores are your first stop. Check out more gaming events in Singapore while you’re building your sideboard.

Event

ONE OR EIGHT Coming to Singapore — Tickets from SGD 88 on Sale 31 August

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Victoria Theatre is about to get a dose of Tokyo street energy. Japanese eight-member group ONE OR EIGHT has announced a Singapore stop on their Special SHOW CASE 2026 in ASIA -V8- tour, touching down on 21 October 2026 at Victoria Theatre. Tickets go on sale this Sunday, 31 August, at noon SGT via Ticketmaster Singapore — and with three tiers ranging from SGD 88 to SGD 138, it’s one of the more accessible Japanese act shows we’ve seen in the city this year.

Who Is ONE OR EIGHT?

If you’ve spent any time on music social media this year, you’ve likely already seen ONE OR EIGHT’s breakthrough hit TOKYO DRIFT — a high-octane J-pop/hip-hop banger that samples the iconic Teriyaki Boyz theme from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and has racked up over 300 million views. The group comprises eight members — MIZUKI, NEO, REIA, RYOTA, SOUMA, TAKERU, TSUBASA, and YUGA — who debuted under avex music creative in August 2024.

Their name comes from the Japanese idiom ichi ka bachi ka, an all-or-nothing gamble, and their tagline “BET ON YOURSELF” reflects a group built around pushing limits. They’ve already picked up the Upcoming Dance & Vocal Group award at the MTV VMAJ 2025 and New Artist of the Year at China’s NetEase Music Awards 2025, and their debut mini-album GATHER — produced with internationally credited names including Ryan Tedder and The Neptunes — announced them as a group with a genuinely global playbook.

ONE OR EIGHT / TOKYO DRIFT (Music Video) — via ONE OR EIGHT on YouTube

What to Expect at the Singapore Show

The Singapore date is the opening night of the three-city Asia leg. Doors open at 7:00 PM at Victoria Theatre, 9 Empress Place, with the show kicking off at 7:30 PM. The group’s live energy has been a major talking point from their recent North and Latin American run — ten cities, ten performances across April 2026 — so expect tight choreography alongside the full catalogue. Alongside the already-massive TOKYO DRIFT and YANKEE SQUAT, the Singapore set will likely feature their newer material too.

ONE OR EIGHT performing in TOKYO DRIFT music video
Image courtesy of ONE OR EIGHT / avex music creative

After Singapore, ONE OR EIGHT head to Manila (23 Oct, Samsung Hall at SM Aura Premier) and then Bangkok (25 Oct, Lido Hall 2 at Lido Connect) to complete the run. Singapore fans get first night energy — always a plus.

EN-GÏNE EP and Their Newest Single INVINCIBLE

The tour doubles as a warm-up for their first full EP, EN-GÏNE, dropping on 16 September 2026. The name blends the Japanese word en (connection, fate) with gene, exploring themes of courage and forging your own path. The lead single INVINCIBLE — a melodically driven pop track dedicated to their fanbase, the 1DERZ — is already out on all streaming platforms.

ONE OR EIGHT EN-GÏNE EP cover artwork
Image courtesy of ONE OR EIGHT / avex music creative

It’s a smart sequencing play: release the EP three weeks before the Asia showcases, let the new tracks land with fans, then bring them live. Singapore audiences at Victoria Theatre on 21 October could be among the first in the region to hear the full EN-GÏNE set live.

Singapore Ticket Details

Tickets go on sale via Ticketmaster Singapore on 31 August 2026 at 12:00 PM SGT. Pricing (excluding booking fees):

  • VVIP Seated: SGD 138
  • VIP Seated: SGD 108
  • GA Seated: SGD 88

Full event details at oneoreight.sozolive.asia. For more live events hitting Singapore this year, check out our events coverage.

Event

Hatsune Miku Magical Mirai 2026 Tokyo Kicks Off Today at Makuhari Messe

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Today marks the start of one of the biggest Vocaloid events of the year. Hatsune Miku Magical Mirai 2026 — the annual concert and exhibition from Crypton Future Media — opens its Tokyo run this morning at Makuhari Messe, running through Sunday 30 August. The theme this year is “Sonare of the Lake” (Sonare is Latin for “to resound”), with theme song “空に免じて” (Sora ni Menjite) composed by Kasamura Tota feat. Hatsune Miku — and the event delivers what Magical Mirai always promises: a holographic concert, a creative exhibition, and merchandise you cannot get anywhere else.

【初音ミク】「マジカルミライ 2026」開催告知CM / テーマソング「空に免じて」一部公開 — via Hatsune Miku (Crypton Future Media) on YouTube

What Is Magical Mirai?

Hatsune Miku Magical Mirai 2026 — 2026 costume designs for all five VOCALOID characters
Image courtesy of Crypton Future Media

Magical Mirai is the official annual Hatsune Miku event produced by Crypton Future Media, combining a large-scale interactive exhibition — covering Miku’s history, merchandise, artist showcases, and fan art galleries — with a full-production holographic concert. Every year carries a different theme and a different costume design for Miku and her fellow Piapro Character VOCALOID cast: Kagamine Rin/Len, Megurine Luka, MEIKO, and KAITO. This year’s designs feature a sunflower-and-water motif, with Miku in particular carrying an umbrella and floral accents that echo the lakeside theme.

The concert features Miku performing as a holographic projection backed by a live band, with community-composed Piapro songs mixed alongside fan-favourite classics. The exhibition runs throughout each day; the concerts run twice daily in Day and Night Show slots.

Tokyo Leg Schedule: August 28–30, Makuhari Messe

Hatsune Miku Magical Mirai 2026 tour banner showing Hamamatsu, Osaka and Tokyo dates
Image courtesy of Crypton Future Media

The Tokyo dates close out the 2026 tour, which previously visited Hamamatsu Act City (24–26 July) and INTEX Osaka (14–16 August). The Tokyo venue is Makuhari Messe’s International Exhibition Halls 1, 2, 3, and 9 — one of Japan’s largest convention spaces and the regular home of Tokyo Game Show.

Today’s schedule (Japan Standard Time):

  • Day Show: Doors open 11:00 AM, show starts 12:00 PM (approx. 2 hours)
  • Night Show: Doors open 3:30 PM, show starts 4:30 PM (approx. 2 hours)

The same two-show format runs Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August. Event merchandise — exclusive to this run — is listed on the official Magical Mirai site.

What’s New This Year: A New Smartphone Game

Beyond the live event, Crypton Future Media has announced a new Hatsune Miku smartphone game targeting a Fall 2026 release. Details remain limited as of this writing — Crypton has kept the announcement brief — but the timing aligns with Miku’s 19th anniversary (her first virtual release was in August 2007). We’ll have more as Crypton shares details.

Can Singapore Fans Tune In?

Hatsune Miku Magical Mirai 2026 official event announcement CM thumbnail
Image courtesy of Crypton Future Media

Magical Mirai concerts are not typically livestreamed for free. Crypton usually releases Blu-ray and digital recordings in the months after the event, and sometimes makes archived concert footage available via NicoNico or official streaming partners. No live streaming announcement has been confirmed for the Tokyo 2026 dates, so this one is a Japan trip or a wait-for-the-recording situation for Singapore fans.

That said, Miku’s Singapore fanbase is one of the most active in Southeast Asia. Local Piapro fan communities have historically organised viewing parties when official footage drops, and clips from tonight’s shows will likely surface on social media within hours. Keep an eye on X under #MagicalMirai2026 and #マジカルミライ2026 for real-time updates from attendees. Follow Crypton’s official English account @cfm_miku_en on X for any streaming or recording announcements, and check our events coverage for more Japan culture events.

Event

FFXIV The Rising 2026: How to Get Your Wind-up Wuk Lamat

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Singapore’s FFXIV players, your 13th anniversary gift from Square Enix is ready to claim. The Rising 2026 — the game’s beloved annual event — went live today, 27 August, and runs through 10 September 2026. Whether you are a fresh Sprout or a veteran of every anniversary, there is a new exclusive minion waiting with your name on it.

FFXIV The Rising 2026 event art
Image courtesy of Square Enix

How to Start FFXIV The Rising 2026

The event quest is titled “The Symphony of Life.” To begin, speak to the Wandering Minstrel in Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks at X:11.0, Y:12.8. Any combat job at level 15 or above can participate — making this one of FFXIV’s most accessible seasonal events. You don’t need to have cleared the main scenario or any expansion to take part.

The quest’s story hook: “The wandering minstrel is concerned for a visitor to Vylbrand.” As is tradition with The Rising, Square Enix keeps the narrative details under wraps before launch — every year’s event weaves in a heartfelt message from the development team to the community, and it lands best unspoiled.

FFXIV: Rising 2026 Event Rewards & Date — via Meoni on YouTube (Square Enix announces The Rising via the official Lodestone rather than a dedicated trailer)

Rising 2026 Rewards: Wind-up Wuk Lamat and More

Complete the event quest to earn the Wind-up Wuk Lamat minion — a miniature version of the beloved Dawntrail heroine, available only during the Rising 2026 event window. You will also unlock the “Thankful Thirteen” achievement, marking FFXIV’s 13th anniversary.

A Rising Vendor sets up at Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks (X:11.7, Y:13.6) with purchasable items from this year and previous Rising events:

  • Tabletop Rising MMXXV Advertisement (furnishing)
  • The Rising MMXXV Advertisement (wall furnishing)
  • The Rising MMXXIV Advertisement (wall furnishing)
  • Matoya’s Cave (Modulation) Orchestrion Roll
  • Eternal Wind (Modulation) Orchestrion Roll
  • To Zanarkand (Modulation) Orchestrion Roll

Missed items from previous years’ Rising vendors? They are still available at the same stall — a good window to fill any gaps in your collection.

FFXIV The Rising 2026 vendor rewards list
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Event Dates and Availability for Singapore

The Rising 2026 runs from 27 August (today) through 10 September 2026 at 7:59 a.m. PDT — that is 22:59 SGT on 10 September. The event is global and region-unlocked: players on the Elemental and Materia data centres have identical access to all quests and rewards at the same time as NA and EU. No separate SEA launch or delay applies.

Read the full announcement on the official FFXIV Lodestone, and browse our Events coverage for more on what is happening in Eorzea this season.

Event, Game News

Metro 2039 Gets Gamescom ONL Gameplay Trailer and February 2027 Release Window

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The Metro Returns to the Tunnels

4A Games and Deep Silver brought Metro 2039 to Gamescom Opening Night Live tonight with new gameplay footage and a firm confirmation of the February 2027 release window. The next instalment in the acclaimed post-apocalyptic FPS series is heading to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC — and if tonight’s footage is anything to go by, it represents a deliberate tonal return to the dark, claustrophobic tension that made Metro 2033 and Last Light so memorable.

Where Metro Exodus opened the series up to wide outdoor environments and large semi-open maps, Metro 2039 is pulling back. The focus is once again on the tunnels, occupied metro stations, and the oppressive close-quarters feel of underground Moscow — a shift 4A Games has said is partly inspired by the world’s changed understanding of conflict and survival since Exodus shipped.

Metro 2039 - Hunter, leader of the Novoreich
Hunter leads the Novoreich, the primary antagonist faction of Metro 2039. (Image: Deep Silver)

A New Protagonist, A New Enemy

Metro 2039 does not follow Artyom. The new player character is simply referred to as The Stranger — identity deliberately kept vague, likely by design. The antagonist faction this time is the Novoreich, a totalitarian regime that has risen to control significant parts of the Moscow metro system. At its head is Hunter, a figure who appears in the Gamescom footage as a genuinely unsettling villain with shades of the series’ best antagonists.

The game’s story was developed in close collaboration with Dmitry Glukhovsky, the author of the Metro novels that the series is based on. While Metro 2039 is not a direct adaptation of a specific book, it draws on Glukhovsky’s vision of this universe — which, given the thematic depth of the source material, is a solid foundation.

Back to What Made Metro Great

The gameplay footage shown at Gamescom underlines how different Metro 2039 feels in atmosphere from Exodus. Sightlines are short. Ammo is scarce. The lighting is oppressive and the sound design is immediately recognisable — dripping pipes, distant gunfire, the creak of ruined infrastructure. Whether navigating through a flooded station or an improvised outpost, the environmental storytelling appears as dense as ever.

Metro 2039 combat gameplay screenshot
Combat in Metro 2039 looks appropriately tense and resource-constrained. (Image: Deep Silver)

4A Games confirmed that the game supports stealth throughout, and that managing resources — gas mask filters, medkits, ammunition — remains central to the experience. The moral choice system from earlier Metro titles also appears to be returning in some form, though specific details weren’t outlined at this showing.

Metro 2039 tunnel environment
The claustrophobic tunnels of Moscow’s metro system are once again the game’s home territory. (Image: Deep Silver)

Playable at Gamescom This Week

For those attending Gamescom in Cologne, Metro 2039 will be playable on the show floor at Hall 9.1 from 27 to 30 August. It’s the game’s first public hands-on, and the setup is supported by NVIDIA, AOC, and Turtle Beach. Press and content creators get early access from 26 August with first impressions expected that morning.

Platforms and Release

Metro 2039 launches in February 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Xbox PC. It sits in a competitive window — February 2027 is also home to Fable and God of War: Laufey — but if 4A Games delivers on the tension and atmosphere on display at Gamescom, Metro 2039 could be the survival FPS that defines that month.

Event, Game News

Tides of Annihilation Brings Arthurian Myth to Fractured London in Gamescom ONL Story Trailer

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London Is Shattered, and Only the Knights of the Round Table Can Save It

Eclipse Glow Games made a striking impression at tonight’s Gamescom Opening Night Live, dropping a brand-new story trailer for Tides of Annihilation — the Chengdu-based studio’s ambitious third-person action-adventure that asks a wild question: what if Arthurian legend was all that stood between humanity and the apocalypse?

The trailer lays out a London torn apart. An otherworldly invasion has fractured the city, leaving only one survivor: Gwendolyn, a young woman who somehow emerged from the devastation with a unique and terrible gift — the ability to summon spectral manifestations of the Knights of the Round Table. Driven by the need to save her sister, restore the shattered world, and exact vengeance against the demi-gods of Avalon, Gwendolyn sets out in search of the Holy Grail.

Tides of Annihilation - Gwendolyn in fractured London
Gwendolyn navigates the ruins of a shattered London in Tides of Annihilation. (Image: Eclipse Glow Games / Steam)

Two Worlds, One Warrior

Tides of Annihilation takes place across two distinct settings. The first is a fractured modern London — recognisable, but warped beyond recovery, its streets and skylines broken by whatever force swept through. The second is Avalon, the mythical realm of Arthurian legend, now ruled by demi-gods who appear to be the source of the invasion. Gwendolyn must navigate both, pulling on the power of fallen knights to survive.

Among the spectral warriors players can summon are three named knights: Lamorak, Bors, and Palamedes — each bringing distinct combat styles to Gwendolyn’s arsenal. The game organises these into two knight sets of four, giving players a range of tactical options as they work through what Eclipse Glow describes as a linear story with meaningful exploration spaces woven in.

Tides of Annihilation - Giant spectral knight summon
The Knights of the Round Table manifest as colossal spectral warriors. (Image: Eclipse Glow Games)

Action Built on Rhythm and Reflection

Gameplay is third-person, single-player, and action-focused. Gwendolyn has access to light and heavy attacks, dodge rolls, and deflects — the bones of a system that should feel familiar to action fans, but Eclipse Glow’s signature mechanic is the mirror-space. Details remain somewhat vague, but it appears to involve shifting between or layering the two worlds in real time during combat and traversal, adding a puzzle dimension to the moment-to-moment play.

The studio’s intent reads clearly: this is a prestige single-player experience with cinematic weight behind it, not a live-service or open-world checklist game.

Tides of Annihilation - combat and environment
Combat in Tides of Annihilation blends Gwendolyn’s own skills with the summoned power of the knights. (Image: Eclipse Glow Games / Steam)

From State of Play to Gamescom

If tonight’s trailer is your first look at Tides of Annihilation, you may have missed the game’s initial reveal at State of Play 2025, where it first appeared with the concept intact but fewer specifics. The Gamescom ONL showing tonight marks the first proper story trailer for the project — the closest look yet at Gwendolyn’s motivation, the game’s tone, and the scope of its two-world design.

Platforms and Release

Tides of Annihilation is heading to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store). No release date has been confirmed — Eclipse Glow has been targeting 2026, though the studio has not made that window official. Tonight’s showing suggests the project is progressing, but we’d temper expectations on a near-term launch date until the developers say otherwise.

Eclipse Glow Games is backed by Tencent investment and based in Chengdu, making Tides of Annihilation one of the more high-profile action games coming out of China’s increasingly ambitious games industry. For Singapore players following the gamescom coverage, this is absolutely one to put on the radar — and arguably the most visually distinct action game shown tonight.

Event

Story of Seasons Turns 30, Rune Factory Turns 20 — Watch the Anniversary Stream Tonight at 7PM SGT

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Two of gaming’s cosiest franchises hit milestone birthdays in 2026: Story of Seasons (牧場物語) turns 30, and Rune Factory celebrates 20 years. Marvelous is marking both occasions with a special joint anniversary livestream on YouTube tonight — starting at 8PM JST (7PM SGT).

Story of Seasons 30th & Rune Factory 20th Anniversary Special Livestream — via コンシューマ&アミューズメント – マーベラス公式チャンネル on YouTube

Watch Tonight at 7PM SGT

The stream goes live on the official Marvelous YouTube channel at 7PM SGT (8PM JST / 1PM CEST) on Monday, 24 August 2026. It’s expected to run for around two hours. No sign-up needed — just hit play on YouTube when the time comes.

What’s Confirmed for the Stream

Marvelous has confirmed a few things are on the agenda:

  • A historical retrospective across both series, tracing their roots from the very first Bokujo Monogatari on Super Famicom through to the present day
  • Results of a character popularity poll that fans participated in ahead of the broadcast
  • Winners of a fan memories contest, where players shared their favourite moments from either franchise

Crucially, the official Japanese description teases 最新情報 (newest information) — though Marvelous has stopped short of confirming any specific game announcements. That ambiguity is enough to keep the farming-RPG community on edge.

About Story of Seasons — 30 Years of Farming Life

The series now known globally as Story of Seasons started as Bokujo Monogatari on the Super Famicom in 1996 — three decades of crops, livestock, festivals, and slow-burn romances. For years Western fans knew it as Harvest Moon, until a publishing split saw Marvelous continue the original lineage under the Story of Seasons banner. The most recent entry, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar — a lovingly rebuilt remake of the Nintendo DS classic — launched in 2025 to overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam and Switch.

Story of Seasons Grand Bazaar farming gameplay screenshot — character watering crops
Image courtesy of Marvelous
Story of Seasons Grand Bazaar bazaar market scene — selling crops to townsfolk
Image courtesy of Marvelous

About Rune Factory — 20 Years of Farming and Fighting

Rune Factory launched in 2006 with a deceptively simple pitch: what if you could dungeon-crawl and grow turnips in the same game? It clicked instantly. The series blends Harvest Moon-style farm life with action-RPG combat, romance, and a cast of characters you genuinely want to spend time with. The most recent mainline entry, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, takes the action to a feudal Japan-inspired world — complete with cherry-blossom farms and samurai-flavoured boss fights.

Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma combat screenshot — character fighting enemies with a sword
Image courtesy of Marvelous
Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma farm scene with cherry blossom trees in the background
Image courtesy of Marvelous

What Singapore Fans Are Hoping to See

The farming-RPG community’s biggest wish list item is a release window for Rune Factory 6, which Marvelous first announced at their 2023 Games Showcase — set on the western continent of Adonea — but has been quiet on since. A 20th-anniversary reveal would be the perfect moment. An all-new Story of Seasons entry is equally plausible.

Both franchises are available on Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC via Steam in Singapore — check other gaming events and the Nintendo eShop for current titles if you want to get acquainted with either series before tonight’s stream.

Event

Sanrio Games Heads to TGS 2026 — Hello Kitty Party Land Demo, Kuromi DJ and Pompompurin on Stage

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Sanrio is levelling up. The beloved Japanese character brand is making its first-ever Tokyo Game Show appearance under its gaming label Sanrio Games — and the September 17–21 booth at Makuhari Messe Hall 8 is shaping up to be one of the most colourful stops at this year’s show.

Sanrio Games Steps Into TGS for the First Time

If you’ve been following Hello Kitty Party Land since it was announced, TGS 2026 is your first real chance to go hands-on. Sanrio Games — the character brand’s dedicated gaming label, launched in April 2026 — is debuting at the show with three playable or exhibiting titles, a packed stage programme, and exclusive giveaways for booth visitors.

The booth runs all five days at Makuhari Messe Hall 8 [08-S01], covering both business days (September 17–18) and public days (September 19–21), with a second family-friendly outpost at TKP Tokyo Bay Makuhari Hall’s Family Game Park section. Browse the full TGS 2026 event coverage as the show approaches.

Hello Kitty, My Melody, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin and Kuromi mascots at the Sanrio Games TGS 2026 booth
Image courtesy of Sanrio Games

Hello Kitty Party Land Finally Gets a Playable Demo

October 29 is not far off, and TGS 2026 will be the first major venue where players can try Hello Kitty Party Land before it launches. The party game crams 45-plus mini-games across three board game modes, supports up to four players, and features more than 145 Sanrio characters — from Hello Kitty and Kuromi to Badtz-Maru and beyond — on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.

Hello Kitty Party Land – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

Meet Sanrio Kawaii Me Live! — A Rhythm Game With a Surprise Band

TGS 2026 also marks a proper showcase moment for Sanrio Kawaii Me Live!, a rhythm and dance game heading to iOS and Android in 2027. Players coordinate outfits for Sanrio characters while performing to tracks built around the Sanrio universe. The standout detail: Japanese rock band Polkadot Stingray — beloved for their high-energy indie sound — has composed original music for the title.

Vocalist Shizuku will appear on stage at the General Exhibition booth on September 19 to talk through the music creation process with attendees. If you’re into Polkadot Stingray’s guitar-driven sound, hearing that aesthetic fused with Sanrio’s kawaii characters is a genuinely unusual mix worth watching.

Polkadot Stingray band, composing the original soundtrack for Sanrio Kawaii Me Live!
Image courtesy of Polkadot Stingray

Fragaria Memories: Color of Wishes Debuts New Character Art

The third title on show is Fragaria Memories: Color of Wishes, a chivalric fantasy smartphone game still in development. TGS 2026 will debut newly drawn illustrations for the game’s Knight and Lord characters on a full-wall display, alongside a voice actor talk stage featuring Gakuto Kajiwara (Hallit) and Shunsuke Takeuchi (Badbalma).

Knight character from Fragaria Memories: Color of Wishes
Image courtesy of Sanrio Games
Lord character from Fragaria Memories: Color of Wishes
Image courtesy of Sanrio Games

Kuromi DJs, Pompompurin Turns 30, and Free Sun Visors

The stage programme is worth the booth visit on its own. Kuromi takes the decks for a DJ live set at the General Exhibition booth, spinning tracks from Sanrio Kawaii Me Live!. Meanwhile, Pompompurin — celebrating 30 years since his 1996 debut — hosts a special “Pa-Pi-Pu-Pe-Pom!” anniversary stage at the Family Game Park on September 20. Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Cinnamoroll are also appearing across both venues throughout the event.

Every booth visitor takes home an exclusive Sanrio Games sun visor in Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, or Pompompurin designs — while stocks last. Even if you can’t make it to Makuhari in person, TGS 2026 will stream its public-day stage events live, so SG fans can catch the Kuromi and Pompompurin shows from home when the show opens on September 19.

Event

Mega Starmie Debuts Tomorrow in Pokémon GO — August 22 Raid Day Guide

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Trainers, mark your Poké Balls — Mega Starmie makes its Pokémon GO debut this Saturday, 22 August 2026, in a limited Super Mega Raid Day. If you’ve been waiting to add the first-ever Mega evolution of the iconic Starmie to your roster, this weekend is your window.

Mega Starmie Raid Day event banner — Pokémon GO 10th Anniversary
Mega Starmie arrives as part of Pokémon GO’s 10th Anniversary celebration. (© Niantic / The Pokémon Company)

Event Details

  • Date: Saturday, 22 August 2026
  • Time: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. local time
  • Format: Super Mega Raid Day — Mega Starmie appears in Mega Raids at Gyms throughout the event window
  • Bonus: Increased Mega Starmie Raid spawns, bonus Stardust for Raid victories

As a Water / Psychic dual type, Mega Starmie brings a powerful stat boost to both offensive archetypes. Winning a Mega Raid grants a temporary Mega Energy buff that powers up your own Starmie for subsequent raids and battles.

Can It Be Shiny?

Yes — Shiny Mega Starmie is available from day one. The Shiny form replaces the standard purple body with a striking deep blue, and the centre gem shifts to red. Encounter odds from Mega Raids are boosted compared to standard wild encounters, so the two-hour window is your best shot.

Shiny Mega Starmie in-game sprite — blue body with red gem
Shiny Mega Starmie sports a vivid blue body and red core gem. (© Niantic / The Pokémon Company)

Best Counters for Mega Starmie Raids

Mega Starmie is weak to Electric, Grass, Ghost, Dark, and Bug type moves. Prioritise Electric and Grass attackers for maximum damage output:

  • Mega Manectric — Charge Beam / Wild Charge
  • Zekrom — Charge Beam / Fusion Bolt
  • Xurkitree — Thunder Shock / Discharge
  • Kartana — Razor Leaf / Leaf Blade
  • Mega Sceptile — Fury Cutter / Leaf Blade
  • Mega Gengar — Shadow Claw / Shadow Ball (for Ghost coverage)

A team of four to six high-level trainers with optimal counters should be able to clear the raid comfortably. Lower-level groups or less optimal lineups should aim for five or more.

Mega Starmie’s Best Moveset

If you’re planning to use your newly Mega-evolved Starmie in future raids or GO Battle League:

  • Water attacker: Waterfall + Hydro Pump
  • Psychic attacker: Confusion + Psychic

As a Mega, Starmie functions best as a raid support anchor — its Mega boost raises the power of all Water- and Psychic-type moves for your entire lobby while it’s active.

Tips for Saturday

  1. Use a Remote Raid Pass if you can’t reach a local Gym — Mega Raid Day events typically see active lobbies worldwide.
  2. Stock up on Max Revives and Max Potions before the event window opens.
  3. Activate a Lucky Egg during your runs to maximise XP from raid victories.
  4. Coordinate with local communities — Singapore’s Pokémon GO Telegram groups are usually very active on Raid Days.

Good luck out there, Trainers. May your first catch be Shiny.