Category Archives: Game News

Palworld 1.0 Launches July 10 With New Pals and the World Tree

After two and a half years in Early Access, Pocketpair’s monster-capture survival game Palworld is going 1.0 on July 10, 2026 — and the Japanese studio is calling it the biggest update the game has ever seen. Twenty-seven pages of patch notes, more new Pals than any previous update, and the long-awaited World Tree region are all on the table.

Palworld 1.0 Cinematic Trailer — via Pocketpair Palworld on YouTube

What’s New in Palworld 1.0

Pocketpair announced the 1.0 release at Summer Game Fest 2026, framing it as a package that delivers “a deeper and more evolved experience befitting an official release.” The headline additions:

  • New Pals — more than in any single update before it, with the cinematic trailer teasing at least one that transforms into a usable sword and a colossal flying creature linked to the World Tree
  • Revamped combat — “new ways to wield Pals as weapons directly” are confirmed, reshaping how you use companions in the field
  • Genetic Recombination breeding system — a new layer to Pal cultivation beyond the original breeding mechanics
  • Overhauled progression — significant stat and skill system revisions throughout
  • Server Clustering for dedicated servers, making large-group multiplayer sessions more stable
  • Story content — proper narrative missions woven into the new region
Three fluffy Palworld Pals armed with machine guns behind sandbags
Image courtesy of Pocketpair

Pocketpair’s global communications lead confirmed the 1.0 changelog runs to approximately 27 pages — which, for a game that was already receiving substantial updates throughout Early Access, signals just how much ground this release covers.

The World Tree — Palworld’s Long-Awaited Endgame Region

The centrepiece of 1.0 is the World Tree region: a new island that roughly doubles the playable area of Palpagos and unlocks what Pocketpair has been hinting at as the game’s true endgame destination. In the cinematic trailer, it’s framed as a place that has loomed just out of reach since launch — visible on the horizon, now finally open.

Player riding a dragon-type Pal firing energy blasts in Palworld's open world
Image courtesy of Pocketpair

Full patch notes haven’t been released ahead of launch, so the complete contents of the World Tree — bosses, exclusive Pals, story beats — remain under wraps for now. Pocketpair has kept the details deliberately sparse, which probably means the reveal moments are meant to land in-game.

Every Platform, One Date — Singapore Players Take Note

Palworld 1.0 drops simultaneously on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Mac, and Xbox Game Pass on July 10. Singapore players on PC can expect the update live at roughly 8–10 AM SGT (matching the 9–11 AM JST window Pocketpair indicated).

Pink Palworld Pals working in a factory conveyor line
Image courtesy of Pocketpair

On Steam, Palworld is currently available for S$18.20 (30% off from its standard S$26.00) — so if you haven’t picked it up yet, now is a natural entry point: you’d be buying into the complete 1.0 game from its first day. The PS5 version is available via the PlayStation Store Singapore, and Xbox Game Pass subscribers already have access. The 1.0 update itself is free for all existing owners on all platforms.

Palworld launched in Steam Early Access in January 2024 and became a genuine cultural moment — eight million players in its first weekend, with Singapore gaming communities going hard on its blend of creature-catching, survival crafting, and gloriously chaotic combat. This 1.0 is the version Pocketpair has been building towards ever since. Check out more game news on GameTrader.SG.

Keep Your Old World, or Start Fresh?

Player fighting Mammorest 'King of the Forest' boss in Palworld
Image courtesy of Pocketpair

Pocketpair has confirmed that existing save data is fully compatible with 1.0 — you won’t lose your bases, your Pals, or your progress when the update drops. That said, the studio has gently recommended a fresh playthrough to experience the overhauled mechanics from the ground up, since many of the new systems are designed to unfold as you progress rather than bolt onto a late-game world.

For Singapore players who burned through Early Access in 2024 and moved on: July 10 is a solid reason to come back. For anyone who never tried Palworld: S$18.20 on Steam for the full 1.0 release is as clean an entry point as you’re going to get.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Drops July 9 — Built by Ubisoft Singapore

One week from now, a game built right here in Singapore drops on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced — the first true from-the-ground-up remake in Ubisoft history — is the work of Ubisoft Singapore, and it launches on 9 July 2026.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: Official Game Overview Trailer — via Assassin’s Creed on YouTube

A Singapore Studio Takes the Helm

This isn’t a remaster handed to an external team. Ubisoft Singapore — the studio that has spent years building out Anvil engine’s water and naval systems across multiple Assassin’s Creed titles — pitched and led the entire project from day one.

Creative Director Paul Fu explained the logic in an interview with Game Informer: “Ubisoft Singapore not only has a history of working on water tech through Anvil, we have a history with naval gameplay and stuff, so when you put all those things together, it’s like, ‘Yeah, why not take a stab at it with Black Flag?’ It actually makes a lot of sense to try.”

Game Director Richard Knight echoed that sense of purpose: “With Black Flag Resynced, we set out to reconnect with the heart of Black Flag. From the start, the intention was clear: deliver a faithful and enriched experience,” as reported by MobileSyrup.

Edward Kenway perched on a rooftop overlooking a sunlit Caribbean town in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

The remake runs on the same Anvil engine build used for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, with zero legacy code carried over from the 2013 original. Every system — combat, parkour, naval, AI — has been rebuilt from scratch.

Bigger Story, Bolder Characters

The core narrative of Edward Kenway’s Caribbean piracy is left intact, but Ubisoft Singapore has layered in new content for fan-favourite supporting cast. Original lead writer Darby McDevitt returned to pen two new scenes and revise an existing one, and new quest lines expand the stories of Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet — both of whom previously exited the narrative off-screen.

Lead Producer Justin Ng spoke to Press Start about the process: “The first thing we did was to ensure everything in the original was kept in terms of narrative. The story of Stede, Adéwalé, those things are basically one-to-one with the original. We worked together working out what more we could add to wrap up some of their stories, because some of the characters died off-screen or there were more things that we wanted to say.”

The modern-day Animus framing has also been reworked, replaced with “What If?” scenario rifts that keep players in the Caribbean without the tonal whiplash of the 2013 version. Ng added a candid note about the pressure of the project: “A joke I tell the team is that I used to have black hair and now it’s 50% white because of the stress.”

Edward Kenway in close-quarters combat in the rain in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

Gameplay Overhauls: Combat, Stealth, and Parkour

Nearly every mechanical system has been touched. Combat is faster and more fluid, with a new parry-and-riposte system and visceral takedown animations. Stealth benefits from a long-requested crouch-anywhere mechanic and a dive-anywhere option near water. The tailing and eavesdropping missions that punished players with instant-fail states in 2013 have been reworked — no more restarting a sequence because an NPC clipped through your route.

Parkour has new animations and smoother transitions, and Edward now has access to most of his action tools early in the game rather than gating them behind story progression. The full campaign is playable offline after download.

Naval Combat Evolved

This is where Ubisoft Singapore’s expertise shines hardest. The Jackdaw now comes with new officer companions, ship pets, and 10 new sea shanties on top of the original tracklist. Naval combat adds secondary weapons including shrapnel barrels and 8-pounders, and a dynamic weather system — fog banks, storms, shifting winds — affects both visibility and manoeuvring during engagements.

Two tall ships exchanging cannon fire on the open Caribbean sea in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

On the visual side, ray tracing and micropolygon rendering push the water, weather, and lighting to a level the original 2013 hardware could never have achieved. The PS5 version targets 60 FPS with ray tracing enabled; a PS5 Pro mode is also confirmed.

Editions, Pricing, and Where to Get It

Black Flag Resynced launches on 9 July 2026 in three editions:

  • Standard Edition — US$59.99 (digital & physical)
  • Deluxe Edition — US$69.99 (includes Blackbeard’s Crimson weapons and costume pack)
  • Collector’s Edition — US$199.99

The game is available on Steam, the Ubisoft Store, Epic Games Store, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It is also included with Ubisoft+ from day one. Regional pricing in SGD will vary by platform — check the PS Store or Steam’s Singapore storefront for local rates. Pre-ordering either digital edition unlocks the Blackbeard’s Crimson Pack at no extra cost.

Edward Kenway standing at the bow of the Jackdaw approaching a secluded Caribbean cove in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

For fans who have watched Singapore’s game development scene grow over the past decade, Black Flag Resynced is a milestone — a Singapore studio leading Ubisoft’s first-ever ground-up remake of a franchise flagship title. Whether you played the original or are coming in fresh, it’s one to watch when it hits your platform on 9 July. Find more upcoming game news here.

Pokémon Pokopia Switch 2 Bundle Coming to Singapore on 23 July at S$769.95

Nintendo Singapore has confirmed the Nintendo Switch 2 + Pokémon Pokopia bundle, launching locally on 23 July 2026 at S$769.95. The bundle pairs the Switch 2 console with a full digital download of Pokémon Pokopia — the acclaimed life-simulation game that critics called a spiritual combination of Minecraft, Viva Piñata, and Animal Crossing — making it one of the more compelling entry points for anyone still on the fence about upgrading.

Pokémon Pokopia – Launch Trailer – Nintendo Switch 2 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

What Is Pokémon Pokopia?

Released worldwide on 5 March 2026 as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, Pokémon Pokopia stars a peculiar Ditto who discovers it can transform into a human and uses that ability — along with moves learned from friendly Pokémon — to restore a desolate world one crafted item at a time. It is a relaxing life simulation developed by Game Freak and Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force, and it became one of the highest-rated Pokémon games on Metacritic at launch.

Gameplay revolves around gathering materials, crafting furniture and structures, farming crops, and transforming the land using moves borrowed from Pokémon companions — Bulbasaur to grow vegetation, Lapras for water, Dragonite for flight. Each Pokémon type favours different habitats, encouraging players to diversify what they build. You can customise your Ditto’s appearance, decorate your home, and invite other players to visit.

Nintendo Switch 2 and Pokémon Pokopia bundle hardware
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Bundle Contents and Value

The S$769.95 bundle includes the full Switch 2 hardware package — console, dock, Joy-Con 2 (L) and (R) with straps, Joy-Con 2 grip, AC adapter, USB-C charging cable, and an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable — alongside a full game download of Pokémon Pokopia (internet connection and Nintendo Account required). The Expansion Pass is sold separately.

Players who already own a Switch 2 can also pick up a Pokémon Pokopia + Expansion Pass bundle through the Nintendo eShop, while newcomers get the full console hardware and game in one purchase.

Pikachu character art from Pokémon Pokopia
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Co-op, Expansion Pass, and What’s Coming

Up to four players can enjoy building together in the same town, via local wireless or online co-op. GameShare support is also available. Nintendo Switch Online is not required for local play.

The Expansion Pass is a three-part paid DLC, sold separately: Part 1 — Bubbly Basin, an underwater explorable town, arrives in August 2026, followed by Part 2 in late 2026 and Part 3 in 2027. A free Version 2.0 update in August 2026 also adds the Dive move for every player, no purchase required. We broke down the full roadmap, the free Dive update, and the early-purchase bonuses in our Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass guide.

If you have been looking for a reason to pick up a Switch 2, this bundle lands at a good moment — Pokémon Pokopia has consistent active support, the base game is around 50+ hours to settle into comfortably, and the Expansion Pass gives even more to look forward to. Find the full confirmed game list for your Switch 2 in our game news section.

Snorlax character art from Pokémon Pokopia
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Halo Comes to PS5: Singapore Pricing and What’s New in Campaign Evolved

For the first time in gaming history, a Halo game is landing on a PlayStation console — and Singapore PS5 owners can pre-order it today. Halo: Campaign Evolved, developed by Halo Studios and published by Xbox Game Studios, launches on 28 July 2026 globally, with PlayStation Asia regions including Singapore going live on 29 July. The Standard Edition is priced at S$79.90 on the Singapore PlayStation Store, with a Premium Edition at S$109.90 that unlocks up to five days of early access — beginning 24 July in Singapore.

Halo: Campaign Evolved | New Missions Trailer | XBOX Games Showcase 2026 — via XBOX on YouTube

A Historic First: Halo Finally on PlayStation

Microsoft’s flagship shooter franchise has been a cornerstone of Xbox since the console’s debut in November 2001, when the original Halo: Combat Evolved shipped as a launch title. For over two decades, playing Halo meant owning an Xbox or a gaming PC. That exclusivity ends this July. Halo: Campaign Evolved is a ground-up remake of that original campaign — rebuilt with high-definition visuals, updated cinematics, and refined controls — and it is launching natively on PlayStation 5 at the same time as Xbox Series X|S and PC.

For Singapore PS5 owners who grew up hearing about Halo but never had a reason to pick up an Xbox, this is the definitive entry point into one of gaming’s most celebrated storylines.

Halo: Campaign Evolved gameplay screenshot showing the Halo ringworld environment
Image courtesy of Xbox Game Studios

What’s New Beyond the Original Campaign

Halo: Campaign Evolved is more than a visual upgrade. Halo Studios expanded the game to 13 total missions — the original 10, plus three new pre-campaign missions that follow Sergeant Avery Johnson in the lead-up to the ring’s discovery. These additions fill in story beats that fans have wanted for years.

The arsenal is expanded too: nine weapons from across the broader Halo series are now available, including the Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, and Needle Rifle. Vehicle hijacking — a fan-favourite mechanic from later games — is implemented throughout. Dozens of Skulls return to toggle gameplay modifiers. Cinematics have been rebuilt with full motion capture and returning voice actors, and Martin O’Donnell’s iconic soundtrack has been remastered with rebuilt sound design.

Halo: Campaign Evolved Master Chief combat gameplay
Image courtesy of Xbox Game Studios

Co-op, Crossplay, and Game Pass

The game supports two-player split-screen co-op on consoles and up to four-player online co-op across all platforms. Full crossplay and shared progression mean a Singapore PS5 player can team up with friends on Xbox Series X|S or PC without any barriers. Progress carries over if you ever switch platforms.

Xbox Game Pass subscribers get Halo: Campaign Evolved on day one at no extra cost. The game is also coming to PC via Steam for those who prefer that platform.

Halo: Campaign Evolved four-player online co-op
Image courtesy of Xbox Game Studios

Singapore Editions and Launch Dates

Two editions are available to pre-order on the Singapore PlayStation Store now:

  • Standard Edition — S$79.90: The full 13-mission campaign plus the Foundry Armory pre-order cosmetic pack.
  • Premium Edition — S$109.90: Everything in Standard, with up to five days early access (from 24 July in Singapore), the Alpha Halo Armory Pack, and a Digital Story & Art Collection with lore content.

For most Singapore players, the Standard Edition at S$79.90 is solid value for a campaign that comfortably clears ten hours. The Premium Edition is the pick if you want to play the moment early access opens on 24 July, or if the bonus cosmetics and lore collection appeal. The full standard launch for Singapore follows on 29 July.

Stay across all the biggest game releases hitting Singapore as July 2026 shapes up to be one of the strongest months on recent record.

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Everyday Wonders Drops Now With 100+ New Cards

Pokémon TCG Pocket’s newest themed booster pack, Everyday Wonders, is live right now on iOS and Android — and it brings one of the most charming card sets the game has ever released. With over 100 new cards built around a picnic-and-sunshine theme, it is a deliberate contrast to the Legendary-heavy sets that dominated the past year.

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Everyday Wonders | Official Trailer — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel on YouTube

What Is the Everyday Wonders Expansion?

Everyday Wonders (set code B3b) is the third themed booster pack for Pokémon TCG Pocket, the free-to-play digital card game available on iOS and Android worldwide. The set centres on a cosy, slice-of-life picnic theme: Pikachu posing on a tree stump in a flower-filled garden, Snorlax dozing in a sunlit meadow, Piplup gliding across a frozen lake. The five headline Pokémon are Pikachu, Piplup, Sylveon, Snorlax and Greedent.

According to the official Pokémon announcement, the expansion adds over 100 cards to the game, including a Mega Diancie ex making its debut in Pokémon TCG Pocket — the high-rarity chase pull collectors will be hunting from day one. Everyday Wonders packs join the standard two-per-day free rotation alongside existing sets immediately.

Pikachu full-art card from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders, illustrated by Yoshimi Miyoshi
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Key Cards Worth Pulling

The top targets are the full-art versions of the set’s five featured Pokémon. The Pikachu full art, illustrated by Yoshimi Miyoshi, places the series mascot on a wooden stage in a garden bursting with colour — the kind of card that sits in a sleeve and never gets played. Piplup‘s full art by HYOGONOSUKE captures the Water-type mid-Bubble Beam across a glittering ice rink, while Sylveon‘s full art by booota sets the Fairy-type in a dreamy kawaii bedroom lined with plush toys.

Sylveon full-art card from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders with Soothing Ribbon ability
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The competitive standout is Snorlax with the Massive Body Ability: while in the Active Spot, opponents cannot play Stadium cards from their hand. That is a genuine disruption tool in the current pocket meta where Stadiums swing damage calculations. Combined with 130 HP and a 70-damage Mega Punch, this Snorlax is a legitimate wall — illustrated here by veteran Pokémon card artist Atsuko Nishida.

Snorlax card from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders with Massive Body ability, illustrated by Atsuko Nishida
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

July Events: Mark Your Calendar

The launch is just the opening move. The Pokémon Company has a full events schedule lined up through July for Everyday Wonders players:

  • Everyday Wonders Emblem Event (early-to-mid July): Battle opponents to earn emblems and complete missions for shinedust and other rewards.
  • Community Week (mid-July): A trading-focused window with special missions — designed for coordinated swaps between friends and local groups chasing set completion.
  • Hisuian Zorua Drop Event & Growlithe/Emolga Wonder Pick (mid-to-late July): Special promo packs and bonus Wonder Picks for fans who stayed engaged through the month.
Piplup full-art card from Pokémon TCG Pocket Everyday Wonders, illustrated by HYOGONOSUKE
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Singapore Pocket Players: Open Your App Now

Pokémon TCG Pocket has no regional restrictions — if you are in Singapore, the Everyday Wonders packs are already waiting in your pack queue right now. The two free daily packs apply to the new set straight away, so you can start pulling without spending a single Pokégold.

The Community Week trading event in July is particularly worth noting for local players. Singapore’s TCG Pocket scene has expanded quickly, and the Community Week format is built exactly for the kind of coordinated trading that active local groups can exploit to complete sets efficiently.

Physical Pokémon fans should also know that the Pokémon Center Singapore recently reopened at Jewel Changi Airport — if Everyday Wonders’ cosy art style catches your eye, themed merchandise and physical TCG products are likely to follow at local game retailers in the weeks ahead. For more Pokémon and gaming news, stay tuned to GameTrader.SG.

Invincible VS Season 1 Is Live: Universa and The Immortal Enter the Fight

Invincible VS has hit its first major milestone: Season 1 launched today (30 June 2026) for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, adding two new playable fighters, a fresh game mode, and a clear roadmap through to December. If you’ve been on the fence about Quarter Up’s 3-on-3 superhero brawler since it launched in late April, the roster is growing fast.

Season One Launch Trailer | Invincible VS — via Invincible VS on YouTube

Universa: The Boost Vampire

Universa gameplay in Invincible VS Season 1
Image courtesy of Skybound Entertainment

Universa is a technical fighter built around resource theft. Her signature mechanic drains Boost gauge from opponents and redirects it to fuel her own offence — the more you siphon, the stronger her moves hit. She rewards patience and positional play, punishing opponents who overextend while banking their energy for her own burst windows.

The standout is her “Entropy” super: as Skybound noted in an Xbox Wire announcement, “one of our team’s favourite moves is her ‘Entropy’ super, which allows her to absorb incoming projectiles” and convert them directly into Boost. Against zoning-heavy teams, that kind of reversal can swing a round completely.

The Immortal: A Striker Who Won’t Stay Down

The Immortal character in Invincible VS
Image courtesy of Skybound Entertainment

The Immortal is a rushdown Striker designed to close distance fast and attack from multiple angles. What separates him mechanically is a once-per-match revival: when he’s KO’d for the first time, he comes back in a berserk state with boosted speed and enhanced combo potential. Manage that revival timing well and you essentially force your opponent to kill the same character twice.

Both characters are available now as part of the Season 1 DLC pack or via the Year 1 Pass, which covers all four DLC fighters releasing across 2026.

Endless Arcade Mode

Invincible VS arena and gameplay
Image courtesy of Skybound Entertainment

Season 1 also introduces Endless Arcade, a new mode that gives you structured challenges outside of competitive matches. It’s a welcome addition for players who want to grind mechanics and improve without jumping straight into ranked queues — and for newcomers still getting comfortable with the 3-on-3 tag format before going online.

What’s Still Coming: Angstrom Levy and Beyond

Invincible VS Year 1 content roadmap
Image courtesy of Skybound Entertainment

The Season 1 launch also locked in the rest of the Year 1 roadmap. Angstrom Levy — the dimension-hopping villain from Robert Kirkman’s comic — is confirmed as the third DLC character, arriving in Season 2 in October alongside a new game mode and cosmetics. Season 3 follows in December with a fourth fighter and a brand-new arena.

For Singapore’s fighting game crowd, the competitive calendar looks healthy. Quarter Up brought playable character demos to EVO Las Vegas 2026 over the weekend, and with more tournament appearances planned, the game’s esports ambitions appear genuine beyond just content drops.

How to Get It

Invincible VS is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, priced at USD $39.99 for the base game on Steam. Singapore players can pick it up from their regional PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, or Steam — check local storefronts for SGD pricing. Season 1 content is available separately or bundled in the Year 1 Pass. For more fighting game news, see our Game News archive.

Splatoon Raiders Direct Recap: Every Reveal From Today’s Deep Dive

Nintendo’s dedicated Splatoon Raiders Direct aired this morning — it’s late Tuesday night in Singapore right now, 22:00 SGT — and at just 23 days out from the 23 July launch, the 15-minute presentation went deep on the systems, environments, and co-op mechanics that make this Switch 2 exclusive unlike anything the Splatoon series has attempted before. Here’s everything that was shown.

Splatoon Raiders Direct 6.30.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube
Shiver, Big Man in explorer gear, and Frye from Deep Cut standing on a ship deck in Splatoon Raiders
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Splatoon’s First Proper Spin-Off

Splatoon Raiders is the franchise’s first full standalone spin-off — and the first entry to put single-player front and centre rather than bolting it on as an afterthought. You play as a fully customisable mechanic, either an Inkling or an Octoling, who washes up on the mysterious Spirhalite Islands alongside Deep Cut, Splatoon 3’s beloved trio of Shiver, Frye, and Big Man. The goal: hunt treasure, battle Salmonids, and uncover whatever secrets the islands are hiding.

Each raid sees one member of Deep Cut ride along inside an Exploration Bot as your AI companion, contributing to combat. The story behind the crew’s partnership is being told through a chapter-a-day comic series exclusive to the Nintendo Today! app, running from 23 June all the way to launch day. If you haven’t been following those, they’re well worth catching up on before the game drops.

Splatoon Raiders dungeon menu map showing Tygoru Island, Erpp Island, and Lehlo Island
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Raiding Across the Spirhalite Islands

The Dungeon Menu is your campaign map: a top-down archipelago of islands, each with multiple raid sites at varying difficulty tiers. Islands confirmed in screenshots include Tygoru, Erpp, and Lehlo — each visually distinct and housing different enemy compositions. You pick a site, load in, and push as deep as you can to retrieve treasure.

Crucially, the game supports co-op for up to four players, both locally and online. Difficulty scales with party size, so bringing three friends along turns a manageable dungeon into a proper group challenge. For Singapore players, that’s Switch 2 local wireless if your squad is in the same room, or online play for anyone spread across the island.

Splatoon Raiders – Gameplay Video – Nintendo Treehouse: Live | June 2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube
Splatoon Raiders outdoor combat with the player fighting a large Salmonid enemy, Deep Cut Exploration Bot visible
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Combat, Gadgets, and the Crafting Loop

Combat keeps Splatoon’s ink-shooter identity but layers on a full RPG progression system — damage numbers, enemy health pools, and persistent loot. The core crafting loop runs on Spirhalite Shards (mined from ore nodes across each island) and Salmonid equipment dropped by defeated enemies, both of which feed into upgrading your Gadgets.

Gadgets are a new weapon class: deployable, upgradeable sub-weapons that you can slot two of at a time. Each Gadget accepts Gadget Parts dropped by specific enemy types, unlocking expanded range, power, or entirely new effects. Separately, Salmonid relics found during raids grant passive combat abilities that layer on top of your Gadgets — meaning build variety is a genuine part of the loop.

Splatoon Raiders Upgrade Tanks screen showing HP, Weapon Damage, Gadget Damage, and Gadget Part Slots stats
Image courtesy of Nintendo

The Upgrade Tank System

The Direct’s clearest reveal of the game’s progression depth was the Upgrade Tanks screen. Stats you can upgrade include HP, Weapon Damage, Gadget Damage, and Gadget Part Slots — the last of which determines how many parts you can attach to each Gadget. Screenshots show Part Slots moving from 14 to 16 with one upgrade, giving a sense of the granularity on offer. Upgrades cost Skill Points, and a “Limiter Release” system lets you break through upgrade ceilings by spending additional points.

Splatoon Raiders underground cave dungeon combat with the player and Salmonid enemies in a bioluminescent cave environment
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Underground Dungeons and Cave Raids

One of the most striking pieces of footage was the underground dungeon content — cave environments that are visually and mechanically distinct from the overworld islands. The cave raid screenshots show denser Salmonid encounters in close-quarters, darker spaces, complete with different enemy types not seen in outdoor areas. These dungeons appear to serve as the high-difficulty endgame content for each island.

Accessories, Amiibo, and the Splatoon 3 Splatfest

Three pieces of related content launch on or around 23 July:

  • Deep Cut Joy-Con 2 — a blue-and-yellow controller set themed around Shiver, Frye, and Big Man, launching 23 July alongside the game.
  • Deep Cut amiibo — individual figures of all three members at US$24.99 each. Nintendo has not yet detailed their in-game functionality.
  • Splatoon 3 Splatfest — a Raiders-themed Splatfest runs 10–12 July, giving Splatoon 3 players on the original Switch a taste of the new game’s energy before launch.

When Singapore Gets It

Splatoon Raiders is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive launching globally on 23 July 2026. The digital edition is listed at US$49.99 on the US Nintendo eShop, with the physical edition at US$59.99; check the Singapore Nintendo eShop for local SGD pricing. Physical copies will be available at major game retailers and electronics chains from launch day. For a look at all things Switch 2, browse our Game News coverage.

Hantu and Hunted: Singapore Studio Zeevium Games Drops Gameplay Reveal

A Singapore studio just put our own folklore on the map — and made it terrifying. Hantu and Hunted (stylised HaH!), an asymmetric horror prop-hunt game built around the legendary ghosts of Southeast Asia, has dropped its official gameplay reveal. Developer Zeevium Games is a local Singapore studio, and the game is now live on Steam for wishlisting ahead of an Early Access launch targeting Q4 2026.

Hantu and Hunted – Official Gameplay Reveal | Southeast Asian Horror Prop Hunt — via Zeevium Games on YouTube

What Is Hantu and Hunted?

At its core, HaH! is an asymmetric game of hide-and-seek — but instead of cowering in a corner, the humans can morph into props to avoid detection. Meanwhile, one or more players step into the role of a Hantu, a Southeast Asian ghost with the sole purpose of sniffing out the living.

There are no guns, no upgrade trees, and no health bars to grind. Your survival depends entirely on how convincingly you can pretend to be a crate. Or a lamp. Or a durian. Yes, a durian.

Hantu and Hunted prop morph gameplay screenshot
Image courtesy of Zeevium Games

A match plays out in three acts. First, The Awakening: players pick their roles — humans scramble for cover while the Hantus lurk in the shadows. Then comes the main phase, Hide or Hunt: humans must move through the map collecting Batuprana crystals and feeding them into Rupavarna Machines to power up their escape. Working together speeds things up, but any noise draws the Hantu’s attention. Finally, The Final Escape: once the machines are humming, portals open — and it becomes a mad dash for the exit before the Hantu reaches full power.

Meet the Hantus — Southeast Asian Folklore in the Spotlight

Hantu and Hunted playable ghost characters from SEA folklore
Image courtesy of Zeevium Games

This is where HaH! stands apart from every Western prop-hunt game on the market. Instead of a generic masked killer or a jump-scare creature, the ghost roster is drawn directly from Southeast Asian mythology — the kind of folklore most Singapore kids grew up hearing about:

  • Pocong — the bound shroud ghost of Malay and Indonesian tradition
  • Kuntilanak — the malevolent female spirit that haunts tropical forests
  • Kuyang — the infamous flying-head entity from Borneo and Sabah lore
  • Hantu Raya — a powerful, commanding ghost rooted deep in Malay belief
  • Amalanhig — a zombie-like pursuer from Filipino mythology

Each ghost has a distinct toolkit designed to flush out hiding humans, so choosing which Hantu to play will shape your entire hunting strategy.

Your Best Weapon Is a Durian

Hantu and Hunted multiplayer prop-hunt action
Image courtesy of Zeevium Games

For the human side, the morph mechanic is everything. Players can transform into hundreds of objects scattered across each map — chairs, crates, barrels, and yes, a durian. Maps include environments like an eerie village and a floating market, both thick with furniture and everyday objects to blend into. The catch: collecting Batuprana crystals requires movement, and movement makes noise.

Tension escalates as the match goes on. Both sides unlock power spikes as crystals are collected, pushing the final moments of each round into a high-intensity finale where the Hantu reaches its most terrifying form. It is designed to be the kind of game where one wrong step triggers a full-volume Discord meltdown.

Built by Singapore, Built for Southeast Asia

Hantu and Hunted eerie village map environment
Image courtesy of Zeevium Games

Zeevium Games is a local Singapore studio, making HaH! a rare local indie production targeting the global PC market. The game launches with proximity voice chat built in — hear the Hantu breathing as it closes in on you — and it is designed explicitly for multiplayer chaos with friends.

Crucially for regional players, the game will support Malay, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese at launch, alongside English and several European languages. That language list reads like the Steam storefront’s own Southeast Asian wishlist, and it signals that Zeevium is targeting the home audience deliberately.

The Early Access launch is slated for Q4 2026 on Windows PC via Steam. No SGD pricing has been announced yet. You can add it to your Steam wishlist now to be notified when it drops. For more local and regional game releases, check out our Singapore Gaming Scene coverage.

Overwatch × YOASOBI: The “Orion” Collab Is Live Today

Two cultural juggernauts just collided: YOASOBI and Overwatch have launched their crossover event today, 30 June 2026, and it runs through 20 July. Six new legendary skins, an original track called “Orion,” and a full animated music video produced by A-1 Pictures are all live in-game right now — and Singapore players can jump in immediately.

Overwatch x YOASOBI | Official Gameplay Trailer — via PlayOverwatch on YouTube

What the Overwatch × YOASOBI Collab Is About

The collaboration was unveiled at a dedicated press event in Tokyo in May, bringing together Blizzard Entertainment and the duo behind some of the biggest anime themes of the past five years — Idol (Oshi no Ko), Beastars, Blue Lock, and more. The event centres on the Shimada clan storyline, told from Kiriko’s perspective through a new in-game short story called The Fall of a Sparrow, exploring what it means to grow apart, hold on, and eventually find a way back — the three “stars” of Orion’s Belt mapped onto Kiriko, Genji, and Hanzo.

A new Tokyo-themed map, Neon Junction, was added to the game alongside the event, giving matches a futuristic J-pop cityscape backdrop complete with neon signage and floating screens.

All Six Legendary Skins — Neon Lights, Hard-Light and Kanji Motifs

Every skin in the collaboration is legendary-tier and carries YOASOBI’s signature aesthetic: neon colours, hard-light accents, kanji-inspired design details, ambient visual effects, and exclusive dance emotes set to YOASOBI’s music. The full roster:

  • Fox Star Kiriko — the centrepiece of the collab; her fox companion gets a spectral, glowing redesign
  • Dragon Star Genji — vibrant neon styling that celebrates the hero he has become
  • Dragon Star Hanzo — luminous hard-light accents and striking kanji details, carrying the weight of his past
  • Spirit Star Mizuki — premium lighting effects with a custom spirit-energy aesthetic
  • Space Star Juno — wonder and optimism, reimagined in neon
  • Fire Star Anran — bold confidence blended with kanji-inspired elements and fiery VFX
Fox Star Kiriko concept art front and back view, Overwatch x YOASOBI collab
Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

Skins can be purchased individually or as part of a YOASOBI Mega Bundle through the in-game shop. Pricing in-game follows standard Overwatch legendary skin rates. If you’re an Overwatch player in Singapore or Southeast Asia, the shop is accessible as usual — no region lock applies to this event.

Fox Star Kiriko with spirit fox companion in the Neon Junction map, Overwatch x YOASOBI
Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

“Orion” — The Song, the Story, and A-1 Pictures

YOASOBI composed the original track Orion specifically for this collaboration, blending their signature high-tempo J-pop with futuristic electronic drums and the sound of the Japanese koto — a nod to the Shimada brothers’ heritage. The song is also included on YOASOBI’s new EP THE BOOK for, released on 26 June.

Composer Ayase described the creation process as making music with “the utmost respect” for Overwatch as a work, as reported by Saiga NAK at the Tokyo announcement (Japanese). An animated music video accompanying Orion was produced entirely by A-1 Pictures — the studio behind Solo Leveling, Kaguya-sama: Love is War, and Sword Art Online — and is accessible in-game through the collab event page.

YOASOBI Overwatch collaboration vinyl record featuring Kiriko, Genji and Hanzo artwork
Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment
Mizuki Spirit Star skin in the Neon Junction map, Overwatch x YOASOBI collab
Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

How Long You Have to Grab It

The Overwatch × YOASOBI event runs until 20 July 2026 — roughly three weeks from today. Once the event ends, event-exclusive cosmetics typically rotate out of the shop, so if any of the six skins appeal to you, plan your purchase before the deadline. Keep an eye on our game news section for any last-call reminders as July 20 approaches.