Category Archives: Game News

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls — ArcSys’ Marvel Fighter Launches August 6 on PS5 and PC

A new Marvel fighting game is six weeks away — and it is not who you might expect behind it. Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, developed by Arc System Works and published by PlayStation, launches on August 6, 2026 on PS5 and PC. EVO 2026 this weekend served as the game’s biggest showcase yet, revealing Magneto’s full movelist and hosting a pre-release community tournament.

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls – Official Announce Trailer — via PlayStation on YouTube

What Is Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls?

This is Arc System Works — the studio behind Guilty Gear -STRIVE- and Dragon Ball FighterZ — applying their signature high-quality anime-fighter DNA to the Marvel universe. The result is a 2D fighting game with a comic-book art style that blends American superhero aesthetics with Japanese manga linework. Rather than licensing a generic Marvel brawler, the two companies built an original storyline around a new threat menacing Earth, with the characters and roster structured around thematic teams.

The game was announced earlier this year via a PlayStation State of Play, where producer Takeshi Yamanaka presented the debut trailer and the game’s first roster details on the PlayStation Blog.

Marvel Tōkon Fighting Souls Unbreakable X-Men team key visual with Wolverine, Storm, Magik and Danger
Image courtesy of Arc System Works / Marvel

The Roster — Two Teams Confirmed, One More Coming

Characters in Marvel Tōkon are grouped into named teams, each with its own narrative role in the story. Two teams are fully revealed:

The Unbreakable X-Men — the game’s hero-side starting lineup. Many of the X-Men’s core members are out of action following a recent battle, so a reformed team steps up: Storm (the squad leader, controlling wind and lightning), Magik (wielding her Soulsword and mutant sorcery), Wolverine (battle-scarred but very much unbroken), and Danger (the Danger Room’s AI, who gained autonomy and a physical body). It is an unusual mix of classic and deeper-cut X-Men that suggests ArcSys went carefully into the comics when building the story.

The Knights of Doom — the villain team and the mirror to the X-Men. Confirmed: Magneto, Doctor Doom, Carnage, and Green Goblin. Each is a powerhouse, and the pairing of Doom and Magneto in particular has FGC players very interested in how their team dynamic plays out in-story.

A third team built around Ghost Rider is confirmed but still has three unannounced fighters remaining.

Magneto full movelist card for Marvel Tōkon Fighting Souls, showing Skills and Super Skill inputs
Image courtesy of Arc System Works / Marvel

Magneto at EVO 2026 — How He Plays

At EVO 2026 this weekend, Arc System Works and PlayStation shared Magneto’s complete movelist alongside competitive pre-release match footage. According to the official movelist card and gameplay shown at the event, Magneto plays as a heavy technical zoner — a big, hard-hitting character who also has significant ranged control:

  • Magnetic Blast — a core projectile, usable in the air
  • Gravity Bind — a grounded ranged tool
  • Polarity Shift — another aerial-capable skill
  • Shrapnel Spike — sets up debris in the air
  • Metallic Meteor (Unique Ability) — his signature tool for powering up his skills and charged attacks
  • Magnetic Maelstrom (Super Skill, 50 gauge) — usable in the air
  • Magnetic Retribution (Ultimate Skill, 100 gauge)
  • Tōkon Assemble (150 gauge) — a comeback mechanic available only when one round away from losing

In action during the EVO pre-release tournament, Magneto proved capable of grabbing opponents across the screen with magnetic debris and dragging them into combos — the kind of screen-controlling game that will appeal to players coming from the Sentinel or Dormammu school of Marvel fighters.

Storm gameplay close-up in Marvel Tōkon Fighting Souls, channelling lightning with glowing eyes
Image courtesy of Arc System Works / Marvel

Episode Mode — An Original Marvel Story

Beyond the versus mode, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls includes an Episode Mode with a fully original narrative written in collaboration with a writer from the original Marvel Comics. The story is told through motion comics — a format that blends the look of American comics with Japanese manga panel flow — and centres on a new, unnamed threat closing in on Earth and the opposing hero and villain factions scrambling to respond. ArcSys described the collaboration as crafting a world and story built specifically for this game, not an adaptation of an existing arc.

PS5 and PC — What Singapore Players Need to Know

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is a PS5 and PC exclusive — no Switch, no Xbox. For Singapore, that is a straightforward availability picture: the PS5 is widely stocked at local game retailers, and the PC version will be on Steam. The game launches globally on August 6, 2026. No Singapore-specific pre-order bonus or separate SEA pricing has been announced as of this writing; expect standard PlayStation Store and Steam pricing to apply.

With ArcSys behind the wheel and EVO 2026 generating strong early community interest, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is shaping up as one of the bigger PS5 releases of the second half of 2026 for Singapore fighting game fans.

Guilty Gear Strive: Robo-Ky Drops July 2 — Traps, Mech-Arms and a Whole New Identity

Arc System Works handed Singapore’s fighting game community an EVO 2026 weekend surprise: Robo-Ky is coming to Guilty Gear -STRIVE- on July 2, 2026, and he plays nothing like the Ky Kiske he was built to imitate.

GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- Season Pass 5 Playable Character #2 [Robo-Ky] Trailer — via Arc System Works America on YouTube

Who Is Robo-Ky?

Robo-Ky is a mechanical replica of Ky Kiske, originally created by the Post-War Administration Bureau and a series veteran going back to Guilty Gear XX. The visual callback is deliberate — the blonde hair, the long coat — but Arc System Works made clear that his personality in -STRIVE- is entirely his own, and more importantly, so is his fighting style. Where Ky channels holy lightning into a disciplined, well-rounded game, Robo-Ky runs on gadgetry, unpredictability, and mechanical chaos.

Robo-Ky full character render for Guilty Gear Strive Season 5 DLC
Image courtesy of Arc System Works

What Robo-Ky Brings to the Fight

The gameplay trailer — shown publicly for the first time at EVO 2026 this weekend — lays out a kit built around making every inch of the screen feel dangerous. Three things define him:

  • Movement that hits back — Robo-Ky’s mobility options are unconventional, and the sting is that they double as attacks. Approaching him carelessly, or trying to read a dash, means eating damage.
  • Traps and projectile layering — He can plant traps on screen that interact with his projectile tools, building pressure that compounds. Getting cornered by a Robo-Ky who has set his board up is a messy situation to escape.
  • The Ora-Ora-Ora super — The moment everyone’s screenshotting: a series of mechanical arms extends from his body and unleashes a rapid-fire flurry of punches. It is exactly as ridiculous as it sounds, and the community is already loving it.
Robo-Ky close-up face shot showing glowing mechanical eyes in Guilty Gear Strive
Image courtesy of Arc System Works

Season 5 — Where Things Stand

Robo-Ky is Season Pass 5 Character #2, following Jam Kuradoberi who was recently added to the roster. Two more unnamed characters are still to come in Season 5, with identities unannounced. The July 2 update that brings Robo-Ky also adds Blazing Pass Duel 2: Ennui Protocol, continuing the game’s story mode content, alongside new cosmetics. If you hold Season Pass 5, Robo-Ky unlocks automatically on day one; he is also available as a standalone DLC purchase.

Robo-Ky in mechanical crate setting, Guilty Gear Strive Season 5 DLC screenshot
Image courtesy of Arc System Works

Singapore FGC — Mark July 2

Guilty Gear -STRIVE- has consistent representation in Singapore’s local fighting game circuit, from casuals at game cafes to ranked grinders on Steam. Robo-Ky lands on July 2 across all platforms where -STRIVE- is supported. With EVO 2026 wrapping its finals today and the FGC hype running high, the timing of this reveal is no accident — expect Singapore players to be lab-ing Robo-Ky traps by the end of the week.

For other fighting game news from this weekend’s EVO, check our recent coverage.

Zohar Is Coming to Under Night In-Birth II This Summer

Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes is getting its fourth DLC character this summer: Zohar, the claw-wielding fighter known as the Doppelganger. Developer French-Bread and publisher Arc System Works dropped the reveal trailer at EVO 2026, and alongside the character announcement comes a substantial update that rewrites several of the game’s competitive fundamentals.

Who Is Zohar?

Zohar is described in the official announcement as one of the founding members of the Bankikai — the organisation she helped build alongside Ogre and Strix. Her title, the Doppelganger, hints at some form of imitation or transformation ability, though Arc System Works hasn’t yet revealed her full fighting style. She is voiced by Aiko Okubo.

The reveal trailer is deliberately light on gameplay — a menacing close-up, a claw strike, and her character title card with the tagline “Claws encroaching unseen.” Full moveset details are scheduled to arrive before her summer release window.

A Major Competitive Update Lands With Her

Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes gameplay — Hyde vs Seth clash with blue and red energy effects
Image courtesy of Arc System Works / French-Bread

The character reveal is only part of the story. The update arriving this summer brings sweeping changes across the game:

  • Balance overhaul: A broad review of combo damage and gauge gain to curb power creep, plus revisions to the Steer Ender and Throw Escape mechanics and adjustments to powerful moves across the roster.
  • Ranked system for high-level play: High-ranked matches will now see Rating Points fluctuate alongside traditional RIP, with a dedicated ranking leaderboard added for serious competitors.
  • Improved training tools: Frame data now displays opponent information and gap frames in sequences. Frame data is also viewable in Replay Mode — a feature the competitive community has requested for a long time.
  • Mission Mode upgrade: Players can now review their previous play within Mission Mode.

The stated goal of reducing power creep positions this as a proper competitive reset, not a light patch. Players who have found certain combo routes or mechanics dominant should expect a meaningfully different meta after the update lands.

Watch the Zohar Reveal Trailer

[UNI2]Zohar Reveal Trailer — via arcsystemworks on YouTube

UNIB II in Singapore’s FGC

Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes gameplay — Merkava vs Vatista at a poolside stage
Image courtesy of Arc System Works / French-Bread

Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes is available on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. The game occupies a distinct corner of the anime fighter ecosystem — its deliberate neutral pacing and EXS gauge mechanics attract players who want more strategic depth than the faster-paced alternatives. Singapore’s FGC has a consistent UNIB presence at local brackets and online events.

Zohar is the fourth DLC slot. The Bankikai lore — with Ogre and Strix named alongside her — leaves room for more additions, though nothing beyond Zohar has been announced. Follow GameTrader game news for the full moveset reveal and a confirmed release date as we get closer to summer.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Gets Id DLC and Switch 2 This September

Cygames and Arc System Works had two big Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising announcements at EVO 2026, and they packaged them together: Id — the brooding swordsman from Granblue Fantasy: Relink — is the next DLC character, and the game is finally coming to Nintendo Switch 2. Both drop on September 17 as part of the version 2.60 update.

Who Is Id in Granblue Fantasy?

Id reveal close-up in Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising — white-haired swordsman with purple energy effects
Image courtesy of Cygames

Id is one of the standout characters from Granblue Fantasy: Relink, the 2024 action RPG set in the same Granblue universe. He’s a white-haired swordsman with overwhelming raw power and dark, violet-black energy — exactly the type that tends to become an instant fighting game fan favourite. The reveal clip shows those trademark effects and that cold, composed stare. If his Relink toolkit carries over in any form, expect an aggressive style that pressures at close range.

Arc System Works hasn’t released a full moveset breakdown yet. Complete character details will come closer to the September 17 release date — the teaser is deliberately light on gameplay, leaning on the character’s existing Granblue fanbase to do the work.

Switch 2 Version: A First for the Series

Nintendo Switch 2 running Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising — Switch 2 version arrives September 17
Image courtesy of Cygames

GBVSR has been a PS5, PS4 and PC (Steam) title since its 2023 launch. The Switch 2 version announced at EVO 2026 is the game’s first Nintendo platform release, and it arrives fully updated — Switch 2 players get the complete version 2.60 build including Id, the new stage and the new system mechanic from launch day.

For Singapore players who own a Switch 2 and passed on GBVSR on other platforms, September 17 becomes a clean entry point. The portability factor is a genuine upside for anyone who wants to grind matchups anywhere. No SGD pricing has been confirmed for the Switch 2 version or the Id DLC as of this writing — that should surface as we get closer to launch.

Everything in the Version 2.60 Update

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Version 2.60 update contents — arriving September 17 2026
Image courtesy of Cygames

The version 2.60 update drops simultaneously across PS5, PS4, PC and Switch 2 on September 17. Confirmed contents:

  • New DLC character: Id
  • New stage
  • New system mechanic
  • Adjustments to existing system mechanics
  • Character balance changes
  • New costume

The balance pass is described broadly — expect a meaningful tune-up to the meta rather than a light touch. Arc System Works will share specific details on the new mechanic and Id’s full kit before launch.

Watch the Official Id Reveal

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising – Id Teaser — via Cygames EN on YouTube

Where Singapore’s Fighting Game Scene Stands on GBVSR

GBVSR has found a steady home in Singapore’s fighting game community since launch. It shows up regularly at local ranbats and online brackets alongside the bigger titles, and its approachable mechanics pull in both Granblue RPG fans and dedicated anime-fighter players. The arrival of Id — a character with strong existing recognition from Relink — and the Switch 2 debut are exactly the kind of double announcement that keeps the player base engaged between major updates.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is available now on PS5, PS4 and PC via Steam. The Switch 2 version and Id DLC both arrive on September 17. Check back on GameTrader game news for full moveset details and confirmed regional pricing when they drop.

Avatar Legends Year 1 DLC: Iroh, Ty Lee, Lin Beifong, Bolin

The EVO 2026 panel for Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game delivered what fans had been waiting for: the full Year 1 DLC lineup, a community vote for a fifth character, and pre-orders open now ahead of the game’s July 23 launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC Steam, and Nintendo Switch.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game | Console Pre-Order Trailer — via Paramount Games on YouTube

The Confirmed Four: Who Is Joining the Roster

Iroh leads the lineup — the tea-loving, wisdom-dispensing, lightning-wielding firebender from Avatar: The Last Airbender. His move set draws on fire breath, dragon-based techniques, and lightning, with the developers hinting that his signature wisdom will show up in “some smart tricks” that distinguish him from the Zuko and Azula already on the launch roster.

Ty Lee is the non-bender of the group, built around acrobatics, movement, and chi-blocking — expect a highly mobile, pressure-based character who can physically shut down an opponent’s bending mid-fight. From The Legend of Korra, Lin Beifong trades Toph’s raw earthbending for metalbending precision: her retractable cables are the headline tool, giving her range control and punish options unlike anyone else in the cast. Rounding out the quartet is Bolin, whose lavabending means he can literally set the ground on fire — a “floor is lava” situation that no other character in the game can create.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game Year 1 DLC lineup — Iroh, Ty Lee, Lin Beifong, Bolin
Image courtesy of PM Studios / Gameplay Group International

Vote for the Fifth Character

The fifth and final Year 1 slot goes to a fan vote — open exclusively to players who pre-order the game. Five candidates are on the table:

  • Tenzin — airbending master, mobility specialist
  • Kuvira — mid-range metalbending control character
  • Amon — the Equalist leader, chi-blocking plus bloodbending undertones
  • King Bumi — trickster earthbender with ground teleportation
  • Asami Sato — tech-based fighter using electric gloves and traps
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game Year 1 DLC voting candidates — Tenzin, Kuvira, Amon, King Bumi, Asami Sato
Image courtesy of PM Studios / Gameplay Group International

Voting opens in late summer once the game is live. Pre-order now and you’re in; the vote is not open to non-pre-order players.

Pre-Order Details and What You Get

The base game is priced at $29.99 USD. Pre-ordering — via PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store/Xbox, or Steam — gets you:

  • Closed beta access, July 2–5, 2026
  • Gold costume variants for six characters
  • Samurai Appa support skin
  • Eligibility to vote for the fifth Year 1 DLC character

The Deluxe Edition bundles the base game with a digital art book, the game’s soundtrack, unique HUDs, and the full Year 1 Pass — all five DLC characters as they release. Year 1 Pass pricing has not been announced separately.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game — Aang vs Korra gameplay
Image courtesy of PM Studios / Gameplay Group International

Availability and What It Means for Singapore Players

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game launches July 23 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam), and Nintendo Switch — with a Nintendo Switch 2 version also confirmed. Rollback netcode and full cross-play are built in from day one, which matters for the regional scene: Singapore and Southeast Asian players will share matchmaking with the broader global pool rather than being stranded in a smaller regional shard.

The beta on July 2–5 is particularly useful for the local FGC — it’s a chance to feel out the netcode and character matchups before the full release, and to lock in your DLC vote. For context on the base roster and game mechanics, see our earlier coverage of the July 23 launch announcement. For more fighting game news and game news, check the category archive.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game — Azula gameplay breakdown
Image courtesy of PM Studios / Gameplay Group International

Tekken 8 Season 3 at EVO 2026: Bob Drops This Summer, Yujiro Hanma From Baki Confirmed

As EVO 2026 heads into its final day in Las Vegas, Bandai Namco is set to debut Bob’s gameplay trailer live on the biggest fighting game stage of the year — completing the four-fighter roster for Tekken 8’s Season 3 and giving the global FGC, including Singapore’s competitive Tekken scene, a clear picture of what’s coming through to early 2027.

Tekken 8 Season 3 Full Roster: Four Fighters, One Anime Crossover

The Season 3 pass, announced by Bandai Namco in February 2026, lines up four characters across the rest of this year and into 2027:

  • Kunimitsu — Already live. Launched June 1, 2026 (early access May 27 for Season Pass holders). The kunoichi hasn’t appeared in a mainline Tekken entry since Tekken Tag Tournament 2.
  • Bob — Gameplay trailer premiering at EVO 2026 before the Tekken 8 Top 8 on Sunday June 28. Release window: Summer 2026 (July–September).
  • Roger Jr. — The boxing kangaroo duo confirmed for Autumn 2026 (October–December).
  • Yujiro Hanma — The “Strongest Creature on Earth” from Baki the Grappler arrives Early 2027, announced at Combo Breaker 2026 in May.
TEKKEN 8 – Season 3 Trailer — via Bandai Namco Entertainment America on YouTube

Kunimitsu: The Kunoichi Is Already in the Fight

Tekken 8 Kunimitsu Gameplay Reveal Trailer key art
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Season 3’s first character is live right now. Kunimitsu returned to Tekken 8 on June 1, bringing her illusion-heavy kunoichi blade-work into the Heat system. She’s available individually on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam, or through the Season 3 Pass. If you’ve been sitting on the fence, she’s ready to play.

Bob’s EVO 2026 Moment

Tekken 8 Bob character reveal — Summer 2026
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Bob’s individual gameplay trailer premieres before Tekken 8’s Top 8 at EVO 2026 on Sunday — which for Singapore viewers following the live stream means the early hours of Monday morning (SGT). The heavyweight martial arts prodigy last appeared in Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and returns here with a refreshed look, complete with what the Season 3 reveal trailer teases as a skateboard-assisted moveset. His Summer 2026 window means he could drop as early as next month.

Roger Jr. Steps Back Into the Ring This Autumn

Tekken 8 Roger Jr. character reveal — Autumn 2026
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

The boxing kangaroo who debuted in Tekken 3 — and whose joey fights alongside him as part of his moveset — is confirmed for Autumn 2026. Roger Jr. has been absent from mainline Tekken since Tag Tournament 2, and his return has been one of the community’s most-requested comebacks for years. No specific date yet within the autumn window.

Yujiro Hanma: The Demon Back Comes to Tekken in 2027

Yujiro Hanma Tekken 8 announcement — manga-art reveal
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

The headline crossover of Season 3 is Yujiro Hanma — antagonist and terrifying centrepiece of Keisuke Itagaki’s Baki the Grappler manga and the Netflix anime adaptation. Announced at Combo Breaker 2026 in May, Yujiro is best known for his signature “Demon Back”: the demonic face that manifests across his back muscles when he unleashes full power. He’s the defining example of a character so absurdly overpowered that dropping him into a fighting game feels like a natural fit.

For Singapore fans already watching Baki on Netflix, Yujiro Hanma competing in the Iron Fist Tournament against Kazuya and Heihachi is the kind of crossover that writes itself. His Early 2027 window gives Bandai Namco time to properly render his trademark moves, and if the teaser announcement trailer’s manga-panel art direction is any indication, the team is leaning into the source material.

Season 3 passes are available now on PlayStation Store, Xbox, and Steam. Keep an eye on the Game News section here for Bob’s full gameplay breakdown once Sunday’s EVO trailer drops, and follow the rest of the Tekken 8 Top 8 on the official EVO Twitch channel.

Virtua Fighter Crossroads: First New VF in 20 Years, Made by the Yakuza Team

Virtua Fighter is back. Twenty years after VF5 launched in arcades, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio — the team behind Like a Dragon — has announced Virtua Fighter Crossroads, a new mainline entry for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, set for 2027. This is the first genuinely new mainline Virtua Fighter since 2006, and it looks like no one has forgotten how to build a fighter.

VIRTUA FIGHTER CROSSROADS | Official Reveal Trailer — via VIRTUA FIGHTER on YouTube

What Is Virtua Fighter Crossroads?

Developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by SEGA, Crossroads was first revealed at Summer Game Fest 2026 and showcased further at EVO 2026 this week. It is a ground-up new entry — not a remaster, not a re-release — with a confirmed 2027 launch window on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam.

The game merges traditional 3D Virtua Fighter combat with a full narrative adventure campaign built along the lines of RGG’s Like a Dragon titles. SEGA describes it as “a narrative adventure that transcends the boundaries of fighting games,” and from the content shown so far, that is not marketing hyperbole: Crossroads features chapters with completion tracking, side quests, multiple protagonists with interlocking stories, and a richly detailed open city to move through.

Meet Cielo — and the New and Returning Fighters

Virtua Fighter Crossroads character select screen showing Cielo and Stella with their fighting styles and nationalities
Image courtesy of SEGA

Cielo is the game’s new protagonist: a Paraguayan-American underground MMA fighter who calls the walled city of Villaspara home. He enters the Vila Fight Fest after refusing to throw a match, and his story spirals from there. His moveset is MMA/Balanced — a grounded, read-heavy style that fits squarely into VF’s design philosophy of clean, style-pure combat.

Alongside Cielo is Stella, an American kickboxer, among other new characters yet to be revealed. Returning veterans Akira Yuki, Pai Chan and Wolf Hawkfield confirm that the series’ iconic cast has not been replaced, only expanded. The creative team behind the narrative is formidable: scenario writing draws on Shinji Yamamoto (Persona 5 Royal), direction from Takeshi Furuta (Yakuza series) and world-building by screenwriter Brad Kane, who was lead writer on Ghost of Tsushima.

VIRTUA FIGHTER CROSSROADS | Cielo Story Trailer — via SEGA on YouTube

Villaspara Looks Like Somewhere You Know

Virtua Fighter Crossroads — a detailed Southeast Asian street market in Villaspara
Image courtesy of SEGA
Virtua Fighter Crossroads — atmospheric underground arena corridor in Villaspara
Image courtesy of SEGA

Virtua Fighter Crossroads is set in Villaspara, a fictional walled city in Southeast Asia divided into a city centre, entertainment district and resort area. The environments shown so far — a sun-lit street market dense with local goods, a gritty underground fight corridor opening onto an arena — are assembled from the visual language of the region in a way that will feel immediately recognisable to players across Singapore and SEA.

This is not a generic pan-Asian backdrop. RGG Studio built Kamurocho over the course of two decades, and that same obsessive environmental detail is visible in every Crossroads screenshot. Villaspara is a city you want to walk through, which is exactly what the narrative mode asks you to do.

Story Mode, Side Quests and the Like a Dragon Blueprint

Virtua Fighter Crossroads story chapter select screen showing Vila Fight Fest missions and chapter completion tracking
Image courtesy of SEGA

The story campaign is structured in chapters with completion percentages and branching side objectives — exactly the loop RGG has refined across every Like a Dragon entry. Chapter missions carry names like “Vila Fight Fest: Round One” and “Glad Tidings of Betrayal,” pointing toward an underground fighting circuit narrative with political undercurrents. Supporting characters have their own dedicated side quests tracked alongside the main story.

Crossroads also supports fully competitive online versus play for players who want to skip the story and go straight to ranked matches. Both modes appear to run off the same underlying fighting system, so every hour spent in the campaign builds the muscle memory that transfers to competitive play.

Platforms, Release Window and What Singapore Players Need to Know

Virtua Fighter Crossroads launches in 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam. No exact date has been announced, and no Nintendo Switch 2 version has been confirmed as of this writing.

Singapore players will access it through the PlayStation Store or Steam. No SGD pricing has been announced yet. Given RGG’s track record on Like a Dragon titles — which have consistently released simultaneously worldwide — a global day-one launch is the expected outcome, though SEGA has not confirmed regional release timing.

The franchise returning after two decades is significant in itself, but the choice of developer matters more: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio knows how to build a game that makes you care about the world and the people in it before the fights even begin. Keep an eye on the latest game news as we get closer to 2027 and SEGA reveals more of the roster and story.

Pokémon UNITE 5th Anniversary Brings Four New Legendaries

Pokémon UNITE is going big for its fifth birthday: Yveltal, Palkia, Reshiram, and Solgaleo are all joining the roster this July, and you can earn their Unite licenses completely free through event participation. The announcement dropped on the official Pokémon UNITE Asia website on 26 June, with a full slate of anniversary events running from 1 July through the main milestone date of 21 July 2026.

Yveltal Leads the Legendary Roster Expansion

Four Legendary Pokémon are arriving in sequence across the anniversary window. Yveltal — classified as an Attacker — is first, with its License event kicking off on 3 July. The official description touts its Dark Aura ability as capable of instantly KO-ing opposing Pokémon in the right situation, which should make it a high-risk, high-reward pick for Attacker mains.

Palkia slots in as an All-Rounder, leaning into close-quarters combat with space-distortion abilities. Reshiram and Solgaleo round out the quartet, with their roles and event dates still to be confirmed — the Asia site promises details as each license event opens.

The key point: all four legendary licenses are obtainable for free through event participation. No real-money purchase required.

The Pokémon UNITE 5th Anniversary starts July 21! — via Pokémon UNITE on YouTube

10-Day Log-In Bonus: Pick a Pokémon or Holowear Every Day

Pokémon UNITE 5th Anniversary 10-day log-in bonus event showing Pokémon and Holowear choices by role
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / TiMi Studio Group

Running alongside the anniversary, a 10-day log-in event lets you choose between a Pokémon license or a Holowear cosmetic each day. The selections rotate through all five battle roles across the ten days — Attacker, Speedster, All-Rounder, Defender, and Supporter each get two days (one Pokémon pick, one Holowear pick).

For newer Singapore players who have gaps in their roster, this is worth logging in for daily. Holowear choices include fan favourites for competitive roles. The Attacker day alone shows a handful of well-regarded picks.

5,550 License Points and the Full Legendary License Art

Pokémon UNITE 5th anniversary rewards showing 5550 License Points, License Art cards and a Selection Box
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / TiMi Studio Group

Beyond the legendary License events and the daily log-in bonus, anniversary activities stack up to 5,550 License Points in total rewards. That is a meaningful chunk toward any unlocked Pokémon. Players also receive License Art cards for all four incoming legendaries — Yveltal, Palkia, Reshiram, and Solgaleo — plus a Selection Box to pick additional rewards.

Daily login bonuses continue through 9 September 2026, so even players who can only check in occasionally will accumulate a solid haul over the summer.

Battle Pass Season 43 and Ranked Match Series 37

Pokémon UNITE Battle Pass Season 43 featuring Regal Style Pikachu Holowear with royal crown and cape
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / TiMi Studio Group

Battle Pass Season 43 launches alongside the anniversary celebrations with Regal Style: Pikachu as its signature Holowear — a royal look complete with a jewelled crown and ermine-trim robe. It is also the season that bundles bonus License Points into the pass, layering neatly on top of the free anniversary rewards for pass holders.

Pokémon UNITE Ranked Match New Series begins on the Theia Sky Ruins map featuring Kyogre
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / TiMi Studio Group

Ranked Match Series 37 also kicks off during the anniversary window, bringing the Theia Sky Ruins map back to rotation with Kyogre as the central objective. If you have been grinding toward Legend Rank, the new series resets the ladder — meaning Singapore players have a clean slate heading into the game’s biggest celebration yet.

Pokémon UNITE is free to play on iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch. All anniversary events are live from 1 July, with the main 5th Anniversary milestone hitting on 21 July 2026. Check the official Asia announcement for the full event calendar. For more game news and updates, keep it here at GameTrader.SG.

TEKKEN! CARTOON Revealed at EVO 2026 — Chibi Kuma Is Here

Bandai Namco dropped a surprise at EVO 2026 last night: TEKKEN! CARTOON, a brand-new animated project that trades the franchise’s signature grittiness for chibi versions of Kuma, Kazuya, and the rest of the gang. The official teaser is out now — and it looks nothing like what most Tekken fans expected.

TEKKEN! CARTOON Official Teaser Trailer — via Bandai Namco Entertainment America on YouTube

What Is TEKKEN! CARTOON?

Revealed at EVO 2026 in Las Vegas on 26 June 2026, TEKKEN! CARTOON is a newly announced animated project from Bandai Namco Entertainment. The teaser puts familiar faces — Kuma the bear, the masked warrior Yoshimitsu, android Alisa, martial artist Paul Phoenix, and the perennial villain Kazuya Mishima — in a superdeformed, brightly coloured style that leans hard into comedy.

The chibi TEKKEN! CARTOON game case shelved beside real TEKKEN 8 cases in the EVO 2026 teaser
Still from the official TEKKEN! CARTOON teaser — Bandai Namco Entertainment

It’s a sharp change of direction from Tekken: Bloodlines, the 2022 Netflix anime that adapted the story of Tekken 3 with a dark, dramatic edge. TEKKEN! CARTOON is pointing in the opposite direction entirely — think animated shorts in the vein of game-studio chibi spinoffs, rather than a prestige series. Given how distinctive the Tekken cast is across three decades of games, there’s a lot of comedic mileage in that aesthetic.

Who’s Making It?

Bandai Namco has assembled a dedicated team for the project:

  • Director: Sohta Ozawa (NERD studio)
  • Character Designer & Animator: Amehiro
  • Director of Photography: Yuta Kakei
  • Creative Directors/Planners: Syohei Hashimoto and Hironori Hasegawa
  • Brand Supervisor: TEKKEN Project
A horned, winged Devil Mishima firing a laser in TEKKEN! CARTOON's chibi art style
Still from the official TEKKEN! CARTOON teaser — Bandai Namco Entertainment

Amehiro handling both character design and animation suggests a tight, focused production rather than a large-scale studio effort. The superdeformed style plays to each character’s strengths: Kuma’s sheer bulk, Yoshimitsu’s erratic energy, and Kazuya’s perpetual scowl all translate naturally into visual comedy. Whether this expands into a full series or stays as a run of animated shorts is still to be announced.

Release Date and Platform: Nothing Confirmed Yet

As of the EVO 2026 announcement, there is no confirmed release date, platform, or distribution partner. As reported by Push Square, Bandai Namco’s official statement reads: “Your favourite #TEKKEN characters are coming out of the ring and into the cartoon world. Keep an eye on our socials for more news about the TEKKEN! CARTOON.”

More details are expected at upcoming events later in 2026. For now, Bandai Namco’s official social channels are the best place to watch for updates.

Tekken in Singapore — A Ready-Made Audience

Tekken 8 has been a staple of Singapore’s local FGC scene since launch, with a dedicated player base spanning community meetups and competitive online play. The timing of the reveal — right in the middle of EVO 2026, where Tekken 8 is one of the main featured titles — puts it in front of the global fighting game community at peak attention.

Kuma the bear in TEKKEN! CARTOON's chibi art style
Still from the official TEKKEN! CARTOON teaser — Bandai Namco Entertainment

After Tekken: Bloodlines found an audience on Netflix, there is a reasonable precedent for Bandai Namco’s Tekken animated content reaching streaming platforms that are accessible here. Nothing is confirmed — but when more details drop, we’ll have them. Watch this space.