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Dragon Quest Turns 40: DQXII Beyond Dreams Finally Revealed, Plus a Tokyo Exhibition Opening Next Week

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Dragon Quest quietly celebrated its 40th birthday this year — and Square Enix made sure the occasion counted. In a special anniversary livestream on 27 May 2026, the company finally pulled back the curtain on the long-awaited Dragon Quest XII, revealed a new title and a development reboot, and teased a slate of related releases. Now, less than two months later, a full-blown immersive exhibition is opening in Tokyo next week to mark 40 years since the very first Dragon Quest launched on Famicom in 1986.

Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams — A Hard Reset for the Next Chapter

When Dragon Quest XII was first announced back in 2021 under the subtitle The Flames of Fate, series creator Yuji Horii hinted at a darker, more mature tone for the franchise. Five years on, that version is gone. Square Enix Executive Producer Yosuke Saito confirmed the reset during the anniversary stream, explaining that work on the original version “hit a lot of hurdles along the way” and that, after consultation with Horii, the team decided to start over entirely under a new development structure.

The result is Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams — a title that reflects the fresh direction. Horii described the story as “the adventures of a protagonist who experiences mysterious dreams,” adding: “I think there is a world spreading out in Beyond Dreams that is surely bright rather than dark. It has changed from the version we announced previously, but I think everyone will be able to enjoy it.”

Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams hero standing in a forest
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Saito acknowledged it was “a very difficult decision” but expressed confidence in delivering “something great as the latest Dragon Quest that more fans can enjoy.” Platforms and a release window are yet to be confirmed — the game is clearly early in development — but character designs are once again the work of the late Akira Toriyama, and music comes from the legendary Koichi Sugiyama. For Singapore fans, there is no confirmed global or SEA release date; treat any timeline speculation as to be confirmed.

Watch: The Official 40th Anniversary Reveal Stream

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

Dragon Quest the DIVE: An Immersive Exhibition Opening in Harajuku on 17 July

The bigger news for fans heading to Japan this summer: the Dragon Quest 40th Anniversary Exhibition “Dragon Quest the DIVE” opens at Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado this coming Thursday, 17 July, and runs through 6 September 2026. The venue is a short walk from Meiji-jingumae (Harajuku), Harajuku, and Omotesando stations.

Dragon Quest the DIVE exhibition VR Ride promotional image featuring a Great Sabrecat and a Slime
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The centrepiece is the Dragon Quest VR RIDE, a motion-seat experience using Meta Quest 3 headsets that puts you on the back of a Great Sabrecat as you tear across a 360-degree landscape, dodge monster encounters, and soar through the sky — with physical wind effects to boot. Elsewhere in the venue:

  • Hug a two-metre-tall Poyoyon King Slime installation
  • Get your photo AI-transformed into a resident of the 40th Anniversary Town
  • Walk through a Dragon Quest Memorial Wall covering Dragon Quest I through XI, featuring original development artwork and sheet music from the series’ creators
  • Dine at FAMiRES x Dragon Quest the DIVE, a collaboration restaurant on the 5th floor, serving themed dishes, six slime-coloured cream sodas (1,078 yen each), and DQ-themed desserts
Homita, the Blue Slime mascot of Dragon Quest the DIVE, voiced by Yui Ogura
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The exhibition’s guide character is Homita, a plucky Blue Slime wielding a rusty sword and dreaming of becoming a hero, voiced by Yui Ogura (known for HUG! PreCure). Hours are 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily (last entry 7:59 PM). Ticket prices range from 1,800 yen for children on weekdays to 4,000 yen for adults on weekends; premium tickets with a pin badge set are 7,800 to 10,000 yen. General tickets are available at Lawson branches across Japan. Check the official Dragon Quest the DIVE website for the latest details and booking links.

More 40th Anniversary Releases Singapore Fans Should Know About

The May stream packed in several other announcements alongside the DQXII reveal:

  • Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on 24 September 2026 — if you missed the acclaimed JRPG the first time around, this edition looks like the definitive way to play.
  • Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World is confirmed for a multi-platform release (specific platforms to be confirmed in full).
  • The Dragon Quest I+II HD-2D Remake and Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake have collectively sold over 4 million copies worldwide, signalling strong appetite for the franchise beyond Japan.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World key art featuring iconic series monsters
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams has no confirmed release date for Singapore or any other region, and given the development reboot, a launch well into 2027 or beyond seems most likely. But with Dragon Quest XI S heading to Switch 2 this September and the HD-2D remakes selling strongly regionally, the series is in genuinely good shape at 40. For the latest JRPG and game news, keep checking back with GameTrader.SG.

Game News, News

Warframe Tau and Soulframe Warsongs Revealed at TennoCon 2026

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After more than a decade roaming the Origin System, Warframe is finally going somewhere new. At TennoCon 2026 — Digital Extremes’ annual fan celebration — the studio pulled the curtain on Warframe: Tau, the game’s next major Narrative Chapter, alongside a raft of Soulframe news that gave Digital Extremes’ other free-to-play RPG its biggest reveal yet. Both games are free and fully accessible from Singapore across PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2.

TennoCon 2026 | Warframe: Tau | Official Trailer — via PlayWarframe on YouTube

Warframe: Tau — A Second Star Chart Beyond the Origin System

Tau is not a replacement for the Origin System — it is a second, fully separate Star Chart opening up a new region of space orbiting a binary star. The launch content centres on Fornax, a colossal Sentient ring city that doubles as one of the most distinct environments in Warframe’s history: a lawless metropolis drenched in constant black rain, where an addictive substance called Bloom keeps the population docile and a criminal underworld rules the docks, casinos and slums. Think cyberpunk noir, but built from alien biomechanical architecture.

The faction controlling Fornax is headed by the Hunra, voiced by Jonathan Bullock, a crime boss who becomes the central antagonist of the Tau chapter’s opening arc. Digital Extremes has confirmed a second, as-yet-undisclosed location will launch alongside Fornax. The entire Tau chapter arrives as a free update for all platforms later in 2026 — community director Megan Everett described it as “one of the biggest updates we’ve ever done,” while being careful to note it is not a sequel.

Warframe players in the atmospheric corridors of Fornax, the Sentient ring city in Tau
Image courtesy of Digital Extremes

Meet Brysko: The Noir Warframe Voiced by Matthew Mercer

Headlining the Tau chapter is Brysko, a new “Chimera frame” — a Sentient-hybrid Warframe rebuilt by the series veteran Albrecht Entrati. Brysko is voiced by Matthew Mercer (Critical Role, Resident Evil Village, Overwatch), making him a rare non-Protoframe Warframe to receive a named voice actor. His role is equal parts detective and enforcer: his inner monologue narrates his cynical world-view as he infiltrates Fornax’s criminal underworld on Entrati’s behalf.

His arsenal leans into the noir aesthetic. His Exalted Pistol, the Corecracker, is a heavy revolver magnum, while his Exalted Melee — Rain & Shine — are a pair of brutal brass-knuckle fist weapons. He can also deal damage with explosive playing cards, which ties into Tau’s new mini-game, Portau — Warframe’s first card-based game, playable inside Fornax’s casinos.

Brysko holds playing cards across from an alien enemy at a casino table in the Portau card mini-game
Image courtesy of Digital Extremes

Fall 2026 First: Iceblade of Narin Before Tau Arrives

Tau will not be the first major update to land before the year is out. Digital Extremes confirmed Iceblade of Narin — the studio’s traditional autumn release — is also in the pipeline for 2026. It introduces the game’s 66th Warframe, an ice-themed frame, alongside the long-awaited Banshee Deluxe Collection and rework (Banshee’s first Deluxe since 2016) and Citrine Prime Access. Full details will be presented at a live devstream from Seoul, South Korea, on 4 September 2026.

Iceblade of Narin title card for the Fall 2026 Warframe update
Image courtesy of Digital Extremes

Soulframe: Warsongs — Wolf Mounts, Ben Starr and a Darkening Fable

TennoCon 2026 did not neglect Soulframe, Digital Extremes’ slower-paced, fantasy-RPG counterpart to Warframe. The studio revealed Warsongs, the next major Fable quest for Soulframe Preludes, described by the dev team as the darkest content yet. The new Fable introduces Tempest Bayor, a rare red-armed Envoy aligned with the invading Ode forces, voiced by Ben Starr — familiar to Singapore fans from his recent breakout performance in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Alongside Bayor is his faithful raven companion and the soaring Citadel as a new hub location.

Four Soulframe players riding giant wolf mounts through a forest stream in the Warsongs reveal
Image courtesy of Digital Extremes

The headline feature for many existing Preludes players is the confirmation that wolf mounts are finally coming to Soulframe this fall. The gameplay demo showed a full four-player squad riding large wolves across Alca, and players who have completed the Orangol quest already have a wolf pup that will grow through new bonding mechanics into a full rideable companion. The update also adds a fishing mini-game woven into the narrative, and a new corrupted progression path called the Vadagar Pact, which unlocks dark Virtues — Wrath, Doom and Death — for Envoys willing to embrace corruption.

Soulframe | TennoCon 2026 Official Warsongs Trailer — via Soulframe on YouTube

Singapore Players: How to Get In Right Now

Warframe is free-to-play with no region restrictions — download it now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, or Nintendo Switch 2. The Tau chapter and Iceblade of Narin update will roll out as free downloads when they launch later in 2026. Soulframe is in Preludes (early access) and is free on PC. There is one time-sensitive action for Singapore fans: sign up at soulframe.com before 11:59 PM ET on 12 July (that is around 11:59 AM SGT on 13 July) to secure permanent access to Soulframe Preludes. Miss the window and you will need to wait for a wider public launch date, which has not been announced.

For more free-to-play and live-service gaming news, head to our Game News archive.

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

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

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

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

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

What Is Rayman Legends Retold?

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

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

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

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

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

Editions and Pricing

Three editions are available at launch:

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

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

Rayman Legends Retold - Lucha Chase gameplay
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

Worth the Wait for Singapore Gamers?

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

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

Game News

Tales of Eternia Remastered Launches 16 October 2026 on PS5, Switch 2 and More

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One of the PSP era’s most beloved JRPGs is finally making the jump to modern platforms. Tales of Eternia Remastered — developed by TOSE and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment — is heading to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam on 16 October 2026, with a worldwide simultaneous release.

What Is Tales of Eternia?

Tales of Eternia Remastered - exploring the world of Inferia
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Originally released in 2001 in Japan as Tales of Destiny II — and later brought to international audiences via its PlayStation Portable version in 2006 — Tales of Eternia holds a special place for an entire generation of Singapore gamers who grew up on the PSP. The game pairs the action-RPG combat that defines the Tales series with a genuinely moving story and a cast that fans still talk about today.

The plot follows Reid Hershel, a laid-back woodsman from the world of Inferia, alongside his childhood friends Farah and Keele, and a mysterious girl named Meredy who falls from the sky speaking a language no one can understand. What starts as a rescue mission quickly escalates: the two worlds of Inferia and Celestia are on a catastrophic collision course — an event called the Grand Fall — and only Reid’s group stands between two civilisations and total annihilation. It is a classic setup, executed with heart.

Tales of Eternia Remastered – Announcement Trailer — via Bandai Namco Entertainment America on YouTube

Real-Time Combat, Remastered

Tales of Eternia Remastered - combat in the desert with four-party battle
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Tales of Eternia’s battle system — the Aggressive Linear Motion Battle System (A-LiMBS) — was ahead of its time: real-time, side-scrolling combat where you control one character while the AI manages your party, and chain attacks and Artes into satisfying combos. If you played the PSP version, it will feel exactly as you remember it, just sharper.

The remaster does not overhaul the underlying gameplay, but it adds several features that make the experience significantly more approachable in 2026:

  • Graphics Mode and SFX Mode — toggle freely between remastered visuals and audio or the original versions at any time
  • Boost Feature — adjust experience gain and encounter frequency to suit your pace
  • High-Speed Auto-Mode — speed through battles you have already mastered
  • Battle Retry and Quick Recovery — for when a tough boss takes you by surprise
  • Destination Markers — toggleable, for players who want a little guidance in the sprawling world
  • Extreme Difficulty — available from the very start for veterans who want a real challenge, with a post-game Unknown difficulty for the truly battle-hardened
Tales of Eternia Remastered - boss encounter in a lava cave
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Available on Practically Every Platform Singapore Gamers Own

Tales of Eternia Remastered - exploring a colourful pixel art town
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

The full platform list is as broad as it gets: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Whether you are on your PS5, your Switch 2 in handheld mode on the MRT, or playing on PC, you are covered. The worldwide release on 16 October means Singapore gets it on day one alongside the rest of the world — no waiting for a delayed Asian release.

Pricing has not yet been confirmed by Bandai Namco. You can wishlist the game now on Steam, and keep an eye on major game retailers and electronics chains for PS5 and Switch 2 pre-order announcements closer to launch. For more upcoming JRPG and game news, browse our Game News section.

Game News

Reverse: 1999 × Atomic Heart Collab Starts 23 July — Free Nora, 110+ Free Pulls

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Bluepoch’s time-hopping tactics RPG is crossing over with one of the more memorable FPS games of recent years. The Reverse: 1999 × Atomic Heart collaboration launches on 23 July 2026, bringing two new playable characters, an original crossover story, and more than 110 free pulls — and for the first time ever, the Chinese and international versions of Reverse: 1999 will go live on the exact same day.

Meet The Twins — Reverse: 1999’s First Dual-Afflatus Unit

The Twins character art from Reverse: 1999 x Atomic Heart collaboration
Image courtesy of Bluepoch Games

The Twins are Atomic Heart’s iconic humanoid robot bodyguards reimagined as Reverse: 1999’s newest 5-star character — and they arrive with a mechanic the game has never seen before. As the first dual-Afflatus unit, The Twins can deal damage across two Afflatus types simultaneously and equip two separate exclusive Psychubes at once, pulling the full base stats and effects from both. In a game where Psychube optimisation separates good builds from great ones, that is a meaningful mechanical edge. They will be available through a limited collaboration banner; reaching 100 summons lets you choose either The Twins or a Suitcase Impression, with additional milestone rewards at 160, 220, and 280 pulls.

Nora Is Free — Just Play the Event

Nora, Atomic Heart’s repair cabinet antagonist, joins as a free 4-star character obtainable purely through in-game collab activities. You also get a free monthly pass and a free character garment (Brimley) as part of the rewards package. For players who just want to collect without spending, the collab is unusually generous: over 110 free pulls in total, distributed across the event’s reward structure. That is enough to make multiple meaningful attempts at The Twins banner.

Vertin Goes to Facility 3826

Reverse: 1999 x Atomic Heart collaboration event key art
Image courtesy of Bluepoch Games

The event story sends Vertin, X, Madam Lucy, and Mesmer Jr. into the retrofuturistic alternate history of Atomic Heart‘s Facility 3826. If you have played Atomic Heart and want to see how Bluepoch wrote the crossover, this is an original narrative rather than a straight retelling — the Reverse: 1999 cast is inserted into an unfamiliar world rather than simply wearing Atomic Heart skins. New cosmetic garments inspired by Facility 3826’s retrofuturist aesthetic are available for existing characters alongside the new ones.

Watch the Collaboration Trailer

Reverse: 1999 x Atomic Heart – Official Collaboration Trailer — via GameTrailers on YouTube

What Singapore Players Need to Know

Reverse: 1999 is available in Singapore on Steam (PC), iOS App Store, and Google Play — no VPN needed, no regional lock. The July 23 launch is globally synchronised, so Singapore players are in the same pool as everyone else the moment the update drops. The collab also comes with a redemption code — AtomicHeartCollab0723 — that can be entered in-game for additional rewards. Bluepoch has confirmed the 110+ free pulls figure encompasses all in-game missions, login bonuses, and milestone rewards across the full event window, so you do not have to be a day-one player to collect the bulk of the freebies.

For more ongoing game events and updates, head to our Game News page.

Game News

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

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

A Whole New Way to Play: First-Person Mode

Once Human gameplay screenshot showing exploration
Image courtesy of NetEase Games

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

4K at 60fps or 120fps — Your Call

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

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

Cross-Play and Cross-Progression From Day One

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

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

300+ Hours of Content at Launch

Once Human console launch promotional art
Image courtesy of NetEase Games

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

Watch the Console Launch Trailer

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

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

Game News

Pokémon Champions Hits 10 Million Downloads — Claim Your Free Dragonite Before 31 August

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It took less than four months. Pokémon Champions, The Pokémon Company’s first dedicated online battle title, has now crossed 10 million cumulative downloads worldwide across Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and mobile — and to thank players, the developers are handing out a free Pokémon that can Mega Evolve.

Pokémon Champions battle screen showing Gardevoir vs Hydreigon with move selection UI
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company
Pokémon Champions | World Overview Trailer — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel on YouTube

Free Dragonite and 100 Quick Coupons for Every Player

To mark the milestone, The Pokémon Company announced on 8 July 2026 that all players who log in and play Pokémon Champions by Monday, 31 August 2026 will receive:

  • Dragonite — the Dragon/Flying powerhouse, ready to battle immediately
  • 100 Quick Coupons — the in-game currency used to unlock moves and Power-Ups

Both rewards are delivered directly to your in-game mailbox. There is nothing to enter; simply log in on any platform before the deadline.

Dragonite using Hydro Pump in a Pokémon Champions stadium battle
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Why the Dragonite Reward Is Worth Claiming

Dragonite is not just a participation trophy. Players who completed the Season 1 Battle Pass already have access to the Dragoninite stone, which lets Dragonite Mega Evolve into Mega Dragonite — one of the most versatile Mega Evolution forms added to the competitive format so far. If you skipped the Battle Pass, the free Dragonite still slots directly into ranked play without any extra grind.

Pokémon Champions team builder screen showing Arcanine stats and moveset
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Singapore’s Stamp on the Milestone

The 10 million figure covers all platforms globally, and Singapore punched well above its weight in that number: when the mobile version launched on 17 June, Pokémon Champions shot to #1 on the Singapore App Store within hours. That chart position was a sign of just how much appetite there is here for a proper competitive Pokémon format on mobile — and it clearly contributed to the worldwide download pace.

The game already doubles as the official platform for Pokémon Video Game Championship (VGC) play, and The Pokémon Company hosts Monthly Challenge Series (MCS) tournaments in-app with Pokémon prizes every month. Singapore trainers have been competing seriously since the Switch launch in April, and the ranked ladder is live on both platforms.

Pokémon Champions post-battle ranked result screen showing Poké Ball Tier Rank 4
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

How to Download Pokémon Champions

The game is free to download on the Nintendo eShop (Switch and Switch 2) and on the App Store and Google Play. If you have not played before and want the free Dragonite, just download, log in, and check your mailbox — the reward unlocks without any additional steps.

Check your in-game mailbox before the 31 August 2026 deadline. That is your only window to grab one of the most in-demand Dragon-types in the current competitive format for free. More details on the current season’s events are on the official Pokémon Champions news page. For a guide to everything happening in Game News this week, stay with GameTrader.

Game News

Marvel Rivals Season 9: Jubilee and the Mystery of Thebes

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

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

Meet Jubilee — Marvel Rivals’ Newest Season 9 Strategist

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

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

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

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

The Team-Up System Got a Ground-Up Rebuild

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

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

Black Widow Gets a New Combat Identity

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

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

Thebes Map and The Hood Are Still to Come

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Azur Lane × NieR: Automata — 2B and A2 Are Free Units

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Commanders, this one is big. Yostar has officially confirmed the Azur Lane × NieR: Automata collaboration, and in a move that has the global player community genuinely excited: both crossover units — 2B and A2 — will be free. The event is set to go live in mid-July 2026, following a full reveal at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles earlier this month.

2B Joins as a Free Light Cruiser

2B — 6-star Super Rare Light Cruiser in Azur Lane × NieR: Automata
Image courtesy of Yostar / SQUARE ENIX

YoRHa No.2 Type B — better known simply as 2B — arrives in Azur Lane as a 6-star Super Rare Light Cruiser, voiced by Yui Ishikawa reprising her iconic role. She brings her twin blades and the iconic blindfold into the Azur Lane world in an art style that blends the game’s signature ship-girl aesthetic with the mechanical, overgrown ruins of NieR’s post-apocalyptic setting.

The character art leans heavily into the NieR: Automata visual language — ruined cityscapes, trailing cables, oversized combat rigs — which Azur Lane fans in Singapore have pointed out looks stunning in the game’s gallery mode. 2B can be obtained for free through the event, meaning no premium currency is required to add her to your fleet.

A2 Joins as a Free Heavy Cruiser

A2 — 6-star Super Rare Heavy Cruiser in Azur Lane × NieR: Automata
Image courtesy of Yostar / SQUARE ENIX

Joining her counterpart is A2 (YoRHa Type A No.2), slotting in as a 6-star Super Rare Heavy Cruiser, voiced by Ayaka Suwa. Where 2B leans into the sleek, blade-forward combat look, A2’s card art is more imposing — heavier gear, a battle-worn posture, and an air of barely contained danger that matches the character perfectly. Both ships are tuned for the frontline.

What makes this especially valuable for Singapore players is that free 6-star SR units in Azur Lane are rare. Most crossover collaborations lock at least one major character behind limited-time gacha banners or premium event currency. Getting both 2B and A2 as earnable rewards is an unusually generous setup.

When Does the Azur Lane × NieR Collab Start?

The collaboration is set to begin in mid-July 2026; the exact in-game launch date is to be confirmed via the official @AzurLane_EN account on X. Yostar first teased the crossover in May 2026 before formally revealing both characters during Anime Expo 2026 (July 2–5). Event duration and any additional collaboration rewards — support ships, furniture sets, or limited-time story stages — have not yet been officially detailed.

For more mobile game and gacha news, head to our game news section. And if you missed the announcement, the official Azur Lane × NieR: Automata characters were confirmed by Yostar on the Azur Lane EN account on X.