Category Archives: News

Manga Anime, News

Crunchyroll Store Goes Members-Only in August — What Singapore Fans Need to Know

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If you’ve been browsing the Crunchyroll Store as a free user or a basic Fan subscriber, that’s about to end. Crunchyroll announced on 14 July that, starting this August, the Crunchyroll Store will be exclusive to Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan members — locking out everyone on a lower or no-cost plan.

What’s Actually Changing at the Crunchyroll Store?

The current Crunchyroll Store is an open marketplace anyone can browse and buy from — collectibles, apparel, Blu-rays, manga, and more. From August 2026 onwards, that open access disappears. In its place, Crunchyroll is launching what it calls a “brand-new shopping experience” focused on convention-style merch: curated limited-release drops, exclusive collectibles, and member-only product bundles.

In Crunchyroll’s own words: “This August, we are transitioning the Crunchyroll Store to a brand-new shopping experience that will be available exclusively for Mega and Ultimate Fans.”

Anime collectible figure from the Crunchyroll Store
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

The shift follows Crunchyroll’s 2022 acquisition of Right Stuf, a move many collectors hoped would expand the store’s anime merchandise range. Instead, fan communities have documented years of shrinking product availability and rising prices — and the membership paywall is the latest source of frustration. Reaction online has been blunt, with collectors arguing it pushes loyal fans to import directly from Japanese retailers instead.

What Does This Cost Singapore Crunchyroll Subscribers?

Here’s the breakdown that matters if you’re in Singapore. Current membership pricing runs approximately SGD 3.89/month for Fan, SGD 5.19/month for Mega Fan, and SGD 7.69/month for Ultimate Fan (check Crunchyroll’s official site for the latest local pricing, as rates can update). The minimum tier that keeps store access is Mega Fan at around SGD 5.19/month — roughly SGD 1.30 more per month than the Fan tier, or about SGD 15.60 extra per year.

Dragon Ball collectible figure from the Crunchyroll Store new arrivals
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

Whether that’s worth it depends on how often you actually shop the store. The new members-only model promises exclusive drops and curated product releases that won’t be available elsewhere — so for serious collectors, Mega Fan access could pay for itself with one limited-edition item. But if you only buy occasionally or prefer direct import from Japan, the upgrade may not make sense.

Summer Sale Running Now — Act Before the Switch

Crunchyroll kicked off a Summer Sale on 14 July with up to 50% off select items, coinciding with stricter return policies on select products. This is your last window to browse and buy from the store at full open access before the membership gate drops in August.

A few other key dates: Crunchyroll Store gift cards remain valid through 14 August 2026 — after that, unused balances cannot be redeemed. Existing orders placed before the transition will continue to be processed and shipped normally, and customer support will keep handling delivery, address, and defective product issues.

For Singapore fans who shop Crunchyroll regularly, the smart play is to use any gift card balance now and stock up during the Summer Sale while open access lasts. Keep an eye on our anime and merchandise news for updates as Crunchyroll reveals more details about the new members-only store experience.

News

Pokémon’s New Team Rocket Card Game Drops November 2026

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Pikachu isn’t the hero this time. The Pokémon Company and YOKA Games quietly dropped the announcement of 「お前、もしかしてロケット圧？」 — “Are You Perhaps Team Rocket?” in English — on the official @poke_times Pokémon X account (Japanese) today, 14 July 2026. The card-based board game is slated to launch in Japan in November 2026.

A Villain-Themed Pokémon Card Game With a Twist

The key visual says it all: a hooded Rocket Grunt grins in the centre, flanked by a snarling, red-eyed Pikachu and a Koffing sporting a jolly-roger-style logo against a vivid yellow background. Two in-progress card samples appear in the lower corner — the images are explicitly marked “development versions” and subject to change.

Team Rocket Grunt, villainous Pikachu and Koffing from the Pokemon Are You Perhaps Team Rocket key art
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Gameplay details — player count, card mechanics, win conditions — have not been revealed yet. The Pokémon official account simply teased: “續報をお楽しみに” (more information to come). What the key visual does confirm is that this is a card-driven game developed through the “ポケモンボドゲくらぶ” (Pokémon Boardgame Club) label, the same initiative that brought us Pokémon Goita in December 2025 and Pokémon Plakoro, which we covered last week. The Pokémon Company is clearly on a serious analogue-gaming run, with the Boardgame Club label becoming a proper sub-brand.

Who Is YOKA Games?

YOKA Games is a Chinese board game designer and publisher with a global catalogue. Their best-known title in Western tabletop circles is Sanguosha (三国油 / Three Kingdoms Kill), a popular elimination card game that has sold millions of copies across Asia and beyond. More recently, they co-produced the widely praised Slay the Spire: The Board Game. Their involvement signals that “Are You Perhaps Team Rocket?” is aiming for a polished, strategically meaty experience rather than a casual party game — though we’ll have to wait for the full reveal to be sure.

What Singapore Pokémon Fans Need to Know

As of this announcement, the November 2026 release is confirmed for Japan only. No English localisation, no Singapore or Southeast Asia release date, and no price have been disclosed. Given YOKA Games’ international distribution track record, a wider release is plausible — but for now, plan for this to be an import if you want it at launch.

If you’re into importing Japanese analogue games, your usual go-to stops — import retailers that ship from Japan, Japanese online platforms like BOOTH, and local tabletop shops that stock Japanese imports — should be on your watchlist. Pokémon Goita and Plakoro both found their way to local collectors through those channels, and “Are You Perhaps Team Rocket?” should follow the same path. Watch for pre-order windows opening closer to November.

Singapore’s tabletop scene has been in excellent shape — WSBG Asia 2026 just wrapped at Suntec City last weekend — and a Pokémon card game built around playing the bad guys sounds exactly like the sort of title that’ll generate buzz at local game nights. Check out more upcoming gaming events in Singapore while you wait for the full reveal.

News, Shop and Merchandise

GARRACK Ghost in the Shell Fuchikoma Watch — Pre-Orders Open 17 July

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Just as the Ghost in the Shell 2026 anime is settling in on Prime Video Singapore, Japanese watchmaker GARRACK has dropped something that will stop hardcore fans mid-scroll: a fully mechanical watch with the Fuchikoma rendered in traditional mother-of-pearl raden on the dial. Pre-orders open 17 July 2026.

GARRACK Ghost in the Shell Fuchikoma Model watch frontal view with red leather strap
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading

What Is the GARRACK × Ghost in the Shell Fuchikoma Model?

GARRACK, the brand behind a line of anime-themed Japan-made mechanical watches — they previously collaborated on Evangelion raden pieces and Haikyu!! smartwatches — is releasing the Fuchikoma Model (SMS-KK-42-FK) under its S-MEISTER line. S-MEISTER pairs traditional Japanese craftsmanship with officially licensed anime IP, and all pieces are assembled in Japan by licensed watchmakers.

The specific collaboration is with Ghost in the Shell THE GHOST IN THE SHELL — Shirow Masamune’s original 1989 manga — rather than any single anime adaptation. The Fuchikoma, the AI-equipped spider-legged think tank that became one of the manga’s most iconic designs, takes centre stage on the dial, rendered entirely in raden inlay. The watch carries the official copyright credit: ©2026 Shirow Masamune/KODANSHA/THE GHOST IN THE SHELL COMMITTEE.

Pricing is set at ¥79,200 tax-included (roughly S$700–900 at prevailing exchange rates — check the product page for the exact amount at checkout). That is not an impulse buy — but for a handcrafted piece that combines a traditional Japanese art form with one of manga’s most celebrated sci-fi properties, the positioning is closer to artisan jewellery than mass merch.

Raden: The Craft That Makes Each Dial One-of-a-Kind

Close-up of the GARRACK Fuchikoma raden dial showing iridescent mother-of-pearl inlay and open-heart movement
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading

Raden (螺鈿) is a Japanese lacquerware technique that dates back centuries: abalone shell is ground down to 0.1 mm thin, coloured from the reverse side, then hand-cut into pieces and affixed one by one onto a lacquered base. The result catches light at every angle differently, giving raden dials that shifting, almost holographic quality visible in the press images here.

The craftsman behind each dial is Musashigawa Takeshi, fourth-generation head of the Musashigawa Workshop (武蔵川工房) in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture — a workshop founded in 1910 that has carried on the regional aobinuri blue-shell lacquerware tradition for over a century. Because nacre is a natural material applied entirely by hand, no two dials come out identical. Even two watches from the same production run will differ subtly in colour tone and pattern.

The design itself is layered with Ghost in the Shell references. The Fuchikoma is shown face-on, its body filling most of the dial. An open-heart aperture sits at roughly the 7 o’clock position — representing the manipulator arm in motion, and letting you see the MIYOTA movement ticking underneath. The hour indices are modelled on the Fuchikoma’s wheels; the hands reference its arms.

GARRACK Ghost in the Shell watch caseback showing JAPAN MADE and the series logo engraved through a transparent crystal
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading

Specs at a Glance

  • Model: SMS-KK-42-FK (Fuchikoma Model)
  • Movement: Automatic (MIYOTA, Japan)
  • Case: All stainless steel, 42 × 42 mm
  • Lens: Mineral glass
  • Water resistance: 5 ATM
  • Strap: Deep red leather, S-MEISTER pin buckle
  • Caseback: See-through, series logo engraved
  • Price: ¥79,200 (tax included)
Deep red leather strap with S-MEISTER pin buckle on the GARRACK Ghost in the Shell Fuchikoma watch
Image courtesy of GARRACK / Ueni Trading

How Singapore Fans Can Order

There are no confirmed Singapore retail stockists at this stage — the physical stockist list on the official GARRACK × Ghost in the Shell product page covers Japan stores only, including Yodobashi Camera, BicCamera, TiCTAC outlets, and Loft stores nationwide. However, the WORLDWIDEWATCH online store — one of GARRACK’s authorised e-commerce partners — accepts international orders and worldwide shipping, which means Singapore buyers can place orders directly without a forwarding service.

Pre-orders open: 17 July 2026
Release date: 31 July 2026

Given the hand-finished, one-of-a-kind nature of raden dials, production runs for these watches tend to be limited. If you are on the fence, it is worth visiting the product page on 17 July rather than waiting. Check out more anime and gaming merch we have covered for other finds worth adding to the list.

Manga Anime, News

Tsugumi Project TV Anime Announced — Cult Manga from France

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One of the more intriguing anime announcements to land this week is not a sequel, not a reboot, and not based on a manga you have probably heard of — yet. On 14 July 2026, Tsugumi Project (虎鶫 とらつぐみ ―TSUGUMI PROJECT―) officially received a TV anime adaptation, complete with a teaser visual and a first teaser PV from the official production. Singapore anime fans who love their science fiction dark, their action kinetic, and their post-apocalyptic lore dense should take note.

Tsugumi Project official anime teaser key visual showing Leone and Tsugumi in the irradiated wasteland
Image courtesy of TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee

What Is Tsugumi Project?

Written and drawn by artist ippatu, Tsugumi Project is a survival science-fiction action manga set in a devastated far-future Japan. Two centuries of extreme radiation have transformed the island into a forbidden zone — a no-man’s-land overrun by grotesquely mutated creatures that bear little resemblance to anything living today.

At the centre of the story is Leone, a soldier framed for a crime he did not commit and torn from his family. His punishment doubles as a suicide mission: infiltrate the irradiated zone and recover a classified weapon codenamed TSUGUMI. What he finds instead is a mysterious girl — and a journey through Old Japan that defies everything he was told about the place.

Critics and fans have compared its atmosphere and visual ambition to BLAME!, Spriggan, and AKIRA — rarefied company that gives you an instant calibration for the kind of dark, dense, aesthetically ambitious science fiction this series delivers.

Tsugumi Project manga interior page showing the irradiated wasteland and creature design
Image courtesy of TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee

From France to Japan — An Unusual Road to Anime

The origin story of Tsugumi Project is almost as unusual as the story itself. French publisher Ki-oon debuted the manga in France in 2019 — before it ever appeared in Japan. The series became a genuine hit with French and European readers, winning a dedicated following in a market that has long embraced manga wholeheartedly.

Only in 2021 did Kodansha begin serialising it in Japan through Weekly Young Magazine, reversing the typical flow of manga publication. By the time the Japanese run concluded with volume 7 in 2023, the manga had built a readership on both sides of the world. It is now complete in seven volumes — which bodes well for a cohesive anime adaptation.

Tsugumi Project manga page showing action sequence and character design
Image courtesy of TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee

The Anime: Teaser PV and What We Know

TVアニメ 『虎鷫 －TSUGUMI PROJECT－』 Teaser PV — via NBCUniversal Anime/Music on YouTube

The official teaser site at toratsugumi.jp and the series’ X account @toratsugumi_PJ are both live. The short teaser PV above delivers the first animated glimpse of the post-apocalyptic world ippatu created — all jagged, radiated ruin and looming creature silhouettes.

The production carries the banner of the TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee, with NBCUniversal Anime/Music among the credited partners — a label with strong international distribution reach that typically points toward global streaming availability, though no specific platforms have been confirmed yet.

What remains to be confirmed: the animation studio, director, voice cast, and premiere date. Author ippatu said of the announcement, as reported by Dengeki Online (Japanese): “It’s quite a surprise! This happened because everyone read it.”

Tsugumi Project character artwork from the Dengeki Online announcement feature
Image courtesy of TSUGUMI PROJECT Production Committee

What SG Anime Fans Should Know

Tsugumi Project is a completed seven-volume story — adapting a finished manga typically allows production teams to plan a proper beginning, middle, and end without rushing or padding. For Singapore fans of hard SF action anime, the BLAME!/AKIRA comparison is not hyperbole: this is dense, atmospheric, and unafraid to let silence and creature design do the narrative heavy lifting.

The series has been available in English through selected international channels, and a number of SG fans have already found it through fan communities and import channels. An anime adaptation with NBCUniversal involvement is likely to land on a major global streaming platform — watch @toratsugumi_PJ on X for updates. Until then, the seven-volume manga is the ideal preparation.

For more upcoming anime, check our Manga & Anime section.

Manga Anime, News

J.C.STAFF Adapts Wound & Bandage for January 2027 Anime

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A fresh anime announcement landed in Japan today — and English media hasn’t caught up yet. Kizuguchi to Houtai (傷口と包帯), the yakuza caretaker romcom manga by Nanai Kaisei, is officially getting a TV anime adaptation from J.C.STAFF, set to premiere in January 2027 on the ABC Television / TV Asahi nationwide ANiMAZiNG!!! block. The anime’s official site (Japanese) went live alongside the announcement.

Kizuguchi to Houtai Volume 2 cover – Riyo, the mob boss's daughter
Image courtesy of Kodansha / Monthly Shōnen Magazine Comics

What Is Wound & Bandage?

The manga — whose title translates literally as Wounds and Bandages — serialises biweekly on Kodansha’s Comic DAYS platform under the Monthly Shōnen Magazine Comics label. Five volumes are out so far. The setup is deceptively simple: Kiritani, a young and capable member of a yakuza faction, is assigned to act as personal caretaker to Riyo — the sheltered daughter of the organisation’s all-powerful boss. The complication? Riyo has a deeply unusual hobby she calls Yowarā: she becomes intensely excited whenever she watches a strong, intimidating person reveal their vulnerabilities. Being around Kiritani — a man who projects absolute toughness but is now stuck playing babysitter — is basically her dream scenario.

The premise sounds outrageous on paper, and it is, but Nanai Kaisei plays it primarily as a slow-burn romcom with genuine character chemistry. The manga built a strong following on social media when it first appeared as a one-shot, and the series has kept growing since serialisation began.

Kizuguchi to Houtai Volume 3 cover – Riyo in focus
Image courtesy of Kodansha / Monthly Shōnen Magazine Comics

Staff Line-Up

The production team confirmed so far:

  • Animation studio: J.C.STAFF
  • Director: Ishida Miyuki
  • Series composition: Yamakawa Susumu
  • Character design: Oyama Natsuki

No voice cast has been announced yet, and no teaser trailer is available at the time of writing — today’s announcement was limited to the production confirmation and official site launch. Cast and a first promotional video are expected to follow in the months ahead.

Kizuguchi to Houtai Volume 4 cover – Kiritani and Riyo close together
Image courtesy of Kodansha / Monthly Shōnen Magazine Comics

What Singapore Fans Should Know

J.C.STAFF is one of the most prolific studios in Singapore fans’ seasonal watch-lists — past credits include DanMachi, Toradora!, A Certain Magical Index, and more recently Slime Season 3 and Re:ZERO Season 3. The studio’s track record with light, character-driven romcoms is strong, and Wound & Bandage‘s yakuza setting gives it a visual edge that should stand out in the Winter 2027 season.

No streaming rights for Singapore or Southeast Asia have been confirmed yet. The ANiMAZiNG!!! block has historically fed titles into Crunchyroll and bilibili for the Asian market, but nothing is official for this title — keep an eye on announcements closer to January 2027. In the meantime, all five manga volumes are readable digitally via Comic DAYS, which is accessible globally, and a licensed English release from Kodansha has not yet been announced. For more upcoming anime picks and manga-to-anime news, check our ongoing coverage.

Game News, News

Pokémon Summer Mac: McDonald’s Japan’s Biggest-Ever Pokémon Collab Turns Every Branch Into a PokéStop

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If you’re planning a Japan trip this summer, your Pokémon GO map is about to look very different. McDonald’s Japan has launched Pokémon Summer Mac (ポケモン夏マック), what it calls its biggest-ever collaboration with a single partner — a sprawling, four-wave campaign celebrating McDonald’s Japan’s 55th anniversary alongside Pokémon’s 30th. The results range from limited-edition McNuggets to a lottery-only kitchen gadget that’s already going viral, and every single McDonald’s Japan branch becomes a Pokémon GO PokéStop for six weeks this summer.

McDonald’s × Pokémon ‘Summer Chance Bag 2026’ New TV Commercial — via Oricon on YouTube

What Is Pokémon Summer Mac?

Pokémon Summer Mac official campaign art featuring original and Gen 9 starters
Image courtesy of McDonald’s Japan × The Pokémon Company

Running across four themed waves from mid-July through August, Pokémon Summer Mac is structured so there’s always something new to look forward to at McDonald’s Japan:

  • Tokuniraldo (July 15 – August 11): Limited-edition 15-piece Chicken McNuggets in a special Pokémon box featuring Pikachu and the original Kanto starters, priced at 490 yen — a 250-yen saving on the regular price. Two exclusive dipping sauces also debut alongside it: Cheese Curry Sauce and Umashio Garlic Sauce at 50 yen each.
  • Summer Chance Bag: The campaign’s anchor item — a lottery-only grab bag priced at 3,900 yen, with applications open July 10–20 and redemption from July 27 to August 2.
  • Collaboration Burger: Details drop on July 16 — still a silhouette at time of writing.
  • Pokémon Happy Meal: Full reveal on July 31.

The Summer Chance Bag: Japan’s Most Viral Pokémon Merch This Season

Jumping Pikachu Potato Timer — McDonald's Japan Summer Chance Bag 2026 exclusive
Image courtesy of McDonald’s Japan × The Pokémon Company

The star of the entire campaign is the Jumping Pikachu Potato Timer — a kitchen countdown timer shaped exactly like a McDonald’s fries box, with a Pikachu figure that pops up from the “fries” when time runs out. It’s the kind of thing that sells out within hours at any Japanese Pokémon Center, except this one is only obtainable through the McDonald’s Summer Chance Bag lottery.

Each bag (3,900 yen via the McDonald’s Japan app) contains the timer, a randomly selected colour-changing cup in a Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle design, a matching zip pouch, and 3,910 yen worth of McDonald’s food vouchers — meaning the vouchers alone more than cover the cost. One in every ten bags also includes a Golden McDonald’s Card carrying an extra 500-yen voucher. Lottery applications run until July 20, so if you have a Japan trip planned (or a friend willing to enter on your behalf), now’s the time to act.

Pokémon GO x McDonald’s Japan: Every Branch Becomes a PokéStop

For Pokémon GO players, the campaign has a separate hook: from July 20 to September 1, all McDonald’s Japan locations will temporarily appear as PokéStops in the game — the franchise’s first Pokémon GO partnership in around six years, timed to Pokémon GO’s own 10th anniversary. With over 2,900 McDonald’s branches across Japan, that’s a significant expansion of the in-game map for anyone playing while travelling.

Trainers visiting Japan between late July and early September will find PokéStops clustered along major shopping streets, in train stations and inside malls — many of which already have a McDonald’s — making the overlap between “grab a quick meal” and “spin a stop” more convenient than ever.

Japan Goes Even Further: Coca-Cola Machines Are Already Pokéstops

McDonald’s isn’t alone. Coca-Cola Japan announced on July 10 that approximately 30,000 Coca-Cola vending machines across Japan are now being progressively added as PokéStops — with select machines eventually upgrading to Gyms for battles. Both Coke ON (Coca-Cola Japan’s vending app, with 75 million downloads) and Pokémon GO share their 10th anniversaries in 2026, and a stamp campaign through the Coke ON app is also planned for September: purchase any Coca-Cola product at a participating machine and collect exclusive Pokémon GO stamps. The announcement was made via Coca-Cola Japan’s official newsroom (Japanese).

Between McDonald’s branches and Coca-Cola vending machines, large parts of urban Japan are effectively becoming a continuous Pokémon GO course this summer. For Singapore trainers doing a summer or year-end Japan trip, the window to catch both the McDonald’s PokéStop campaign (July 20 – September 1) and the Coca-Cola rollout in the same visit makes July–August 2026 one of the best times to be a Pokémon GO player in Japan. The campaign is Japan-only, but the merch — if you can win the lottery — ships a world away from anything available locally.

Full details on the collaboration burger and the Pokémon Happy Meal are still coming (July 16 and July 31 respectively). We’ll be watching. For more Japan culture and Pokémon news, check out our news archive.

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.

Manga Anime, News

MURCIÉLAGO Anime 2027: Dark Crime Manga Finally Gets a TV Series

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Thirteen years after its debut in Square Enix’s Young Gangan magazine, Kana Yoshimura’s MURCIÉLAGO is finally becoming a TV anime — and the teaser that premiered at Anime Expo 2026 this July confirms the adaptation looks as stylishly unhinged as the manga deserves.

MURCIÉLAGO anime 2027 official key visual showing Kuroko Koumori and Hinako Tozakura
Image courtesy of MURCIÉLAGO Project / Square Enix

A 13-Year Wait for MURCIÉLAGO Fans

MURCIÉLAGO follows Kuroko Koumori, a former death-row inmate who struck a deal with the Japanese government: spare her life, and she’ll eliminate the serial killers, cult leaders and organised criminals that conventional law enforcement can’t touch. Partnered with Hinako Tozakura — an innocent-looking girl with an extraordinary gift for high-speed driving — Kuroko tears through a gruelling case-file of society’s most dangerous criminals in a series that blends violent crime-action, dark humour, horror and a sharp yuri undertone through every volume.

Since its August 2013 debut, the manga has run to 28 volumes in Japan and crossed 2.3 million copies in circulation worldwide. It has long been one of the most-requested adaptations in the seinen/yuri fandom, and the Anime Expo 2026 announcement — complete with a super teaser PV and key visual — is the news readers have been waiting for. Original creator Kana Yoshimura described having a work adapted into an anime as “one of my greatest dreams,” as reported in Anime Corner’s coverage of the announcement.

MURCIÉLAGO teaser PV still showing Kuroko and Hinako in the series' distinctive manga-infused art style
Image courtesy of MURCIÉLAGO Project / Square Enix

What to Expect from the MURCIÉLAGO Anime

The adaptation is a joint production from Satelight (known for Macross Delta) and Staple Entertainment. Takashi Naoya serves as chief director and handles series composition — he previously directed Am I Actually the Strongest? and Tales of Wedding Rings. Matsuo Asami directs episode-to-episode, with Sei Tateishi handling character design, and music composed by Masanori Akita and Yuichi Tsuchiya.

The team has stated it is aiming to capture the stylish crime-action spirit of the original work while pushing its more extreme elements right up to the limits of broadcast standards. Satelight’s CG department is specifically handling the car action sequences — a major element of the manga’s most memorable set pieces — targeting truly cool 3D action scenes.

Watch the Official MURCIÉLAGO Teaser Trailer

MURCIÉLAGO – Official Teaser Trailer — via IGN on YouTube
Hinako Tozakura character close-up from the MURCIÉLAGO anime teaser
Image courtesy of MURCIÉLAGO Project / Square Enix

Streaming Rights and What Singapore Fans Should Know

HIDIVE has confirmed exclusive simulcast rights for the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There is no confirmed streaming deal for Singapore or Southeast Asia yet — HIDIVE does not currently operate in the region. SG fans will need to watch for additional regional licensing announcements as the 2027 premiere approaches.

In the meantime, the manga’s English-language edition (published by Square Enix Manga) is widely available, making now an ideal time to catch up on all 26 international volumes before the anime airs. Keep an eye on the official MURCIÉLAGO announcement on Anime News Network for further cast, air date and regional streaming updates.

Commemorative illustration by MURCIÉLAGO creator Kana Yoshimura celebrating the anime announcement with the text Anime Adaptation Confirmed
Image courtesy of MURCIÉLAGO Project / Square Enix

For more anime and manga news including other 2027 titles to watch, check out our ongoing coverage.

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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.