Category Archives: News

AC Black Flag Resynced Hits 2 Million Sales in One Day

Ubisoft’s Singapore-led remake of the beloved pirate adventure has made a stunning commercial debut: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced sold 2 million copies within its first 24 hours of release, making it the fastest-selling entry in the AC franchise in over a decade. The official milestone was confirmed by Ubisoft on 10 July — one day after the game launched on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

As we covered at launch, Black Flag Resynced is a ground-up remake developed primarily by Ubisoft Singapore — the studio with deeper roots in the Caribbean than anyone, having contributed to the original 2013 Black Flag’s ocean simulation and then spent a decade on the ill-fated Skull and Bones. Their full-circle moment has now also become a commercial one.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced — Edward Kenway overlooking a Caribbean harbour
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

Record Steam Numbers for Assassin’s Creed

On Steam alone, Resynced peaked at 99,451 concurrent players on launch day — the highest ever recorded for any Assassin’s Creed title on the platform, surpassing even Assassin’s Creed Shadows. It also topped Twitch on July 9 by viewer count.

Critics backed up the player enthusiasm. Resynced sits at 85% on OpenCritic and 84% on Metacritic, making it the best-reviewed AC game since the original Black Flag — the very game it remakes. Ubisoft Singapore rebuilt the entire experience from scratch in the Anvil engine, with zero code carried over from the 2013 version.

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

A Rare Moment of Transparency from Ubisoft

Ubisoft disclosing concrete sales numbers is itself notable. The company stopped publishing unit-sales figures years ago, making this the first time it has shared a specific number for an AC game since the original Black Flag sold over 11 million copies back in 2013. Whether intentional PR or a sign of renewed confidence, the disclosure reflects just how strong a launch this has been.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced — Edward Kenway at the Jackdaw's helm
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

The Microtransaction Caveat

The launch has not been entirely smooth. Steam user reviews have landed at Mixed, with a significant number of players unhappy about optional microtransactions bolted onto what is a premium-priced title. Ubisoft has defended the base game as “the full, complete experience” with the paid add-ons sitting outside the core campaign — but the pushback is real, and Singapore players who have already bought into the game report that the optional DLC does not affect the story.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced — Edward diving through a coral reef wreck
Image courtesy of Ubisoft

Still Worth It for Singapore Players?

The critical consensus and commercial result suggest yes — and the Ubisoft Singapore angle makes it meaningful locally. Few games this generation carry a “Made in Singapore” stamp as prominently as this one, and the studio’s work has clearly resonated globally. If you have been on the fence, AC Black Flag Resynced is available now on Steam and at local game retailers and electronics chains.

For more game news, check out the latest on our game news page.

One Piece Card Game Launches 6 New Starter Decks — The Friendliest Way Into OPTCG Yet

The One Piece Card Game just got its most beginner-friendly entry point yet. Six brand-new starter decks — ST-31 through ST-36 — dropped in Japan on 11 July 2026, each built around a fan-favourite character and colour, with the English version set to hit shelves on 31 July 2026. If you have been on the fence about jumping into OPTCG, this is the most straightforward on-ramp Bandai has ever made.

One Piece Card Game ST-31 Red Monkey D. Luffy starter deck box
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

Six Decks, Six Icons — Pick Your Colour

Bandai has lined up six decks that together cover every major colour in the game’s current meta palette. Each deck is named after a single leader character and leans into that character’s signature combat style:

  • ST-31 (Red) — Monkey D. Luffy: A fast mono-red aggro deck built around Gear 5 Luffy’s effect of attaching rested DON!! cards to characters and overwhelming opponents with Straw Hat Crew power.
  • ST-32 (Green) — Roronoa Zoro: A control-flavoured green deck leaning on Zoro’s endurance and precise timing to outmanoeuvre opponents over a longer game.
  • ST-33 (Blue) — Kuzan: A blue deck revolving around Kuzan (Aokiji), the former Marine Admiral, focused on manipulation and freezing the board state.
  • ST-34 (Purple) — Charlotte Katakuri: A purple deck inspired by Katakuri’s foresight, rewarding players who can read the game and set up multi-turn chains.
  • ST-35 (Red/Black) — Sabo: The only dual-colour deck in the set. Sabo bridges the aggressive power of red with black’s resource disruption, giving new players a taste of multi-colour play without overwhelming complexity.
  • ST-36 (Yellow) — Eustass Kid: A yellow control deck for players who prefer grinding the opponent down and punishing overextension.
One Piece Card Game ST-32 Green Zoro starter deck contents with cards
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

What’s Inside Each Deck

Every box in the ST-31 to ST-36 range contains the same core set of components:

  • 1 pre-constructed deck of 51 cards (15 unique types)
  • 1 Leader Card and 10 DON!! cards
  • 1 Playsheet (the printed play mat insert for teaching the game)
  • 1 bonus booster pack from OP-16, giving you a taste of the wider card pool

Each deck also includes 5 brand-new cards not previously released, meaning even established players have a reason to pick these up for the fresh additions to the card pool. The remaining slots are reprints of key cards from earlier sets, chosen to teach each colour’s core mechanics.

Sample cards from the One Piece Card Game ST-31 Red Luffy starter deck
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

Simple Enough for Day One, Ready for the Locals Table

Bandai has specifically designed the ST-31 to ST-36 leader effects to be straightforward — no multi-step triggers, no conditional on-attack effects that require a rulebook check every turn. The intent is that a completely new player can open a box and understand what their leader does within minutes of reading the card.

That said, these are not throwaway products. Each deck’s 5 new cards are being integrated into the current competitive meta, and the ST-35 Sabo dual-colour build in particular has drawn early attention from the OPTCG community as potentially having genuine tournament legs once players figure out the optimal builds around it.

The decks are rated for ages 9 and up on the Japanese packaging, but the actual game has always attracted a broad adult player base here in Singapore — these starter decks are simply a smarter entry point, not a step down in quality.

Beginners Deck Party 2026 — Your First Tournament Starts 31 July

Bandai is pairing the English launch with a dedicated tournament format. The Beginners Deck Party 2026 runs from 31 July to 30 August 2026 at participating local game stores, and the rules are simple: all players must use one of the six ST-31 to ST-36 starter decks, unmodified. No custom builds, no expensive singles — just the box you buy at the counter.

That levels the playing field completely and means your skill at reading the deck — not your collection depth — decides who wins. Both participation prizes and winner prizes come in the form of exclusive card packs, each featuring one card across six different designs tied to the deck series.

One Piece Card Game Beginners Deck Party 2026 Participation Pack sample card
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

To find a participating store near you, register through the Bandai TCG+ app, which lists local venues once store applications open on 17 July 2026.

Where Singapore Players Can Get These Decks

The Japanese versions are available right now. At least one local retailer — SC Collection at Orchard Towers — has been stocking the Japanese edition at SGD $12 per deck. Stock on the Japanese run tends to move quickly, so if you want a specific colour before the English release, it is worth checking with major game retailers and card gaming shops now.

For those who prefer the English version, the ST-31 to ST-36 decks land internationally on 31 July 2026. SGD retail pricing for the English edition has not been formally announced, but based on historical OPTCG starter deck pricing in Singapore, expect them to land in the SGD $12–16 range at local game retailers and online hobby stores — pricing to be confirmed closer to launch.

Whether you are a longtime One Piece fan who has been curious about the card game, or a lapsed TCG player looking for a low-stakes way back into competitive play, the ST-31 to ST-36 wave is the clearest answer Bandai has given yet. Check out our manga and anime coverage for more One Piece and OPTCG news as it drops.

Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life Premieres Today on Aniplus Asia

Demon lords, reincarnation and a hero who refuses to leave you alone — Liden Films’ summer 2026 romantic comedy Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life makes its streaming debut today (11 July 2026). Singapore and Southeast Asia fans can catch it on Aniplus Asia, while most other regions get it on Crunchyroll with a same-day English dub.

Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life promotional art
Image courtesy of Liden Films / Pony Canyon
Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life | Main PV — via ANIPLUS Asia on YouTube

The Story: A Demon Lord Who Just Wants to Game

Ryusei Narukami is a self-described NEET who keeps to himself and spends his days playing video games. What nobody knows is that he is the reincarnation of a fearsome demon lord from another world. He is perfectly content in his new, quiet existence — until a high school girl named Meteor Hanaori shows up uninvited at his apartment. She is the reincarnation of the very hero who defeated him in his past life, and she is absolutely not willing to let the grudge go.

What follows is a sharp, energetic romantic comedy that plays with the classic isekai power fantasy from an unexpected angle: the protagonist actively wants less adventure and just wants to be left alone. Based on the manga by Hekiru Hikawa, serialised in Kodansha’s Morning Two seinen magazine since 2021, the series mixes fish-out-of-water comedy with a genuinely warm dynamic between its leads.

Production and Voice Cast

The anime is produced by Liden Films, with direction by Hideyo Yamamoto, series composition by Yukie Sugawara and character design by Yousuke Okuda.

Meteor Hanaori as an armored knight in Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life
Still from ANIPLUS Asia’s official trailer

The cast is headlined by Jun Fukuyama (Lelouch in Code Geass, Felix in Re:Zero) as Ryusei Narukami and Akira Sekine as Meteor Hanaori. Maaya Uchida, who also performs the ending theme “Very Good Encounter,” voices Meru Tsumugina. The opening theme, “High Maintenance Girl,” is by Masayoshi Oishi.

Where to Watch in Singapore

Aniplus Asia is the streaming home for Singapore and Southeast Asia. Crunchyroll does not serve Southeast Asia for this title; the Crunchyroll stream (which includes the same-day English dub) covers North America, Europe, the Middle East, India, Oceania and other regions. Singapore viewers should head to the Aniplus Asia app or website — the dub situation on Aniplus is to be confirmed, but expect the Japanese audio with subtitles as the default.

New episodes follow the Japanese broadcast schedule, with the first airing on ABC TV and TV Asahi on 11–12 July. For more anime news, keep checking back.

Live-Action Naruto Movie Launches Global Casting Search for Team 7

The search for the next Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura is officially on. Lionsgate launched a worldwide casting call for the three leads of its long-gestating live-action Naruto film on 9 July 2026 — and the net has been cast so wide that actors from anywhere in the world, including Singapore, are potentially eligible to audition.

Official Naruto character designs for Team 7 and friends in Saimenka style
Image courtesy of Viz Media / Pierrot

A Global Audition — Who’s Being Cast and What We Know

Lionsgate is searching for actors to fill the three central roles that define the franchise: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno — collectively known as Team 7. Additional character casting is expected to follow in a later phase. The studio is specifically not looking for established child stars; reports indicate the search favours fresh, unknown young talent with the right energy for the roles.

Application details have not yet been published. The official guidance from the Naruto official site is to follow naruto-official.com and Lionsgate’s verified social media accounts (Instagram, X, Facebook) where legitimate submission instructions for international applicants will appear first. If you see audition forms on third-party accounts, treat them with extreme caution — the real call will come through official channels only.

Naruto 20th Anniversary Revival Anime key art
Image courtesy of Viz Media

The Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

The film will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, best known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021). He also wrote the script. The director is currently finishing Spider-Man: Brand New Day (releasing 31 July 2026) before turning his full attention to the Naruto production, which is tracking towards a 2027 shoot with a potential theatrical release around 2028, though no dates have been formally announced.

Cretton’s experience bringing a beloved Asian franchise to a mass Western audience — and doing it with respect for the source material — is exactly why this hire generated such excitement when it was announced. His ability to balance spectacle with character-driven storytelling is a good fit for a story as emotionally dense as Naruto’s.

“A String of Miracles” — Kishimoto’s Reaction

Masashi Kishimoto, who created the Naruto manga in Weekly Shōnen Jump back in 1999, has not held back his excitement. Writing on the official Naruto site, he said: “Right now, miracles are happening to me, one after another. My work, Naruto, is truly, truly becoming a Hollywood movie! And an even greater miracle is that the film will be directed by the one and only Destin Daniel Cretton. I am eagerly looking forward to the miraculous encounters that will bring us extraordinary and passionate actors!”

Cretton echoed the feeling: “Kishimoto-sensei’s stories have inspired generations of fans around the world, and it’s an honour to bring his world and characters to the big screen in live action for the very first time. I’m thrilled to kick off this casting search for Team 7.”

What Singapore Fans Should Know

Naruto is one of the formative anime of an entire generation here. The casting call being genuinely global is significant: this isn’t a Japan-or-US-only search — it is open to talent worldwide. For Singaporean and Southeast Asian actors with the right skills and the right look, this is a real shot.

The movie is still years away from screens — no SG or SEA release timeline has been announced, and regional distribution plans are not yet confirmed. But for anime fans who grew up with the franchise, the knowledge that a director of Cretton’s calibre is at the helm, and that the casting is genuinely inclusive of Asian talent, is a promising sign that Lionsgate is approaching this adaptation with care.

Naruto live-action movie global casting call press art
Image courtesy of Viz Media / Lionsgate

Keep an eye on naruto-official.com and Lionsgate’s official social channels for audition details when they land.

Switch 2 + Pokémon Pokopia Bundle: Where to Pre-Order in Singapore

Pre-orders for Nintendo’s Switch 2 + Pokémon Pokopia bundle are now live across Singapore retailers ahead of its 23 July 2026 launch, and at S$769.95 it is shaping up as the school-holiday pick for anyone still on the fence about jumping into Switch 2. When we covered the bundle’s announcement at the start of the month, the open questions were where you would actually buy it and whether pairing the console with the game saves you anything. Now that listings are up, here is where pre-orders stand, how the price really stacks up, and why demand for Pokopia is running this hot.

Where to Pre-Order the Switch 2 Pokopia Bundle in Singapore

The player character celebrates with Scyther, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Charmander and other Pokémon in front of a Pokémon Centre in Pokémon Pokopia
Image courtesy of Nintendo / The Pokémon Company

The bundle is listed at major game retailers and electronics chains, with pre-orders open now ahead of the 23 July arrival — squarely in the school-holiday window. The listings we have seen so far:

  • Challenger — carrying the bundle at the S$769.95 official RRP.
  • NTUC FairPrice — a marketplace listing bundles a tempered-glass screen protector on top of the console and game for S$799.

Prices and stock will vary by retailer as launch approaches, so it is worth comparing what each throws in (screen protector, carry case, extra warranty) rather than the headline number alone. The official Nintendo Singapore announcement has the full list of participating retailers and the confirmed contents.

Is the Bundle Actually a Saving?

A player character in a bubble floats through a stone canyon with Piplup, Psyduck and Marill in Pokémon Pokopia
Image courtesy of Nintendo / The Pokémon Company

Here is how the S$769.95 bundle lines up against buying the two pieces on their own:

  • Standalone Nintendo Switch 2 console: S$719 (its original Singapore launch price)
  • Pokémon Pokopia standalone physical: around S$89.90 at local retailers

Bought separately at those prices you would be paying roughly S$808.90, which puts the bundle saving at about S$39. It is not a blockbuster discount — Nintendo rarely cuts deep at launch — but you get the console plus a premium-priced exclusive in one order for less than full rack price, and you skip hunting for a physical copy during the busy July retail rush. Do note the bundle includes a full download code for Pokopia rather than a boxed cartridge, so it will not resell like a physical copy later.

One caveat on the maths: Nintendo announced a worldwide Switch 2 hardware price adjustment in May 2026, and the revised standalone console price for Singapore had not been officially confirmed at the time of writing. Check nintendo.com/sg for the current figure, as the real saving shifts if the standalone price has moved since launch.

Why Pokopia Is in Such Demand

The player character uses a grass-type ability alongside Bulbasaur on a terraced landscape in Pokémon Pokopia
Image courtesy of Nintendo / The Pokémon Company

Part of why this bundle is worth a look is the game inside it. Pokémon Pokopia — the Switch 2-exclusive life sim where you build a settlement and let each species’ natural traits shape the world — sold more than 2.2 million copies worldwide in its first four days, including over a million in Japan alone, per Nintendo’s own figures. For a brand-new, non-mainline Pokémon title, that is a standout start, and it is a big reason physical copies have been in tight supply — making the download-code bundle a tidier way in. If you want the full rundown of what the game is and everything the box includes, our original bundle announcement goes deeper.

Pokémon Pokopia – Launch Trailer — via Pokémon Asia ENG on YouTube

What You Get in the Box

For quick reference, the bundle ships with everything a new player needs to start immediately:

  • Nintendo Switch 2 console and dock
  • Joy-Con 2 (L) and (R) controllers with straps
  • Joy-Con 2 Grip
  • AC adapter and USB-C charging cable
  • Ultra High Speed HDMI cable
  • Full download code for Pokémon Pokopia

The one thing that is not included is the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass — it is sold separately, so factor that in if you plan to commit to the game long-term. For more on Switch 2 titles heading to Singapore, browse our full game news coverage.

Red River Anime Hits Crunchyroll — Classic Shoujo Arrives After 25 Years

If you spent your early teens sneaking chapters of a time-travel shoujo epic when you were supposed to be studying, your wait is finally over. Red River — the beloved manga that gripped Shojo Comic readers from 1995 to 2002 — has its first-ever anime adaptation, and it landed on Crunchyroll this week. Twenty-five years after the final chapter ran, Yuri and Prince Kail are animated at last.

Red River anime 2026 wide key visual — Tatsunoko Production
Image courtesy of Tatsunoko Production

What Is Red River (Anatolia Story)?

For anyone who missed the manga: Red River (天は赤い河のほとり, Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori — also published in English as Anatolia Story) follows 15-year-old Japanese schoolgirl Yuri Suzuki, who is summoned against her will to the Hittite Empire in 1500 BC Anatolia. Queen Nakia plans to use Yuri as a human sacrifice to curse the royal princes and clear the path for her own son’s succession. The one who intervenes is Nakia’s stepson, the charming and politically savvy Prince Kail Mursili, who mistakenly — and then very deliberately — passes Yuri off as the reincarnation of the war goddess Ishtar.

What follows across 28 volumes is a dense mix of Bronze Age political intrigue, large-scale battles, and a romance that earns its slow burn. Creator Chie Shinohara packed an enormous amount of historical detail into the series — it remains one of the most meticulously researched shoujo manga ever written — and the story’s reach showed: over 20 million copies sold in Japan, an English-language licence from VIZ Media, a Takarazuka Revue stage production in 2018, and the 46th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shoujo category. The one thing it never had was an anime. Until now.

Red River | Official Trailer — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

The Studio, Staff, and Commitment to Historical Accuracy

The adaptation is being produced by Tatsunoko Production — the studio behind classics like Gatchaman, Yatterman, and Casshern Sins — a choice that fits a story this rooted in craft and ambition. Kōsuke Kobayashi directs, with Yoriko Tomita handling series composition and Kenji Fujisaki designing the characters.

Particularly notable is the production’s approach to historical authenticity: the team brought in historians from the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology to advise on ancient Hittite architecture, clothing, weapons, and court politics. For a story built on the real bones of a Bronze Age civilisation, that kind of scholarly input matters — and it suggests the team understands what made the source material special.

The Voice Cast — Including a 30-Year Reunion

Mirai Tachibana voices Yuri, with Wataru Kato as Prince Kail. Hiroki Nanami — who also performs the opening theme, “Akatsuki no Sora” (暁の空; Dawn Sky) — takes the role of Yuri’s present-day boyfriend Satoshi Himuro and serves as the series narrator. Aya Uchida plays the villain Queen Nakia; the wider ancient court features Shoya Chiba (Zannanza), Tomoaki Maenon (Ilbani), Koji Yusa (Urhi), and Kohsuke Toriumi (Mattiwaza), among others. Miisha Shimizu performs the ending theme, “Reunion.”

Red River anime 2026 voice cast visual — Tatsunoko Production
Image courtesy of Tatsunoko Production

The casting announcement that generated the biggest reaction came on July 8, one day after the series premiere: veteran voice actors Minami Takayama and Kazuhiko Inoue have been cast as Yuri’s parents. The two originally voiced the series lead couple in the original Red River drama CD — released some thirty years ago. Their return to the franchise, now a generation older in-universe, is exactly the kind of easter egg that rewards long-time fans. It is a small creative decision that communicates something important: the people behind this adaptation know the fandom they are making it for.

Red River anime 2026 — Tatsunoko Production
Image courtesy of Tatsunoko Production

Where Singapore Fans Can Watch Red River

Red River is streaming on Crunchyroll for international audiences. In Japan the series airs on NTV’s AnichU block on Monday nights (technically 1:35 AM Tuesday JST), with Crunchyroll carrying the simulcast. The show premiered on July 7, meaning there are episodes already waiting if you’re jumping in right now.

If you haven’t read the manga, VIZ Media’s English edition — all 28 volumes — is the ideal companion. The anime has a lot of ground to cover, and the source material rewards time with it. For longtime fans who read it in serialisation or in collected volumes as kids, this adaptation is something that didn’t seem certain to ever happen. Check out our manga and anime coverage for more on this summer’s anime season.

Cygames’ Three Long-Awaited Games Are Still in Development

After years of near-total silence, Cygames has confirmed that three of its most anticipated projects — action RPG Project Awakening, real-time tactics game Lost Order, and fantasy action game Garnet Arena: Mages of Magicary — are all still in active development. The confirmation comes via a Weekly Famitsu interview with Cygames president Koichi Watanabe, published as part of the magazine’s 15th anniversary cover feature on the studio behind Granblue Fantasy and Granblue Fantasy: Relink.

Project Awakening Is Alive and “Starting to Take Shape”

Of the three titles, Project Awakening has the longest waiting list. The action RPG was first announced at Cygames NEXT 2016, resurfaced as a PS4 title at the PlayStation LineUp Tour in 2018, had a demo rated in 2019 that never released, and then went almost completely dark — save for appearing in parent company CyberAgent’s financial reports. That makes Watanabe’s words here genuinely welcome.

“Development [on Project Awakening] is, of course, steadily progressing,” Watanabe said, as reported by Gematsu from the Famitsu interview. “What I can say at the moment is that it is really starting to take shape. Everyone on the team is working each day with a real sense of confidence that things are coming together.”

Asked whether the 2018 trailer still reflects the game’s direction, Watanabe clarified: “If you’re asking, ‘Is it exactly the same?’, I’d say it’s a little different. The overall direction remains largely the same, but as development has progressed, we’ve continued polishing it by adding new elements here and there.” Cygames also shared new Project Awakening footage directly with Famitsu during the interview — none of which has been made public yet.

Project Awakening 2021 Cygames Tech Conference screenshot
Image courtesy of Cygames
Project Awakening Debut Trailer — via Cygames公式チャンネル on YouTube

Lost Order Enters Its Final Stretch

Lost Order — a real-time tactics smartphone game also announced at Cygames NEXT 2016 — actually had a closed beta back in 2017, raising expectations that a launch wasn’t far off. It then disappeared. Watanabe now says it’s closer than ever: “This one is also deep in development, and is now entering the final stretch.”

The rebuild has been extensive. “We’ve rebuilt everything from scratch since the closed beta test [in 2017], including the character models,” Watanabe explained. “It’s still in development, so the quality is only going to improve going forward. We are gradually beginning to see the path toward launch.” Famitsu’s editors, who were shown new footage during the interview, described the results as being of “astonishing quality” — “a bit unbelievable that this is possible as a smartphone app.”

Lost Order Cygames real-time tactics smartphone game
Image courtesy of Cygames
LOST ORDER Prologue Movie — via Cygames公式チャンネル on YouTube

Garnet Arena: Mages of Magicary Confirmed Active

The third title, Garnet Arena: Mages of Magicary, was originally announced in 2021 as “Project GAMM” before receiving its full name in 2023. The fantasy action game is produced by Kenichiro Takaki, who joined Cygames after his long tenure at Marvelous. Watanabe confirmed it remains in development and that Cygames shared new gameplay footage with Famitsu during the interview, though none has been released publicly.

Garnet Arena: Mages of Magicary title announcement key art
Image courtesy of Cygames
Garnet Arena: Mages of Magicary gameplay screenshot
Image courtesy of Cygames

A Studio Built for the Long Game

Beyond confirming the three titles, Watanabe gave a broader read on the company’s health. He said Cygames prefers not to share news on projects while they are still in a “half-finished state” — which explains the long silences. He also noted that teams are “currently firing on all cylinders,” with developers proactively chasing quality improvements on their own initiative. Completing the Cygames NEXT 2016 slate remains the company’s top priority, but Watanabe also confirmed that entirely new projects are in early preparation.

For Singapore and Southeast Asia gamers, this is significant news. Cygames built its regional fanbase through Granblue Fantasy — which still runs regular events and is widely played on mobile across SEA — and last year’s Granblue Fantasy: Relink (which recently brought its Endless Ragnarok expansion to Nintendo Switch 2). Project Awakening and Lost Order have been on the radar of this audience for nearly a decade. No release windows or platforms were announced, and no new screenshots have been released publicly yet — but at least these games are confirmed alive and apparently looking the part. We’ll be watching Famitsu and the Cygames official channels for the next update.

The World’s First Pokémon Airport Is Now Open in Japan

There is now a Pokémon airport in Japan — and that is not a figure of speech. The Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport officially opened on 7 July 2026, making it the world’s first airport to carry the word “Pokémon” in its official name. It sits in Ishikawa Prefecture on the Noto Peninsula, and it will operate as a Pokémon experience destination through 30 September 2029.

Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport interior render showing all flying-type Pokémon murals and Pikachu on a plane
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Ishikawa Prefecture

Recovery Through Pokémon

The project’s roots go back to the devastating Noto Earthquake that struck Ishikawa Prefecture on 1 January 2024. The quake caused severe damage across the Noto Peninsula, and The Pokémon Company responded by donating 50 million yen to aid victims. The Pokémon With You Foundation — which has run charity initiatives in Japan since the 2011 Tōhoku disaster — partnered with the Ishikawa Prefectural Government to make this airport transformation happen, using Pokémon’s reach to draw tourists back to a region still rebuilding.

The result is a full airport rebrand. The official nickname has changed, Pokémon illustrations cover the exterior pillars, and the interior has been transformed from floor to ceiling.

Official teaser PV: Noto Satoyama Pokémon With You Airport, opens 7 July 2026 — via Ishikawa Prefecture Official Channel on YouTube (Japanese)

What Is Inside

Real photo of Noto Satoyama Pokémon airport lobby showing murals and With You signage
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Ishikawa Prefecture

The second floor features murals of all 111 Flying-type Pokémon (excluding regional forms and Mega Evolutions). It is the kind of thing a Pokémon fan could spend an entire layover cataloguing. The first-floor lobby has life-size monuments of Pikachu, Plusle, and Minun — the trio associated with the Pokémon With You Foundation — which have already become the prime photo spot for arriving visitors.

Pull up the airport’s smartphone feature and you can trigger original short AR animations about Noto and the airport, bringing the illustrated Pokémon around you briefly to life.

Exterior of Noto Satoyama Pokémon airport with Pokémon-illustrated columns
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Ishikawa Prefecture

Exclusive Merchandise and Food

The airport sells exclusives that you can only get on site. Merchandise includes Pikachu and Charizard keychains bearing the airport’s NTQ IATA code, luggage belts, tote bags, and a T-shirt featuring the official key art. Items branded with an airport code are perennially popular with collector-travellers, and NTQ is going to be a standout pick.

Noto Satoyama Pokémon airport exclusive merchandise including keychains, luggage belt, tote bag and T-shirt
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Ishikawa Prefecture

Pokémon-themed food is available on site, and from mid-July 2026 the experience extends beyond the airport itself: Pokémon-wrapped buses will run between Wajima and Kanazawa on an existing route, plus a new route hitting Pokémon-related tourist sites across the Noto Peninsula.

Planning a Visit from Singapore

Noto Satoyama Airport (NTQ) is a regional airport that serves domestic routes within Japan, with ANA operating flights from Tokyo Haneda. Singapore fans would typically fly into Tokyo or Osaka and connect domestically, or fly into Komatsu Airport near Kanazawa and travel overland to the Noto Peninsula (roughly one to two hours). Kanazawa is already a popular stop on Japan itineraries for its Kenroku-en garden and seafood — the Noto Peninsula’s Pokémon airport is an easy extension of that trip.

The airport’s Pokémon makeover runs through 30 September 2029, giving Singapore fans a generous window to plan. For more Pokémon news and Japan travel reads, check out our travel section and latest Pokémon updates.

LEGO Pokémon 2026: Arcanine, Rayquaza and Oak’s Lab Revealed

Five brand-new LEGO Pokémon sets have been officially revealed for 2026, and the line-up runs the full spectrum — from a posable Arcanine you can manoeuvre into a growl pose, to a towering Rayquaza soaring above the Sky Pillar, and a flagship Poké Ball that opens to reveal Professor Oak’s entire lab inside. The sets were announced jointly by The Pokémon Company International and LEGO, and were first reported in detail by Siliconera.

1 August: Three Posable Pokémon Sets

The first wave lands globally on 1 August 2026 and centres on fully posable Pokémon models with articulated joints — a meaningful step up from the static display pieces that kicked off LEGO’s collaboration with The Pokémon Company.

LEGO Arcanine set 72160, 1190 pieces
Image courtesy of LEGO and The Pokémon Company

LEGO Arcanine (Set 72160 · 1,190 pieces · US$109.99 · Ages 18+) is the showstopper of the August batch. The Legendary-tier dog can open and close its mouth, rotate its head, and shift its legs into different stances, letting you display it prowling low or rearing up. At 1,190 pieces it will take a solid build session to put together — and given how intricate the fur detailing looks from the official images, that time will feel well spent.

LEGO Munchlax set 72150, 757 pieces
Image courtesy of LEGO and The Pokémon Company

LEGO Munchlax (Set 72150 · 757 pieces · US$69.99 · Ages 18+) comes with a tree stump base scattered with berries, mushrooms and flowers — exactly the spread #0446 deserves. The head and arms are articulated, and at US$69.99 it is the most accessible entry point of the three August sets.

LEGO Rayquaza (Set 72168 · 1,083 pieces · US$129.99 · Ages 18+) is the wave’s visual centrepiece. The serpentine body is fully posable and comes with a detailed Sky Pillar base plus a Zinnia minifigure — making it the first LEGO Pokémon set to include a trainer minifig alongside the Pokémon itself. The Pokémon Company’s official YouTube channel teased the 2026 LEGO Pokémon line-up earlier this year:

Get ready to electrify your imagination in 2026 📛 ⚡️ #LEGO #Pokemon #LEGOPokemon — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel

1 October: Trainer Sets and the Oak’s Lab Poké Ball

The October wave leans hard into Pokémon Red and Blue nostalgia, focusing on the player character Red and the legendary opening of the very first Pokémon game.

LEGO Red Upscaled Minifigure set 40868, 930 pieces
Image courtesy of LEGO and The Pokémon Company

LEGO Red Upscaled Minifigure (Set 40868 · 930 pieces · US$79.99 · Ages 10+) is a giant-scale version of the classic LEGO minifig design, depicting Red in his iconic red jacket, white cap and blue jeans. Arms, legs and head are all articulated so you can pose him mid-battle, and he comes clutching a Poké Ball in one hand. The 10+ age rating makes it the most display-friendly piece for younger fans too. For those who want something smaller for their bag, there is also a US$5.99 Red minifigure keychain — the most affordable way to carry the original Pokémon trainer around.

LEGO Iconic Trainer Moments Poke Ball set 72154 closed
Image courtesy of LEGO and The Pokémon Company

LEGO Iconic Trainer Moments Poké Ball (Set 72154 · 2,386 pieces · US$299.99 · Ages 18+) is the crown jewel. Closed, it looks exactly like an oversized Poké Ball sitting in a ring of grass. Open it and the upper half reveals a complete miniature Professor Oak’s lab: workbench, bookshelves, three Poké Balls lined up on the table, the whole scene. The lower half unfolds into an outdoor battle: Red faces a Picknicker with Pikachu and Eevee in play. Four minifigures — Red, Professor Oak, the Picknicker, and their Pokémon — are all included, making it the most story-rich set in the entire 2026 LEGO Pokémon range.

LEGO Iconic Trainer Moments Poke Ball open showing Oak's Lab inside
Image courtesy of LEGO and The Pokémon Company

Singapore Availability and Pricing

All five sets are confirmed for global release on those dates. Singapore fans should be able to order through the LEGO Singapore website or from LEGO stores and major toy retailers here. Pricing above is in US dollars; SGD pricing has not yet been announced, so expect local prices to reflect the current exchange rate once listings go live. These sets join an existing LEGO Pokémon range that already includes Pikachu, Eevee, Charizard and Mewtwo — if you have been holding off, the August 1 release is the moment to finally plan that shelf. For more Pokémon collecting coverage, check out our shop and merchandise posts.