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Game News

Blue Archive Devs’ Project RX Now Called Fareidolia

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The mystery codename is retired. On 24 August, Nexon Games’ IO DIVISION — the studio behind Blue Archive — announced that its next bishoujo project, previously known only as Project RX, will ship as Fareidolia. The name reveal came alongside a fresh set of character keyvisuals, the first proper look at the game’s cosy hub “Twilight Mansion,” and confirmation of a playable demo at Tokyo Game Show 2026 next month.

For Singapore’s very active Blue Archive community, this is the first concrete sign that IO DIVISION’s much-teased follow-up is finally moving from teaser reels into something you can actually get your hands on — even if it’s only at Makuhari Messe for now.

What is Fareidolia?

Fareidolia is built in Unreal Engine 5 and pitched as a slice-of-life bishoujo game with a warm, lived-in world you’d “actually want to live in,” as IO DIVISION described the project when it first surfaced last year. It’s set in Anima City, an Earth-adjacent town where you play the Center Director of the Anima City Recovery Center. Your day job is running an office called Tasogare-kan (Twilight Mansion) alongside a cast of girls known as “Mates” — young women with unusual abilities who help you troubleshoot the city’s problems.

A cosy retro living room inside Fareidolia's Twilight Mansion, with a pink fridge, tube TV, wooden shelves and a cat napping on a teal sofa.
Image courtesy of Nexon Games

The pitch will sound familiar to anyone who spends time in Kivotos: comfy hangouts and character-first storytelling, but with a Studio Ghibli-style town backdrop and combat that shows up in short, cinematic bursts. According to the reveal on the game’s official TGS 2026 site, the core concept is “a nostalgic-feeling city where one spends time alongside girls possessing special abilities,” with a new trailer promised for 17 September — the show’s opening business day.

Meet the girls

The name-change reveal came with four character silhouettes filled in. All are staff or regulars at Tasogare-kan.

Fareidolia character Minié, a silver-haired explorer with yellow eyes, wearing a black tee, patterned shorts and a messenger bag.
Image courtesy of Nexon Games

Minié is the resident explorer — an ex-guild adventurer who lights up whenever the conversation turns to expeditions. Her keyvisual leans hard into that: a functional messenger bag, patterned thigh strap, and a small notebook she reads on the go.

Fareidolia character Shami, a pink-haired cat-eared girl waving in a red tracksuit jacket over a slogan T-shirt.
Image courtesy of Nexon Games

Shami is the perpetually broke cat-girl of the group. Nexon’s profile leans into the running gag — she’s chronically unlucky, watches too many idol variety shows, and spends what little she has on good-luck charms. The T-shirt she’s wearing reads mui toshoku (無為徒食), roughly “idling around and living off others,” which is very on-brand.

Fareidolia's Elevator Girl, a black-haired character in a red beret and cape decorated with blue roses.
Image courtesy of Nexon Games

Rounding out the roster is Ohana, a self-proclaimed “universal genius” who mostly channels her talents into pranks, and the unnamed Elevator Girl — a mysterious figure in a red cape and beret who operates the Twilight Mansion’s lift. IO DIVISION isn’t saying who she really is yet.

Watch the (still-Project-RX-branded) teaser

A proper Fareidolia trailer arrives on 17 September, but if you missed the original in-engine teaser, this is what the world and combat cadence looked like when IO DIVISION first pulled the curtain back:

[Project RX] Official Teaser Trailer — via Fareidolia_EN on YouTube

Life at the Twilight Mansion

The Fareidolia site leans hard into the mansion itself, and the gallery drops make it clear the daily-life loop is a real part of the design rather than a framing device. Expect a lot of downtime alongside the girls between whatever the Recovery Center’s actual assignments turn out to be.

Three Fareidolia girls napping on a tatami mat surrounded by scattered playing cards and drying laundry.
Image courtesy of Nexon Games

Whether that daily-life layer becomes the game’s headline feature or a wrapper around a heftier gacha-style meta is the big unknown. IO DIVISION has previously said Fareidolia is a much larger production than Blue Archive, and the studio has confirmed that the game will release on PC, mobile and console — the first IO DIVISION project to target home platforms.

TGS 2026 booth: what to expect

Fareidolia will be one of Nexon Games’ headliners at Tokyo Game Show 2026, which runs 17–21 September at Makuhari Messe. Per the studio’s TGS special site, the Nexon Games booth will include a full-scale recreation of Tasogare-kan, a hands-on playable demo, and a rock-paper-scissors mini-game with the characters that unlocks stamp-rally prizes. The 4Gamer news post confirming the name reveal (Japanese) also notes that platforms, price and a release date are all still to be confirmed.

Singapore angle: no local date, but familiar territory

There’s no Singapore or Southeast Asia launch window yet, and — this is important — no SGD price either, because no price has been announced anywhere. But the ingredients that made Blue Archive stick in Singapore are all here: the same core studio, the same tone, and a global-first distribution plan that already covers PC and mobile in the region through Nexon’s storefronts. That’s a stronger baseline than most Japan-first bishoujo projects, where SG fans usually have to weigh imports or region-locked stores.

Blue Archive’s Singapore-facing fandom has been unusually active this month — from the 122,046-account ban wave to a string of merch drops we’ve been tracking in our Game News coverage. Fareidolia lining up its first playable in September means the next big beat for that community is only three weeks away — with a full trailer scheduled for the same day the TGS 2026 halls open.

Sources: 4Gamer (Japanese), Nexon Games TGS 2026 site (Japanese), and Automaton West.

News

Blue Archive x SuperGroupies Arius Collab — Bags and Wallets Pre-Order Now Open

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The Arius Branch School has arrived in your wardrobe. SuperGroupies has opened pre-orders for its third Blue Archive fashion collaboration, and this time the spotlight falls on five of the game’s most beloved antagonists-turned-fan-favourites: Saori, Atsuko, Hiyori, Misaki, and Subaru. Pre-orders run until 14 September 2026, with items shipping to international buyers — Singapore included.

Blue Archive SuperGroupies Saori Arius Branch body bag and wallet
Image courtesy of SuperGroupies

The Full Arius Branch Collection

The collaboration covers all five members of the Cleaning & Clearing squad — the covert unit at the heart of Blue Archive’s Arius arc — with two items per character: a body bag (¥18,700) and a long wallet (¥15,400), totalling ten pieces across the collection.

Each design leans into the Arius aesthetic: armband-inspired motifs, embossed school crests, and the Latin phrase vanitas vanitatum, et omnia vanitas (vanity of vanities, all is vanity) rendered in each character’s signature accent colour. Interiors feature individual halo designs — a small but satisfying nod to Blue Archive’s halo system that fans will clock instantly.

Blue Archive SuperGroupies Hiyori body bag collab
Image courtesy of SuperGroupies

Five Characters, Five Distinct Designs

Saori — the squad’s composed de facto leader — gets a bag accented in deep crimson tones, matching her commanding presence in-game. Atsuko’s design incorporates the subtle industrial details that fit her gas-mask aesthetic, while Hiyori‘s item plays with cooler blues that echo her quiet, restrained personality. Misaki and Subaru round out the set with their own character-specific palettes and callsign details stamped on the front panel.

All items are built around a coordinated interior design, with each character’s halo and squad markings worked into the lining — the kind of detail that SuperGroupies consistently delivers across its collab lines.

Blue Archive SuperGroupies Misaki Arius Branch wallet
Image courtesy of SuperGroupies

How to Pre-Order from Singapore

Orders can be placed directly through the SuperGroupies official website or Animate Online Shop. SuperGroupies ships internationally, so Singapore-based fans can order straight from the source. The pre-order window closes 14 September 2026 at 12:00 JST, with delivery estimated for early January 2027. As is standard for SuperGroupies releases, early closure is possible if stock hits capacity — so don’t sleep on this one.

Body bags are priced at ¥18,700 each (approximately SGD 170 at current exchange rates) and long wallets at ¥15,400 (approximately SGD 140). Note that international shipping fees apply on top of the item price.

Blue Archive SuperGroupies Arius collection bag detail and interior design
Image courtesy of SuperGroupies

Blue Archive’s Third SuperGroupies Run

This marks SuperGroupies’ third Blue Archive collaboration. The first featured Abydos and Millennium characters, and the second spotlighted the Cleaning & Clearing members from the standard Millennium pool. The Arius arc — which is Blue Archive’s most narratively intense storyline — has generated some of the game’s most dedicated fans, making this collab a long time coming for players who cleared the Arius story chapters.

Blue Archive remains one of the most actively merchandised mobile games in Japan, and Singapore’s player community is among the most engaged in Southeast Asia. If Arius hits your top tier, this is the collab to move on before the September deadline.

Pre-order now at SuperGroupies — or browse more gaming and anime news on GameTrader.SG.

Manga Anime, Shop and Merchandise

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN: Black Collection Pre-Orders Open Now

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Blue Archive just kicked off pre-orders for its second ZOZOTOWN collaboration — and this time, Gehenna Academy’s Prefect Team is trading their school blazers for full black-military drip. The Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN BLACK COLLECTION opened for orders today, 13 August 2026, at noon Japan time, with a pre-order window running all the way to 7 September.

Gehenna’s Black Military Collection

The collection centres on four Gehenna Academy students — Hina, Ako, Iori, and Chinatsu — reimagined in original outfit illustrations by artist Sola Nijihashi (Japanese). The theme is unmistakably military-chic: fitted black silhouettes, red accent stitching, and Gehenna Academy insignias worked into the garment designs. This is the second ZOZOTOWN drop for Blue Archive; the first featured the Arius Squad in streetwear.

What’s in the Black Collection

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN Black Collection hoodie — black with red stripe accents
Image courtesy of NEXON Games / Yostar / ZOZOTOWN

The full lineup runs to eight product types, mixing wearables with desk collectibles:

  • Graphic T-shirts (6 character variants) — ¥4,400
  • Open-collar long sleeve shirt — ¥9,350
  • Hoodie — ¥9,900
  • Long pants — ¥9,900
  • Long coach jacket — ¥39,600
  • Reversible MA-1 bomber jacket (black outside, Gehenna-red lining with embroidered insignias) — ¥36,300
  • Big acrylic stands (4 variants — one per character) — ¥2,200 each
  • Rubber play mat (all four characters across a full-width mat) — ¥3,850

The standout piece is the reversible MA-1 jacket: flip it inside out and the red lining reveals embroidered Gehenna faction symbols across the back — a detail fans of the game’s lore will appreciate immediately.

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN Black Collection reversible MA-1 bomber jacket showing black exterior and Gehenna-red lining with embroidered insignias
Image courtesy of NEXON Games / Yostar / ZOZOTOWN

Order Dates and What Singapore Players Should Know

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN Hina Big Acrylic Stand in black military outfit
Image courtesy of NEXON Games / Yostar / ZOZOTOWN

Pre-orders close 7 September 2026 at 11:59 PM Japan time, with items shipping in mid-December 2026. All items are exclusive to ZOZOTOWN — there is no retail or overseas retail channel.

ZOZOTOWN does not offer direct international shipping, so Singapore fans looking to pick up pieces from the Black Collection will need a Japan forwarding service. Services such as Tenso and Buyee support ZOZOTOWN orders and deliver to Singapore; expect Japanese domestic shipping (¥1,500–3,000 roughly) plus the forwarder’s fee on top of the item price, so factor that in before checkout.

Blue Archive × ZOZOTOWN Black Collection rubber play mat featuring Iori, Ako, Hina, and Chinatsu across a wide desk mat
Image courtesy of NEXON Games / Yostar / ZOZOTOWN

Blue Archive continues to be one of the most collab-active gacha titles for licensed fashion in Japan. If the Black Collection follows the first ZOZOTOWN drop, orders will close without a restock — Gehenna fans in Singapore who want a piece of the collection should plan their forwarding setup before 7 September. Check our anime and game coverage for more merchandise news.

Event

Comiket 108 Starts 15 August — Genshin Snezhnaya Booth, Blue Archive, Re:Zero and More

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Comic Market 108 kicks off this Friday, 15 August 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight — and enterprise booth announcements confirm another packed summer edition. Genshin Impact is debuting a Snezhnaya-themed space, Blue Archive and Azur Lane are bundling water-themed merch together under Yostar, NIKKE is running a summer festival setup, and KADOKAWA’s booth at number 1161 has some of the cleanest price points of any C108 enterprise exhibitor. Here’s a preview of what’s worth knowing before the doors open.

Dates, Venue, and Hours

Comiket 108 runs across two days at Tokyo Big Sight, West Halls 3 & 4 and South Halls 3 & 4:

  • Day 1 (15 August): 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Day 2 (16 August): 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Comiket 108 enterprise booth overview at Tokyo Big Sight August 2026
Image via Famitsu

Enterprise Booth Highlights

HoYoverse (Genshin Impact) is bringing a Snezhnaya-themed booth to C108, including a special stage event and visitor gifts — confirmed via the official @Genshin_7 account on X and HoYoverse’s Facebook page. Full gift details haven’t been disclosed ahead of the event, but the Snezhnaya reveal makes this one of the more visually distinctive setups on the floor.

Yostar is combining Blue Archive and Azur Lane into a joint water-themed merchandise bundle. No individual item pricing has been announced ahead of the event, but both IP lines will be available together at a single booth.

NIKKE is presenting a summer festival theme across 17 product types — one of the wider catalogues announced for C108 enterprise booths this year.

Type-Moon is focusing on acrylic stands across three titles: Tsukihime, Mahou Tsukai no Yoru, and Kara no Kyoukai.

Hololive is bringing card game products to C108 and will run a live monitoring setup featuring four talents on-site.

KADOKAWA Booth 1161: Products and Prices

KADOKAWA’s booth is numbered 1161 and covers five franchises with confirmed prices:

KADOKAWA booth 1161 Comiket 108 product lineup showing Love Live, Re:Zero, Bungo Stray Dogs and more
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA
  • Love Live! Sunshine!! — Badge sets priced between ¥2,000 and ¥4,800
  • Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- — B2 tapestries at ¥3,500
  • Bungo Stray Dogs — Hologram badges at ¥1,500
  • Date A Live — Aurora acrylic stands at ¥2,200
  • KonoSuba — Acrylic stand at ¥1,500
Re:Zero Echidna B2 tapestry from KADOKAWA at Comiket 108 2026
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA
Love Live! Sunshine badge sets at KADOKAWA Comiket 108 booth 1161
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA

Post-Event Online Sales

KADOKAWA is offering a post-event online window for C108 items via Kadosuto, running until 31 August. This is the route most Singapore buyers will use, given that proxy services during the event itself add delivery time and fees on top of already short stock windows. Check Kadosuto’s event page from 15 August onward for availability.

Comiket 108 opens at Tokyo Big Sight this Friday. For more event coverage and gaming news, keep checking GameTrader.SG.

Game News, News

Blue Archive 5th Anniversary Update Lands 29 July — New Gacha System Sparks Community Backlash

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Blue Archive turns five on 28 July 2026 — and to mark the occasion, NEXON is dropping a major update on 29 July that introduces fresh story content, new summer characters, and the biggest change to the game’s monetisation in its history. The catch? Sensei, that last part is the one getting everyone fired up.

Blue Archive raid battle gameplay
Image courtesy of NEXON

What’s New in the 5th Anniversary Update

The headline content additions are genuinely exciting. Swimsuit banners are leading the charge: Makoto (Swimsuit) and Satsuki (Swimsuit) drop first on 29 July, followed by the long-awaited Iroha (Swimsuit) on 5 August — her first alternate variant since the character launched. Iroha mains have been waiting for this one for a long time.

On the story front, the update finally delivers a Gehenna main story chapter, exploring the academy that’s been a backdrop to some of the game’s most memorable moments but has never had its own dedicated main story arc. For players who’ve been grinding through Kivotos’s narrative, this is the chapter they’ve been asking for.

Blue Archive main story selection screen with Kivotos story chapters
Image courtesy of NEXON
5th Anniversary Anime PV — via ブルーアーカイブ-Blue Archive- on YouTube

The New Gacha System — What Is Actually Changing

Here’s the part where it gets messy. As of 29 July, Blue Archive’s entire recruitment (gacha) system is overhauled. The long-running recruitment points system — where accumulated points carried over between banners and gave veteran players a sense of security — is being removed entirely.

Replacing it is a model that looks familiar on the surface but lands differently in practice:

  • A 50/50 system kicks in at 100 pulls: you have a 50% chance to get the featured character, 50% chance of getting an off-banner 3-star student.
  • If you lose the 50/50, the next featured character is guaranteed — but that guarantee doesn’t come until pull 200.
  • There is no soft pity — pull rates do not increase as you approach 100. You can pull 99 times and still have the same base rate as pull 1.
  • Pity resets to zero the moment you win the featured student. So if you get lucky at 30 pulls, you start from scratch on the next banner, with no cushion carried over.
Blue Archive school life and cafe decoration gameplay
Image courtesy of NEXON

Why the Community Is Upset

The 5.5 anniversary livestream on 26 July concluded to a wave of criticism from both the JP and Global communities. Players who were happy with the earlier content announcements hit a wall when the gacha changes dropped.

The core complaint is straightforward: getting lucky is now actively punished. Under the old recruitment points system, players who happened to pull a character early still banked progress toward future banners. Under the new system, winning the 50/50 at 30 pulls means starting completely cold on the next banner — and with no soft pity slope, there’s no comfort zone as you approach 100. As one community member noted on X: “You can very easily still go past 100 pulls and never get a rate-up character to chance that 50/50.”

For Singapore players used to juggling limited pyroxene budgets across multiple banners, the change hits especially hard. The old system rewarded patience; the new one arguably punishes consistency.

Blue Archive Recollection Lobby story scenes
Image courtesy of NEXON

Should Singapore Players Log In on 29 July?

Despite the gacha controversy, the content itself is solid — Iroha’s first alt, new swimsuit characters, and a Gehenna story chapter are all things the community has genuinely wanted. Blue Archive typically distributes anniversary pyroxene and free recruitment tickets to celebrate milestones, so there’s reason to log in even if you’re sitting this banner out.

Blue Archive is available free on iOS and Android globally, and on Steam for PC. Whether NEXON adjusts the new pity system in response to community feedback remains to be seen — but with the backlash already loud across JP and Global forums, expect the conversation to continue well past the July 29 launch.