Tag Archives: Fighting Games

MARVEL Tōkon Reveals Phoenix Cyclops DLC and Studio Sanzigen Opening Movie

Arc System Works used its San Diego Comic-Con panel to deliver two pieces of post-launch news for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls ahead of the game’s August 6 global release: the Year 1 DLC lineup kicks off with Phoenix Cyclops, and the game’s opening movie — crafted by Tokyo animation studio Sanzigen — is already live. Both are worth your attention before you decide whether to pick up the base game or hold out for the Ultimate Edition.

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls – Official Phoenix Cyclops DLC Trailer | Comic Con 2026 — via IGN on YouTube

Meet Phoenix Cyclops, the First MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls DLC Character

Phoenix Cyclops in MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls — glowing visor close-up
Image courtesy of Arc System Works

This is not the Cyclops you know from the Saturday morning cartoons. Phoenix Cyclops draws directly from the Avengers vs. X-Men storyline, where Scott Summers was one of the Phoenix Five — five mutants briefly granted a portion of the Phoenix Force in a last-ditch bid to save their species. In MARVEL Tōkon he fights accordingly: optic blasts supplemented by Phoenix Force telekinesis, cosmic fire manipulation, and the kind of ruthless conviction that made him one of Marvel’s most compelling anti-villains. Storm’s warning in the reveal trailer — that someone needs to stop him “before he turns everything to ash” — sets the tone perfectly.

Ray Chase, who voiced Cyclops in the X-Men ’97 animated series, reprises the role here. Phoenix Cyclops arrives this fall as part of the Year 1 Character & Stage Pass, which bundles four post-launch fighters, one new stage, and a set of result-screen character poses. Three of those four slots are still unannounced — expect Arc System Works to reveal them over the coming months leading up to, and after, launch.

Singapore players on PS5 and PC are in the global August 6 release window. (New Zealand, Australia, Japan and South Korea are on a one-day offset, releasing August 7 — so you’ll actually have the game a day before your friends across the water in Tokyo.)

Studio Sanzigen’s Opening Movie Channels Early 2000s Anime Energy

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls | Opening Movie — via MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls on YouTube

Arc System Works’ decision to commission Studio Sanzigen for the opening movie is no accident. The studio’s credits include the Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers anime and the Initial D Legend film trilogy — exactly the pedigree you want when the brief is to blend the intensity of classic fighting game intros with the spirit of anime openings that hit differently at 2am on a school night.

The opening theme, titled “Stronger as One”, features Keiko Terada of veteran Japanese heavy-metal act SHOW-YA alongside Mayu of rising act NEMOPHILA on vocals, with composition and arrangement by MEG (MEGMETAL) and direction by Sanzigen’s Daisuke Suzuki. If you are old enough to remember when fighting game intros were a genuine art form — think King of Fighters, early Guilty Gear — this hits that exact nostalgia register while still feeling fresh.

Ultimate Edition, Year 1 Pass and a Free Wolverine Crossover Costume

MARVEL Tōkon Fighting Souls Ultimate Edition contents — Year 1 pass, costumes, pre-order bonuses
Image courtesy of Arc System Works

If you want everything on day one, the Ultimate Edition includes the base game, the Year 1 Character & Stage Pass, five classic character costumes (Spider-Man Advanced Suit 2.0, Storm Punk Rock, Iron Man Classic, Captain America Classic, and Doctor Doom Supreme Ruler), Howard the Duck and Cosmo lobby cosmetics, plus an animated Chromatic Color Unlock for all 20 launch characters. Pre-orders additionally bundle the Infinity Gauntlet lobby equipment, Cosmic Surfboard ride, and Baby Groot lobby pet.

One extra detail tucked into the SDCC reveal: the Battle Reborn Wolverine alternate costume, an original design co-created by Insomniac Games and Marvel Games as a crossover with the upcoming Marvel’s Wolverine PS5 title. It is available to owners of the base game.

Wolverine Battle Reborn costume in MARVEL Tōkon, original design by Insomniac Games and Marvel Games
Image courtesy of Arc System Works / Marvel Games

The open beta that ran July 24–26 gave Singapore players their first hands-on with the base roster. If you liked what you tried, the SDCC news makes a strong case for upgrading to the Ultimate Edition before August 6 — four mystery DLC fighters, the Sanzigen opening stamping the tone before the title screen, and a Wolverine design that ties the two biggest Marvel games of the year together. Check out more game news for the latest on the lead-up to launch.

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Open Beta Is Live — 15 Characters to Try Free Until 27 July

The wait is over. The MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls open beta went live at 3:00 PM SGT today (24 July) and runs until Sunday 27 July at 2:59 PM SGT. Download it free right now on PS5, Steam, or the Epic Games Store — no PlayStation Plus subscription required. As we covered when the beta was announced, this is your first hands-on look at the upcoming 4v4 tag-team fighter from PlayStation Studios and Arc System Works — and with 15 of the game’s 20 launch characters playable and a story episode included, there is a lot to dig into before the 6 August release.

Danger vs Captain America battle in Marvel's New York stage in MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Image courtesy of Marvel / PlayStation Studios / Arc System Works
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls — Official Open Beta Trailer via IGN on YouTube

What Is in the MARVEL Tōkon Open Beta

The beta delivers a generous slice of the full game. Fifteen playable characters are split across four squads, six stages span Marvel locations from NYC to the Savage Land, and you get both online and offline play. Modes on offer include ranked and casual online lobbies, a local versus mode, training mode, a tutorial (Start Up Battle), the social Open Lobby, and three chapters of Episode Mode following the Amazing Guardians. The full launch roster expands to 20 fighters when the game arrives on 6 August.

Full Beta Roster — All 15 Characters Across Four Squads

Each squad has a distinct team identity and visual DNA, which also drives how they combo and assist in the 4v4 tag system:

  • Fighting Avengers: Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther
  • Unbreakable X-Men: Storm, Magik, Wolverine, Danger
  • Amazing Guardians: Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, Star-Lord, Peni Parker
  • Samurai Outriders: Ghost Rider, Blade
  • Knights of Doom: Doctor Doom, Magneto
Wolverine close-up with adamantium claws in MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Image courtesy of Marvel / PlayStation Studios / Arc System Works

One fighter worth highlighting: Blade makes his fighting-game debut in Tōkon. The Samurai Outriders squad pairs him with Ghost Rider, leaning into the dark-supernatural aesthetic that Arc System Works has rendered in their signature cel-shaded style. His moveset is built around speed and relentless pressure, and this beta is your first chance to take him out for a spin in a competitive setting.

Episode Mode: The Amazing Guardians Story

Beyond versus play, the beta includes three story chapters following Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, Star-Lord, and Peni Parker. It is a useful way to learn each character’s rhythm through light narrative framing before the ranked queue opens. Progress and unlocks do not carry over to the full game, so treat it as a preview.

Spider-Man in a comic-panel story cutscene in MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Episode Mode
Image courtesy of Marvel / PlayStation Studios / Arc System Works

How to Download the Beta in Singapore

No registration is needed. Two hours before launch, a pre-download goes live on each platform:

  • PS5: Open the PlayStation Store, search for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and grab the free Open Beta download. A PSN account is required but PS Plus is not.
  • PC (Steam): Head to the Steam store page and download the Open Beta build for free.
  • PC (Epic Games Store): Search for the title and download directly from EGS at no cost.

Cross-play between PS5 and PC is supported out of the box. The game ships with full Japanese and Korean voice tracks alongside English, and text is localised in 17 languages. The servers close at 27 July 2:59 PM SGT — after that the client goes offline until the full launch.

Ghost Rider launching a flaming attack in a New York alley in MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Image courtesy of Marvel / PlayStation Studios / Arc System Works

Full Launch on 6 August 2026

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls launches on 6 August 2026 on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. The five remaining launch characters beyond the beta’s 15 are yet to be revealed by PlayStation Studios. A physical disc edition is confirmed for PS5. Catch the latest game news and releases across our Game News section as more roster details drop ahead of launch.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO NEO DLC Drops 30 July — 33 New Fighters, New Mode

It’s finally happening: the biggest content drop for Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is just one week away. Bandai Namco has officially confirmed today that the Super Limit-Breaking NEO DLC launches on 30 July 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC via Steam — all platforms simultaneously, no delayed rollout this time.

33 New Fighters That Dragon Ball Fans Have Been Asking For

Super Limit-Breaking NEO adds 33 playable characters — the largest single content injection since the base game launched. The roster reads like a wish list drawn up at a DBZ marathon session: Super 17 (the terrifying Cell-17 fusion from GT), Zangya (the fan-favourite from Bojack Unbound), Pikkon, Demon King Piccolo, Bardock (Super Saiyan), Champa, Hell Fighter 17, and both Vegeta (GT) and Trunks (GT) from Dragon Ball GT. Also newly confirmed: Goku from the 23rd World Tournament and Ma Junior, rounding out the classic-era lineup.

Supporting fighters like Cheelai, Jaco, Grandpa Gohan, Mercenary Tao, Chilled, Salza, Nuova Shenron and more fill out the DLC’s ambitious headcount. A new theme song — “ZERO”, a brand-new track by Hironobu Kageyama, the legendary voice behind “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA” (confirmed by 4Gamer, Japanese) — plays over the announcement trailer, and that detail alone should tell you how seriously Bandai Namco is treating this one.

Dragon Ball Sparking ZERO Neo DLC gameplay screenshot showing new stage
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Super Limit Breaking NEO – Announcement Trailer — via Bandai Namco Entertainment Southeast Asia on YouTube

Limit Breaker Journey: A Solo Mode Worth Revisiting

The DLC’s headline new mode is Limit Breaker Journey — a single-player experience that lets you pick any character, train them up through branching battle scenarios, and customise their stat build as you go. Critically, the unique rewards you earn in Limit Breaker Journey carry over into online play, giving it real stakes beyond just offline grind content. Think of it as a deeper alternative to the classic Episode Battle structure, with the added hook that your progress actually crosses into competitive modes.

Dragon Ball Sparking ZERO Neo DLC Limit Breaker Journey solo mode
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Two Free Mechanics That Change How Sparking! Mode Plays

Alongside the paid DLC, a free update rolls out on the same day with two new gameplay mechanics that rework the Sparking! Mode rhythm that veterans have already mastered:

  • Sparking! Boost — drastically amplifies your attack power during Sparking! Mode, but leaves you with a temporary stat penalty once it expires. High risk, explosive reward.
  • Chain Blast — lets you tag in a reserve ally immediately after landing a hit for a follow-up strike, enabling longer combo strings and new team synergies.

Four completely new stages also arrive with the DLC, including Kami’s Palace and a Planet Vegeta arena. Three additional stage variations land via the free update, so even players who skip the DLC will have fresh backdrops.

Dragon Ball Sparking ZERO Neo DLC new stage Planet Vegeta
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

What Singapore Players Need to Know

Super Limit-Breaking NEO arrives on all major platforms with no staggered regional rollout confirmed — PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, Switch and Steam simultaneously on 30 July. The base game is readily available locally at major game retailers and electronics chains, and the DLC will be purchasable via the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Nintendo eShop and Steam.

More than 20 new costumes and super attacks round out the customisation additions. If your roster in other fighting games has been feeling a little thin, this is one of the most content-rich DLC packages in the genre this year. Keep an eye on Bandai Namco’s official channels for pricing closer to launch.

Dragon Ball Sparking ZERO Super Limit-Breaking NEO July 30 launch confirmed
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game Is Out Now — Critics Give It an 81 on Metacritic

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is out today across PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC — and it has already landed as the highest-rated fighting game of 2026 so far. With a Metacritic score of 81 across nine critic reviews, the game we first covered when the full roster and DLC were revealed at EVO has turned its pre-launch promise into a genuinely well-reviewed title worth your attention this week.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game — aerial combat
Image courtesy of Paramount Games

What Critics Are Saying — An 81 That Could Still Climb

Across nine scored reviews on Metacritic (PC), Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game sits at an 81 — comfortably in the “Generally Favorable” band and notably higher than most licensed fighters manage. The game also scores 80 across seven PS5 reviews, and review aggregator OpenCritic is similarly positive.

EventHubs, one of the most respected fighting game outlets, awarded it a 9.5/10, calling it “a triumph of the genre” and “one of the best licensed video games period.” IGN landed at 8/10, praising “immense potential with some of the most satisfying movement.” DualShockers gave it an 8.5/10, highlighting the game’s “lore-accurate and great looking characters” and its accessibility for players who don’t usually pick up fighters. SteamDeckHQ went further, calling it “a masterpiece” at a perfect 10/10.

The criticisms are light: some reviewers noted a limited arcade mode and the occasional long loading screen. But at US$29.99 for the Standard Edition, the consensus is that this is very easy to recommend.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game — Katara ice combo
Image courtesy of Paramount Games

Watch the Trailer

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

What Makes It Click — Flow, 12 Characters, and a Story from the Creators

Developed by Gameplay Group International — veterans behind Killer Instinct and Them’s Fightin’ Herds — the game brings 12 characters across both animated series to a four-button fighting system built around a Flow mechanic unique to each fighter. Every character uses Flow moves differently, which gives the roster a depth that goes well beyond surface-level bending-type differences. Appa joins as a support character, which as far as fighting game cameos go is hard to top.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game — Naga and fire element battle
Image courtesy of Paramount Games

The 12-character launch roster spans both series: Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, Zuko, Korra, Azula, Avatar Kyoshi, Zaheer, Fire Lord Ozai, plus Avatar State Aang and Nightmare Korra as alternate unlockable versions. The original story mode runs to nearly 30 chapters and was co-written by Avatar co-creator Michael Dante DiMartino alongside series writer Tim Hedrick — which is more creative involvement from the original team than most game tie-ins manage to secure.

The game ships with proprietary rollback netcode and full cross-play across all platforms, so Singapore players matching with friends on other systems should have no issues.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game — Appa as support character
Image courtesy of Paramount Games

How to Get It in Singapore

The digital Standard Edition launches today at US$29.99 on the PS Store, Nintendo eShop, Microsoft Store, and Steam — check your local storefront for SGD pricing. The Deluxe Edition (US$49.99) bundles in the Year 1 Pass, which covers the first five post-launch DLC characters; as we covered last month, that includes Iroh, Ty Lee, Lin Beifong, Bolin, and a fifth character chosen by a fan community vote.

A physical edition for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S is set for October 2026, published by PM Studios — worth noting for collectors who prefer a box on the shelf. For the latest in games news, keep an eye here.

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Free Open Beta Starts 24 July — No PS Plus Needed

Arc System Works and Marvel Games are handing Singapore players a free weekend pass to one of 2026’s most-anticipated fighting games. MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls launches its open beta on Thursday 24 July at 3:00 PM SGT, letting PS5 and PC players try the 4v4 tag-team brawler at no cost before its August 6 release — and you don’t need a PlayStation Plus subscription to get in.

No Sign-Up, No PS Plus — Just Download and Play

Getting into the beta couldn’t be simpler. No registration code, no waitlist, no PlayStation Plus membership required — just head to the PlayStation Store or Steam (and Epic Games Store), download the open beta client, and start playing from 24 July. All you need is an internet connection and a PlayStation Network account. Pre-downloads open two hours before the beta goes live, so queue it up on Wednesday evening and you’ll be ready the moment the gates open at 3 PM SGT.

The open beta runs for a clean 72 hours, closing at approximately 3:00 PM SGT on Monday 27 July, giving Singapore players a full weekend plus a Monday afternoon to clock in some hours before the full game ships.

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls | Open Beta Trailer — via MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls on YouTube

What’s Included: 15 Characters, Episode Mode, and Full Online

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls — team battle gameplay
Image courtesy of Marvel Games / Arc System Works

The open beta is generous: 15 of the 20 launch characters are playable, spanning all four announced teams. The headline addition is Blade, who becomes playable for the very first time outside of closed testing, appearing alongside Ghost Rider in the Samurai Outriders faction. The full beta roster breaks down as:

  • Fighting Avengers: Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther
  • Unbreakable X-Men: Storm, Magik, Wolverine, Danger
  • Amazing Guardians: Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, Star-Lord, Peni Parker
  • Samurai Outriders: Ghost Rider, Blade
  • Knights of Doom: Doctor Doom, Magneto

Beyond the roster, the open beta opens up a surprising amount of content for a pre-release trial. Episode Mode unlocks the first three chapters of the Amazing Guardians storyline, giving players a taste of the game’s story campaign as Spider-Man assembles his team. For competitive players, Online Casual and Ranked Matches are live, along with a full Open Lobby that supports up to 16 avatars with social features. Training Mode, local Versus, and the Start Up Battle tutorial round out the package — six stages across iconic Marvel locations are included too.

Singapore Schedule — When to Queue Up

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls — 4v4 tag-team combat
Image courtesy of Marvel Games / Arc System Works

Convert from Pacific Time and the beta lands squarely over the Singapore weekend:

  • Opens: Thursday 24 July, 3:00 PM SGT
  • Closes: Monday 27 July, ~3:00 PM SGT

That covers the full weekend from Thursday afternoon through to Monday — prime time for ranked sessions, local couch battles, and grinding through Episode Mode between matches. Rollback netcode is confirmed for online play, which should keep the experience clean for SEA players connecting to regional servers.

The Full Roster Awaits at Launch — August 6

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls — stage environments
Image courtesy of Marvel Games / Arc System Works

The five missing characters from the open beta fill out the fifth team at launch on 6 August 2026 (7 August in Japan and Australia). Singapore pricing was confirmed at SGD 79.90 for the Standard Edition, SGD 113.90 for Digital Deluxe, and SGD 139 for the Ultimate Edition. Deluxe and Ultimate editions include the Year 1 pass covering post-launch fighters and content.

How to Download the Open Beta

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls — key art
Image courtesy of Marvel Games / Arc System Works
  • PS5: Search “MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Open Beta” on the PlayStation Store
  • PC (Steam): Find the open beta on the Steam store page
  • PC (Epic Games Store): Search for the open beta on the Epic Games Store

Pre-downloads go live two hours before start time — mark your calendar for Thursday 24 July and queue the download by early afternoon SGT. For the full character roster, SGD pricing, and story details, read our earlier coverage from the EVO 2026 reveal. Browse more game news on GameTrader.SG.

Fatal Fury CotW Season 3: Laocorn Gaudeamus Finally Playable, Rick Strowd Drops 23 July

SNK dropped a full Season 3 announcement trailer for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves on 16 July, confirming six more DLC fighters arriving monthly through December 2026. The complete lineup had a genuine surprise at the end of the schedule: Laocorn Gaudeamus, the Armour of Mars-wielding villain from the Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture anime film, is finally making his first playable appearance in a game — 32 years after his big-screen debut.

As we covered on Thursday when the teaser first surfaced, Duck King and Kim Kaphwan were already confirmed. The full trailer fills in the entire roadmap and puts Rick Strowd squarely in next-week territory.

The Full Season 3 Roster and Schedule

FATAL FURY: CotW | Season 3 Announcement Trailer — via SNK OFFICIAL on YouTube

One new fighter per month, every month, through the end of 2026:

  • July 23: Rick Strowd
  • August: Duck King
  • September: Kim Kaphwan
  • October: ??? (mystery)
  • November: Laocorn Gaudeamus
  • December: ??? (mystery)

Six characters in six months is an unusually fast cadence for a modern fighting game — SNK has maintained it since Season 1 — and the Season 3 lineup suggests they are not slowing down. Each character is available as part of a Season 3 pass or individually at launch.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Season 3 animated trailer
Image courtesy of SNK

Laocorn Gaudeamus: The 1994 Film Villain Finally Gets a Fight

Laocorn Gaudeamus is the main antagonist of Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture, the 1994 anime film that served as a capstone to the Real Bout era’s storyline. In the film, Laocorn fuses with the three pieces of the Armour of Mars — an ancient relic granting immense defensive power and devastating offensive abilities. He has been a fan favourite among viewers who grew up with the film, but has never appeared as a playable character across the franchise’s three-decade run.

His November slot puts him alongside the two mystery characters as the closing act of Season 3. Whether October and December bring back returning veterans or introduce new entrants, Laocorn is already the standout addition of the pass — and his Armour of Mars powerset has obvious potential in a game built around REV-charged super states.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Season 3 characters
Image courtesy of SNK

Rick Strowd, Duck King and Kim Kaphwan: What to Know

Rick Strowd (July 23) is a Native American boxer from Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers, known as the White Wolf of the Ring. His moveset revolves around energy-infused punches and vacuum air currents — a style that looks well-suited to City of the Wolves’ aggressive REV system. Duck King (August) returns with his breakdancing-based fighting style and his signature chick companion P-chan. Kim Kaphwan (September) looks noticeably older than fans are used to — the taekwondo master’s sons are already in the game, so seeing the veteran arrive next feels like the natural conclusion of that family arc.

Fatal Fury City of the Wolves Season 3 mystery characters
Image courtesy of SNK

For the Singapore FGC: with EVO Singapore 2027 confirmed at Marina Bay Sands, City of the Wolves is almost certain to be on the tournament slate, and every Season 3 character will be live well before January. Rick Strowd drops first — this Wednesday, 23 July.

More fighting game news at GameTrader

Fatal Fury CotW Season 3 — Duck King and Kim Kaphwan Return

SNK closed Season Pass 2 of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves with Kenshiro’s arrival last month — then immediately signalled that South Town is far from done. On 14 July, the official SNK channel posted “The Saga Continues”, an animated teaser that confirms four incoming fighters for Season 3: Duck King, Kim Kaphwan, Rick Strowd and Laocorn Gaudeamus.

The Saga Continues — via SNK OFFICIAL on YouTube

What the Season 3 Teaser Shows

The animated short opens with a recap of the Season 2 cast before cutting to the four new fighters in brief, stylised moments. Duck King grooves on a neon-lit stage; Kim Kaphwan moves through what looks like a training montage; Rick Strowd and Laocorn Gaudeamus each get a moody, dramatic close-up that hints at their darker edge.

SNK has confirmed Season 3 is beginning this month but has not yet announced individual character release dates or Season 3 pass pricing. Season 1 featured five fighters and Season 2 featured six — including Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star, who arrived as Season 2’s final fighter — suggesting Season 3 could run to a similar scale, with one or two names still to be revealed.

Fatal Fury City of the Wolves The Saga Continues animated trailer
Image courtesy of SNK

Duck King and Kim Kaphwan: Series Originals Long Overdue

Duck King is one of the most recognisable faces in Fatal Fury history. He first appeared in the original Fatal Fury: King of Fighters (1991) as a break-dancing hip-hop fighter with a distinctive mohawk and peace-sign pendant — the kind of expressive, unhinged character that made 90s SNK rosters so memorable. His absence from City of the Wolves at launch was one of the more discussed omissions among franchise veterans.

Kim Kaphwan needs even less introduction. The Taekwondo master debuted in Fatal Fury 2 (1992) and has appeared in nearly every SNK fighter since. Singapore players who grew up at the arcades in the 90s almost certainly have a Kim story. He is also the father of Kim Dong Hwan and Kim Jae Hoon — two characters already playable in City of the Wolves — which makes his arrival feel like a missing piece finally clicking into place.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves gameplay screenshot
Image courtesy of SNK

Rick Strowd and Laocorn Gaudeamus Round Out the Four

Rick Strowd appeared in Real Bout Fatal Fury (1995) as a thunder-wielding fighter drawing on Native American tradition — a character beloved by a devoted corner of the fanbase who has long wanted him back. Laocorn Gaudeamus is the more surprising inclusion: the armoured antagonist from Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture and Fatal Fury 3, his addition suggests SNK is leaning into the deeper lore of the franchise rather than limiting Season 3 to crowd-pleasing nostalgia picks alone.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves character art
Image courtesy of SNK

How to Play City of the Wolves in Singapore

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store — all accessible from Singapore. The game has appeared on Steam sale periodically, so it is worth keeping an eye on the Game News feed for any deal alerts. Season 3 release dates and pass pricing have not yet been confirmed by SNK; follow the official Fatal Fury account on X for updates as characters roll out.

MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA — Black Len Confirmed Playable

The wait is over. Aniplex and FRENCH-BREAD’s TYPE-MOON TIMES Mini broadcast wrapped up earlier tonight at 7PM SGT, and the headline reveal for MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA is now confirmed: Black Len is officially joining the roster — her first appearance in the modern Tsukihime continuity.

MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA new character visual for Shiki Tohno and Len, revealed at Anime Expo 2026
Image courtesy of Aniplex

What the TYPE-MOON TIMES Mini Broadcast Revealed

Voice actors Ryosuke Kanemoto (Shiki Tohno) and Kaori Ishihara (Len) joined the stream to recap the latest TWI-LUMINA news from Anime Expo 2026 Lite. The broadcast showed new character visuals for both — Shiki swaps his familiar school uniform from Type Lumina for a casual jacket-and-jeans look, while Len’s design keeps her signature black Gothic dress and blue hair but with updated high-resolution artwork. Both voice actors are reprising their roles from the previous entry.

Black Len: Why This Is a Big Deal

Len close-up from the MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA official teaser trailer with Japanese text: a new story begins here
Still from Aniplex and TYPE-MOON GAMES’ official teaser trailer

For those not deep in the TYPE-MOON rabbit hole: Black Len is the “dark” shadow counterpart of Len, and she has been absent from the modern Tsukihime storyline — she did not appear in the Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- remake that Type Lumina was built upon. Her confirmation in TWI-LUMINA suggests the new game is expanding beyond its predecessor’s narrative scope, something developer FRENCH-BREAD has described as a “reworked version rather than a completely separate reboot.”

For fighting game fans who felt the Type Lumina roster left some favourites on the cutting room floor, this is exactly the kind of signal they were waiting for.

「MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA」Teaser PV — via 【公式】TYPE-MOON GAMES on YouTube

What We Know About TWI-LUMINA So Far

MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA gameplay combat screenshot showing Len fighting in a street environment
Still from Aniplex and TYPE-MOON GAMES’ official teaser trailer

Development is by FRENCH-BREAD — the same team behind every entry in the Melty Blood series — and the game is published by Aniplex. The story is a new scenario written by Kinoko Nasu himself, which is a meaningful commitment: Type Lumina was light on story, so Nasu’s direct involvement suggests TWI-LUMINA will have more narrative weight.

The full 22-character roster from Type Lumina is expected to carry over as the foundation, with additions like Black Len layered on top. Returning gameplay systems include Moon Skill, Rapid Beat auto-combos, Reverse Beat chains, and Sky-Grabber, with FRENCH-BREAD promising refined battle mechanics across the board. Text will be supported in eight languages: Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, and Portuguese — voice acting remains Japanese only.

Platforms, Release Window, and Singapore Availability

MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA is targeting an early 2027 release window across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC via Steam — all platforms launching on day one with no timed exclusivity.

For Singapore players, the Switch and Switch 2 versions are particularly relevant given the consoles’ dominance locally. No Singapore-specific pricing has been announced yet — we will update when that changes. In the meantime, check our game news section for any further TWI-LUMINA updates as the early 2027 window draws closer.

MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA — New Info Drops Tonight at 7PM SGT

One of Japan’s most beloved anime fighting game series is making a dramatic comeback — and Singapore fans can catch the next major reveal tonight. MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA, the full renewal of MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA, is heading to PS5, Switch 2, PC and more in Early 2027, with TYPE-MOON dropping fresh details in a live broadcast at 7PM SGT this evening (10 July).

Len returns in MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA — official teaser visual
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / Aniplex
「MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA」Teaser PV — via 【公式】TYPE-MOON GAMES on YouTube

What Is MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA?

If you follow the fighting game community or TYPE-MOON’s catalogue, MELTY BLOOD needs no introduction: it’s the anime 2D fighter born from the Tsukihime visual novel universe, following Shiki Tohno — a young man whose mysterious ability to perceive the “lines of death” in all things makes him both protector and target in a city haunted by vampires and nightmares. TWI-LUMINA is not a sequel, but a complete renewal of 2021’s MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA, featuring a brand-new story written by Kinoko Nasu, redesigned characters by artist Takashi Takeuchi, and an overhauled battle system that developers FRENCH-BREAD say pushes the competitive depth of the series further than TYPE LUMINA did.

The game was first announced at EVO Japan 2026 in May, where publisher Aniplex unveiled a teaser alongside sweeping key art of returning fan-favourite Len — accompanied by the tagline, “A tale of conflict stirs once again within a dream.” FRENCH-BREAD, who has handled every Melty Blood entry since the original PC game, remains the developer.

Characters Confirmed: Shiki Tohno and Len Make Their Return

New character visuals for Shiki Tohno and Len revealed at Anime Expo 2026 for MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON / Aniplex

At Anime Expo 2026 earlier this month, TYPE-MOON and Aniplex unveiled character visuals for two confirmed roster members. Shiki Tohno, voiced by Ryosuke Kanemoto, returns as the lead — his redesign here puts him in a casual school jacket, a contrast to the more combat-ready looks of past entries. Len, voiced by Kaori Ishihara, also makes her return — her absence from TYPE LUMINA was one of the community’s loudest complaints, so seeing her back (and featured front-and-centre in the key art) signals that TWI-LUMINA is leaning hard into its Tsukihime roots.

Also confirmed is Black Len, a darker counterpart character who did not appear in TYPE LUMINA, suggesting the story is venturing further into the dreamworld lore that defines the Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon universe. Full roster details have not been announced.

Platforms, Languages and Release Window

MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA is confirmed for PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PC via Steam, with a launch window of Early 2027. No pricing has been announced yet; as a reference point, TYPE LUMINA launched at around SGD 59–69 on PS4 and Switch at local game retailers. Text language support covers English, Japanese, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese — voice acting will be Japanese-only, which is the series standard.

The multi-region simultaneous release on PS5 and Switch 2 means Singapore players will not be waiting behind other markets. Whether a physical edition ships to SEA has not yet been confirmed.

Watch Tonight: TYPE-MOON Times Mini at 7PM SGT

TYPE-MOON Times Mini — July 10 2026 broadcast featuring MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA news
Image courtesy of TYPE-MOON

Tonight, July 10, at 8PM Japan time (7PM SGT / 11AM UTC), TYPE-MOON airs a new TYPE-MOON Times Mini broadcast on the official 【公式】TYPE-MOON GAMES YouTube channel. Voice actors Ryosuke Kanemoto and Kaori Ishihara will appear, and the studio has confirmed the stream will reveal the latest information on MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA. New character reveals, a gameplay look, or a narrower launch window are all plausible — the stream archive will be available to watch after broadcast for those who cannot tune in live.

Singapore’s fighting game community has been growing steadily — with EVO Singapore confirmed for 2027 at Marina Bay Sands — and TYPE-MOON titles always draw strong interest locally given the huge Fate and Tsukihime fanbases here. TWI-LUMINA is shaping up to be a day-one pick-up for many. Keep an eye on GameTrader for a follow-up once tonight’s stream reveals its hand.