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Uma Musume Epiphaneia Arrives 24 August — Stats, New Features and the Father-Child Banner

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Uma Musume: Pretty Derby’s 5.5th anniversary is landing its biggest act tomorrow — Epiphaneia, the legendary Japanese turf champion, becomes a trainable horse girl from 24 August 2026 at 12:00 JST (11:00 AM Singapore time). The announcement came during Cygames’ ぱかライブTV’ #6 5.5th Anniversary Special (Japanese) broadcast on 22 August.

As we covered when the 5.5th anniversary campaign kicked off in June with the SPYAIR collab and Title Holder’s reveal, Cygames has been rolling out the celebration in waves. Epiphaneia’s gacha implementation is the wave Singapore players have been waiting for.

Who Is Uma Musume Epiphaneia?

Epiphaneia horse girl character art from Uma Musume Pretty Derby 5.5th anniversary
Image courtesy of Cygames

She arrives as a ★★★ [Fate’s Chosen Star] Epiphaneia. Her real-world namesake is one of the most celebrated Japanese thoroughbreds of the 2010s: the actual Epiphaneia won the 2013 Kikka-shō (Japanese St. Leger) and clocked a track-record time at the 2014 Japan Cup, cementing her legend on Japan’s biggest turf stage. After retiring from racing, the stallion became a hugely successful sire — and his most famous offspring is Efforia, who swept the 2021 Satsuki Shō and Tennōshō Autumn.

Which makes the 24 August banner genuinely charming: Efforia arrives at the exact same time, as a new SSR Support Card. Sire and child, reunited in gacha form.

「Umamusume Pretty Derby」 PakaLive TV’ #6 5.5th Anniversary Special — via ぱかチューブっ!「ウマ娘公式」 on YouTube

Epiphaneia’s In-Game Stats and Running Style

Epiphaneia stats card showing Speed 92 Stamina 90 Power 94 Guts 93 Wisdom 81 in Uma Musume Pretty Derby
Image courtesy of Cygames

Her base numbers: Speed 92 / Stamina 90 / Power 94 / Guts 93 / Wisdom 81. She’s a Turf-only specialist (Turf A, Dirt G) who shines at mid-distance and long-distance (both A), with Front-runner (先行 A) as her ideal race tactic — true to how the real horse raced. For trainers building a long-distance front-runner stable, she slots in naturally alongside existing aces.

Awakening and Evolution Skills

Epiphaneia awakening and evolution skill breakdown from Uma Musume PakaLive TV broadcast
Image courtesy of Cygames

Her awakening skill fires when the field tightens in the final straight, giving a surge to both her pace and the pace of horses ahead — a nod to the real Epiphaneia’s explosive finishing charges. On evolution, the skill upgrades to a stronger trigger for races of 2000m or more when she’s sitting in the leading group.

Also Coming 24 August: Mr. C.B., New Features

Two new SSR Support Cards drop alongside Epiphaneia: Efforia (her real-life offspring, as noted above) and Mister C.B. (ミスターシービー), the 1983 Japanese Triple Crown winner who remains one of the sport’s most storied names. Both should make excellent additions to long-distance training decks.

The broadcast also confirmed a trio of quality-of-life updates shipping with the 24 August patch:

  • Trainer Ability (トレーナーアビリティ) — equippable passive bonuses that improve your training runs
  • Skill Set (スキルセット) — save and hot-swap skill configurations to cut down on repetition between sessions
  • Training Plan Sheet (育成プランシート) — export and share your training blueprints with other players

Singapore Uma Musume players can pull on the 5.5th Anniversary Select Gacha on the global app now. The Epiphaneia banner opens tomorrow at 11:00 AM SGT — check the latest game news here for further coverage as the update lands.

Game News

Honkai: Star Rail 4.5 — Livestream Codes, Astropolis and the 26 August Launch

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The Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.5 “To Roll the Stars in Astropolis” special program wrapped up tonight at 7:30 PM SGT, and HoYoverse dropped three redemption codes during the broadcast — worth 300 Stellar Jades in total. They expire at 11:59 PM SGT this Saturday, 15 August, so if you play on any server, redeem them now.

Honkai Star Rail Version 4.5 To Roll the Stars in Astropolis special program key visual showing chibi characters at the Astropolis summer resort
Image courtesy of HoYoverse

Honkai: Star Rail 4.5 Codes — Expire Saturday 15 August at 11:59 PM SGT

Three codes aired during tonight’s special program. Redeem them in-game via Menu › Tools › Redemption Code, or paste them at the HoYoverse redemption site. Rewards land in your in-game mailbox within minutes.

  • 2TKRKAR6YG2X — 100 Stellar Jade + 50,000 Credits
  • LSJ9JARPZH33 — 100 Stellar Jade + 5 Traveler’s Guides
  • YAJQ2TR6ZY2P — 100 Stellar Jade + 4 Refined Aether

That’s 300 Stellar Jades across all three — about a fifth of a soft pity. All codes are valid for all regions and expire Saturday 15 August at 11:59 PM SGT.

Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.5 “To Roll the Stars in Astropolis” Special Program — via Honkai: Star Rail on YouTube

Robin Summeretto and Aventurine Waveflair — Summer Alts Confirmed

As previewed earlier this week, two of the game’s most popular characters are getting summer alternate forms in Version 4.5, and the stream confirmed their kits, paths and phase slots.

Robin • Summeretto (Phase 1) is a five-star Wind unit on the Remembrance path. That’s a meaningful change from the original Robin’s Harmony/Physical kit — she plays differently, not just looks different. She headlines Phase 1, which opens on 26 August alongside a Hyacine rerun.

Aventurine Waveflair official drip art for Honkai Star Rail 4.5, showing Aventurine relaxing on a beach chair at a night resort with tropical flowers
Image courtesy of HoYoverse

Aventurine • Waveflair (Phase 2) is a five-star Quantum unit on the Elation path — a genuine playstyle departure from the original’s Preservation/Imaginary build. He arrives in Phase 2 alongside an Ashveil rerun.

Robin Summeretto close-up action art for Honkai Star Rail 4.5, holding a star-shaped microphone with a space and city backdrop at night
Image courtesy of HoYoverse

What Else Is in Version 4.5

Version 4.5 goes live on 26 August 2026, with maintenance beginning the afternoon of 25 August. The patch runs for five weeks. Here’s what to expect:

  • New location — Astropolis: an IPC-operated resort destination where the Astral Express crew heads next, picking up directly from the Version 4.4 story conclusion. Think upscale beach resort, but in space.
  • Events: a racing event set in Astropolis is confirmed, with additional activities spanning the five-week period.
  • 10 free Special Star Rail Passes: log in for seven consecutive days after launch and they land in your in-game mailbox — useful regardless of which banner you’re targeting.

Should Singapore Trailblazers Pull?

Both alts are mechanically distinct enough that owning the original does not make the summer version redundant — Robin Summeretto’s Wind Remembrance kit opens team compositions that the original Harmony Robin cannot slot into, while Aventurine Waveflair’s Elation path gives him a completely different role in combat. Neither is a straight upgrade; they’re lateral expansions of your roster.

For Singapore players deciding between the two phases, the practical question is whether you need a Wind Remembrance unit before you need a Quantum Elation unit in your current teams. The 300 free Jades from tonight’s codes, combined with the 10 free passes at launch, give you a small head-start either way. Check the Game News section closer to 26 August for a full banner and build rundown once more kit details are confirmed.

Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.5 "To Roll the Stars in Astropolis" Special Program announcement banner
Game News

Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.5 Special Program Airs 14 August — Robin Summeretto and Aventurine Waveflair Headline

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Honkai: Star Rail’s Version 4.5 — titled “To Roll the Stars in Astropolis” — gets its official Special Program livestream this Thursday evening. Two familiar faces return in summer swimwear forms, a brand-new character is set to be unveiled for the first time, and HoYoverse will lay out the full roadmap for the patch before it goes live on 25 August. Here is everything confirmed ahead of the broadcast.

When and Where to Watch the Version 4.5 Special Program

The broadcast kicks off on Thursday, 14 August 2026 at 7:30 PM SGT (19:30 UTC+8). You can catch it live on the official Honkai: Star Rail channels on both YouTube and Twitch. The stream typically runs between 45 minutes and an hour, covering new banners, events, and any gameplay changes coming to the patch.

As with all Honkai: Star Rail Special Programs, HoYoverse distributes redeem codes live during the broadcast — keep a browser tab open on the official site so you can enter them as they drop.

Robin Summeretto — The Diva Trades Her Gown for a Floral Swimsuit

Robin • Summeretto official character art — Honkai: Star Rail 5-star Wind Remembrance unit debuting in Version 4.5
Image courtesy of HoYoverse

Officially unveiled via HoYoverse’s drip marketing campaign, Robin Summeretto is a 5-star Wind character on the Path of Remembrance. The Remembrance path typically centres on summoning a memosprite companion to deal damage on the Trailblazer’s behalf, so this summer variant plays very differently from the original concert-ready Robin you may already have built.

Robin Summeretto is expected to headline the first half of Version 4.5, with her banner anticipated to open on 25–26 August alongside the patch itself. Exact dates and Warp rates will be confirmed during Thursday’s broadcast.

Aventurine Waveflair — Same Smile, Completely Different Playstyle

Aventurine • Waveflair official character art — Honkai: Star Rail 5-star Quantum Elation unit debuting in Version 4.5
Image courtesy of HoYoverse

Aventurine Waveflair is a 5-star Quantum character on the Path of Elation. Where the original Aventurine built around shields and survival, the Elation path shifts his role toward damage output — specifically follow-up attacks. If you loved the character but wanted a more offensive take, Waveflair is worth watching closely. HoYoverse teased him with the quip: “Friends, we meet again! I just wrapped up a sponsored shoot… Now that I’ve been promoted to P46, I can finally go on vacation. Want to relax and enjoy your time with me?”

Aventurine Waveflair is slated for the second half of Version 4.5, with his banner window expected to open around 16 September. The Special Program will confirm the precise schedule.

Pearl: A New IPC Character Joins the Story

The Special Program will also feature a first look at Pearl, a new character affiliated with the Interastral Peace Corporation. No further details — element, path, or rarity — have been confirmed ahead of the stream. Pearl’s debut marks another expansion of the IPC faction’s roster in the game’s story, so Thursday’s broadcast should shed light on her role in the 4.5 Trailblaze Mission.

When Does Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.5 Launch?

Version 4.5 is scheduled to go live on 25 August 2026 for North American servers and 26 August 2026 for Asia and European servers. The patch follows the standard six-week Honkai: Star Rail update cadence. Maintenance downtime details will be announced closer to launch.

The Special Program on 14 August will also reveal what new events, rewards, and gameplay mechanics are coming with the Astropolis summer update. Tune in this Thursday at 7:30 PM SGT on the official YouTube or Twitch channels, and check our Game News section for a full summary after the broadcast.

Game News

Kaiju No. 8 THE GAME Turns One — Reno Ichikawa Is Live Today and 25,000 Free Crystals Are Waiting

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KAIJU NO. 8 THE GAME hit its first birthday and the developers are not holding back. The action RPG from Akatsuki Games, TOHO, and Production I.G launched globally on 31 August 2025 — and a year in, the 1st Anniversary celebration titled “All Fronts, All Awaken” is well underway with a new ★5 character going live right now, a stacked events calendar running through September, and over 25,000 free Dimensional Crystals up for grabs. If you play on mobile or Steam, today is the day to log in.

Reno Ichikawa The Reigning King of Kaiju character reveal card for Kaiju No. 8 THE GAME
Image courtesy of Akatsuki Games / TOHO / Production I.G

Reno Ichikawa — The Reigning King of Kaiju — Is Live Today

The headline addition for 10 August is ★5 [The Reigning King of Kaiju] Reno Ichikawa, equipped with Dimensional Numbers Weapon 6 and paired with a new ★5 assault rifle, the AR-Okzorom. His ability is built around ally support: according to Akatsuki Games’ press materials, “the special energy emitted from its four tails boosts allies’ capabilities” — framing Reno as a force-multiplier unit in a game where coordinated squads matter a lot. Players who followed his arc in the anime will know Reno as Kafka’s closest ally, so this premium anniversary version is a significant character milestone.

KAIJU NO. 8 THE GAME – 1st Anniv. Countdown Trailer — via KAIJU NO. 8 THE GAME Official on YouTube

Kikoru Shinomiya Follows on 20 August

Kikoru Shinomiya The Valkyrie's Successor character reveal for Kaiju No. 8 THE GAME
Image courtesy of Akatsuki Games / TOHO / Production I.G

Ten days later, on 20 August, ★5 [The Valkyrie’s Successor] Kikoru Shinomiya joins the gacha banner, bringing a new ★5 axe weapon, the Ax-Freyja. The character’s lore hook is meaningful for fans of the series: Kikoru takes up Numbers Weapon 4 that originally belonged to her mother, Hikari Shinomiya, unlocking an airborne fighting style that the press release describes as allowing her to “take to the skies and dominate the battlefield like a true Valkyrie.” Paired with a Special Event on 20 August that features a dedicated story chapter for this character, it is the kind of deep-cut fanservice the anniversary is leaning into.

25,000 Crystals and 8 Events Through September

Kaiju No. 8 THE GAME 1st Anniversary 8 Major Events calendar
Image courtesy of Akatsuki Games / TOHO / Production I.G

The bigger picture for the anniversary window (1 August – 30 September) is a cascade of eight distinct event modes:

  • New Chapter Event (Aug 1 / Sep 1) — Dimensional Crystal rewards for clearing new story stages
  • Fierce Battle Area (Aug 3, 5 & 28) — new Limited, Permanent and High Difficulty stages
  • Kaiju Rush (Aug 8) — consecutive battles with HP and SP carried between fights
  • Total War (Aug 12) — a solo raid tackled with four squads
  • Large Conquest (Aug 16) — waves of Yoju to defeat
  • Special Event (Aug 20) — story chapter tied to the new Kikoru Shinomiya unit
  • Raid Battle (Aug 24) — co-op tackle of a massive Identified Kaiju
  • Mop-Up Operation (date TBC) — Yoju cleanup following the Raid Battle

Between login bonuses and event rewards, Akatsuki Games says more than 25,000 Dimensional Crystals are obtainable across the anniversary period — a meaningful haul in a game where 3,000 crystals buys ten gacha pulls.

Main Story Chapter 14 and a New Short Anime Series

On the story side, Main Story Chapter 14: “Disaster A — Decisive Battle” is now live, moving the plot to New York for what the game bills as the final confrontation with Dimensional Identified Kaiju A. The chapter unlocks alongside anniversary login rewards, so it is a good reason to revisit even if you had fallen behind.

Looking a little further ahead: a four-episode original short animation called “Narumi’s Week at Work” premieres on 5 September, airing every Saturday at 8:00 PM JST on TOHO animation’s official YouTube channel. It is a game-original story and the first dedicated animation tied to the game’s own narrative rather than the main manga’s. There is also a Special Program Mini livestream on 30 August at 8:00 PM JST on the game’s official YouTube for another round of reveals.

Kaiju No. 8 THE GAME 1st Anniversary Special Program Mini livestream announcement
Image courtesy of Akatsuki Games / TOHO / Production I.G

Available on Mobile and Steam — Singapore Players Can Jump In Now

KAIJU NO. 8 THE GAME is a free-to-play title available globally on the App Store, Google Play, and Steam, with no regional lock for Singapore. The game supports six languages including English, so there is no barrier to entry. If you are already a fan of the manga by Naoya Matsumoto — which ran in Weekly Shonen Jump — or caught the anime adaptation on Netflix, the game picks up a parallel original story set in the same world.

For returning and new players alike, the anniversary window running through September is the best time to accumulate resources. Log in daily, clear the Chapter 14 stages, and you will be in a solid position for Kikoru Shinomiya’s banner on 20 August. Check out other game news on GameTrader for more mobile and console titles worth watching.

Game News

Granblue Fantasy × SHAMAN KING Collab Lands 15 January 2027

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Cygames has announced that Granblue Fantasy is crossing over with the TV anime SHAMAN KING — and Yoh Asakura will be the first character stepping into the skies when the collaboration event opens on 15 January 2027.

Yoh Asakura Confirmed for the Granblue Fantasy × SHAMAN KING Collab

The reveal came during the official live broadcast 「granblueファンタジー 生放送 ようこそ真夏のショータイムSP」 (Granblue Fantasy Live: Welcome to Midsummer Showtime Special), streamed live on 8 August 2026 from the Granblue Fantasy Extra Fes 2026 Osaka venue. Cygames unveiled Yoh Asakura’s character design tailored for the Granblue Fantasy universe — the carefree shaman making his entrance alongside his spirit partner Amidamaru, faithful to his look from the 2021 anime revival. The reveal drew loud cheers from the live Osaka audience.

According to the announcement covered by Famitsu (Japanese) and Dengeki Online (Japanese), the collaboration is confirmed to launch on Friday, 15 January 2027. Further details on in-game mechanics, additional characters, and event rewards are set to follow closer to the start date.

Granblue Fantasy x SHAMAN KING collaboration logo
Image courtesy of Cygames
Granblue Fantasy SHAMAN KING collab event date January 15 2027
Image courtesy of Cygames

Watch the Extra Fes 2026 Osaka Live Stream

Granblue Fantasy Live: Welcome to Midsummer Showtime Special — via グランブルーファンタジー公式チャンネル on YouTube

What Singapore and SEA Granblue Players Need to Know

Granblue Fantasy launched globally on Steam in March 2026 — meaning Singapore players can jump in without a VPN or a Japanese account. Collaboration events like this one run in the same game client for all regions simultaneously, so there is no separate or region-locked version to worry about: when the SHAMAN KING collab goes live on 15 January 2027, it will be accessible to every player worldwide at the same time.

For SHAMAN KING fans here, the source material needs little introduction. Hiroyuki Takei’s long-running manga — and its 2021 anime reboot, available on Netflix in Singapore — built a devoted audience across Southeast Asia with its spirit-battling premise and memorable cast. Yoh’s easygoing personality and formidable Oversoul abilities make him a natural fit for GBF’s character roster. With the collab still five months out, you have plenty of time to stock up on Crystals.

Yoh Asakura character design detail for Granblue Fantasy SHAMAN KING collab
Image courtesy of Cygames

Other Announcements from the Extra Fes 2026 Osaka Stream

The SHAMAN KING reveal was not the only headline from the broadcast. 4Gamer’s full rundown of the stream (Japanese) notes several other updates confirmed for Granblue Fantasy:

  • Granblue Fantasy Fes 2026 is confirmed for 26–27 December at Tokyo Big Sight — the franchise’s annual flagship live event. The physical event is Japan-only, but the fan celebration usually coincides with significant in-game announcements for all players globally.
  • Story quest update: Main quest chapters 9–12 of the “Sky and Earth Contract” arc launch on 19 August.
  • Limit breaks in October for three characters: Nia, Estalyola, and Frau.
  • Character song albums: Melodies of Wales (December 2026) and Haruen Uta (March 2027).
Granblue Fantasy SHAMAN KING collab teaser Called a Shaman
Image courtesy of Cygames

For more on upcoming game collaborations and events, browse our Game News section.

Game News

NTE Version 1.3: Zankou, Lingko and Summer Content Arrive August 19

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The next big chapter for Neverness to Everness (NTE) is almost here. Hotta Studio’s supernatural urban open-world RPG dropped its full Version 1.3 preview livestream on 8 August, and there is a lot coming when Rising from the Moonlight Fog kicks off on 19 August 2026. Two new limited characters, a story finale for a major villain faction, a summer event with new vehicles, and a fresh open-world location — here is everything revealed.

NTE Summer Trailer — via NTE Global on YouTube

NTE Version 1.3 New Characters: Zankou and Lingko

Version 1.3 introduces two new limited-banner characters. Zankou, a member of the antagonist faction Scarlet Letter, headlines the first half of the update. Her limited banner Alluring Shadows runs from 19 August to 9 September. Zankou’s animated short “Color of the Soul” dropped alongside the livestream reveal and is worth watching for a taste of her backstory.

NTE Zankou Animated Short: Color of the Soul — via NTE Global on YouTube

The second-half character is Lingko of ETD-6, whose limited banner Surfing All Channels opens from 9 to 30 September. Alongside the new faces, two popular characters return: Nanally (rerun in the first half) and Hotori (rerun in the second half), with both banners carrying over pulls from the previous time they ran.

Neverness to Everness Version 1.3 gameplay screenshot
Image courtesy of Hotta Studio

Story Chapter: The Scarlet Letter’s Last Stand

The Version 1.3 story chapter — also titled Rising from the Moonlit Fog — picks up after Version 1.1’s Corridor of Echoes and brings the Scarlet Letter storyline to a conclusion. The action moves to a new anomaly location called Fogden, where Appraisers, Eibon members, and the Bureau team up for the “Fogden Game” against Madam T and the Scarlet Letter. Hotori, who has stayed in the background in previous chapters, plays a significant role here, and Nitsa makes her first proper in-game appearance.

Neverness to Everness Hethereau open world environment
Image courtesy of Hotta Studio

Summer Event, New Vehicles and Hethereau Hobbies

Beyond the main story, Version 1.3 packs in a summer seasonal event with a range of new content:

  • Summer-themed limited outfits for existing characters
  • A new Mystery Box with seasonal rewards
  • Brand-new vehicles to ride around Hethereau
  • New Hethereau Hobbies activities expanding the open-world side content
  • A large new explorable area tied to the Fogden anomaly zone
NTE Version 1.3 summer event open world content
Image courtesy of Hotta Studio

NTE 1.3 Banner Schedule for Pull Planning

If you are pulling in Version 1.3, here is how the banner timeline breaks down:

  • 19 Aug to 9 Sep: Zankou (Alluring Shadows) + Zankou’s Spellbound Special Arc; Nanally rerun (Ichi-Daime) + Nanally’s Tiger Special Arc
  • 9 Sep to 30 Sep: Lingko (Surfing All Channels) + Lingko’s Chorus Special Arc; Hotori rerun (Misty Tipsy Style) + Hotori’s Bright Moon Special Arc

Start farming Zankou’s upgrade materials now: Eternal Memory from Anomaly Pilgrimage: Debt Collector and Nestguard Fragment from Anomaly Hunt: Call of the Lost.

Neverness to Everness characters action combat
Image courtesy of Hotta Studio

When Does NTE Version 1.3 Drop and How to Play in Singapore

Rising from the Moonlight Fog launches on 19 August 2026. Neverness to Everness is free-to-play and available in Singapore on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PS5 Pro, iOS, Android, and Mac with no regional restrictions. The game has been live globally since 29 April 2026. For the full preview broadcast, head to the NTE Official YouTube channel. Browse more game news on GameTrader while you save up those pulls.

Game News

Wuthering Waves 3.6 Preview Broadcast Is Tonight — Qingxiao, Jingran and 300 Free Astrite

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Kuro Games’ Wuthering Waves 3.6 Preview Special Broadcast goes live tonight at 7 PM SGT (19:00 UTC+8) — and it brings Singapore players the first official look at two brand-new Resonators, along with three redeemable codes worth 300 Astrite in total. If you have been saving up or are midway through a pull session, this is the stream to watch before Version 3.5’s banners close on 19 August.

When and Where to Watch the WuWa 3.6 Broadcast

Wuthering Waves Version 3.6 Preview Special Broadcast banner showing 08/07 19:00 UTC+8
Image courtesy of Kuro Games

The broadcast streams live on the official Wuthering Waves YouTube channel and Twitch at 7 PM SGT on 7 August 2026. You can tune in directly from the embed below — no login required.

Wuthering Waves Version 3.6 Preview Special Broadcast — via Wuthering Waves on YouTube

Two New Resonators: Qingxiao and Jingran

Kuro Games has officially confirmed the two limited five-star Resonators headlining Version 3.6. Both were drip-marketed over the past month and have generated considerable anticipation in the community.

Qingxiao official character art — blue-haired Aero sword cultivator from Wuthering Waves 3.6
Image courtesy of Kuro Games

Qingxiao is a five-star Aero Sword Resonator who heads up Phase 1. Described officially as “a reclusive sword cultivator who holds a nominal post as Xuan Paragon of Xuanfang Hold,” she carries the tagline “Celestial sword guards the clouded pass.” Expect her to fit the aerial, agile sword-wielder archetype within the Mengzhou storyline introduced in Version 3.5.

Jingran official character art — hooded Fusion Broadblade Resonator from Wuthering Waves 3.6
Image courtesy of Kuro Games

Jingran arrives in Phase 2 as a five-star Fusion Broadblade Resonator. His drip marketing leaned into a between-worlds, yin-and-yang aesthetic — a hooded figure carrying a glowing lantern and a massive blade, described as someone who “walks between the living and the dead.” Early beta data points to an HP-scaling main DPS built around Heavy Attacks, though tonight’s broadcast will detail his official kit.

What Else to Expect from the Broadcast

Tonight’s stream will officially confirm the Version 3.6 release date. Based on the standard six-week update cycle — Version 3.5 closes 19 August — the community is pointing to around 20–21 August, though Kuro Games has not announced a precise date yet. Expect that to be one of the first things confirmed tonight.

The broadcast should also lay out the banner phase order, any rerun characters, and a preview of new story content continuing deeper into Mengzhou. Beta testers have flagged a new map area, a rogue-like game mode, and a sword-riding traversal mechanic tied to Qingxiao’s aerial theme — all pending official confirmation tonight.

For context on what Version 3.5 brought, see our earlier coverage of WuWa 3.5 and the Mengzhou expansion, or browse more game news on the blog.

Three Free Astrite Codes — Redeem Before They Expire

Kuro Games typically drops three redemption codes live during each version preview broadcast, each worth 100 Astrite (300 total) plus bonus Resonance Potions and Shell Credits. The codes expire within hours, and Singapore players watching at 7 PM SGT are in a great position to catch them in real time.

To redeem: open the game, go to Settings > Other Settings > Redemption Code, and enter each code as it goes live on stream. The official Wuthering Waves account (@Wuthering_Waves on X) also posts the codes shortly after the broadcast — follow along if you catch the stream late.

Game News

Fate/Grand Order’s 11th Anniversary Is Live — Meet Azrael

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Fate/Grand Order’s JP server just turned 11, and Aniplex and Lasengle are celebrating in style. The 11th Anniversary campaign — themed around a Chaldea School Festival — kicked off on 2 August 2026 at 18:00 JST, and runs through 12 August at 12:59 JST. If you’ve been sleeping on your JP account, now is the time to log back in.

Fate/Grand Order 11th Anniversary Movie -Cosmos in the Lostbelt- — via 【公式】Fate/Grand Order チャンネル on YouTube

The Anniversary Servant: Hassan-i-Sabbah (Azrael)

Every FGO anniversary brings a headline limited Servant, and the 11th is no different. This year’s pick is Hassan-i-Sabbah (Azrael), a 5-star Assassin illustrated by Ryota-H — and notably the first male anniversary Servant in years. Azrael is a younger incarnation of the Old Man of the Mountain before he claimed the title, themed around the angel of death in Islamic tradition and serving as a Grand Assassin.

Hassan-i-Sabbah Azrael Stage 1 - FGO 11th anniversary servant
Image courtesy of Aniplex / Lasengle

His gameplay kit is built around an Arts-NP loop with strong single-target burst. Key skill highlights:

  • Angel’s Flesh A: ATK up, debuff immunity, Guts revival, dual Evade, and NP charge (50–80%).
  • Thirty Birds A: Skill cooldown reduction, Arts effectiveness boost, Guts, and additional NP/critical star generation.
  • The Zaqqum Tree EX: Inflicts Thirst for Death and Terror (30–40% stun chance) on all enemies while shredding their DEF and Instant Death resistance.

His Noble Phantasm, Malak al-Mawt (Arts, C-rank), deals 900–1500% single-target damage — scaling to 200% effectiveness against enemies afflicted by Thirst for Death — with a 200% Instant Death chance built in. He’s effectively a self-contained assassin who sets up and executes his own kill condition.

The Anniversary summoning banner (Campaign 1) runs 2–23 August, with Campaign 2 running 5–12 August. Banners are split by class pool (Seven Classes and Extra Classes), so plan your Saint Quartz accordingly.

The Anniversary Movie: Cosmos in the Lostbelt

Alongside the in-game campaign, Aniplex dropped a 7.5-minute anniversary animated film titled Fate/Grand Order 11th Anniversary Movie — Cosmos in the Lostbelt. Production was handled by DAIGAN (animation), OLM (photography), and ROLL PROJECT (3DCG), with music composed by Keita Haga and arranged by Selin. The short sweeps across the Lostbelt arc — expect Crypters, Grand Servants, and a healthy dose of spectacle. You can watch it in full on the official FGO JP YouTube channel.

Hassan-i-Sabbah Azrael ascension art - FGO anniversary
Image courtesy of Aniplex / Lasengle

The anniversary also featured a live Chaldea School Festival at Makuhari Messe (1–2 August), with interactive booths, character exhibits, and stage panels from the voice cast. A stage reading event is also scheduled for 1 November at Pacifico Yokohama.

Free Rolls, Login Rewards and Quality-of-Life Upgrades

Even if you’re holding off on the gacha, the anniversary is a solid time to log in daily:

  • Free daily Story Banner summon — one single roll every day from 2 August through 1 September (30 days total).
  • 10th Anniversary Lucky Bag (GSSR) — available 2–12 August, letting you guarantee an SSR from a class pool of your choice.
  • Login milestone bonuses — new 100-day and 300-day milestones award 11 Saint Quartz each (on top of the existing 50-day milestone).
  • Motion refinements for ten initial Servants, bringing their animations up to modern standards.
  • Bond level cap raised to 16 across the board — a quality-of-life win for long-term players sitting on capped bonds.

For Singapore players on the JP server, the anniversary window is tight — the main campaign closes 12 August at 12:59 JST (12:59 SGT, same timezone). The Global (EN/NA) server is roughly two years behind, so EN players should expect this content around 2028. If you’ve been curious about making the jump to JP, the anniversary login bonuses and free rolls make this a low-risk time to try it out.

Check out our coverage of FGO Summer 2026’s new servants for the swimsuit event running alongside the anniversary, and browse all our Game News for more on what’s dropping this week.

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.