Tag Archives: JRPG

Xenoblade Genesis: New World, New Hero — Switch 2 Exclusive in 2027

Monolith Soft and Nintendo landed one of the Nintendo Direct’s most memorable moments: the reveal of Xenoblade Genesis, an all-new entry in the beloved RPG series built exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 and launching in 2027. From the look of the reveal trailer, this is a deliberate reinvention — same legendary team, completely fresh world.

Xenoblade Genesis – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

A Brand-New World: Anshar and the Power of Anima

Xenoblade Genesis is set in Anshar, an annular world bathed in the light of six suns — a setting that immediately signals a break from both the colossal Titans of Xenoblade Chronicles and the Blades and Titans of Chronicles 2. The land is governed by a primordial force called Anima, described as the source of all things, flowing through the world and its creatures.

Warriors who can channel Anima in combat are known as Vesselai. They wield special weapons enhanced by crystalline artefacts called crystones, which amplify their abilities and — notably — record their thoughts and actions, adding an intriguing lore dimension to even the gear system. The trailer hints at sweeping vistas, enormous flying creatures, and a conflict with high stakes: the shadow of “a fallen god’s vengeance” looms over the narrative.

Xenoblade Genesis protagonist Eleanor
Image courtesy of Nintendo / Monolith Soft

Meet Eleanor — and the Academy of Leukos

The protagonist is Eleanor, who enrolls at Leukos, an academy that trains Vesselai. The academy framing immediately evokes Fire Emblem: Three Houses more than the open-world sprawl of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and that’s clearly intentional — Genesis appears to root its early story in student politics and coming-of-age bonds before expanding into something larger.

Visually, Eleanor and her companions sport elf-like features, and the game’s rideable mounts — creatures that look like a wolf-horse hybrid — are already turning heads. Character designs come from Mai Yoneyama and PALOW, a pairing that brings distinct anime-art sensibilities to the Xenoblade aesthetic.

Leukos Academy in Xenoblade Genesis
Image courtesy of Nintendo / Monolith Soft

The Team Behind It

Tetsuya Takahashi directs, as he has on every major Xeno title from Xenogears (1998) onwards. The musical team is equally formidable: Yasunori Mitsuda — the composer behind Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2‘s sweeping original score — returns alongside Mariam Abounnasr and Minami Kiyota, both contributors to Xenoblade Chronicles 3. For JRPG fans, that lineup alone is reason to pay attention.

Switch 2 Editions for the Existing Trilogy

Nintendo also announced Switch 2 Edition upgrades for Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3, making the full modern trilogy accessible natively on Switch 2 ahead of Genesis‘s 2027 window. Pricing for those upgrades is to be confirmed.

Last Words

Singapore JRPG fans who have followed Monolith Soft’s work know the studio consistently punches above its weight — each Xenoblade entry has pushed the limits of Nintendo hardware to deliver genuinely massive, emotionally resonant worlds. Xenoblade Genesis looks set to continue that tradition with a fresh cast, a fresh setting, and the legendary Mitsuda back on the score. No price or local eShop listing yet, but 2027 is the window. Follow our News section for updates as they come.

Kingdom Hearts IV Confirmed for Switch 2 — Plus Native Collection This October

After years of cloud-only workarounds on Nintendo hardware, Kingdom Hearts is finally coming to Switch 2 the right way — natively. Square Enix used the Nintendo Direct on 9 June 2026 to drop a surprise gameplay trailer for Kingdom Hearts IV and confirm proper, non-cloud releases of the entire series on Nintendo Switch 2.

KINGDOM HEARTS IV Teaser Trailer | June 2026 — via KINGDOM HEARTS on YouTube

Kingdom Hearts IV on Switch 2: What We Know So Far

The new trailer brings our first extended look at Kingdom Hearts IV in years. Sora is back, fighting a colossal Heartless through the streets of Quadratum — the hyper-realistic modern city first glimpsed in the 2022 reveal — with a noticeably sharper, more cinematic art direction and fluid action combat. Square Enix confirmed that the game launches simultaneously on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. No official release date has been announced yet.

This is bigger news than it might look on the surface. Previous Kingdom Hearts games on Nintendo Switch were cloud-streamed — playable only with a live internet connection — which made the experience frustrating for many players. Kingdom Hearts IV confirmed as a native, day-one Switch 2 title is a genuine shift in how Square Enix is treating Nintendo hardware.

Kingdom Hearts IV — Sora battles a Heartless in Quadratum
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Kingdom Hearts Collection [I–III]: Native, October 8, With a Switch 2 Exclusive Keyblade

Confirmed alongside KH IV, KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I–III] arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on 8 October 2026. This is the native collection Singapore fans who skipped the cloud versions have been waiting for.

The bundle includes everything:

  • KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX- — covering KH1, Re:Chain of Memories, KH2, 358/2 Days, Birth by Sleep, and Re:coded
  • KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter PrologueDream Drop Distance HD, 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage, and χ Back Cover
  • KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind (DLC)

All three run natively on Switch 2 — no internet required. Switch 2 owners also receive a platform-exclusive bonus: the “Long Night” Keyblade, unique to Nintendo’s platform.

Confirmed pricing so far: £64.99 (UK) and ¥11,000 including tax (Japan). SGD pricing on the Nintendo Singapore eShop is to be confirmed — check the eShop listing when it appears.

Kingdom Hearts Collection I-III and Kingdom Hearts IV banner
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Cloud Versions Delisted — But Existing Owners Get 50% Off

The original Kingdom Hearts cloud versions for Nintendo Switch were delisted from the eShop on 9 June 2026, the same day as the Direct announcement. If you purchased them before that date, they remain playable until 9 June 2027.

Square Enix is softening the transition: anyone who owned a Kingdom Hearts cloud version on Switch is eligible for a 50% discount on the corresponding native Switch 2 digital versions — including the Collection bundle. Details on how to claim the discount will be available through the Nintendo eShop.

Last Words

For Singapore Kingdom Hearts fans, this is genuinely exciting news. The series has a devoted following across Southeast Asia — many of us grew up with KH1 and KH2 on PS2 — and the prospect of playing through the complete saga plus a brand-new chapter on Switch 2, without streaming lag, is a proper treat. Mark 8 October on the calendar for the Collection. Keep an eye on our News section for a release date on Kingdom Hearts IV as Square Enix reveals more.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Hits Switch 2 on 17 September

The next mainline Fire Emblem is locked in. Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave was announced during the Nintendo Direct on 9 June 2026 as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, and it has a confirmed worldwide launch date: 17 September 2026. With four playable protagonists, a gladiatorial-tournament setting, and the series’ beloved turn-based tactical combat given a new open-capital twist, this is one of the Switch 2’s biggest RPG launches of the year.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

The Heroic Games: Fortune’s Weave’s Tournament Setting

Fortune’s Weave takes place in Dagsion, the grand capital of the Dagdan Empire. At the heart of the story is the Heroic Games — a high-stakes tournament presided over by the Divine Sovereign, who promises to grant the single wish of any fighter who claims victory. Four very different heroes enter the Games for four very different reasons, and their paths intertwine as the competition grows deadlier.

Nintendo Singapore confirmed the game’s details on its official news page, and developer Intelligent Systems — the studio behind every mainline Fire Emblem — is once again at the helm.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave — key art from the Nintendo Direct reveal
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Meet the Four Heroes

Character design is by Kurahana Chinatsu, the artist who defined the look of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, so fans of that game will feel immediately at home with the expressive anime portraits. The four protagonists are:

  • Cai — A young boy who enters the Games with one goal: to free his imprisoned father.
  • Dietrich — A seasoned swordsman driven by an unending hunger to test himself against stronger opponents.
  • Theodora — A queen who carries the long-held ambitions of her nation into the arena.
  • Leda — A musician whose quiet demeanour conceals a deep, burning need for vengeance.

Each protagonist has a separate storyline that eventually converges, which suggests Fortune’s Weave will lean into the multi-route structure that made Three Houses so replayable.

Tactical RPG Gameplay with an Open Capital

The core is familiar Fire Emblem: turn-based, grid-based tactical battles where positioning, weapon triangles, and class abilities decide the day. What Fortune’s Weave adds is a richer preparation layer set in Dagsion itself. Between tournament matches you can:

  • Explore Dagsion’s streets and training grounds to recruit fighters and gather resources
  • Venture outside the city walls into dungeons to earn experience and rare items
  • Build relationships with allies to unlock new combat synergies

The loop echoes the monastery system from Three Houses but grounded in a martial-tournament world rather than an academy — which feels like a natural evolution for players who loved that game’s balance of slice-of-life and battlefield strategy.

The Dagdan Collection: A Special Edition for Collectors

Two physical editions are confirmed. Standard physical is priced at US$79.99 (Singapore retail pricing to be confirmed). For collectors, the Dagdan Collection bundles the game with:

  • Steelbook case
  • 12 character art cards featuring the main protagonists and supporting cast
  • A1 poster of the Land of Dagda
  • 200-page hardcover artbook

The Dagdan Collection is priced at US$119.99. A digital standard edition is available on the Nintendo eShop at US$69.99. Local SGD pricing has not yet been announced — watch Nintendo Singapore and retailers like GameMartz, Qisahn, and Shopee’s official Nintendo SG store for updates.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Nintendo Switch 2 box art
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Last Words

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is one of the most anticipated Switch 2-exclusive RPGs in a packed autumn line-up. Singapore fans will want to mark 17 September 2026 on their calendars — though fair warning, it’s one of gaming’s busiest weeks, landing on the same day as other major titles. Keep an eye on our news section for when SGD pricing and the Dagdan Collection’s local availability are confirmed. Until then, the Nintendo Direct trailer above is well worth a rewatch.

Final Fantasy Resonance: First HD-2D Final Fantasy Hits Oct 22

Square Enix has pulled off a genuine surprise: Final Fantasy Resonance is the very first Final Fantasy game built in the gorgeous HD-2D art style — and it’s landing on basically every platform that matters on 22 October 2026. Revealed during the 9 June Nintendo Direct (right alongside a fresh Kingdom Hearts IV trailer), it’s a turn-based, crystal-and-chocobo love letter to the series’ roots, and it’s coming to Switch 2, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE – Announce Trailer — via FINAL FANTASY on YouTube

The first Final Fantasy in HD-2D

If you’ve played Octopath Traveler, Triangle Strategy or the Dragon Quest III remake, you already know the look: lovingly detailed pixel sprites layered over 3D environments, dramatic depth-of-field and sweeping camera angles. Square Enix has used HD-2D to revive plenty of classics, but Final Fantasy Resonance marks the first time the main brand itself wears the style. The result, on the evidence of the reveal trailer, is exactly the nostalgia hit long-time fans have been begging for — pixel chocobos, towering espers and airships rendered with serious cinematic flair.

Final Fantasy Resonance HD-2D key art

Image courtesy of Square Enix

A Brave Exvius story, rebuilt for consoles

Here’s the twist long-time fans will want to know: Final Fantasy Resonance is based on the first story arc of Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, the 2016 mobile gacha RPG. Square Enix is keen to stress this is far more than a port — the publisher says the season-one storyline has been “extensively rebuilt” as a full-fledged, console-quality RPG, with voiced characters, new cutscenes and a freshly recorded soundtrack.

The adventure returns to the world of Lapis, following the Grandshelt knight Rain, his adoptive brother Lasswell and the mysterious maiden Fina as they race to stop Veritas of the Dark from corrupting the world’s crystals. It’s a self-contained slice of the Brave Exvius saga, so newcomers don’t need to have touched the mobile game to jump in.

Final Fantasy Resonance turn-based battle screenshot

Image courtesy of Square Enix

Turn-based combat and the Visions system

Combat is unapologetically classic turn-based, with a modern twist. You’ll exploit enemy weaknesses to stagger foes and chain into cinematic “Resonance” attacks — a tactical layer that rewards reading each encounter rather than mashing through it.

The real fan-service hook is the Visions system, which lets you recruit “echoes” of beloved Final Fantasy heroes as party members. The reveal confirmed cameos from across the series, including Cloud, Tidus, the Warrior of Light, Terra and Clive, with each Vision bringing its own skills for party customisation. There’s plenty to chew on beyond the main story, too: the trailer and store listings tease run-ins with the wandering swordsman Gilgamesh, a Colosseum, a Chamber of Arms and showdowns with the Ultima Weapon.

On the audio side, the score comes from Elements Garden — the team led by Noriyasu Agematsu — with 33 newly recorded tracks joining music carried over from Brave Exvius.

Final Fantasy Resonance HD-2D world exploration screenshot

Image courtesy of Square Enix

Release date, platforms and editions

Final Fantasy Resonance launches on 22 October 2026 across Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (via Steam and the Microsoft Store). The line-up:

  • Standard Edition — US$49.99
  • Digital Deluxe Edition — US$59.99 (adds digital bonuses)
  • Collector’s Edition — US$209.99, bundling the base game, the Digital Deluxe bonuses and four physical collectibles: an acrylic block set of pixel-art characters, summons and bosses; a 120-page hardcover art book; a 120-track soundtrack CD; and an exclusive Final Fantasy Trading Card Game promo card.

Square Enix hasn’t published Singapore dollar pricing yet, but the US$49.99 base price works out to roughly S$65 at current rates — keep an eye on local retailers and the eShop/PlayStation Store closer to launch for confirmed SGD figures.

What this means for Singapore gamers

This one is squarely aimed at the JRPG faithful — and Singapore has plenty. A brand-new, story-complete Final Fantasy at a friendly US$49.99 (well below the S$90-plus you’ll pay for a typical AAA release) makes Final Fantasy Resonance an easy recommendation, especially for Switch 2 owners hunting for a meaty turn-based RPG to sink the year-end holidays into. The cross-platform launch means you can grab it wherever you already game, and the HD-2D presentation should look fantastic in handheld mode.

Collectors will be eyeing that US$209.99 Collector’s Edition, though import shipping and the weak conversion will sting — we’d watch for a local distributor before committing. As always, GameTrader will keep tracking SGD pricing, pre-order bonuses and trade-in values as 22 October draws closer. In the meantime, check out our coverage of the latest gaming news and reviews.

Final Fantasy VII Revelation: Every New Detail So Far

The wait for the finale is almost over. Final Fantasy VII Revelation — the third and final chapter of Square Enix’s Remake trilogy — is locked in for a worldwide launch in Spring 2027, and director Naoki Hamaguchi has been peeling back the curtain on what to expect. Between the Summer Game Fest reveal and a deep-dive interview with Japanese outlet Denfaminicogamer, we now have a much clearer picture of how Cloud and company close out 30 years of FF7 storytelling. Here’s everything new we’ve learned.

FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION — Reveal Trailer, via FINAL FANTASY on YouTube

What is Final Fantasy VII Revelation?

Revelation is the conclusion to the trilogy that began with 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake and continued with 2024’s Rebirth. Hamaguchi explained that the “Revelation” title is meant to signal that “things previously concealed are being revealed” — a direct nod to the questions and theories the first two games left dangling. After Remake and Rebirth teased an altered timeline, this is the entry that’s supposed to pay it all off.

Encouragingly for anyone burned by long FF7 waits, Hamaguchi says the game is already fully playable from start to finish and now sits in its final balancing phase. He claims to have personally played through the whole thing around 40 times — a good sign the Spring 2027 window is solid rather than aspirational.

A colossal Weapon rises from the sea beside an industrial platform in Final Fantasy VII Revelation
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The Highwind and a world without boundaries

The headline feature is freedom. The iconic airship Highwind is obtainable early in the game, and instead of touching down at fixed landing spots, players drop in anywhere via parachute, seamlessly transitioning from sky to ground. You can fast-travel back up to the Highwind or return to on-foot exploration at will, and the ship’s interior even updates dynamically as the story progresses.

Every region from Rebirth returns, but the landscape has been reshaped — the awakening Weapons have caused geological upheaval, so familiar areas now look and play differently. Hamaguchi describes the design as an “ultra side-quest” structure: you can reach a lot of the map early, but the wildly varying difficulty of each area nudges you toward your own non-linear path rather than a single critical line.

Meet Pico, your one and only Chocobo

Rather than the stable of region-specific Chocobos from Rebirth, Revelation gives you a single companion bird named Pico that grows alongside you across the adventure. As Pico develops, it unlocks flight and gliding, opening up vertical exploration and letting you finally reach locations that were inaccessible earlier in the game. It’s a clever way to gate the open world without walling it off entirely.

Party members face off against a towering plant-like creature in Final Fantasy VII Revelation
Image courtesy of Square Enix

New playable characters and the “Ware” system

Two long-requested party members are confirmed playable:

  • Vincent Valentine finally enters the rotation, complete with a “Beast Mode” transformation you can toggle with a single button press mid-battle.
  • Cid Highwind joins as an attacker who specialises in aerial combat — fitting for the trilogy’s most airship-obsessed character.

Underpinning the combat is a new “Ware” system, which lets you customise each character’s role by swapping equipment, reshaping how they play. Notably, all Ware types unlock at once, so you’re encouraged to experiment and diversify your party builds from the off rather than grinding to slowly open options.

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation — Gameplay Overview Trailer, via IGN on YouTube

Story: choices that actually matter

Hamaguchi is leaning hard into the “weight of choice.” Player decisions reportedly determine which storylines unlock and which events play out — and they can even shift how you perceive individual characters. The main story still follows a set sequence, but the side content around it stays flexible.

A few story threads got specific attention: the previously underdeveloped Wutai storyline is being expanded, character relationships now reach beyond the usual Cloud-centric pairings, and Zack is said to play an important role in illustrating just how different this world has become from the 1997 original. As for the cast, Critical Role’s Matthew Mercer returns as the English voice of Vincent, with Travis Willingham confirmed as Sephiroth for the finale.

Sweeping vista of the reshaped world in Final Fantasy VII Revelation
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Platforms and release

Revelation launches simultaneously worldwide in Spring 2027 across PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox on PC). It’s the first mainline entry in the Remake trilogy to skip a PS5 timed exclusivity window and arrive everywhere at once — including, for the first time, on a Nintendo platform via the Switch 2, with the Switch 2 version receiving further optimisation closer to launch.

What this means for Singapore gamers

The day-one multiplatform launch is the big win here. No more watching the rest of the trilogy land on PS5 first — Singapore players on Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S or PC get to start the finale on the same day as everyone else in Spring 2027. SGD pricing and pre-order editions haven’t been announced yet, but expect details to firm up through late 2026.

If you’re planning to dive into the finale, now’s the time to make sure your back catalogue is sorted — whether that’s picking up Remake and Rebirth or trading in titles you’re done with to fund the upgrade. Drop by GameTrader to buy, sell or trade your games and consoles, and keep an eye on our news page as more Revelation details (and that all-important price) drop ahead of launch.