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Game News

Bringer Revealed — Fantasy ARPG From Ling Cage Studio Heads to PS5, PC and Mobile

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YHKT Entertainment, the studio behind acclaimed mobile title Ling Cage: Incarnation, has unveiled its next project. Bringer is a narrative fantasy action-RPG coming to PS5, PC, iOS and Android — and fans of deep mobile ARPGs across Southeast Asia will want to watch this one closely.

A World Where Every Wish Carries a Price

The story unfolds in Thalassa, a fantasy realm scarred by a century of war. Players take on the role of a traveller with a hidden secret, drawn into a conflict involving colossal beings known as Arkiloth — creatures of enormous scale whose presence shapes the world around them. The game’s core theme, drawn from the Chinese tagline 凡心所愿，皆有其应, translates as “Every wish will surely be answered” — a double-edged promise that puts the protagonist’s mysterious power at the centre of the narrative.

Bringer reveal trailer — protagonist in a mystical blue-tinted scene

Built on Unreal Engine 5, Bringer makes an immediate visual impression. The reveal trailer showcases sweeping fantasy environments, high-fidelity character models and cinematic battle sequences — a significant step up from YHKT’s previous mobile work, and a statement that the studio is targeting the high-end action-RPG space alongside titles like Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves.

Real-Time Party Combat With Tactical Depth

Bringer character roster — five party members shown in official artwork

Combat in Bringer is fully real-time and action-focused. Players can switch between party members on the fly mid-battle, allowing for fluid combo extensions across the roster. Each character supports weapon modules for loadout customisation, while the system incorporates parry windows, dodge mechanics and finisher moves designed to reward read-and-react play over button-mashing.

Five characters have been revealed so far: a brown-haired male protagonist, a dark-haired female companion, an orange-goggled ranged fighter, a red-haired warrior and a blue-clad swordsman. Whether the final roster expands further ahead of launch remains to be seen.

Playable at Gamescom 2026 — Pre-Registration Open Now

Players heading to Cologne for Gamescom 2026 can try Bringer in person. YHKT has confirmed a playable demo at Hall 10.1, Booth E053, running from 26 to 30 August. This will be among the first hands-on opportunities for players outside China.

Pre-registration is live now at bringer-pre.com. At launch the game will support English, Japanese, Korean and Traditional Chinese — the last of which is particularly relevant for Singapore’s large Chinese-speaking gaming community. No release date has been announced.

Stay tuned to GameTrader.SG Game News for further updates on Bringer as they emerge.

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.

Game News

AFK Journey × Digimon Adventure: The DigiDestined Arrive in Esperia on 18 August

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AFK Journey’s next collaboration is with one of anime’s most iconic franchises: Digimon Adventure. Lilith Games is bringing Tai Kamiya, Matt Ishida, and their partner Digimon into the game’s fantasy world of Esperia, with the crossover event going live on 18 August 2026 (UTC).

AFK Journey × Digimon Adventure Crossover Trailer — via AFK Journey on YouTube

The DigiDestined in Esperia

AFK Journey × Digimon Adventure crossover key art
Image courtesy of Lilith Games / Farlight Games

The event’s setup sees Tai and Matt swept through a dimensional rift and stranded in Esperia, far from the Digital World. They fall in with the Magister — the player’s character — to fight their way home, with Lilith Games framing the crossover as an original story set within AFK Journey’s world rather than a straight retelling. It draws specifically from the original 1999 Digimon Adventure series, leaning into the classic era rather than newer iterations of the franchise.

This marks AFK Journey’s fourth major IP crossover, following previous collaborations that pulled characters from other beloved franchises into Esperia.

Full Digivolution Lines Confirmed

Both partner Digimon will reach their Mega forms, with the complete evolution chains confirmed in official promotional materials.

Tai Kamiya and Agumon in AFK Journey × Digimon Adventure crossover
Image courtesy of Lilith Games / Farlight Games

Agumon evolves through Greymon and MetalGreymon to reach WarGreymon — the Mega form tied to Tai’s Crest of Courage and one of the most recognisable Digimon in the franchise’s history.

Matt Ishida and Gabumon in AFK Journey × Digimon Adventure crossover
Image courtesy of Lilith Games / Farlight Games

Gabumon evolves through Garurumon and WereGarurumon to reach MetalGarurumon — the armoured Mega bonded to Matt’s Crest of Friendship. Seeing both Mega forms in action is part of what made the original series’ climax so memorable, and it looks like Lilith Games is leaning into that.

Whether Digivolution will function as an in-game combat mechanic or primarily as story and cutscene presentation has not been confirmed ahead of the event going live.

Cosmetics and Rewards

Promotional announcements confirm a range of limited cosmetics tied to the crossover: outfits inspired by Tai and Matt, limited hero headgear, and a special collaboration frame. These allow players to dress their roster in DigiDestined style for the duration of the event and beyond.

A complete breakdown of event missions, character acquisition, and summon resources is expected to be detailed at or around launch on 18 August. Past AFK Journey crossovers have included free-to-play portions of the event content, though guest characters have typically been limited-availability acquisitions.

Platforms and When to Play

AFK Journey is available on iOS, Android, and Windows PC. The Digimon Adventure crossover event begins 18 August 2026 (UTC). A second trailer is also live on the official AFK Journey YouTube channel for those wanting more of a look before it drops.

Keep an eye on the official AFK Journey account for reward details closer to launch, or head to GameTrader Game News for more coverage.

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

Mega Man X Joins DMC: Peak of Combat in Live Collab Event

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Two of Capcom’s most beloved action franchises have collided on mobile — Mega Man X has arrived in Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat as a playable Hunter, kicking off the Mega Man X DiVE collaboration with Version 2.19, now live globally on iOS and Android including Singapore.

The Blue Bomber Joins the Hunt

X enters the DMC universe with a moveset that should feel immediately familiar to fans of the classic series. In combat, he brings his iconic Blaster, a Dash, Double Jump, and the Nova Strike area attack — the last of which is tied to his Ultimate Armor skin, which also enables a chargeable X Buster. His featured weapon is the new Sniper Buster, acquirable through a dedicated Weapon Prayer and upgradeable to its own “Ultimate Blast” skin through progression.

Three alternate appearances are available for X at launch:

  • Classic Blue — his default look
  • “Tribute to the Fallen” — unlocked through Hunter progression
  • “SE DIVE VER.” — a nod to the Mega Man X DiVE game, obtainable through the limited-time event
Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat × Mega Man collab is official! — via Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat on YouTube

DiVE Deep: Relive the Classic Sigma Showdown

Mega Man X as a playable Hunter in Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat
Image courtesy of Capcom / NebulaJoy

The centrepiece of the collab is the “DiVE Deep” limited-time event, which spans three original story chapters and pits players against the towering digital villain Sigma. It is one of the more thematically coherent crossover events the game has run — the idea of diving into a corrupted digital world maps naturally onto X’s lore from the Mega Man X DiVE series.

Beyond the story mode, Version 2.19 adds a new Boss Hunt encounter and five collectable X-series Runes to track down during the event window. There is no confirmed end date published at time of writing; check the in-game event tab for the latest schedule.

Available Now for Singapore Players

Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat launched across Southeast Asia in 2024 via a dedicated Asia build on Google Play and the iOS App Store. The Mega Man X DiVE collab is a global update with no region lock — Singapore players can head straight in and start the DiVE Deep event now.

The game is free to play, with the Sniper Buster weapon available through its own Weapon Prayer banner and X’s Hunter slot accessible through standard pull mechanics. If you have been sitting on currency reserves, this collab is one of the better excuses to spend them — Mega Man X is a genuinely iconic addition to the DMC roster.

Keep an eye on our game news coverage for more updates from the mobile gaming space.

Game News

Love and Deepspace’s Caleb Event Is Live — the Valko Boycott Passes 250,000 Signatures

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Infold’s otome RPG Love and Deepspace broke nearly a month of social media silence this week — but the timing landed in the middle of an ongoing storm. The Caleb: Summer Surge limited five-star memory event launched on 5 August and runs through 14 August, even as a community boycott demanding the return of cancelled love interest Valko continues to grow. A petition on iPetitions has passed 251,000 signatures, and the game recorded its worst financial month on record following the controversy, according to OpenCritic’s reporting.

Watch the Caleb Summer Surge Trailer

Love and Deepspace | Summer Surge — via Love and Deepspace on YouTube

What Happened With Valko?

Valko was announced on 22 June as Love and Deepspace’s first new love interest in some time — a wolf-inspired character who quickly built a dedicated following among the game’s international playerbase. Before his Version 6.0 debut, a vocal segment of the game’s Chinese domestic audience mounted an intense campaign opposing his design. The backlash proved decisive: Infold cancelled Valko entirely, removing him from the roadmap and issuing an apology — but not the one Western players were looking for.

Valko, the cancelled Love and Deepspace love interest
Image courtesy of Infold Games

The cancellation did not land well globally. The game suffered its worst financial month on record in the period that followed. Meanwhile, a Chinese government statement indicated Valko is gone permanently, per GameSpot.

The Boycott By the Numbers

The fan response has been substantial and organised:

  • Over 251,300 signatures on an iPetitions campaign demanding Valko’s reinstatement
  • Over 98,200 signatures on a separate Change.org petition
  • A dedicated Letters for Valko website collecting fan messages for Infold to read
  • A solidarity GoFundMe for Mexican wolf sanctuary Extinción Cero raised over 78,850 MXN
  • Public figures including rapper bbno$ promoted the petitions through cosplay content

Chinese players have largely held their position opposing the character’s return, creating a cultural divide that Infold has not yet addressed publicly. As of publication, the developer has issued no formal response to the boycott or any roadmap for what comes next — the resumed social media activity has focused solely on the Caleb event, as Siliconera reported.

Inside the Caleb: Summer Surge Event

Caleb from Love and Deepspace in character art
Image courtesy of Infold Games

The Caleb: Summer Surge limited five-star memory runs until 14 August at 04:59 (server time). It centres on a basketball-themed story — a nostalgia-tinged narrative revisiting an old court. Rewards available during the banner period include:

  • Leap & Dunk outfit (limited — not obtainable after the banner ends)
  • Rule Reversal hat (permanently enters the Lunar Shop after the event)
  • Lingering Moment photo pose (also enters the Lunar Shop permanently)

Infold released the Caleb event in place of the previously announced Rafayel Myth banner, which was postponed. Some players have pledged to sit out spending until Infold addresses the Valko situation directly; others are playing the event as normal. For Singapore and Southeast Asia players who are active Love and Deepspace users, the banner deadline of 14 August is approaching quickly.

Keep up with mobile game news in the Game News section.

Game News

BanG Dream! Our Notes Hits 1 Million Pre-Registrations — Closed Beta Starts 6 August

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The next chapter of Bandori’s rhythm franchise just crossed a major milestone: BanG Dream! Our Notes has surpassed 1 million global pre-registrations, and the closed beta launches tomorrow, 6 August, on iOS and Android. If you’ve been following the game’s steady climb — 300K in late June, 500K in early July, 800K by the 21st — the seven-digit mark arriving right as the beta opens is a signal that the community is very much ready.

New Mobile Game “BanG Dream! Our Notes” Main Trailer — via BanG Dream! Our Notes on YouTube

BanG Dream! Our Notes Pre-Registration Rewards: 1 Million Milestone Unlocked

Hitting 1 million pre-registrations unlocks the biggest reward yet: the Season 1 “Mission Pass” will be free for all players at launch. That stacks on top of every cumulative milestone already cleared:

  • 4,000 Stars — enough for roughly 20 gacha pulls
  • Pre-registration Exclusive Chat Style Set
  • 3 Song Tickets
  • 1 SR+ Guaranteed Gacha Ticket
  • 1 SNAPSHOT Card featuring the new key visual
  • 3 BanG Dream! anime logo sticker designs

All rewards will be distributed after the official global launch. Pre-registration remains open — anyone who signs up before launch still locks in the full pile. The game is published globally by bilibili game in partnership with Bushiroad, the IP holder; follow @bangdreamon_EN on X for the latest milestone updates.

BanG Dream! Our Notes GEKISO LIVE multiplayer rhythm gameplay screenshot
Image courtesy of Bushiroad

GEKISO LIVE: What the New Rhythm System Actually Does

Our Notes is not just a reskin of previous Bandori games. The flagship mechanic is GEKISO LIVE — a redesigned rhythm system that introduces dynamic combo chains, tighter timing windows, and gameplay twists that keep charts from feeling static. The showpiece feature is real-time co-play for up to five performers: you and up to four friends can share one stage simultaneously, each playing their own lane and contributing to a shared live score. It’s a meaningful step beyond the asynchronous multiplayer that defined earlier BanG Dream! titles.

For players new to the franchise, an ASSIST MODE handles the trickier note patterns automatically so you can enjoy the story and music without stressing over chart difficulty.

BanG Dream! Our Notes music library showing song covers from multiple bands
Image courtesy of Bushiroad

Five Bands, 25 Characters — MyGO!!!!! and Ave Mujica Included

Our Notes brings together five girl bands spanning 25 playable characters, with all story content fully voiced:

  • MyGO!!!!! — the breakout band from the 2023 anime, back with new chapters
  • Ave Mujica — gothic and theatrical, their Our Notes arc picks up where the anime left off
  • Mugendai MewType — the fan-favourite energy band returning from recent BanG Dream! titles
  • millsage — a new band making their debut in Our Notes
  • Ikka Dumb Rock! — the second new group, leaning into a raw rock sound

The music library spans original songs composed for Our Notes alongside legacy tracks from across the BanG Dream! catalogue. Singapore fans who’ve been collecting every MyGO!!!!! and Ave Mujica song since the anime will find a lot to dig into here from day one.

BanG Dream! Our Notes Global Version Coming Soon teaser with two characters
Image courtesy of Bushiroad

Closed Beta: How to Join on 6 August

The closed beta starts 6 August 2026 on iOS and Android. Supported languages include Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, English, and Korean — Singapore players are fully covered. If you completed the beta sign-up questionnaire on the official site, check your email and app store notifications. Pre-registrations are still open for those who want to secure every milestone reward at the full global launch, which has been confirmed for 2026 but not yet pinned to a specific month.

For more mobile and console game releases heading to Singapore this year, check out our Game News coverage.

Game News

NIKKE x Persona Collab Launches 13 August — Persona on Frontline Celebrates P30

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Singapore Commanders, mark your calendars — the most ambitious crossover in Goddess of Victory: NIKKE‘s history lands on 13 August 2026. Developer Shift Up and publisher Level Infinite officially confirmed last weekend that NIKKE is rolling out a collaboration with not one but three Atlus RPGs simultaneously: Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 5 Royal. The event is themed “Persona on Frontline” and doubles as a celebration of the Persona series’ 30th anniversary.

When the collab was first announced during the NIKKE Summer Special Livestream in late June, the confirmed date was simply “summer 2026.” On 2 August, the official NIKKE English account posted new key art alongside the confirmation that “Persona on Frontline officially begins on 13 August.”

Goddess of Victory: Nikke x Persona — Official Collaboration Teaser Trailer, via GameTrailers on YouTube

Three Persona Games, One Frontline Event

NIKKE x Persona collaboration teaser showing TV, clock and Phantom Thieves hat symbols
Image courtesy of Shift Up / Level Infinite

Most gacha crossovers pick a single franchise entry. Shift Up is going further, pulling in all three of the mainline modern Persona titles at once. The Persona symbols woven into the teaser imagery spell out exactly which games are represented: the green clock marks Persona 3 Reload’s Tartarus and the Dark Hour; the retro television signals Persona 4 Golden’s Midnight Channel; and the red Phantom Thieves top hat is unmistakably Persona 5 Royal.

Shift Up has not yet revealed the event’s full structure — event duration, banner schedule, or mission details haven’t been announced. More information is expected to roll out through the official NIKKE social channels in the lead-up to 13 August. Given the scope (three separate Persona titles in one event), this looks set to be one of the longer-running seasonal events in NIKKE’s history.

Characters Spotted in Official Collab Art

NIKKE x Persona collab character art showing Aigis, Ann Takamaki and Naoto Shirogane in NIKKE's art style
Image courtesy of Shift Up / Level Infinite

Official collab artwork shared alongside the August 13 announcement gives us our first clear look at which Persona characters are crossing over into NIKKE’s gun-girl shooter world. Three figures appear in the early character art:

  • Aigis (Persona 3 Reload) — the android SEES member, rendered in NIKKE’s signature style with her Orgia Mode arm cannon front and centre
  • Ann Takamaki / Panther (Persona 5 Royal) — sporting her iconic red Phantom Thief catsuit
  • A Persona 4 Golden character wearing the game’s signature P4 yellow colour palette — whose identity hasn’t been officially confirmed yet

Shift Up hasn’t named the P4 representative officially, though the art style and colour coding leave little room for doubt that a fan-favourite from Inaba is on the way. The Persona 30th anniversary tie-in also suggests the collab banner roster could run deeper than just three characters — full details drop closer to 13 August.

How to Join — NIKKE Is Free on PC, iOS and Android

Goddess of Victory: NIKKE is free to play and available globally on iOS, Android, and PC — Singapore players can download it directly from the App Store, Google Play, or the official NIKKE PC client right now. No region lock applies to this event, so you can start rerolling or saving your Gems ahead of August 13.

Check out more mobile game news on GameTrader.SG while you wait for the Persona Frontline to open.

Game News

Pokémon TCG Pocket Gets a 3.5 GB Overhaul Tonight — Grab Your 36 Free Pack Hourglasses

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Before Mega Rayquaza ex touches down in Pokémon TCG Pocket tomorrow, the app needs a significant tune-up — and tonight is when you should get it done. The Pokémon Company has confirmed that a 3.5 GB mandatory update drops on 29 July 2026, and failing to grab it over Wi-Fi tonight means you could be staring at a loading bar when the Ruler of the Skies packs go live at 9 AM SGT tomorrow.

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Ruler of the Skies | Official Trailer — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel

A 3.5 GB Update — But Your App Won’t Balloon in Size

The update is the largest single patch Pokémon TCG Pocket has seen since launch, but The Pokémon Company has been quick to clarify what it actually means for your device. The 3.5 GB download is an upgrade to the game’s underlying development environment (Unity) — existing data files are overwritten rather than stacked on top, so your total app footprint won’t grow by the full 3.5 GB. Think of it less as new content and more as replacing the engine block while keeping the bodywork.

That said, 3.5 GB is still a chunky download on a mobile connection. The developers explicitly recommend queuing the update over Wi-Fi tonight to avoid data charges and to make sure you’re not scrambling during tomorrow morning’s expansion launch window.

Mega Rayquaza ex card in Pokémon TCG Pocket Ruler of the Skies
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

36 Free Pack Hourglasses — Don’t Miss the Claim Window

In appreciation for the inconvenience, The Pokémon Company is handing out 36 Pack Hourglasses to all players. You’ll find them waiting in your Gifts menu once you’ve installed the update. The claim deadline is 30 August 2026, so you have a month to remember to tap the button — but you do need to update first, so don’t procrastinate.

Thirty-six hourglasses is meaningful. Each hourglass accelerates the pack-opening timer by one hour, so the bundle shaves 36 hours off your wait — essentially a free pack’s worth of hourglasses for the new expansion’s launch window.

Mega Metagross ex card in Pokémon TCG Pocket Ruler of the Skies
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

What’s Waiting on the Other Side: Ruler of the Skies

Once the update is installed and the hourglasses are in your pocket, the Ruler of the Skies expansion opens for business at 9 AM SGT on 30 July. Headlining the set is Mega Rayquaza ex — a 180 HP Basic with the Mega Burst attack (discard all Fire and Lightning Energy attached, deal 50 damage per Energy discarded). Alongside it come Mega Metagross ex, Mega Gallade ex, and limited-event-exclusive Mega Houndoom ex and Mega Lucario ex.

Ruler of the Skies Mega Evolution cards including Mega Rayquaza, Metagross and Gallade
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The expansion also ships with a revamped pull guarantee and the new deck-sharing system via 2D pattern codes — all covered in our full expansion guide. For tonight: connect to Wi-Fi, let the 3.5 GB update run, and wake up ready to open packs. Check out our other game news coverage for ongoing Pocket updates.