Tag Archives: SG Gamers

GameTrader.SG AI Access - use GameTrader with your AI assistant

Post Your Games by Chatting: GameTrader Adds AI Access

Clearing your shelf usually means the same routine: snap a photo, open the sell form, pick the platform, type the description, set the price. From today there’s a shortcut — you can just say it. GameTrader.SG now plugs into Claude and other AI assistants, so searching the marketplace, catching up on the blog and posting a game for sale can all happen in a chat window.

The feature is called AI Access, and it’s built on the Model Context Protocol (MCP) — an open standard that lets AI assistants connect to real services instead of guessing from memory. It’s free for every member, and it’s live now.

What you can actually do with the GameTrader AI assistant

Once GameTrader is connected, your assistant can reach the real marketplace and the real blog. In practice that means three things:

  • Search listings — “Find PS5 RPGs under $40” or “show me Nintendo Switch games from sellers in the East.” It filters by platform, price, genre and seller, same as the site.
  • Read the blog — “What’s the latest gaming news on GameTrader?” and you get summaries of our newest articles.
  • Post a game — “List my Elden Ring, PS5, pre-owned, $45.” The listing goes live under your account, no form involved.

It’s the same marketplace either way. A listing created through an AI assistant shows up exactly like one posted on the site, and buyers reach you through the usual chat.

Reading is open to everyone, posting needs a token

Searching listings and reading the blog need no login and no setup beyond adding the connection — anyone can do it. Posting is different, because a listing has to belong to a real account.

For that you grab a personal access token from your token page and paste it into your AI app’s settings once. That token is what tells GameTrader the listing is yours.

One deliberate design decision worth explaining: you never type your GameTrader password into a chat. AI assistants are built to refuse passwords and tokens handed to them in conversation — which is exactly the behaviour you want. So the token lives in your app’s configuration, where the assistant can use the connection without ever seeing the credential itself.

Setting it up takes about two minutes

The full walkthrough, with copy-paste config for each app, is on the AI Access setup guide. The short version is three steps: get your token, add GameTrader to your AI app, start chatting.

If you use Claude Code, it’s a single line in your terminal:

Adding GameTrader to Claude Code
Adding GameTrader to Claude Code is a single terminal command. Image: GameTrader.SG

If you use the Claude Desktop app, you paste a small block of JSON into Settings → Developer → Edit Config, then fully quit and reopen the app:

GameTrader MCP config for Claude Desktop
Claude Desktop uses a small block of JSON in its config file. Image: GameTrader.SG

Either way, your token page prints both versions with your own token already filled in, so it really is copy, paste, done.

Then just talk to it

Once connected, there’s nothing new to learn. You ask for what you want in plain English:

Example prompts for the GameTrader AI assistant
Once connected, you just ask in plain English. Image: GameTrader.SG

A quick tip: if your assistant says it can’t see the GameTrader tools, fully quit and reopen the app. AI apps read the available tool list once when they connect, so reloading the window isn’t enough.

What to know before your first listing

Three practical things, so nothing surprises you:

  • Photos still come from the site. Listings posted through an assistant start with the default image, because AI apps can’t upload files. Add your own photos afterwards on GameTrader and the listing looks completely normal.
  • Treat the token like a password. Anyone holding it can post listings as you. Keep it in your app’s settings, and never paste it into a chat message. If it ever leaks, tell us and we’ll invalidate it.
  • Support varies by app. Claude Code and Claude Desktop are tested and working. Other MCP-capable apps can read listings and the blog; whether they can post depends on whether they support custom connection headers yet.

We’ve also put the common questions in one place:

GameTrader AI Access common questions
The common questions, answered on the AI Access page. Image: GameTrader.SG

Try it on your next clear-out

If you’ve got a stack of games waiting to be listed, this is the fastest way we’ve built to get them up. Grab your token, connect your assistant, and describe the pile — the listings appear on GameTrader as you talk.

Start here: gametrader.sg/mcp. And if you’d rather keep using the sell form, nothing has changed — it works exactly as before.

One Piece x MINISO Pop-Up Sails Into Suntec City

Set a course for the Atrium — the One Piece x MINISO pop-up is sailing into Suntec City from 4 to 26 July 2026, and it’s packing Wanted-poster pillows, Den Den Mushi plushies and a whole Grand Line’s worth of Straw Hat merch. This is Singapore’s second One Piece x MINISO drop after last year’s Plaza Singapura debut, and the “2.0” tag means a fresh haul for fans who cleared out the first one.

When and where to find the One Piece MINISO pop-up

The pop-up takes over the Level 1 Atrium at Suntec City (Tower 1 & 2) for the full stretch of the July school holidays, running 4–26 July 2026. Opening day kicks off at 10am and runs till 10pm, so early birds and after-work shoppers both get a shot at the shelves. Entry is free — you only pay for what you carry out.

The booth itself is a pirate-ship build, complete with a billowing sail flying the One Piece Jolly Roger and life-size standees of the crew flanking the entrance. It’s easily one of the more photogenic anime setups to land in a Singapore mall this year, so bring your phone charged.

Crowds shopping the One Piece x MINISO pop-up store under the giant sail installation
Image courtesy of MINISO

What’s on the shelves

MINISO’s One Piece line draws from the anime’s latest Egghead arc, and the global collection runs to more than 300 officially licensed items covering all ten members of the Straw Hat Crew. The Suntec pop-up carries a big slice of it, so expect everything from grab-and-go keychains to centrepiece plushies.

The headliners are the Wanted-poster cushions — Monkey D. Luffy and Trafalgar Law get their own bounty posters stitched into pillow form — alongside squishy Den Den Mushi (transponder snail) plushies, character tote bags, stainless tumblers and water bottles, printed backpacks, travel neck pillows and mouse pads. Luffy fans should hunt down the signature straw-hat bucket hat.

MINISO One Piece collection flatlay with Wanted-poster pillows, Den Den Mushi plushies, tote bags and backpacks
Image courtesy of MINISO

Collectors get their fix too: stylised chibi figurines, acrylic stands, character badges, holographic trading cards and blind boxes round out the display, plus themed stationery, socks and dining bits like chopstick sets. Chopper, Zoro and Nami all get plenty of love beyond the usual Luffy spotlight — a nice touch for fans whose favourite isn’t the captain.

MINISO One Piece figurines, Devil Fruit plush, acrylic stands, badges and holographic cards
Image courtesy of MINISO

Opening-day deals worth queuing for

MINISO is loading up day one with reasons to show up early. The first 40 shoppers who spend at least $100 on 4 July walk away with a $50-off coupon and an exclusive postcard — a strong nudge if you were already planning a big haul. Throughout the run, paying with ShopBack Pay nets you up to $8 off.

Since you’re already at Suntec, the mall’s own perks stack on top: hit the minimum spend for free or discounted parking, redeem a $5 Suntec+ e-Voucher with $150 spent, and grab mystery dining e-Vouchers with just $20 in a single transaction. It’s a genuinely easy day out to build around — browse the pop-up, then refuel nearby. Keep an eye on Suntec City’s socials for sneak peeks and any gift-with-purchase reveals as the dates get closer.

Part of a global Grand Line tour

Singapore’s stop is one leg of MINISO’s One Piece Global Pop-Up Tour, which has already docked in Hong Kong and is heading on to Thailand, Canada and the United States (New York’s first-ever One Piece pop-up opens at Tangram in Flushing on 26 July), with themed zones also rolling out across Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. For Southeast Asian fans, the Suntec run is one of the earlier and more complete stops in the region — worth catching before the popular pieces sell through.

MINISO One Piece accessories including Luffy straw hat, character socks, keychains and stickers
Image courtesy of MINISO

If your calendar’s already anime-heavy this month, the timing lines up nicely with AFA’s Creators Super Fest at Suntec Singapore (11–12 July) — an easy double-header for a single trip into town. Hunting for your next fix? Browse our other events and manga & anime coverage.

The One Piece x MINISO 2.0 pop-up runs 4–26 July 2026 at the Suntec City Level 1 Atrium. Set sail before the Wanted pillows hit “sold out.” One Piece ©Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation.

Pokémon Center Singapore Reopens at Jewel on 1 July 2026

Mark your calendars, Trainers — the Pokémon Center Singapore reopening lands on 1 July 2026, and the revamped store at Jewel Changi Airport is unlike anything the franchise has done outside Japan. After closing in April for its biggest makeover since 2019, the world’s first permanent Pokémon Center outside Japan returns with a new Legendary mascot, a fully Singapore-inspired interior, and 20 exclusive items you won’t find anywhere else.

The Pokémon Center Singapore reopening: what’s new

This isn’t a quick touch-up. Pokémon Center SINGAPORE is the first Pokémon Center store outside Japan to receive a full-scale redesign, and the team has leaned hard into local identity. The shopfront has been reimagined to evoke the Singapore skyline, with shelving and display nooks modelled on the city’s beloved shophouses, complete with Peranakan tile-inspired backdrops and arches.

The store keeps its prime spot on level four of Jewel Changi Airport — address 78 Airport Boulevard, #04-201/202/203, Singapore 819666 — and trades daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm. If you’ve shopped here before, expect the same airport-connected convenience, just with a glow-up that finally makes the place feel unmistakably local.

Pokémon Center Singapore reopening interior with shophouse-inspired shelving and food-court-themed plush displays

Image courtesy of Pokémon Center SINGAPORE

Solgaleo becomes the new face of the store

The headline change: Solgaleo, the lion-like Legendary Pokémon with a blazing sun-shaped mane, is now the official symbol of Pokémon Center SINGAPORE. It replaces the previous trio of Lapras, Celebi and Pikachu, and you’ll spot it splashed across the refreshed logo and standing tall as a statue at the entrance — flanked, of course, by Pikachu. The choice is a neat fit: a sun-maned lion for the Lion City.

Look closer and you’ll find playful local touches threaded through the displays, from a hawker-style food zone featuring ice kacang and noodle motifs to oversized figures perched against Poké Ball-patterned tilework.

Pokémon figures displayed against Peranakan-tile-inspired shelving at the reopened Pokémon Center Singapore

Image courtesy of Pokémon Center SINGAPORE

A store that actually feels like Singapore

Beyond the merch walls, the revamp adds genuine reasons to linger. An interactive Pokédex screen lets visitors browse and filter Pokémon by type, and the towering plush walls return bigger than ever — rows of Charizard, Eevee evolutions, starters and more stacked floor to ceiling. It’s the kind of fan-service detail that makes the trip out to Changi worth it, even if you’re just window shopping.

Interactive Pokédex screen and floor-to-ceiling plush walls inside Pokémon Center Singapore

Image courtesy of Pokémon Center SINGAPORE

New event zone for TCG and gaming

One of the most exciting additions is a dedicated event zone at the back of the store, kitted out with a large-format screen. The space is built to host everything from Pokémon Trading Card Game sessions and video game gatherings to mobile gaming meet-ups. For Singapore’s TCG community — which has been crying out for more official play spaces — this is a real win, and a sign the store wants to be a hangout, not just a checkout.

Plush display shelving inside the newly renovated Pokémon Center Singapore at Jewel Changi Airport

Image courtesy of Pokémon Center SINGAPORE

Exclusive reopening merchandise and prices

A total of 20 exclusive Singapore-inspired products have been created for the grand reopening, dropping in two waves. The first wave of 12 items arrives on 1 July, headlined by an adorable Pikachu clutching a durian and a regal Solgaleo-and-Pikachu duo plush. Here’s the launch-day line-up in SGD:

  • Pikachu with Durian plush — S$34
  • Solgaleo & Pikachu plush — S$70
  • Metal Plate (Pokémon Center SINGAPORE) — S$198
  • Kopi Cup & Saucer Set — S$35
  • Strap Keychains (Pink / Blue / Green) — S$20 each
  • Magnet — S$14
  • Logo Pin — S$10
  • Sticker Set — S$8
  • Postcard Set — S$8
  • A4 Clear Folder — S$4

Many feature original artwork imagining Pokémon living among Singapore’s landscape — think Pikachu wandering past shophouses and HDB blocks. A second wave lands on 7 August 2026, leaning into local everyday culture with bag charms of Pikachu paired with a durian, a cup of kopi, and a slice of pandan cake. Note that purchase limits may apply during the opening period.

Pokémon Center Singapore exclusive reopening merchandise including Pikachu durian plush, Solgaleo plush, kopi cup and saucer set and Singapore cityscape art print

Image courtesy of Pokémon Center SINGAPORE

How to visit during the first five days

Expect crowds. To manage the rush, entry will be restricted from 1 to 5 July 2026, split into two methods:

  • Store Visit Application — advance reservations for the earlier sessions (apply via the official Instagram, @pokemonofficial.sg).
  • Same-day Queue Entry Tickets — for entry from 1:00pm onwards, distributed on-site from 8:30am daily on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can’t make it to Changi for opening week? The store also runs an official online shop via Lazada, and you can keep up with restocks and event news through its official Pokémon Center SINGAPORE page. For more launches and openings around the island, check out our other events coverage.

Whether you’re chasing that durian Pikachu, hunting a rare plush, or just want to see Solgaleo in the flesh, the reopened Pokémon Center Singapore is shaping up to be one of the year’s must-visit spots for SG Trainers.

Creators Super Fest Singapore 2026 official key visual

Creators Super Fest Singapore 2026 Returns to Suntec

Mark your calendars, Singapore: Creators Super Fest Singapore 2026 (#CSF26) is back, and organiser SOZO is promising a bigger, bolder celebration of art, cosplay, music and creativity. The festival lands at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre on 11 and 12 July 2026, taking over three halls for a weekend built entirely around creators and the communities that love them.

Here’s a taste of the energy from last year’s edition, straight from the official AFA channel:

AFA Creators Super Fest Singapore 2025 Day 2 Highlights — via AFA – Anime Festival Asia on YouTube

What is Creators Super Fest Singapore 2026?

Born out of Anime Festival Asia’s Creators Hub, Creators Super Fest has grown into Southeast Asia’s own creative playground — a place where independent artists, cosplayers, musicians and crafters get a real stage. This year’s layout has been refreshed across three halls, with the main stage and key zones repositioned to make the experience smoother for everyone (full floor plan to come closer to the date).

SOZO founder and festival director Shawn Chin frames the mission simply, calling creators “the lifeblood of every creative ecosystem” in the festival’s media release. The Singapore Tourism Board is on board too: Guo Teyi, Director of Leisure Events, pointed to “Singapore’s growing role as a regional hub for creative communities” as exactly why events like this matter on the local calendar.

Four creative zones to explore

CSF26 is organised around four key zones, each with its own flavour:

Fans browsing artist and indie merchandise booths at the Creators Hub marketplace at AFA Creators Super Fest

Image courtesy of SOZO

  • Creators Hub — the beating heart of the festival, where illustrators, designers and indie brands sell exclusive art and one-of-a-kind merch, and fans get to meet the makers face to face.
  • Cosplay Hub — a dedicated showcase where star cosplayers take the spotlight. Meet your favourite talents up close, grab their merch, and soak up the community vibe.
  • Creators Lab — an expanded line-up of workshops, panels and interactive sessions aimed at aspiring artists and creative entrepreneurs. SOZO is still accepting speakers, so this is your shot if you’ve got skills to share.
  • Super Akiba Stage — live music, talk shows and live-drawing sessions running throughout the weekend.

A cosplayer posing with fans at the Cosplay Hub during AFA Creators Super Fest Singapore

Image courtesy of SOZO

Audience watching a panel session at the Creators Lab at AFA Creators Super Fest Singapore

Image courtesy of SOZO

First wave of special guest creators

The opening line-up brings four guests from Japan — three musicians for the Super Akiba Stage and one of the festival’s most-loved illustrators.

Creators Super Fest Singapore 2026 guest singer Kohana Lam key visual

Image courtesy of SOZO

Kohana Lam made her name on YouTube with cover videos sung “while crying” and with a lot of emotion — a channel that has now passed 680,000 subscribers. Her cover of “Kokoronashi” alone has racked up more than 15 million views, and she’s since lent her vocals to anime ending themes for The Dangers in My Heart and My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In for Me!

Creators Super Fest Singapore 2026 guest singer-songwriter Rie fu key visual

Image courtesy of SOZO

Rie fu is a singer-songwriter, painter and translator whose music reached fans across Asia through anime — she performed “Life is Like a Boat” from Bleach and “Tsukiakari” from Darker than Black. A Central Saint Martins fine-art graduate, she paints much of her own release artwork, and after relocating to Singapore in 2025 she’s a genuine local-and-international crossover act.

Creators Super Fest Singapore 2026 guest pianist Yomii key visual

Image courtesy of SOZO

Yomii is a pianist and composer with a rhythm-gaming background, which shows in his razor-sharp timing. His performances and arrangements — turning familiar game and anime themes into emotional piano pieces — have pulled in over 700 million views on YouTube.

Creators Super Fest Singapore 2026 guest illustrator lack key visual

Image courtesy of SOZO

lack is the freelance illustrator behind TCG art and character designs for the likes of Fate/Grand Order and Touken Ranbu ONLINE, plus VTuber designs including Shiranui Flare, Makaino Ririmu, Lain Paterson and Aruran. For #CSF26, lack has drawn a brand-new version of the festival’s official mascot, Seika — the same artist behind this year’s striking key visual.

A pathway to Japan: Asia Creators Cross

Cosplayer and fans at an artist booth during AFA Creators Super Fest Singapore

Image courtesy of SOZO

Here’s the part local creators will want to read twice. Through Asia Creators Cross — a partnership between Japan’s Dwango and SOZO — selected Creators Hub and Cosplay Hub participants stand a chance to be picked for Nico Nico Chokaigi 2027 in Japan, one of the biggest creator festivals in the world. Selection is subject to eligibility, application procedures and booth guidelines (other T&Cs apply), but it’s a rare, concrete route from a Suntec booth to a stage in Japan.

Tickets and how to go

Creators Super Fest Singapore 2026 ticketing information: S$15 one-day pass and S$27 two-day package

Image courtesy of SOZO

Pricing is wallet-friendly this year. A 1-Day Pass is S$15 (valid for either Saturday or Sunday), while the 2-Day package is S$27 — saving you S$3, with a single wristband covering both days (don’t remove or damage it). Note that prices exclude a ticketing and administration fee of S$1.80 per ticket.

Tickets go on sale 18 June from 11am SGT via ticketing.sozolive.asia/csf26. Full event details are on the official Creators Super Fest website.

Creators Super Fest Singapore 2026
📅 11–12 July 2026
📍 Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hall 403–405

If you’re into anime, cosplay and the SG creator scene, this one belongs on your July shortlist. For more local happenings, check out our other events coverage and the latest in manga and anime.

Tifa Joins Street Fighter 6: How the FF7 Crossover Happened

It is the crossover the fighting-game community has joked about for years — and now it is real. At Summer Game Fest 2026, Capcom confirmed that Tifa Lockhart from the Final Fantasy VII Remake series is joining Street Fighter 6 as a guest fighter, headlining the game’s Year 4 DLC roster. She arrives in early 2027, and the developers behind both franchises say the deal was years in the making.

Street Fighter 6 — Year 4 Character Reveal Trailer feat. Tifa — via Street Fighter on YouTube

Tifa headlines the Street Fighter 6 Year 4 roster

Capcom announced the Year 4 line-up on 6 June 2026, alongside the launch of the new Character Pass. Four fighters are coming, and Tifa is the marquee name:

  • Yasmin — a brand-new fighter, releasing 3 August 2026
  • Arjun — a new challenger, arriving Autumn 2026
  • Tifa — the Final Fantasy VII Remake guest, landing early 2027
  • Bosch — the World Tour antagonist, closing the season in Spring 2027

In Street Fighter 6, Tifa is written as a member of the resistance group Avalanche and a master of Zangan-style martial arts who finds herself pulled into a new world. Her kit leans into the close-range striking she is famous for, blended with the unique special powers she carries over from her home game.

Street Fighter 6 Year 4 key visual featuring Tifa, Yasmin, Arjun and Bosch

Image courtesy of Capcom

“If it were to happen, it would be Tifa”

The most interesting part of the reveal is how long it was in the works. Speaking to Japanese outlet Denfaminicogamer (Japanese), Street Fighter 6 director Takayuki Nakayama said discussions with Square Enix began roughly two and a half to three years ago — long before the public-facing stage moments fans saw at recent showcases.

According to Nakayama, when the idea of a Final Fantasy collaboration first came up, the choice of character was never really in doubt: “もし実現するなら、やはり『ティファ』でしょう” — “If it were to happen, it would certainly be Tifa.” Her hand-to-hand fighting style made her the obvious fit for a game built entirely around martial combat.

Nakayama added that the Street Fighter team worked closely with the Final Fantasy VII Remake creative side — including series figurehead Tetsuya Nomura — to keep Tifa authentic, saying they wanted to carry over the original’s most appealing and memorable elements “as much as possible” while rebuilding her as a genuine Street Fighter character.

Final Fantasy VII Remake series and Street Fighter 6 collaboration artwork

Image courtesy of Capcom / Square Enix

Materia, rebuilt as a Street Fighter system

This is not a straight cosmetic port. Japanese coverage from Famitsu (Japanese) confirms that Materia from Final Fantasy VII has been worked into a new battle system for Tifa. The developers also teased that a further mechanic “symbolic of Final Fantasy” will be implemented, though they declined to detail it at the reveal — a tantalising hint that her kit will feel distinct from anything currently on the Street Fighter 6 roster.

It is a notably ambitious approach for a guest fighter. Rather than dropping a Final Fantasy skin onto an existing moveset, Capcom is folding FF7’s signature progression idea into fighting-game mechanics — the kind of design swing that tends to define whether a crossover character is remembered fondly or quietly forgotten.

Why Square Enix finally said yes

Tifa has long been one of gaming’s most requested crossover guests, and Square Enix has historically been protective of her. At the reveal, Final Fantasy VII Remake series director Naoki Hamaguchi acknowledged that many other game IPs had asked for Tifa over the years, but that the studio had been reluctant to “give her away” because she is so beloved worldwide, as relayed in Square Enix’s explanation of Tifa’s inclusion.

What changed was timing and fit: with the Final Fantasy VII Remake series highly active and a new entry on the horizon, and with Tifa’s martial-arts identity matching Street Fighter 6 so neatly, both sides felt the moment was finally right. For Tekken fans who had spent years imagining Tifa in Bandai Namco’s fighter, it is Capcom that ultimately landed the deal.

Street Fighter 6 Year 4 Character Pass details

Image courtesy of Capcom

What this means for Singapore gamers

Street Fighter 6 remains one of the most-played fighters in Singapore’s local FGC scene, with a steady stream of community tournaments and ranked grinders across PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. A guest as recognisable as Tifa is the kind of mainstream draw that pulls lapsed players and Final Fantasy fans back to the lobbies — and gives the local competitive community a fresh character to theorycraft well into 2027.

The Year 4 Character Pass and Ultimate Pass are on sale now, automatically unlocking each fighter as they release, starting with Yasmin on 3 August 2026. If you have been holding off on jumping back in, the run-up to Tifa’s early-2027 launch — likely timed near the next chapter of the Final Fantasy VII Remake saga — is as good a reason as any to dust off your stick. We will update this post as Capcom reveals more of Tifa’s “symbolic” Final Fantasy mechanic.

For more, check out our latest gaming news and upcoming events.

METAL BUILD EXPO: Inside Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo

If you grew up wanting your Gundam to be made of actual metal, Bandai Spirits just built a whole event around that itch. The METAL BUILD EXPO is a single-brand showcase running at the Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo in Akihabara, and we dropped by to see every die-cast hero the line has to offer under one roof. Here’s our walkthrough — plus what it means for collectors back home in Singapore.

METAL BUILD EXPO event poster showing dates 27 March to 6 July 2026
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo

What is the METAL BUILD EXPO?

METAL BUILD is Bandai Spirits’ premium line of pre-painted, fully-articulated figures that mix die-cast metal with plastic for real heft and a satisfying clink. This is the first time the brand has been given its own dedicated event, and it pulls together the latest releases across Mobile Suit Gundam, Neon Genesis Evangelion, the EX PROJECT line and more.

The essentials:

  • Where: Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo, 1-1 Kandahanaokacho, Chiyoda-ku — a one-minute walk from JR Akihabara Station (Electric Town Exit).
  • When: 27 March – 6 July 2026, daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
  • Admission: free — the storefront sign literally reads nyujo muryo (free entry).

Gundam SEED takes centre stage

The headline wall belongs to Gundam SEED. The Strike Freedom Gundam anchors the display in full die-cast glory, wings of light fanned out the way every SEED fan remembers it.

METAL BUILD Strike Freedom Gundam with wings of light spread
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo

Bandai is using the expo to relaunch the figure: the METAL BUILD Strike Freedom Gundam <Revival Ver.> hits general retail in June 2026 with a refreshed package and an added support stand. Alongside it, the store is selling new store-limited Sword Striker and Launcher Striker packs that clip onto the Strike Gundam (Heliopolis Roll Out Ver.) to rebuild the Sword and Launcher loadouts.

METAL BUILD Strike Gundam striker pack displays with price tags
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo
METAL BUILD Force Impulse Gundam on display
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo

A glass cabinet near the back lines up the SEED roster side by side — Strike, Strike Freedom, Destiny and friends — so you can see how the sculpts have evolved over the line’s run. If you want a sense of scale and finish, this shelf is the one to study.

Shelf comparing multiple METAL BUILD Gundam SEED figures
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo

Tucked into the exclusives corner are the Astray frames — the Gold Frame and Red Frame — wearing “ON SALE HERE NOW!” tags, the kind of store-only stock that makes the trip worth it for serious collectors.

METAL BUILD Gundam Astray Gold Frame and Red Frame exclusives in a display case
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo

The commemorative Hi-ν Gundam

Every Tamashii store event gets a commemorative piece, and this one is the METAL BUILD Hi-ν Gundam [METAL BUILD EXPO]. It’s based on the 2022 Hi-ν, but repainted from the novel’s purple-and-white into the official blue-and-white scheme, with a new fin funnel hanger so you can display the funnels stowed or deployed. It’s a Premium Bandai item that needs a CLUB TAMASHII MEMBERS registration to order.

METAL BUILD Hi-Nu Gundam in blue and white on display
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo

00, Evangelion and a Toho surprise

The Gundam 00 corner shows off GN-001 Gundam Exia and the 00 Gundam, GN blades catching the spotlights. Staff had an Exia out of the case for a closer look — the inner-frame detail on these is genuinely absurd.

METAL BUILD Gundam 00 figure on display
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo
METAL BUILD GN-001 Gundam Exia held up close
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo

Beyond Gundam, EVANGELION Unit-01 represents the line’s wider reach, posed mid-lunge off its launch rail.

METAL BUILD Evangelion Unit-01 figure
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo

And the one that stopped us in our tracks — a fully die-cast Toho mecha from the Godzilla universe, all spines and silver plating, licensed TM & © Toho Co., Ltd. Not what you expect at a Gundam-heavy show, and all the better for it.

METAL BUILD Toho Godzilla-series mecha figure
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo

Hatsune Miku gets the METAL BUILD treatment

The most unexpected booth is a snow-globe diorama built for METAL BUILD Hatsune Miku — yes, the Vocaloid icon reimagined as a mecha-suited figure, posed across a starry, checkerboard stage. It’s a reminder that METAL BUILD isn’t only about war machines.

METAL BUILD Hatsune Miku banner at the expo
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo
METAL BUILD 初音ミク SPECIAL PV — via BANDAI SPIRITS on YouTube
METAL BUILD Hatsune Miku figure posed in a starry diorama
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo
METAL BUILD Hatsune Miku figure detail
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo
METAL BUILD Hatsune Miku figure with weapon
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo
METAL BUILD Hatsune Miku figure close up
Photo: GameTrader.SG at METAL BUILD EXPO, Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo

What this means for Singapore collectors

METAL BUILD figures don’t get a regular shelf presence in Singapore — they’re a Premium Bandai and Tamashii web-store world, so most SG collectors import via Bandai’s online stores or specialist hobby shops. The catch with an event like this: the store-limited Striker packs and the commemorative Hi-ν are tied to the Tokyo store and the Tamashii web store, so they’re not something you’ll casually find at a local mall.

If you’re heading to Tokyo before the expo wraps on 6 July 2026, the Akihabara store is a one-minute walk from the station and free to enter — easily worth an hour even if you’re only browsing. On the tags we spotted, figures ranged from the low ¥10,000s up past ¥40,000 (the Force Impulse Gundam was tagged ¥41,800), so factor that in if you plan to buy rather than just gawk. For more on-the-ground coverage, check our other events reports.

Full event details are on the official Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo page.

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.