Hulu will be streaming the anime adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi’s MAO manga, according to the anime’s new official listing. The MAO anime will premiere on April 4 on the NHK-General channel at 11:45 p.m. JST / 10:45 a.m. EST, and an exact time for the Hulu premiere was not confirmed. The anime will run for two continuous cours without breaks.
Kis-My-Ft2 will perform the opening theme song “HEARTLOUD,” while TRUE performs the ending theme song “Juai” (Cursed Love).
Character Designer, Chief Animation Director: Yoshihito Hishinuma
Art Director: Hiroshi Katō, Izumi Hoki
Color Key Artist: Masumi Ōtsuka
CG Director: Tomohiro Fujie
Compositing Director of Photography: Akane Fushihara
Editing: Kazuhiro Nii
Sound Director: Hiromi Kikuta
Music: Shū Kanematsu
Takahashi launched the MAO manga in Shogakukan’s Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine on May 8, 2019, and VIZ Media publishes the manga in English. Here’s an overview of the manga’s first volume, via VIZ Media:
Nanoka passes through a portal into the Taisho era, where exorcist Mao reluctantly rescues her from the jaws of a grotesque yokai. When Nanoka gets back to the present, she discovers she has some new, incredible abilities. She returns to the past looking for answers, only to get caught up in Mao’s investigation of a series of gruesome murders. As her questions about herself multiply, Nanoka learns that Mao is cursed by a cat demon named Byoki—and so is his sword. If anyone but Mao attempts to wield it, they are doomed. But when Mao’s life is in jeopardy, Nanoka picks up his blade and swings!
Natsume has announce that Harvest Moon: The Winds of AnthosComplete Edition will release on May 8 for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. Pre-orders for Harvest Moon: The Winds of AnthosComplete Edition are available now at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and the Natsume Online Store.
Lastly, Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos is available now on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.
Here’s an overview of the Complete Edition, via Natsume:
Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos Complete Edition features the base game that was released in 2023 and all DLC, including:
The Great Outdoors Pack – Have your animals tag along with you as you explore Anthos! Your animals can even help you with their special skills while exploring! Enjoy camping under the stars by the campfire! Make yummy s’mores and other camping-themed dishes to give you a boost! Go treasure hunting to discover the hidden mysteries of Anthos! What secrets will you uncover with the new Treasure Hunting Mode on your DocPad?
Visitors From AfarPack – A new chapter, new characters, and even a new bachelor and bachelorette await you in the Visitors From Afar Pack! The Verne Trading Company has arrived and is eager to set up business! But starting any new business can be challenging! What kind of unforeseen bottlenecks await your new guests? Will they see a return on investment, or are they destined to stay in the red? Help them launch their new brand all across Anthos!
Tool Upgrade & New Interior Designs Pack – Customize the interior of your house with 3 new fabulous design themes! Mix and match them up to your heart’s content! You’ll also be able to upgrade your hoe, watering can, hammer, axe, sickle, fishing rod, and pick-axe an additional level, making growing crops, fishing, and mining a breeze!
Animal Avalanche Pack – Unlock 10 new wild animals in the Animal Avalanche Pack! You’ll find everything from adorable Akitas and pandas to exotic unicorns and sasquatches!
New Crops, Fish, and Recipes Pack – Become a master farmer, chef, and angler with the New Crops, Fish, and Recipes Pack! Unlock 12 new seed types (4 crops and 8 flowers), 6 new fish, and 15 new recipes!
The land of Anthos was a peaceful and harmonious land watched over by the Harvest Goddess and the Harvest Sprites, who protected the inhabitants of Anthos from natural disasters such as storms, earthquakes, and the like.
However, one day many years ago, Anthos experienced a severe volcanic eruption that threatened life on Anthos itself, and the Harvest Goddess and Harvest Sprites had to use all of their remaining power to keep the people and animals of Anthos safe. This left the different villages across the land blocked off from each other. Some unfortunate souls even got trapped outside their villages, and were unable to return…
Believing that the separated villages and people would one day be reconnected, the Harvest Goddess sent out a bottle with a letter and a magic key, then fell into a deep sleep…
Now, 10 years later, you have found the SOS the Harvest Goddess sent to the world in the form of a message in a bottle! With the help of your wacky inventor friend Doc Jr. and many others, it’ll be up to you to revive the Harvest Goddess and the Harvest Sprites, as well as reconnect all of the villages of Anthos with each other!
Key Features:
Farm all around Anthos using Doc’s new and improved Expando-Farm! Easily move from place to place and farm everywhere from snowy mountains to beautiful beaches!
Keep and raise different kinds of cows, chickens, and sheep in your barn! Find even more exotic animals to keep out in the wild of Anthos!
Participate in a variety of contests and festivals!
Woo 5 different bachelors and 5 different bachelorettes! Marry whoever your heart desires!
Keep unique pets like wolves and exotic animals such as Bengal tigers!
Explore the wide world of Anthos on foot or on mount! Unique and unusual mounts are available as well!
The Needy Streamer Overload anime, which retains the game’s original Needy Girl Overdose title, will premiere on April 5 at 12:30 JST on Tokyo MX, BS11, Gunma TV, and Tochigi TV. A new four-panel manga titled Needyga Plus (Needy Girl Plus) will also release that same day.
Aiobahn +81 and “KAngel” (“Chōten-chan”) perform the opening theme song “Internet Angel,” with lyrics written by nyalra. Tatsuya Kitani performs the ending theme song “Levitation.”
Masaoki Nakajima directs the anime at Yostar Pictures. Needy Streamer Overload scenario writer nyalra is credited for the original idea, scenario, and supervision. Ohisashiburi is credited for the original character design, and Kenji Saikai, Akari Takei, and Umito Shimizu are the main character designers.
Previously, WSS Playground released spinoff typing game Needy Streamer Overload: Typing of The Net for PC via Steam. Additionally, a Digital Deluxe Edition “Internet Angel Pack” is available with both games, a digital artbook, two soundtracks, and access to the spinoff Petit Game Collection Vol. 1.
Lastly, Needy Streamer Overload is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam worldwide.
Crunchyroll has revealed the nominees and presenters for the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, the tenth iteration of the annual anime celebration and awards show. Fans can vote every day through April 15 on the Anime Awards Official Website, Crunchyroll, and MyAnimeList.
The 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards will be held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on Saturday, May 23, with Sony Music Solutions Inc. and Dempsey Productions supporting Crunchyroll in the execution of the event. A pre-show will be held on May 23 at 5:00 p.m. JST, followed by the live ceremony at 6:00 p.m. JST.
Sony Group Corporation president and CEO Hiroki Totoki will deliver opening remarks at the live ceremony, which is hosted by voice actress Sally Amaki and entertainer Jon Kabira.
Presenters for the event include:
Asuka Saito
DANNA
Enako
hannah bahng
Kasumi Arimura
Mitorizu
Nanase Nishino
Nyvi Estephan
RZA
Rashmika Mandanna
Snitchery
Winston Duke
What’s more, there will be a suite of musical tributes to anime. Japanese singer DEAN FUJIOKA will open the ceremony with “History Maker” from Yuri!!! on ICE. Iconic rock band PORNOGRAFFITTI will perform a tribute celebrating the 10th anniversary of the My Hero Academia anime. Legendary rock band ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION will perform their beloved hit “Haruka Kanata” for Naruto. Further, Yoko Takahashi and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a Neon Genesis Evangelion 30th anniversary tribute.
2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Nominees
Anime of the Year
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Gachiakuta
My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Takopi’s Original Sin
The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
The Summer Hikaru Died
Film of the Year
100 Meters
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II — The Ashes of Rage
Scarlet
The Rose of Versailles
Best Original Anime
Apocalypse Hotel
DIGIMON BEATBREAK
Lazarus
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Moonrise
ZENSHU
Best Continuing Series
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Kaiju No. 8
My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
ONE PIECE
Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
SPY x FAMILY Season 3
Best New Series
Clevatess
Gachiakuta
SAKAMOTO DAYS
Takopi’s Original Sin
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
The Summer Hikaru Died
Best Opening Sequence
HUGs – Paledusk – Gachiakuta
Mirage – Creepy Nuts – Call of the Night Season 2
On The Way – AiNA THE END – DAN DA DAN Season 2
ReawakeR (feat. Felix of Stray Kids) — LiSA — Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
THE REVO — PORNOGRAFFITTI — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Watch Me! — YOASOBI — WITCH WATCH
Best Ending Sequence
Actor — Lilas Ikuta — SPY x FAMILY Season 3
Beautiful Colors — OneRepublic — Kaiju No. 8
Doukashiteru — WurtS — DAN DA DAN Season 2
I — BUMP OF CHICKEN — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Kawaii Kaiwai — PiKi — My Dress—Up Darling Season 2
UN-APEX — TK from Ling Tosite Sigure — Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Best Action
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Gachiakuta
Kaiju No. 8
My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
ONE PIECE
Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Best Comedy
CITY THE ANIMATION
DAN DA DAN Season 2
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
Ranma1/2 Season 2
SPY x FAMILY Season 3
WITCH WATCH
Best Drama
Anne Shirley
Blue Box
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
Takopi’s Original Sin
The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
The Summer Hikaru Died
Best Isekai Anime
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill Season 2
Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation — Season 1 “Episode of Heartslabyul”
From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!
KONOSUBA -God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3 -BONUS STAGE-
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
ZENSHU
Best Romance
Blue Box
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Honey Lemon Soda
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
Ranma1/2 Season 2
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
Best Slice of Life
Anne Shirley
Blue Box
CITY THE ANIMATION
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
SPY x FAMILY Season 3
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
Best Animation
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Gachiakuta
My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
ONE PIECE
Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Takopi’s Original Sin
Best Background Art
CITY THE ANIMATION
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Gachiakuta
Kowloon Generic Romance
The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
The Summer Hikaru Died
Best Character Design
DAN DA DAN Season 2
Gachiakuta
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2
ONE PIECE
Takopi’s Original Sin
The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Best Director
Akinori Fudesaka, Norihiro Naganuma — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Fuga Yamashiro and Abel Góngora — DAN DA DAN Season 2
Fumihiko Suganuma — Gachiakuta
Kenji Nagasaki, Naomi Nakayama — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Ryohei Takeshita — The Summer Hikaru Died
Shinya Iino — Takopi’s Original Sin
Best Main Character
Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Momo — DAN DA DAN Season 2
Okarun — DAN DA DAN Season 2
Rudo — Gachiakuta
Sung Jinwoo — Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Best Supporting Character
Enjin — Gachiakuta
Jin Enjoji (Jiji) — DAN DA DAN Season 2
Jinshi — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Katsuki Bakugo — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Loulan/Shisui — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Turbo Granny — DAN DA DAN Season 2
“Must Protect At All Cost” Character
Anya Forger — SPY x FAMILY Season 3
Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Kaoruko Waguri — The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Suika — Dr. STONE SCIENCE FUTURE
Takopi — Takopi’s Original Sin
Best Anime Song
In Bloom — Lilas Ikuta — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
IRIS OUT — Kenshi Yonezu — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
JANE DOE — Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
On The Way — AiNA THE END — DAN DA DAN Season 2
ReawakeR (feat. Felix of Stray Kids) — LiSA — Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
Watch Me! — YOASOBI — WITCH WATCH
Best Score
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc — kensuke ushio
DAN DA DAN Season 2 — kensuke ushio
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle — Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina
Gachiakuta — Taku Iwasaki
Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- — Hiroyuki Sawano
The Apothecary Diaries (season 2) — Satoru Kosaki, Kevin Penkin, Alisa Okehazama
Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese)
Aoi Yuki — Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Chiaki Kobayashi — Yoshiki Tsujinaka — The Summer Hikaru Died
Daiki Yamashita — Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
Kikunosuke Toya — Denji — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Mayumi Tanaka — Monkey D. Luffy — ONE PIECE
Reina Ueda — Reze — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Best Voice Artist Performance (English)
Alexis Tipton — Reze — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Emi Lo — Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
Justin Briner — Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
BeXide has announced that multiplayer fruit-stacking physics game Fruit Mountain Party is leaving Steam Early Access and launching on April 23 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam. Players who purchase the Nintendo Switch version of Fruit Mountain Party can upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition with a paid Upgrade Pack.
A brand new party battle game, based on the popular 3D puzzle game Fruit Mountain where you combine fruits to make them bigger, is now here for everyone to enjoy!
This time, it’s fruit battles?! Get together and have a blast in battle modes for up to 4 players!
Gather your friends for chaotic battles full of items and unexpected accidents!
Keep stacking those fruits!
Easy to Play!
Simply throw fruits and stack them on the plate.
Combine fruits of the same kind to make them bigger!
Make bigger and bigger fruits to boost your score!
Skillfully combine fruits to keep them from falling off the plate!
Hone your stacking skills and compete with your rivals!
What You Can Experience in Early Access
Compete with rivals worldwide online!
Battle anytime, anywhere with friends or strangers in random matches or room matches!
Local offline multiplayer also available!
Up to 4 players can enjoy local matches on a single PC! Get together and have a blast!
Supports Steam Remote Play Together!
Enjoy multiplayer gaming via online sharing!
Invite your close friends and challenge them in competitive matches!
Various Game Modes!
Multiple battle modes are available! Get ready for excitement with different styles!
Standard Race
Thief Frenzy
Fruit of the Sun
Single-Player Mode Also Supported!
Hone your skills against NPCs and prepare for online battles!
In “Watermelon Attack” mode, challenge yourself to a speed competition, racing against the clock to complete a watermelon!
What to Expect in the Full Version (Under development; content is subject to change.)
Arc System Works, Bushiroad and Eighting have announced that Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact DLC character Shizuka Murasaki will release on April 16. Ahead of her launch, a new trailer for Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact offers a preview of Shizuka and her in-game move set.
Shizuka is the third DLC character for the Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact Season Pass, following Phinks Magcub and Neferpitou. Zeno Zoldyck is expected to release sometime in summer 2026.
Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact is available now for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Players can choose from Standard, Deluxe, and Limited Editions of the game. The Standard Edition will have a digital and physical version. However, the Deluxe Edition will only have a digital version, and the Limited Edition will only have a physical version.
What’s more, a free Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact demo is now also available now for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. The Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact demo features playable characters Gon, Killua, Leorio, Kurapika, Hisoka, and Netero, and Battle and Training modes are accessible.
Previously, Bushiroad and WonderPlanet released Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Survivor, a new roguelite action game for Android and iOS, on February 18 in Japan and March 16 in North America. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Survivor is available as a free-to-play title with in-app purchases.
Recently, we had the chance to speak with Alyson Court at the Atlantic Entertainment Expo in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Court is a Canadian voice actress who has played the role of several beloved characters, such as Jubilee in the original X-Men animated series. Additionally, she also voiced Claire Redfield in the original Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil: Code Veronica, Resident Evil: Degeneration, and more.
Our interview explores how Court landed the role of Claire Redfield and her experience with the Resident Evil series as a whole. We also discuss her work on the upcoming comic, The Biotic Crisis, and even potential upcoming projects related to video games.
How did you get the job as Claire Redfield?
Alyson Court (AC): We were already working with Capcom for the various X-Men video games. They had come to Toronto because they wanted to use the real cast from the X-Men animated series in their Marvel vs. Capcom and Marvel vs. Street Fighter games. Once they got to meet the talent pool and the studio, they really liked that unit of both talent and crew, so they continued to work in Toronto, and the very next project was Resident Evil 2.
Going from Resident Evil to Resident Evil 2, the upgrade in the voice performances is very noticeable.
AC: Thank you, I appreciate that. I remember when the reviews came out, I was actually on tour for The Big Comfy Couch…. we had a production across the U.S., and our sound guy, Johnny, was really into video games and Resident Evil 2. He’d been playing it, because they would travel on tour on the bus. For the long drives, he was there playing his video games. It had been out for a while, and I remember he sort of tipped me to the fact that the reviews were actually pretty good.
I hadn’t even really noticed the game, so I got to see it through him. And my boyfriend at the time, he and I ended up renting a game system from our local Blockbuster and played the game and screamed like little girls through it. It was definitely a unique experience, but I was really happy when people said the voice acting got better. Thank you! Because it was weird, a really weird experience, and some of the lines are still wonderfully cheesy and odd, which I love.
How was it a weird experience?
AC: It was very isolated. Most of the time, we recorded separately. With the gameplay, Claire is usually alone. So, I didn’t know what I was making. I had no idea what Resident Evil was. I hadn’t played the first video game. The idea of a survival horror video game didn’t really compute to me. Often, I felt like I was re-recording the same script over and over and over.
Paul (Haddad) and I would sort of meet in the hall. I’d be coming out of the studio, he’d be going in, and vice versa. We’d sort of check in with each other because we were friends and we worked on several shows together over the years – Free Willy being one we worked together on a regular basis. Beetlejuice, Road to Avonlea, we did a ton of shows together. But we’d meet in the hall and be like, “This is weird, right?”
“Yeah, this is really weird. Do you understand what’s going on?”
“No, I keep recording the same stuff over and over. They keep bringing me back in.”
“I know. What’s going on? It feels like it’s the same dialogue. I don’t understand.”
Because we didn’t realise back then, every possible outcome had to be its own voice file. The system didn’t have the ability to mix and match. Now, they can mix and match depending on what you do, but every scenario had to be its own whole file. So…. if in Leon’s game, you picked up the gun, then when you’re playing as Claire, the gun isn’t there; it doesn’t actually change the dialogue, but it’s its own outcome, so it gets its own voice file. So, we were technically re-recording the same scenes and dialogue over and over again, but they all had to be entered into the game as separate files. That’s why. I didn’t understand it until I played it. So yes, that’s why it was a weird experience.
You continued on as Claire Redfield for a while.
AC: Code Veronica came next, then the Degeneration movie, and then Darkside Chronicles, the 3DS Mercenaries game, and the Operation Raccoon City game. Between Code Veronica and the Degeneration movie, when I came back to do it, I directed stuff for Capcom.
I saw that you did direction for the Outbreak games.
AC: Yeah, Resident Evil 0 – I directed Riva Di Paola, who voiced Rebecca in that, and the Outbreak game, which was a huge undertaking – motion capture and voice.
How was that? Was that a first?
AC: It was. We did some crazy stuff on that. There was a six-person fight scene that we actually managed to do. This was back when mocap, the system, was all of the cameras around the room, and all of our actors had to wear these little balls. You’d have a lot of interference with stuff, and normally, if you’re doing two people, they’re not allowed to touch, and I was like, “Eh, screw it. Let’s do a six-person fight scene.”
And we made it work. It was kind of mind-blowing for even the guys…. It was, I think, the Vicon mocap system. When they would call up to see what we were doing, and we would give them reports, they were like, “What? You did what? Oh my god. Can we put that on the press release?”
And we were like, “Unfortunately, no, because it’s under a heavy NDA for Capcom.”
But yeah, we had some fun times, some crazy times, some brutal times, but I’m very proud of what we did on that.
Did you do any more work like that after Resident Evil Outbreak?
AC: No, right when that was finishing, we just had a couple more months on the production, and SARS hit Toronto. So, everyone has experienced COVID, but in 2003, we had the precursor to that called SARS, and it mainly just hit Toronto. That was in the spring and summer, into the fall of 2003. So, our studio shut down. We finished production on our side, and that was pretty much it for Resident Evil for us.
Can you tell me more about The Biotic Crisis?
AC: Ah, yes, the t-shirt that I’m wearing. So this is actually a book. I’m the executive producer of it. It’s my husband’s book, and it’s a horror book. There’s a bit of a love letter…. it was initially inspired by the old monster movies and the 1980s mob film and all that stuff. So, it’s a creature from outer space that comes down and falls into the hands of a doomsday cult. They try to use it to bring about the end of the world and take over the one that they can. Yeah, it’s pretty horrific. The art is phenomenal, so if you’re a horror fan, I highly recommend you find The Biotic Crisis from Trepidation Comics.
Do you plan to do any more work related to video games?
AC: Yeah, I’m in the midst of working on some projects with some friends who are producers and own animation and VR companies in Toronto, and we’re doing some stuff.
I can’t imagine you can disclose what it is, but you said it’s VR-related?
AC: One of the productions is VR, and then another one we’re looking at doing is a survival horror thing.
The Pokémon Company has released the version 4.0.0 update for Pokémon HOME, adding support for both Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Pokémon Champions. Latin American Spanish was also added to Pokémon HOME with update 4.0.0, alongside some added features for the mobile version.
Read up on patch notes for the new update below:
Pokémon HOME Update 4.0.0 Patch Notes
Updates to both the console and mobile versions of Pokémon HOME
Support for Pokémon Legends: Z-A has been added
Support for Pokémon Champions has been added
Note: It will be possible to connect to Pokémon Champions once the software has been released.
Latin American Spanish has been added as a language option
Note: It will only be possible to change the language for the mobile version of Pokémon HOME to Latin American Spanish the first time the app is started after applying the update to ver. 4.0.0. If you close the app while confirming the change to Latin American Spanish, the language confirmation screen will be displayed again when the app is reopened.
Updates to the console version of Pokémon HOME
Updated the supported software titles for Research Tasks
Updates to the mobile version of Pokémon HOME
Added Challenges and stickers
Added the Pokédex for each newly supported software title
Various bug fixes have been implemented to improve the user experience
Pokémon HOME is a cloud-based service that’s designed for management of your Pokémon across various supported Pokémon games. By using the service, you can bring certain Pokémon into other games, including the upcoming Pokémon Champions game and Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Pokémon HOME is available as a mobile app on Android and iOS, and a console app for the service is also available on Nintendo Switch in the Nintendo eShop. The app is quite useful for completing the National Pokédex and receiving Mystery Gifts, too.
Bandai Namco has released a new story trailer for upcoming Sword Art Online action RPG Echoes of Aincrad. In addition to the trailer, Dengeki Online released 42 minutes of gameplay footage for Echoes of Aincrad, along with a 10-minute look into the feature-length promotional anime Sword Art Online: Unanswered//butterfly, which is included in the game’s Ultimate Edition.
Echoes of Aincrad launches on July 10 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, and pre-orders are available now for the Standard Edition ($69.99), Deluxe Edition ($89.99), Ultimate Edition ($109.99), and Aincrad Edition (Bandai Namco Store exclusive, $149.99).
Available in all versions of Echoes of Aincrad and as an early unlock for the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions, the new Death Game Mode is reference to the consequence that players of the in-universe MMORPG experience if they run out of health and dies in the game—permadeath. Upon death, Echoes of Aincrad will delete the player’s save data on the 2nd and 3rd slots, which are the slots that Death Game Mode supports.
The performance specifications per platform were also revealed:
PlayStation 5 – 4K at 60 FPS max frame rate
Xbox Series X – 4K at 60 FPS max frame rate
Xbox Series S – 1440p at 60 FPS max frame rate
PC (Steam) – 720p to 4K supported, unlimited frame rate
In addition, the official Japanese website for Echoes of Aincrad confirmed that the single-player game doesn’t support HDR.
Bandai Namco has announced that Little Nightmares II Enhanced Edition is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on May 29. The Switch 2 version of Little Nightmares II Enhanced Edition includes higher resolution and improved visual effects compared to the original Switch version.’
The story of Little Nightmares II Enhanced Edition follows the story of Mono, a young boy trapped in a world distorted by the transmission of a distant tower. Mono meets Six, a girl in a yellow raincoat who guides him to seek out the dark secrets of The Signal Tower and save her from a terrible fate.
Little Nightmares III, the latest entry in the series, is available now for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam. The Standard and Deluxe Editions are available for $39.99 and $59.99, respectively, in PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Steam, and Nintendo eShop.
Final Weapon reviewed Little Nightmares III and gave it a 3 out of 5, noting that “while the game’s atmosphere, art direction, and world-building are hauntingly beautiful, its lack of true scares and overly simple puzzles hold it back. The co-op mechanics feel underutilized, and solo play suffers due to overly helpful AI. Despite its flaws, the game’s strong visuals and collectibles make it a worthwhile yet uneven experience for fans of the series.”
Bandai Namco and Supermassive Games previously released the free “Klonoa Costumes Set” DLC for Little Nightmares III on all platforms. The DLC adds costumes for protagonists Low and Alone based on characters from Bandai Namco’s classic Klonoa franchise.
