Tetris 99 52nd Maximus Cup Features Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Theme

By
Soul Kiwami
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Nintendo has announced that the Tetris 99 52nd Maximus Cup will feature a theme inspired by Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2. Tetris 99 52nd Maximus Cup will be held from Friday, April 3 at 12:00 a.m. PDT to Monday, April 6 at 11:59 p.m. PDT, and players who compete in online battles in Tetris 99 mode and collect at least 100 event points will unlock the new in-game theme. Event points awarded based on rank achieved in each battle you compete in during the event.

During Mario Day, Nintendo also revealed a new overview trailer for Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park. The six-minute overview trailer goes over the new content that will be available in Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park, including the minigames of Attraction Central in Bellabel Park. Avid watchers may also notice that some Pikmin are present in one of the game’s levels in the trailer.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park will release on March 26 for $79.99. Players who already own the original version of Super Mario Bros. Wonder will only have to pay $20 to upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. In addition, a new Super Mario Bros. Wonder Talking Flower peripheral will be sold on March 12 for $34.99. 

Nintendo released Tetris 99 in 2019 as a complementary title with Nintendo Switch Online memberships. As the name suggests, the game is a 99-player battle royale with the gameplay of Tetris. Past Maximus Cups have featured art and music from Pikmin 4, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, Super Mario Bros Wonder and more.

PRAGMATA Demo Surpasses 2 Million Downloads, Game Exceeds 2 Million Wishlists

By
Soul Kiwami
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PRAGMATA demo screenshot

Capcom has announced that the PRAGMATA “Sketchbook” demo exceeded a total of 2 million downloads across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam. In addition, PRAGMATA has surpassed 2 million wishlists across all platforms. To celebrate these milestones, a new PRAGMATA visual was released.

The PRAGMATA Sketchbook demo provides a look at the gameplay mechanics of the upcoming game. It’s designed to emphasize replayability, as each time you play the demo, you may notice some “hidden features” that only become apparent later.

Launching one week earlier than its previous release date, PRAGMATA releases on April 17 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam. As an exclusive bonus, players who pre-order will receive Hugh’s samurai-styled Neo Bushido outfit and Diana’s ninja-inspired Neo Kunoichi costume.

Alongside the standard version (MSRP $59.99), a Deluxe Edition (MSRP $69.99) will be available, which includes the Shelter Variety Pack. This bundle offers an assortment of alternate cosmetic outfits for Hugh and Diana, a weapon skin, emotes for Diana, extra background music for the Shelter, and an in-game library with 75 pieces of digital artwork. 

Further, a new PRAGMATA Diana amiibo figure will be available for Switch 2. Six songs from the original soundtrack, including “Memories Are You,” are now streaming on major music services, including Spotify. 

LEGO Mario Kart – Luigi and Mach 8 Set Announced, LEGO Mario Minifigures Revealed

By
Saras Rajpal
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LEGO Mario Kart - Luigi and Mach 8 Set Announced, LEGO Mario Minifigures Revealed

LEGO and Nintendo have announced a new LEGO Mario Kart set, which features both Luigi and the Mach 8 kart, and will release on April 1. Additionally, both have confirmed that LEGO Mario minifigures will release in 2027. 

The “LEGO Mario Kart – Luigi & Mach 8″ set will be available for $179.99. It is designed for ages 18 and up, and will feature 2234 pieces. It’s meant to serve as a companion piece to last year’s LEGO Mario & Standard Kart set. Pre-orders for it are available now. The Nintendo of America’s official Twitter/X account teases the upcoming release of LEGO Mario minifigures and features the first look at Mario himself. More specific details about the sets they will be available in will release at a later date. Check out the teaser video below:

On April 1, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will premiere in theaters. Tickets for the film are available now. The most recent trailer confirmed that Luis Guzmán (Wednesday, Punch Drunk Love) will voice Wart and Issa Rae (Barbie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) voices the Honey Queen. Most notably, Donald Glover (Solo: A Star Wars Story, Atlanta, Community) voices Yoshi. It is unknown whether he simply does the sound effects for the character, or if he will provide full dialogue for him. 

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will release in theaters on April 1. Brie Larson, the Academy Award winning actress from Room and Captain Marvel, will voice Rosalina. Benny Safdie, director of The Smashing Machine and Uncut Gems, who has also acted in Oppenheimer and Obi-Wan Kenobi, will voice Bowser Jr, who dons his Super Mario Bros. Wonder design. Lastly, the film will feature elements from both Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Odyssey. 

Tomorrow Studios is Working on Samurai Champloo Live-Action Project

By
Soul Kiwami
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Samurai Champloo

Tomorrow Studios, the company behind Netflix’s One Piece live-action series, is working on a live-action adaptation for Shinichirō Watanabe and Manglobe’s Samurai Champloo anime with partner ITV Studios and producer Marty Adelstein. Watanabe is also involved with the project, according to the new report from Variety. 

The Samurai Champloo live-action series is in early development. Tomorrow Studios has not taken the project to networks, but the company has received a lot of interest in the project. The report notes that the adaptation retains core elements of the anime while updating material for a contemporary TV audience. One Piece executive producer Becky Clements told Variety that the company will bring in a “major recording artist early to help establish the show’s sound,” which likely refers to the anime’s iconic hip-hop music.

Netflix and Tomorrow Studios’ One Piece Season 2 – Into The Grand Line premiered on March 10. One Piece Season 3 follows up at a later date, and the third season’s cast includes Cole Escola as Bon Clay , Xolo Maridueña as Portgas D. Ace, Awdo Awdo as Mr. 1, and Daisy Head as Miss Doublefinger.

The One Piece Elbaph arc anime premieres on April 5 with a new two-cour structure featuring a maximum of 26 episodes. In addition, the One Piece anime is on a three-month hiatus through March 2026.

Lastly, One Piece has been serialized since July 1997, and fans can read the manga weekly on VIZ Media and Manga Plus in English.

Yūsha no Rokkotsu Anime Premieres on April 7

By
Soul Kiwami
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The TV anime adaptation for Antai’s Megami “Isekai Tensei Nani ni Naritai Desu ka” Ore “Yūsha no Rokkotsu de” (Goddess: “What Do You Want to Turn Into When You’re Reincarnated in Another World?” Me: “Into a Hero’s Rib”) light novel series will premiere on April 7 on NTV’s AnichU programming block at 25:59 / April 8 at 1:59 a.m. JST. ABEMA will stream the anime one hour later.

Shukatsu Club performs the opening theme song “Tensei Ganbō,” and shallm performs the ending theme song “Nan-nan Desu ka?” (Wh-what is it?).”

The cast of the anime includes:

  • Atsushi Abe as the protagonist “I”
  • M.A.O as Goddess
  • Daisuke Namikawa as Benizake Shishō (“Master Sockeye Salmon”)
  • Toshihiko Seki as Tanaka-san
  • Show Hayami as God of Creation
  • Takahiro Ogata as hero Jiyōku

Kana Asumi, Yuka Iguchi, Marina Inoue, Yūji Ueda, Yūma Uchida, Megumi Ogata, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Tomoko Kaneda, Ayako Kawasumi, Ayana Taketatsu, Shigeru Chiba, Miina Tominaga, Kazuya Nakai, Yōko Hikasa, Nobuyuki Hiyama, Yoshikazu Hirano, Minori Fujidera, Maxwell Powers, Rica Matsumoto, Shinichirō Miki, Ayumu Murase, and more are also cast members.

Yasufumi Soejima, known for his work on Ensemble Stars! is directing the anime at the studios Qzil.la and S.o.K. Kōpo and Kagiji Kumanomata are credited for the image illustrations and original animation character designs, respectively. Zipper Sōjō is handling the series scripts, while Miki Matsumoto is handling the character design. Yūta Uraki, Kayo Konishi, Yukio Kondō, Nomi and Shunya Watanabe are composing the music.

Additional staff members include:

  • Prop Design/Art Design: CHICCHi
  • Color Key Artist: Chiharu Yoshihara
  • Compositing Director of Photography: Satsuki Kazamoto
  • Editing: Risa Tarumi
  • Sound Director: Takatoshi Hamano
  • Sound Effects: Kōsuke Kobayashi
  • Animation Producer: Kōji Nishizawa

Antai first released the story of Megami “Isekai Tensei Nani ni Naritai Desu ka” Ore “Yūsha no Rokkotsu de” on the Shōsetsu ni Narō service in November 2017, and Takarajimasha began publishing it in print with illustrations by Mebaru in January 2021. The 11th volume was shipped on January 17.

Lastly, heres an overview of the series via MyAnimeList:

The story is about a protagonist known only as “I,” who undergoes a perpetual cycle of reincarnation. The story is set in an alternate world where each individual is given the freedom to choose their next form. However, due to a recent surge in applicants, the waiting list for popular roles—such as “Demon King” or “Hero with Cheat Skills and a Harem”—has reached to 50,000 years.

Refusing to wait, the protagonist chooses to reincarnate repeatedly into increasingly bizarre forms. These roles range from the rib of a hero leading a harem to a hermit crab, a vegetable, and even a number of explosives designed to bring happiness to people.

The Food Diary of Miss Maid Anime Premieres April 1

By
Soul Kiwami
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The Food Diary of Miss Maid

Happinet has announced that the TV anime adaptation of Susumu Maeya’s The Food Diary of Miss Maid manga series will premiere early on April 1 at 12:00 a.m. JST April 1 the d Anime Store, ABEMA, U-NEXT, and Anime Hōdai streaming services in Japan. The anime makes its TV debut on April 5 at 10:00 p.m. JST on the Tokyo MX channel, and subsequent episodes will stream and air simultaneously with the second episode going forward.

The Food Diary of Miss Maid key visual
©前屋進・講談社／食べるだけを見てるだけの製作委員会

The cast of The Food Diary of Miss Maid includes:

  • Kana Ichinose as Suzume Tachibana
  • Chihiro Sunou as Ricotta Fresca
  • Maki Kawase as Nana Komatsu
  • Shizuka Ishigami as Sora Endō
  • Hiromi Igarashi as Anzu Shingetsu
  • Daisuke Sakuma as Chun

majiko performs the opening theme song “Ribbon, ” and girl group ARCANA PROJECT performs the ending theme song “Shiawase Flavor” (Happiness Flavor).

Ryōsuke Senbo is directing the new anime adaptation of The Food Diary of Miss Maid at EMT Squared and Magic Bus ahead of its April 2026 premiere. Natsuko Takahashi and Saeka Fujimoto are overseeing the series scripts, and Chiaki Abe is designing the characters. Moreover, Katsutoshi Kitagawa from ROUND TABLE is the music composer.

Maeya launched The Food Diary of Miss Maid on Kodansha’s Comic Days website in December 2019, and the manga series is still ongoing with its digital serialization. Kodansha published the manga’s fifth compiled book volume on November 12, 2025, and Kodansha USA Publishing released the fourth volume digitally in February 2023 in English.

Lastly, here’s a description of the manga’s story in English, via Kodansha USA:

What’s a maid to do when she finds herself suddenly stuck in Japan for a year? Eat, of course! Follow maid-in-training Suzume Tachibana as she tries all sorts of Japanese food, from sweets like taiyaki and melon bread to savory snacks like takoyaki and onigiri! Be warned, though—while Suzume sates her appetite through delicious treat after delicious treat, she might just end up whetting yours!

SAG-AFTRA ‘Do Not Work’ Order Issued for Mega Man: Dual Override

By
Soul Kiwami
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Mega Man Dual Override SAG-AFTRA Do Not Work order

The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has issued a “Do Not Work” order for Capcom’s Mega Man: Dual Override. The order from SAG-AFTRA order instructs union members to withhold all voice acting work for Mega Man: Dual Override until further notice. Union members who violate the order may receive disciplinary action in accordance with the SAG-AFTRA Constitution.

Following the issue of the Do Not Work order, SAG-AFTRA member and renowned voice actor Ben Diskin confirmed that he will not be returning as the voice of the titular protagonist. Diskin notes that he was asked to return for Mega Man: Dual Override, but the work would require him to work without the protections of a union contract. According to Diskin, there were full A.I. protections in writing that guaranteed his voice would never be used for A.I. development, but he was also told that Capcom would not proceed with union protections. 

Here’s the full statement released by Diskin on BlueSky, via Rockman Corner:

“With a broken Blue Bomber heart, I am no longer the voice of Mega Man.

I was asked to return for Mega Man: Dual Override, but only on the condition I work without the protections of a union contract.

I was told there are “full A.I. protections in place that guarantee in writing that [my] voice will never be used for A.I. development” but was also told “with certainty, from [Capcom], that the project will not go union.”

While I certainly appreciate the acknowledgement of the concern around AI, working without a contract I can realistically enforce isn’t something I can risk.

The only way to enforce non-union contracts like this involves personally taking giant companies like Capcom to court and suing if I thought they’d used AI. I don’t have the mental, emotional, or monetary strength to survive a protracted legal fight.

In my heart, I want to believe Capcom would never use AI…

But in my HEAD, I’m aware that basically every major corporation is looking to incorporate generative AI to save money.

The video game industry is facing record layoffs and huge amounts of uncertainty.

I need a union contract to feel safe.

(Also, as an aside, I don’t think it makes sense to strike for over 11 months to get enforceable AI abuse protections and then turn right around and go back to work without them.)

I truly wish Capcom was at least willing to speak with SAG-AFTRA about doing this game union.

I expressed that I’d even be willing to work on a LOWER-budget union contract if it meant this flipped.

It genuinely wasn’t about the money for me.

It’s been an honor voicing Mega Man in Mega Man 11, the best-selling game in the series’ history and watching Mega Man reclaim his rightful place as a gaming icon.

I hope Mega Man: Dual Override is even more successful than 11 and that everyone enjoys all the hard work the devs are putting into it.

“Good luck out there, Mega!”

I just wish I could have been there with you.”

Capcom initially announced Mega Man: Dual Override, the next entry in the long-running Mega Man action platformer series, at The Game Awards 2025. The game launches in 2027 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

Final Fantasy XI March Update Adds New Alter Ego Upgrade System

By
Soul Kiwami
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Final Fantasy XI Alter Ego

Square Enix has released the March version update for Final Fantasy XI featuring the “first phase” of the new “Alter Ego” upgrade system. This new system shifts from normal party play to better support solo players. In addition, the monthly challenges in Ambuscade were refreshed. 

The Alter Ego upgrade system is the first step in a Trust magic system renewal, which lets players begin to strengthen their alter egos. This system is undergoing a change in order to support solo players and allow them to enjoy more content on their own. On March 21, players can participate solo or with other players to take on the large-scale “Vana’Bout” Records of Eminence objective and earn new rewards. There are additional bonus campaigns if everyone earns above the target objective. What’s more, Velkks and Treants will make their return to Ambuscade.

The March 2026 Login Campaign runs from March 11 at 1:00 a.m. PDT / 4:00 a.m. EDT through to April 5 at 7:59 a.m. PDT / 10:59 a.m. EDT. During the campaign, players can receive points and exchange them for in-game items. On March 13, the Treasure Hunter Bounty Campaign also returns, making players’ chocobo digging skill more likely to increase, which increases rewards in turn.

The Treasure Hunter Bounty Campaign runs in two phases: 

  • Phase 1: Friday, March 13, 2026, at 1:00 a.m. PDT / 4:00 a.m. EDT to Sunday, March 22, at 7:59 a.m. PDT / 10:59 a.m. EDT
  • Phase 2: Friday, March 27, 2026, at 1:00 a.m. PDT / 4:00 a.m. EDT to Sunday, April 5, at 7:59 a.m. PDT / 10:59 a.m. EDT

Lastly, Final Fantasy XI is available on PC via Steam worldwide. 

Invincible VS Open Beta Test Announced for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

By
Soul Kiwami
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Invincible VS open beta test

Skybound Games and Quarter Up have announced that an open beta test for Invincible VS will be held on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S from April 9 to April 11. In addition to the open beta test, the developers of Invincible VS confirmed that Allen The Alien will be one of the 18 characters available at launch.

Here are the playable fighters and arenas for the open beta test

  • Playable Fighters
    • Invincible
    • Atom Eve
    • Bulletproof
    • Thula
    • Rex Splode
    • Battle Beast
    • Omni-Man
    • Robot
    • Monster Girl
    • Allen the Alien
  • Arenas
    • Hometown Invasion (Night)
    • Moon
    • Ka-Hor’s Tomb (Day)
    • Himalayas
    • Kinetic Chamber
    • Training Room

The launch roster includes many notable names from the animated series, including Invincible, Atom Eve, Bulletproof, Thula, Rex Splode, Battle Beast, Omni-Man, Cecil Stedman, Robot, Monster Girl, Ella Mental, Lucan, Anissa, Powerplex, and Dupli-Kate.

Based on the Invincible comic book and animated series, Invincible VS is a 3v3 tag fighter which will include many fan-favorite characters. Quarter Up, a studio under Skybound, is developing the game. The team is led by some of the developers behind of the 2013 Killer Instinct game. 

Additionally, Invincible VS will feature motion inputs and a Content Creator Mode. After lots of fan feedback, motion inputs will co-exist alongside easy inputs within the game. The new Content Creator Mode will disable all the gore, violence, and blood that could get content creators demonetized on their platforms. 

Invincible VS will release on April 30 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Windows and Steam. In addition, pre-orders for Invincible VS include the Zero Suit Mark skin and 4 color variants as an added bonus.

FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE Update to Add Film Grain Toggle

By
Soul Kiwami
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FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE

Koei Tecmo and Team NINJA have confirmed that an upcoming new update for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions of Japanese horror adventure game FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE will add a film grain toggle. This new film grain update is a result of feedback that fans have been sending to Koei Tecmo after playing the FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE demo.

The free FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE demo is available now for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The demo includes an early portion of the game and save data will carry over to the full release. In addition, the demo lets players check out the enhanced graphics and sound, the new hand-holding feature between Mio and Mayu, and the upgraded Camera Obscura. The demo is also PlayStation 5 Pro Enhanced, just like the full game.

Download the demo at the following links below:

FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE launches on March 12 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game is a full remake of the second installment in the FATAL FRAME (PROJECT ZERO) series, following the story of twin sisters Mio and Mayu in an abandoned village infested with wraiths. The only way to survive is through the use of Camera Obscura. Fans can also expect free costumes as part of a Silent Hill f collaboration.

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