PLAYISM and Crimson Dusk have announced that 3D action game Homura Hime launches on March 4 for PC via Steam. A new trailer for Homura Hime was released ahead of the game’s launch, and the voice cast was also revealed.
The voice cast of Homura Hime includes:
Tomori Kusunoki as Homura Hime
Manaka Iwami as Ann
Saku Mizuno as Kushinada
Hana Hishikawa as Agasa
Chiyo Ousaki as Koume / Hua Ling
Juri Nagatsuma as Ling Ling
Tomoyo Takayanagi as Chirakuin
Matsuri Mizuguchi as System
Chiharu as Yumiko
Ai Yamamoto as Kumiko
Yuna Taniguchi as Mimiko
Fairouz Ai as Mamiya
You Taichi as Hexed Doll
Haruno Inoue as Rika
Takehito Koyasu as ???
Further, Homura Hime will be playable at Taipei Game Show 2026 in Taiwan, and fans who play the demo will receive a free sticker set.
Lastly, here’s an overview of Homura Hime, via Steam:
Story
Welcome to a world where humans and demons coexist. Souls harboring strong emotions and deep regrets at their time of death are transformed into archdemons. Archdemons have the power to corrupt the foundation of the world and contaminate their surroundings. Creatures tainted by this demonic power turn into lowly monsters that operate solely on raw instinct.
Faced with the threat to the world posed by five extremely powerful demon girls, the High Priestess is forced to dispatch Homura Hime—the “Flame Princess” and the strongest exorcist of them all—and her aide, Ann, who are now entrusted with the divine mission of purifying the world and defeating all demons.
Game Features
Immerse yourself in exhilarating and intense combo attack action
Survive challenging and beautiful 3D bullet hell attacks
Defeat archdemon girls to unlock special weapons and equipment
Take down the demons and reveal the truth about this world
Koei Tecmo and Team NINJA have released a free demo for Nioh 3 on PlayStation 5 via PlayStation Store and PC via Steam. Save data from the Nioh 3 demo transfers over to the full game, and players will also unlock the “Twin-Snake Helmet” as a reward for playing.
Nioh 3 launches on February 6 for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam. Pre-orders are available now physically and digitally, including the Digital Deluxe Edition with the Season Pass and the physical SteelBook Edition. Pre-orders for the Nioh 3 Treasure Box Edition are available at the NIS America Store. All versions of the game come with an early purchase bonus.
Here’s an overview of the game, via Steam:
“Nioh 3” is the latest game in the dark samurai action RPG series.
Key Elements of the Game:
An open field that challenges you to the fullest
This game features an open field filled with the sense of tension characteristic of the “Nioh” series while also allowing you to explore to your heart’s content. In this dark samurai world, you will encounter formidable yokai, explore menacing villages where darkness lurks, and struggle against the ominous presence of “the Crucible.”
Samurai and Ninja combat styles
You can enjoy an instantaneous and seamless switch between two combat styles during battle, facing your enemies head-on with Samurai Style and using quick movements and special techniques with Ninja Style.
Previously, Koei Tecmo and Team NINJA announced the Nioh series surpassed eight million copies sold worldwide as of May 28, 2025. The series sales figures include physical shipments and digital copies sold for the original Nioh title, Nioh 2, and the remastered releases. One million units were sold since the previous sales update in October 2022.
Crunchyroll has announced that the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards will be held in Tokyo, Japan on May 23. The 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards will have a global pre-show hosted by Crunchyroll’s Lauren Moore and Tim Lyu, an orange carpet celebration, and various performances while honoring nominees across 32 categories of anime.
Voice actress and performer Sally Amaki and entertainer Jon Kabira will return as co-hosts for the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. What’s more, Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi will perform a 30th anniversary tribute to “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” the theme song of 1995’s Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series. There will be symphonic suites conducted by Hirofumi Kurita, performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and arranged by Kazunori Miyake.
Hirofumi Kurita
Kazunori Miyake
Yoko Takahashi
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
Nominees for the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards will be revealed on April 2 alongside the start of global fan voting across 32 categories. Nominees in each category will be selected from eligible titles that premiered between January 1 to December 31, 2025 by independed judges. The full list of categories can be found on the Crunchyroll Anime Awards Official Website.
Sony Music Solutions Inc., which is a part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions will support Crunchyroll in the execution of the event. The event will be livestreamed for global audiences, and more details will be revealed at a later date.
In an era where games are constantly delisted in digital storefronts and left behind in previous generations, preservation has never been more important. Backwards compatibility across all modern consoles is a huge step in the right direction, but there’s no guarantee that support will be there for the next generation. We’re thankful to be at a point in time where many developers, especially those in Japan, make it a priority to localize their games in English or other languages outside of their own.
Many years ago, it was far too common to see games released exclusively in Japan, never to receive a localization in the West. Often, these games were only available on one console, which meant they would be lost to time, especially for those up to the Sixth Generation that did not offer digital storefronts.
It is now 2026, and it feels like publishers are starting to take notice of fans’ desire for access to now-inaccessible games. Capcom, for example, has made an effort to bring all of the Mega Man series to modern platforms in the form of collections, with Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection due out in just a few months. Some publishers are better than others, but each year, we continue to see long-lost games, even those never previously available in certain languages, released.
Marvelous is another publisher moving to bring older games back. Take Milano’s Odd Job Collection, a game released for PS1 in 1999 exclusively in Japan. Late last year, Marvelous brought the game to new platforms for the first time, adding support for English. A game that was once only playable in Japanese on the PlayStation is now available for everyone. We had the chance to speak with the game’s original creator, Ryuichi Nishizawa, and I asked him in particular what his thoughts on game preservation were, considering Milano’s Odd Job Collection was being localized in English for the first time ever.
“For most of my career, it was normal to think that games would become unplayable once their hardware disappeared. So to see a title revived across different generations and hardware feels almost like a dream. I know many passionate people around the world are working on preservation projects to keep valuable games alive. I’ve always respected their efforts, and I support what they’re doing wholeheartedly,” Nishizawa shared.
Nishizawa’s note on how it was the norm for games to be unplayable was really interesting to me. Developers in the 1980s and 1990s developed only with the current generation in mind. The assumption always was that new console generations would bring new cartridge/disc formats, so players would naturally upgrade their libraries. Obviously, things have changed quite a bit in the Ninth Generation. That change of mentality made it possible to bring a niche, Japanese-exclusive PS1 game to modern platforms in English for the first time. It’s amazing to think about.
In the same vein, preservation isn’t just about reviving or bringing back classics or commercially successful games. Nintendo Switch Online’s Virtual Boy Classics collection, set to release in just a few weeks, is a great example of this. The Virtual Boy, a console that only sold a mere 770,000 units, has a collection of just 22 games that have been inaccessible until now. Not only that, but Nintendo has gone even further than just making these ridiculously niche games available; both Zero Racers and D-Hopper, two unreleased games, are set to debut on the service this year.
This kind of care and attention to past libraries is something I want to see more of from everyone. PlayStation has released select ‘Classics’ on the PS Store through its PS Plus service, Xbox has brought forth numerous Xbox games, and even Square Enix has remastered the original six Final Fantasy games (but where is XIII?!). These are all great initiatives, but I can only hope that game preservation is something that continues to be a focus for developers and publishers for years to come. Players must have access to their digital libraries with each new console release, as this allows games to live forever.
However, many games are still not playable in multiple languages or on modern platforms. Developers like Ryuichi Nishizawa and thousands of others across the world deserve to see their beloved creations playable once more. Releases like Milano’s Odd Job Collection prove that preservation of niche games can be done; it’s up to player and fan support to ensure these games remain playable and accessible for decades to come.
For more on our chat with Ryuichi Nishizawa, be sure to check out our full interview here.
In late 2025, we had the wonderful chance to chat with Ryuichi Nishizawa, the original creator of Milano’s Odd Job Collection, just around the time of its re-release. If you’re unfamiliar, this game was released exclusively in Japan for the PlayStation and remained there for over a quarter of a century, without any port or translation.
Last Summer, the game was revealed to be headed West with a translation for the first time ever, launching on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. In our review, we wrote, “As a whole, though, Milano’s Odd Job Collection succeeds at its main goal of localizing a forgotten experience that would’ve been forever lost to time if not for the developers.”
Our interview with Ryuichi Nishizawa covers the creation and development of Milano’s Odd Job Collection, the localization, and his thoughts on game preservation as a whole. We’d like to give a special thank you to the wonderful teams who made this interview possible. Please enjoy!
What originally inspired you to create a game centered around “odd jobs”?
Ryuichi Nishizawa: The idea came from something very close to my everyday life. At the time, both producer Shimada and I had daughters who were 11 years old, and we wanted to create a game that they—and kids their age—could genuinely enjoy. Many young girls dream about “living on their own someday,” and we thought it would be fun to build a world where that little dream could come true in a gentle, playful way. As we explored that concept, the game naturally evolved into a slow-life experience filled with small mini-games—everyday tasks, cozy routines, and the kind of moments that spark imagination. The theme of “odd jobs” fit perfectly with that world.
Looking back on development, what kind of atmosphere or mindset existed within your team at the time?
Ryuichi Nishizawa: The development floor was full of energy. At the start of the project, we put up the slogan: “Let’s create the ultimate pixel-art game!”. That immediately boosted the morale of the whole team. Maki Ohzora and the graphic artists poured themselves into the pixel work, and I could feel how seriously they wanted to express the charm of pixel art through this title. We also had many new graduates on the team, and they brought fresh ideas into the project. Some even contributed their voices as the characters. It was a project where many different talents inside the company naturally gathered, and we were all moving forward with the same sense of momentum.
What did this project represent to you personally as a creator?
Ryuichi Nishizawa: At the time, I was focused on trusting the younger staff and giving them space. I directed the project and created the initial concept, but the detailed game design and level design were entirely entrusted to younger team members. Looking back, this may have been the first project where I handed over all of the level design to others. They worked hard and grew a lot through it, and seeing that was very meaningful to me.
How does it feel to see new players finally discovering it through this Western release?
Ryuichi Nishizawa: When Westone’s final arcade title, Clockwork AQUARIO, was finally released in 2021, I was overwhelmed with emotion. This title is just as full of memories for me, so seeing it return after all these years makes me genuinely happy. Back then, the market for games aimed at young girls was extremely small, almost nonexistent, so the game wasn’t a commercial success. But for it to be rediscovered and appreciated so many years later—this is a great honor for me as a creator.
When revisiting the original game today, are there any aspects, whether in the story, art, or gameplay, that you’re particularly proud of?
Ryuichi Nishizawa: The sheer amount of pixel-art animation. There aren’t many games—even today—that include this much hand-drawn pixel work. Pixel art cannot be mass-produced efficiently; every frame has to be drawn patiently by hand. Because of that, even now in the era of advanced technology, the artwork in this title still has a strong presence. That’s something I’m very proud of.
What do you hope international players take away from Milano’s Odd Job Collection in 2026?
Ryuichi Nishizawa: I hope players can feel the spirit of the pixel-art craftsmen who worked on it. Every piece of animation was created with passion and care. I’ll be happy if players can sense even a bit of that energy.
Game preservation is more important than ever. As someone whose work spans multiple generations, how important is it to you that older titles like this are being revived and shared again?
Ryuichi Nishizawa: For most of my career, it was normal to think that games would become unplayable once their hardware disappeared. So to see a title revived across different generations and hardware feels almost like a dream. I know many passionate people around the world are working on preservation projects to keep valuable games alive. I’ve always respected their efforts, and I support what they’re doing wholeheartedly.
Finally, if you could give one piece of advice or a message to players who are about to experience Milano’s Odd Job Collection for the very first time, what would you say?
Ryuichi Nishizawa: This game is filled with the craftsmanship of pixel artists. Please take your time and enjoy every detail.
The staff of the TV anime adaptation of Tadatoshi Fujimaki’s KILL BLUE manga series has announced that Daisuke Sakuma is joining the cast as the assassin Shin Kohazame. Daisuke Sakuma also shared a comment about landing the role of Shin Kohazame in KILL BLUE.
The KILL BLUE anime premieres in April 2026 on TV Tokyo and affiliate channels.
The KILL BLUE manga received a new novel adaptation, titled Kill Ao Secret Report (Kill Blue Secret Report), by Kiyoko Hoshi. The novel shipped on December 4, 2025 alongside the manga’s 13th and final compiled book volume. Shueisha serialized the KILL BLUEmanga in Weekly Shonen Jump.
Lastly, here’s an overview of the series, via Shueisha:
A legendary assassin at 39. Starting over… as a middle schooler.
Jūzō Ōgami is a legendary hitman who has never failed an assignment, no matter how impossible. One day, after wiping out a powerful organization, he is stung by a mysterious wasp and collapses. When he wakes up, the fearsome 39-year-old assassin has been transformed into a 13-year-old boy! Before he can even process what happened, his boss delivers a new order: “In that body, infiltrate a middle school.” What awaits him is an unexpected school life filled with colorful classmates, youthful chaos, and looming danger. Can Jūzō ever return to his original form? Or will the assassins closing in on him end his second life before it even begins!?
Nippon TV and NOW PRODUCTION have announced that My Beloved Star -Days That Sparkle-, a new My Beloved Star otome mobile game, will launch globally on February 4 for Android and iOS with English and Japanese language support. Pre-registration for My Beloved Star -Days That Sparkle- is available leading up to the launch.
Lastly, here’s an overview of the game, via Nippon TV:
About My Beloved Star -Days That Sparkle-
The new mobile game My Beloved Star -Days That Sparkle- will accompany you on your day-to-day adventures with the twelve Princes of the Zodiac, all brought to life by a stellar cast of voice actors and the character art by the incredible artist lack.
Six Planet Personality Analysis
While basic horoscopes focus on your Sun sign that describe how you act in general, My Beloved Star also gives analysis based on the Moon (the inner self), Mercury (communication style), Venus (expressions of affection), Mars (how energy is used), and Jupiter (the keys to growth and good fortune)! This in-depth personality analysis allows you to get to know your true self more deeply, and to focus on what you need.
A Private Daily Diary
Keep a daily diary tracking your mood and the weather, as well as space to write your thoughts. Too busy to write something down? Some things can be written in your diary automatically, depending on your conversations with your chosen prince! This diary is encrypted; your thoughts are for your eyes only.
Interact with Your Chosen Prince
Your chosen prince can chat with you across the day, sharing his thoughts or giving you encouragement to continue sparkling! Your conversations can be synchronised to your schedule. Get support to start your day in the morning and reminders to take it easy and relax when the evening comes. You can also get new outfits to dress him up, so your prince’s style can suit you no matter the season!
An Easy-Access Widget Option
Want your daily fortune directly on your home screen? The app included a widget option that will show your fortune for the day without even starting the app! Perfect for busy days and quick checks!
A Story of Succession and Secrets
Experience a rich story about the succession to the throne of King of the Universe and an ensemble drama that explores the relationships between characters. Dive into the princes’ world and weave your own tales of sparkling days.
Story
One day, you accidentally open the door to the Zodiac Realm. There you find twelve princes with dazzling personalities, as well as a butler.
Kneeling, the butler says, “Epilogia—the king’s oracle. We have long awaited your arrival. If you would, I beg you to lend us your strength and break us free from our doomed fate.”
The King of the Universe is gone and his throne is empty. It is your destiny to choose and guide a prince to ascend and become King.
So spend your days engaging in conversation with the princes and forge deep, beautiful bonds. For you are the light that will illuminate their future.
Niantic and The Pokémon Company have announced that the “Road to Kalos” event will be held in the lead-up to Pokémon GO Tour: Kalos. From February 23 at 12:00 a.m. to February 27 at 11:59 p.m. local time, the Road to Kalos event will offer Pokémon GO players many opportunities to catch Pokémon and earn free rewards.
During Road to Kalos, players can encounter wearing Red’s Hat, Leaf’s Hat, Ethan’s Hat, or Lyra’s hat, and if they’re lucky, a Shiny variant may appear. Each day, a different event-themed Pokémon will appear in the wild, including the first partner Pokémon from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova.
Monday, February 23: Kanto
Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, Pikachu, Clefairy, and Meowth
Tuesday, February 24: Johto
Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Marill, Hoppip, and Teddiursa
Wednesday, February 25: Hoenn
Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip, Poochyena, Taillow, and Nincada
Thursday, February 26: Sinnoh
Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup, Bidoof, Shinx, and Snover
Friday, February 27: Unova
Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott, Lillipup, Darumaka, and Gothita
There will also be Raids held each day from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time with opportunity to battle and catch Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, event-themed Pikachu, Shadow Lugia and Ho-Oh, and many more Pokémon. What’s more, the featured Pokémon for the Raids may appear with a special background.
There will be various event bonuses, including 1/2 Egg Hatch Distance when Eggs are placed in an Incubator during the event period, and an increased Remote Raid Pass limit of 30. There will be no limit on Remote Raids from Saturday, February 28, to Sunday, March 1.
Timed Research themed after the featured regions will be available starting at 5:00 a.m. local time daily, and completing research tasks nets rewards like Candy, TMs, encounters with costumed Pikachu, and more. New Field Research tasks will also be available every day at 12:00 a.m. local time each day.
Disney and Atari have announced that The Disney Afternoon Collection will launch on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on February 26. The new edition of the collection adds two more games: Goof Troop and Bonkers.
Goof Troop initially released in 1993, while Bonkers launched in 1994. These two games are only available for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Further, a physical edition will release for both Switch and Switch 2 as an actual cartridge rather than a game-key cart. The edition includes 2 sticker sheets, 8 retro milk caps, and 3 collectible cards.
Check out the trailer for The Disney Afternoon Collection on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 below:
Disney and Atari initially released The Disney Afternoon Collection on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam in 2017. It includes the following games: Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers, Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers 2, DuckTales, DuckTales 2, Darkwing Duck, and TaleSpin. Lastly, the Steam page describes the features of the game as follows:
All six classic games feature new and improved visuals and include filtering options that replicate a retro look and feel. This collection also offers new ways to play with Boss Rush and Time Attack modes, each of which encourages time-based gameplay and features online leaderboards.
Additionally, a new “Rewind” feature makes these challenging titles more accessible for newcomers, with the option to rewind time and enjoy a swift recovery from blunders. Best of all, the in-game Museum will provide history buffs with a wealth of extras to celebrate the era of the original releases, such as concept art, and music – all lovingly preserved.
Idea Factory and Compile Heart have announced Villion: Code, a new “school RPG” by Megami Tensei and Persona series co-creator Kouji “Cozy” Okada. Villion: Code will launch on June 25 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 in Japan. The PlayStation 4 version is a digital-only release.
Here’s a breakdown of pricing for various editions:
Standard Edition
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch – 8,580 yen
Switch 2 – 9,680 yen
Digital Deluxe Edition
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch – 10,780 yen
Switch 2 – 11,880 yen
Special Edition
PlayStation 5, Switch – 17,380 yen
Switch 2 – 18,480 yen
Villion: Code is set in a near-future university town that’s on a floating island in Tokyo Bay. On the island, students and teachers mutate into monsters. Dungeons in the game are procedurally generated and allow for 360-degree movement in every direction. This is possible in the dungeons’ tube-shaped environments with no ceiling. Combat is described as “real-time speed action.”
The game is teased as “Kouji Okada’s final message to the next generation.” Okada is the producer of the new school RPG, and he’s joined by scenario writer Tadashi Satomi, who previously wrote the stories of Revelations: Persona, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. Megami Tensei series composer Tsukasa Masuko is the sound composer of the new RPG, and Ilya Kuvshinov (Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045) is the character designer. FRAM performs the theme song.
