Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 5 Premieres in April 2026

By
Soul Kiwami
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Rent-A-Girlfriend Season 5 anime

The staff of the Rent-A-Girlfriend anime series announced that Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 5 will premiere in April 2026. The first key visual for Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 5 was also revealed on the anime’s official website.

Rent-A-Girlfriend Season 5 first key visual
©宮島礼吏・講談社／「彼女、お借りします」製作委員会2026

Rent-A-Girlfriend Season 4 premiered on July 1, 2025 in Japan on the DMM and d Anime Store streaming services and Crunchyroll worldwide. Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 5 was initially slated to be the second cour of Season 4. 

Revamped singing trio ClariS perform Season 4’s opening theme song “Umitsuki.” Regal Lily performs the ending theme song “Boku no Vega” (My Vega).

The staff from TMS Entertainment return their work on the third season of Rent-A-Girlfriend, with Kazuomi Koga returning to his directorial duties from the first two seasons. Mitsutaka Hirota is the scriptwriter and handles series composition.

The Japanese cast includes:

  • Shun Horie as Kazuya Kinoshita
  • Sora Amamiya as Chizuru Mizuhara
  • Nao Tōyama as Ruka Sarashina
  • Aoi Yūki as Mami Nanami
  • Yū Serizawa as Mini Yaemori
  • Rie Takahashi as Sumi Sakurasawa

The English cast includes:

  • Alex Mai as Kazuya
  • Celeste Perez as Chizuru
  • Sarah Williams as Ruka
  • Landon McDonald as Shun
  • Lisette Monique Diaz as Mini
  • Chris Hackney as Takeshi 

Lastly, here’s an overview of the anime series, via Crunchyroll:

Kinoshita Kazuya is a 20-year-old failure of a college student. He managed to kiss his girlfriend once but was dumped after a month. “Ugh… Damn it. I never want to go through that again.”

Completely spiteful, Kazuya uses a certain method to date a girl. He goes to their meeting place and suddenly hears, “You’re Kazuya-kun, right?” A beautiful girl brushing her long, black hair behind her ear was there, smiling at him. Her name was Mizuhara Chizuru. Something real is born after just a single rental! A reckless rom-com filled with love and excitement is about to begin!

Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin Anime is Getting a Two-Part Special

By
Soul Kiwami
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Sakuna Of Rice and Ruin tv anime special

The official website for the TV anime adaptation of Edelweiss’ Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin game confirmed that the anime is getting a two-part TV special, Tensui no Sakuna Hime: Kokorowa Inasaku Nisshi (Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin – Kokorowa’s Rice Farming Journal). The new Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin anime special will premiere on February 15 and February 22 on TV Tokyo and five other channels. 

Sakuna Of Rice and Ruin tv anime special key visual
©えーでるわいす／「天穂のサクナヒメ」製作委員会

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin – Kokorowa’s Rice Farming Journal is based on Keiji Andō’s spinoff novel for the game, and the anime special focuses on Sakuna’s best friend and genius inventor Princess Kokorowa. She joins Sakuna on Hinoe Island and takes up rice farming following an incident.

Masayuki Yoshihara directs the special at P.A. Works. Naomi Ōzora and Rika Kinugawa reprise their roles as Sakuna and Kokorowa, respectively. 

Edelweiss is also currently developing Sakuna Chronicles: Kokorowa and the Gears of Creation and free-to-play “rice cultivation simulation x exploration battle RPG” Sakuna Hinuka Junreitan, with the latter launching in February 2026 for Android and iOS in Japan. A Steam version (region-locked to Japan) will launch at a later date. The new mobile game will feature characters from the original Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin game and the anime adaptation, along with original characters like protagonist Hinuka. 

April Showers Bring May Flowers Anime Now Streaming on Prime Video

By
Soul Kiwami
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April Showers Bring May Flowers

The TV anime adaptation of Roku Sakura’s April Showers Bring May Flowers manga series is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. All 13 episodes of April Showers Bring May Flowers are streaming with English subtitles on Prime Video.

The April Showers Bring May Flowers anime premiered on July 4, 2025. 

GLASGOW performs the anime’s ending theme song “Souvenir.” TWS and Ayumu Imazu perform the opening theme song “BLOOM.” 

The cast of the April Showers Bring May Flowers anime includes:

  • Saori Hayami as Hana Tabata
  • Shimba Tsuchiya as Yosuke Ueno
  • Yoshino Aoyama as Sumire Uguisudani
  • Yoshimasa Hosoya as Tetsuo Gotanda
  • Makoto Koichi as Keisuke Ueno
  • Tasuku Hatanaka as Tsutomu Shinbashi

Mirai Minato directed the series and oversaw series scripts at studio SILVER LINK. Miwa Ōshima and Beat are the character designer and sub-character designer, respectively. Yuki Hayashi is the music composer. 

Other staff members include:

  • Prop Design: Moe Tanaka
  • Art Director: Hideto Nakahara
  • Art 3D Object Design: Yoshiki Enomoto
  • Color Design: Akira Igarashi
  • Director of Photography: Yūko Shintani
  • Editing: Yūji Kondō (REAL-T)
  • Sound Director: Masanori Tsuchiya

Sakura launched the manga in Kadokawa’s Monthly Young Ace in April 2016, and it ran until September 2022.

Here’s an description of the manga series, via publisher Yen Press:

Pessimistic high school student Hana Tabata doesn’t believe her life could ever be like that of a heroine from the shoujo manga she reads—she’s convinced she’s ugly, and she’s always alone. Still, she can’t help but imagine herself as a leading lady when she’s changing out flowers early one morning…until she’s caught in the act by her handsome classmate Yousuke Ueno! Hana can’t wrap her head around his kind words at first, but as they grow closer, she finds her life slowly beginning to change…

Homura: The Crimson Warriors Releases March 31 for Switch in the West

By
Soul Kiwami
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Homura The Crimson Warriors release date

Idea Factory International has announced otome visual novel Homura: The Crimson Warriors will launch on March 31 for Nintendo Switch physically and digitally in North America. The European physical release follows up on April 28. Pre-orders for the physical Standard Edition will open on February 2 for $49.99 | €49.99 | £49.99 in the IFI Online Store.

In North America and Europe, the physical Standard Edition of Homura: The Crimson Warriors for Switch will include a bonus trading card pack. Each pack consists of 5 trading cards, including a card for each love interest. Additionally, a random trading card within the pack will have a special holographic finish.

Homura The Crimson Warriors trading card pack

There will also be digital Standard and Deluxe Editions available on the Nintendo eShop at launch.

The digital Standard Edition ($39.99 | €39.99 | £34.99) includes:

  • Digital Standard Edition

The Deluxe Edition ($54.99 | €54.99 | £49.99) includes:

  • Digital Standard Edition
  • Digital Short Stories (20 Pages)
  • Digital Soundtrack (26 Tracks) 

Lastly, here’s an overview of the game, via Idea Factory International:

About Homura: The Crimson Warriors

Fourteen years have passed since the Battle of Sekigahara split Japan in two.

Now firmly in control, the Tokugawa shogunate is scheming to eliminate the Toyotomi clan, a long-standing thorn in its side.

In response, the Toyotomi clan has decided to confront the Tokugawa head-on, using Osaka Castle as their stronghold. Calls for support were sent to daimyo throughout the nation and a mere few answered the call. One of these brave warriors was Nobushige Sanada, the second son of the Sanada family who was cast away to Mt. Kudo on house arrest after the Battle of Sekigahara.

Alongside Nobushige on his escape from Mt. Kudo are the Sanada Ten Braves, ten ninjas who serve him even after their exile. Standing in their way are the Ura Yagyu, a group comprised of assassins who have carried out many killings under orders from the shogunate, mysterious swordsmen, and mighty warriors.

This is the final chapter of the Warring States period. It is a tale of the bonds and way of life shared by the Nobushige Sanada and the Ten Braves who gather at Osaka Castle.

Key Features
      • Amongst the fire and ashes, love will prevail — Previously released in Japan on PS Vita in 2018, Western fans can experience the historical fantasy otome as the protagonist Mutsumi Mochizuki fights alongside the Crimson Warriors. Accompanied with multiple endings and CGs, this legendary battle of love tangled with iconic historical events and original characters in the Warring States period is sure to capture the hearts of history otome lovers!
      • Maintain peak performance with Energy Reading — Use Energy Reading to detect the affection level and Ring status of love interests. Mutsumi has the special ability to adjust the love interests’ Rings. When sped up, it allows them to utilize unique powers at the cost of their physical health. Make sure to keep their Rings balanced! If their health deteriorates too much, the consequences could be dire…
      • Ninja Guidance — Use your ninja scrolls to keep track of where you are in the story and revisit moments of the past if you seek a different outcome of the path you’ve chosen. Adjust both your affection and ring levels with each warrior when you select previously viewed events to change the course of history!
      • Path of the Samurai — Throughout the story, you can level up your ninja rank to keep up with the Crimson Warriors during battle. Take your ninja skills to the next level and make it your mission to reach Master rank and ensure victory against the Ura Yagyu!

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade PS5 and PC Update to Add Streamlined Progression Feature

By
Soul Kiwami
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Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Streamlined Progression

Square Enix has announced that the PlayStation 5 and PC versions of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will receive an update on January 22 with the Streamlined Progression feature. The update brings parity with the new Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S versions of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, which will also release on January 22.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade features the base game, the Episode INTERmission DLC featuring Yuffie Kisaragi, and “Streamlined Progression” feature. Streamlined Progression is an optional feature set that gives players access to unlimited MP and HP, unlimited limit and ATB gauge during battles, 9,999 damage, easier weapon ability acquisition, and more.

The Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade demo is available now on Nintendo Switch 2 via the Nintendo eShop and Xbox Series X|S via Microsoft Store. In terms of file size, the Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade demo is 7.9 GB on Switch 2 and 20.82 GB on Xbox Series X|S.

In the demo, players can progress through the entire first chapter featuring the mako reactor bombing mission. Save data from the demo transfers over to the full game, and players who clear the demo also unlock the bonus items “Revival Earrings” and “Survival Set.” It’s worth noting that save data can’t be transferred if the player already has data for the full game.

 

The Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Twin Pack physical edition launched on December 4, 2025 for PlayStation 5. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade & Rebirth Twin Pack physical copies include both games across three Blu-ray discs for $69.99.

Coffee Talk Tokyo Delayed to May 21

By
Saras Rajpal
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Coffee Talk Tokyo Delayed to May 21

Chorus Worldwide Games and Toge Productions have both announced that it has delayed Coffee Talk Tokyo to May 21. It initially would’ve released on March 5. 

In a statement, the developers stated that “We are taking a little more time so we can offer the best possible experience from day one, and create a game the community feels happy to return to, with new stories waiting to be shared.” In the meantime, the first Coffee Talk will release on iOS and Android on March 20. Check out the trailer confirming the delay for Coffee Talk Tokyo below:

Coffee Talk Tokyo will release for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. A Coffee Talk Tokyo Collector’s Edition will be sold featuring a 10-track City Pop Album, the Seattle Prologue Chapter, and an in-game digital artbook.

The Steam page describes Coffee Talk Tokyo as follows:

In a city of paper and steel, as large as a country, a small café gives humans and fantasy people a cosy place to be. Brew the right order for your customers as they seek refuge from the sweltering Tokyo summer heat and share heartfelt stories to chill lo-fi beats.

Set in Tokyo, a city where old and new coexist, this newest game in the Coffee Talk franchise brings back familiar elements with new twists.

New Cafe, New Customers

Coffee Talk Tokyo once again places you behind the counter of a chill coffee shop. But while the feeling is familiar, the customers and their stories are new. They include:

    • Kenji, the traditional kappa salaryman, striving to find meaning and a way forward after retirement.
    • Vin, the Barista’s assistant coping with a fractured past and the daily consequences of a previous disaster.
    • Ayame, a happy-go-lucky but recently deceased It girl, struggling to make sense of her new (after)life.
Lo-fi Beats Soundtrack by Andrew “”AJ”” Jeremy

The composer for Coffee Talk and Coffee Talk Episode 2, AJ, returns once again with new tracks to set the lo-fi soundscape and chill atmosphere.

Stay cool in the Summer heat

Brew iced drinks for your customers, or let them indulge in a hot hojicha if they’d rather keep it toasty.

GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition is Coming to Switch 2 on January 29

By
Soul Kiwami
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GRID Legends Deluxe Edition

Feral Interactive has announced that GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on January 29 for $39.99. Pre-orders for the Switch 2 version of GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition are available now in the Nintendo eShop. 

GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition will feature Graphics (30 FPS) and Performance (60 FPS) modes for both docked and handheld modes. In addition, there will be “Balanced” and “Battery Saver” presets for handheld mode. Moreover, the game leverages the use of analog triggers with the GameCube controller, allowing for greater acceleration and braking control.

Lastly, here’s an overview of the game, via Steam:

GRID Legends delivers thrilling wheel-to-wheel motorsport and edge-of-your-seat action around the globe. Create your dream motorsport events, hop into live multiplayer races, be part of the drama in an immersive virtual production story, and embrace the sensation of spectacular action racing.

Jostle for position. Drive legendary cars to their limits. Feel the rush of incredible speed. Push your Nemesis on the track. Defeat your friends again and again…and don’t let them ever forget it!

      • Play together with up to 21 friends in the most social and connected GRID ever, including cross-platform play, and cause havoc on the track.
      • Make racing memories with a stunning variety of cars, new city locations such as London, exciting event types; and create on-track enemies.
      • Use the Race Creator to design adrenaline-fueled races to tear up with your friends, with event types like Elimination, electrifying Boost races, and the return of Drift. Want to race hypercars against huge trucks? Go for it!
      • Be part of the spectacle of motorsport with our dramatic virtual production story Driven to Glory, or dive into our largest ever Career, featuring hundreds of exhilarating events.
      • New to GRID Legends: The Photomode Update – Snap and share your favourite in-game cars!

Solo Leveling: ARISE Adds SSR Hunters Sian Halat and Son Kihoon

By
Saras Rajpal
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Solo Leveling: ARISE Adds SSR Hunters Sian Halat and Son Kihoon

Netmarble has released a new update for Solo Leveling: ARISE, which adds two new SSR hunters: Sian Halat and Son Kihoon. The update is available also features new story content and a new competitive PvP mode, among other things. 

Sian Halat is described as the reimagined past self of Red Knight Igris. He is a Dark-type Elemental Stacker capable of creating overwhelming destruction, in part because of his ultimate skill, “Knight’s Pride.” Son Kihoon, on the other hand, is a Dark-type Breaker known for using his sword and shield. He possesses powerful abilities such as “Fierce Charge” and “Thrilling Fighting Spirit.” 

The update also adds a PvP mode called “International Clash.” Here, players will form attack and defense teams using up to five Hunters and nine Tactic Cards. They can challenge other players’ teams in battle to earn special titles and other rewards. New story content is also available, such as hidden Chapters 1 and 2, as well as the Expert difficulty versions of Chapters 19 and 20. Further, multiple snowflake-themed events are ongoing which offer players a chance to earn even more rewards. 

Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE is available now for PC via Microsoft Store and Steam, followed by PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2026. Final Weapon reviewed Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE and gave it a 4/5 score, noting that the game has “many improvements across the board, including major gameplay tweaks and additions, a more immersive story mode structure, and the removal of gacha mechanics.”

Lastly, Solo Leveling: ARISE is available now for Android, iOS, and PC. 

Sea of Stars Mobile Announced, Releases on April 7

By
Saras Rajpal
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Sea of Stars Mobile Announced, Releases on April 7

Playdigious has announced Sea of Stars Mobile, a re-release of the modern RPG for iOS and Android. It will release on April 7. 

The first trailer highlights the new control scheme for the game, adapted specifically for mobile consoles. It is unknown if the recent free DLC, Throes of the Watchmaker, will be available alongside its release. Check out the first trailer for Sea of Stars Mobile below:

Lastly, Sea of Stars is available now on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch. The game initially launched in 2023. The Steam page describes it as follows:

Promising the Sabotage touch in every system, Sea of Stars aims to modernize the classic RPG in terms of turn-based combat, storytelling, exploration and interactions with the environment, while still offering a hearty slice of nostalgia and good old, simple fun.

Pressing the action button in sync with the animations increases damage output while reducing incoming damage. Along with timed hits, combat features multi-character combo attacks, boosting, and a strategic “locks” system offering options to play with different damage types in order to hinder enemies while they are channeling powerful attacks or spells, all in an immersive take on the genre; no random encounters, no transitions to separate battlefields, and no grinding.

Swim, climb, vault, jump off or hoist up ledges as you traverse seamlessly through the world with a navigation system based on platformer expertise that breaks free from the classic bound-to-the-grid tileset movement.

Dozens of original characters and story arcs will take you on a captivating journey. Sometimes epic, sometimes silly, and other times emotional, Sea of Stars does its RPG duty of exploring classic themes of adventure and friendship, while also being chock-full of the unexpected twists and events you’d expect from a Sabotage production.

Life is Strange Next Game Will Be Revealed on January 20

By
Saras Rajpal
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Life is Strange Next Game Will Be Revealed on January 20

Deck Nine has announced that it will reveal the next Life is Strange game on January 20 via an official livestream. The first teaser hints at the return of both Max and Chloe. 

The stream will take place at 10 AM PDT/1 PM EDT/6 PM GMT/7 PM CET on the official Life is Strange YouTube channel. It will likely reveal details about the game’s story, gameplay mechanics, and release date, alongside a debut trailer. Check out the first teaser for the next game in the Life is Strange franchise below:

Recently, Square Enix released the retail-exclusive physical-only Life is Strange Collection on October 2 for PlayStation 5. The collection includes the following games:

Additionally, all DLC released for each game, including pre-order bonuses, are available. The collection costs $59.99 at select retailers. The first Life is Strange initially released in 2015. The most recent entry, Double Exposure, launched in 2024. The official Square Enix website describes the Life is Strange Collection as follows:

Supernatural powers collide with everyday life, and every choice you make has consequences.
 
LIFE IS STRANGE is a single-player narrative adventure series that focuses on heartfelt, grounded stories with a twist of the strange, and a franchise that has won over 100 awards since its inception – including from The Peabody Awards, BAFTA, and GLAAD.
 
Over five cinematic, emotional adventures, you’ll Rewind Time as Max Caulfield and uncover the secrets of Arcadia Bay with Chloe Price, take a road trip with Sean Diaz and his telekinetic brother Daniel, find a new home with psychic empath Alex Chen, and return to Max to solve a murder across two timelines. 

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