RAVEN2 ‘Snowflake Festival’ Update is Now Available

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Soul Kiwami
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Netmarble has launched its new “Snowflake Festival” update for dark fantasy MMORPG RAVEN2 on Android, iOS and PC via Epic Games Store. The holiday-themed update also adds the Ancient Fortress, which is a permanent new addition to the game.

The RAVEN2 Snowflake Festival is a special event dungeon celebrating the holiday season, and it will be available through January 6, 2026. Players can challenge the Gingerbread Man in the Snowflake Festival Hill dungeon and earn various rewards, such as Heroic Holy Garment (Festival of the Silent Star or Herald of Winter), the Rare Holy Garment “Temptation of the Holy Night,” and a Rare Familiar “Snopon.” The latest check-in event also offers a Heroic Holy Garment (1) Summon Scroll.

The massive GvG content “Ancient Fortress” has been added, allowing 24 guilds within each world to compete across four distinct battlefields. Guilds can participate in the entry bidding process by using the in-game item “Invitation from the Lost Kingdom,” and up to four guilds per server will win the bid and gain access into the fortress.

Guilds who make it to the Ancient Fortress will face off against powerful bosses, and the guild that lands the final blow on the boss Protector Parnaq will win and receive a massive amount of Crystals as a reward. The first Ancient Fortress competition will take place on January 10, and a Ancient Fortress Support Mission event will be available with rewards like Heroic Crafting Blueprints and Heroic Skill Book Crafting Blueprints.

The global version of RAVEN2 is available in 150 countries and support 16 different languages, including English, Thai, German, French, Indonesian, and Malay.

Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe Reveals Insert Song by SennaRin and Yōhei Kawakami of Alexandros

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Soul Kiwami
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Bandai Namco Filmworks has revealed a new trailer for the Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway The Sorcery of Nymph Circe anime film, revealing a new insert song “ENDROLL” by SennaRin with Yōhei Kawakami of Alexandros. SennaRin and Hiroyuki Sawano will release the new album LOSTandFOUND on February 4 with new songs that will be featured in Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway The Sorcery of Nymph Circe.

 

In addition, the Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway “THE SOUND OF U.C.0105” event will be held at the Tokyo International Forum from March 7 to March 8, 2026, with live performances from Hiroyuki Sawano. Ticket applications are available now at the event’s official website.

 

Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway The Sorcery of Nymph Circe will premiere on January 30, 2026 across 365 theaters in Japan, with North American screenings to follow. The first Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway film will be re-cut into four episodes, which will begin broadcasting weekly on Nippon TV’s AnichU programming block starting January 6.

The cast members of the sequel include:

  • Hiroshi Shirokuma as Brinks Wedge
  • Anna Nagase as Julia Suga
  • Mahana Yamasaki as Hala Morley
  • Hinata Satō as Betchy
  • Kazuki Kyan as Rod Hein
  • Taiki Yamashita as Lowaist Heinrich
  • Shinya Takahashi as Chartchai Coleman
  • Noriaki Kanze as Josef Cedi
  • Shūichi Uchida as Ridorick
  • Hayato Inomata as Vilantes Suecken
  • Taihi Kimura as Drab Liddo

The main cast and a majority of the first film’s staff returns. Yuichi Kuboki joins Takako Suzuki as color key artists. Yoshinori Sayama is credited for display designs, Yoshihisa Ōyama is the new compositing director of photography, and Manabu Kamitōno directs the visual effects.

My Beloved Star -Days That Sparkle- Opens Pre-Registration

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Soul Kiwami
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Nippon TV and NOW PRODUCTION have opened pre-registration for My Beloved Star -Days That Sparkle-, a new My Beloved Star otome mobile game, ahead of its release in February 2026 for Android and iOS. In addition to pre-registration, new information about two of the leading characters of My Beloved Star -Days That Sparkle- was also revealed. 

In My Beloved Star -Days That Sparkle-, players must fulfill their role as Epilogia, the king’s oracle, and guide the princes toward the throne of King of the Universe. However, there are mysterious forces contending against the player: Pluto the Dark Sentinel and Lunatys the Moon’s Satellite. These characters have stolen away the crown for their own ends, which could lead to the end of everything.

The game’s director said, “My Beloved Star was created with the simple mission – to add a bit of sparkle to your everyday life. And now we’re introducing two new characters into the story. They might not seem as shiny at first glance, but rest assured that the roles they play will unlock a richer and deeper side to our all-star story. Through them, new layers of mystery and emotion will unfold and pique your curiosity in unique ways. We hope you’ll be happy to meet them!”

Further, B’s-LOG, a gaming information magazine for women published by Kadokawa, will feature My Beloved Star -Days That Sparkle- in the March 2026, April 2026, and May 2026 issues, releasing on January 20, February 19, and March 19, respectively. The May 2026 issue will also have a double cover featuring the game. What’s more, a prize campaign will be held on the official My Beloved Star X (formerly Twitter) account. 

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.

This innovative otome experience offers support in everyday life by delivering both feelings of healing and thrills through a set of features like voiced horoscopes, a diary, and the ability to communicate with and dress up your chosen prince.

The game also features 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.

Vocal Cast

Daisuke Namikawa, Soma Saito, Takuya Eguchi, Fumiyasu Shiotani, Tasuku Hatanaka, Yuki Sakakihara, Koutaro Nishiyama, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Shinichiro Kamio, Shogo Sakata, Toshiki Masuda, Junichi Suwabe

Crunchyroll to Host Trigun Stampede Watch Party Ahead of Stargaze Premiere

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Soul Kiwami
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Trigun Stampede Watch Party

Crunchyroll will be hosting the Trigun Stampede Watch Party event on January 6 at 10:00 a.m. PST / 1:00 p.m. EST on Crunchyroll’s official YouTube channel. Streaming until January 13 at 10:00 a.m. PST / 1:00 p.m. EST, the Trigun Stampede Watch Party will feature all 12 episodes of Studio Orange’s anime and an exclusive interview with original creator Yasuhiro Nightow on Crunchyroll’s The Anime Effect Podcast ahead of the premiere of Trigun Stargaze.

Trigun Stargaze premieres on January 10, 2026, premiere at 11:00 p.m. JST on TV Tokyo and affiliate channels, and Crunchyroll will stream the series. As previously revealed, Trigun Stargaze is the “final phase” of the Trigun Stampede anime. The season will take place 2.5 years after the end of Trigun Stampede. 

Ano performs the opening theme song “Picaresque Hero,” and FOMARE performs the ending theme song “Stardust.”

The cast includes:

  • Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Vash the Stampede
  • Sakura Andō as Meryl Stryfe
  • Yoshimasa Hosoya as Nicholas D. Wolfwood
  • Kōki Uchiyama as Legato Bluesummers
  • Ayumu Murase as Elendira the Crimsonnail
  • Ryūsei Nakao as William Conrad
  • TARAKO as Zazie the Beast
  • Chika Ayamori as Milly Thompson
  • Ryūji Satō as Millions Knives
  • Chō as Leonof the Puppet-Master
  • Taketora as Hoppered the Gauntlet
  • Shinichirō Miki as Midvalley the Hornfreak
Trigun Stargaze anime key visual
© 2026 内藤泰弘・少年画報社／「TRIGUN STARGAZE」製作委員会

Masako Sato directs the anime series at studio Orange, and Takehiko Oxi returns to write the original story of Trigun Stargaze. Kazuyuki Fudeyasu writes and supervises the series scripts. Kouji Tajima is the original character designer and concept artist. Kiyotaka Oshiyama is the animation character designer for the anime.

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

Vash the Stampede’s a joyful gunslinging pacifist, so why does he have a $$6 million bounty on his head? That’s what’s puzzling rookie reporter Meryl Stryfe and her jaded veteran partner when looking into the vigilante only to find someone who hates blood. But their investigation turns out to uncover something heinous—his evil twin brother, Millions Knives.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Update 1.0.3 Adds Phantom Ganon, Forbidden Difficulty and More

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Soul Kiwami
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Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment update 1.0.3

Nintendo has released the version 1.0.3 update for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, which adds the Phantom Ganon feature, the Forbidden difficulty level, new challenges and quests, new Unique Skills, and new weapons. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment update 1.0.3 also introduces several feature improvements and bug fixes.

Read up on the patch notes below, via Nintendo’s support website:

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Update 1.0.3 Patch Notes

Features added

Phantom Ganon:

  • Phantom Ganon is a new feature that randomly triggers in battles that you have completed. In battles where Phantom Ganon has triggered, a portion of the enemies that appear will have transformed into Vicious Enemies or Gloom Spawn.
  • In addition, when you defeat powerful enemies, there is a possibility that Phantom Ganon may appear. You will be able to acquire more Pure Zonaite Steel than in normal battles.

Forbidden Difficulty:

  • In the new Forbidden difficulty level, you can experience high-difficulty battles that are more challenging than the battles in Very Hard difficulty.
  • If you complete a certain number of battles on Forbidden difficulty, you will receive special rewards such as Pure Zonaite Steel or an increase in the number of Special Rations that can be held.

New challenges and quests added:

  • Similar to the first free update, this second update also adds multiple new challenges and quests to the Hyrule Map after the main game has been beaten.
  • Lizalfos and Chuchus appear as new Vicious Enemies.
  • The Tanagar Meditation Hall on the sky island is unlocked, and you will be able to perform a sync strike if you enter with two characters.

New Unique Skills added:

  • New unique skills have been added to the Mysterious Construct for its one-handed weapons, two-handed weapons, and spears.
  • With the one-handed weapon unique skill Shield Charge, you can break through dangerous attacks from charging enemies by raising your shield and stepping into them. Also, with correct timing against an enemy attack, you can deal a powerful spinning slash.
  • You can learn these skills by completing the challenges and quests that are added in this update.

New weapons added:

  • The Forbidden Blade, a one-handed weapon that was touched by Gloom and ominously transformed, was added. The Mysterious Construct and warriors of various peoples are able to equip it.
  • You can acquire this weapon by completing battles that are added in this update.
  • The battles below will be added as well:
    • Battles focused on the warriors.
    • A life-or-death struggle with a certain powerful enemy.
Improved Features
  • Aside Quests that involve sync strikes as a condition have been changed so that they can also be achieved by characters you are not controlling while performing sync strikes.
  • You can back out of bonus conversations in the Gallery with B Button.
  • Adjusted display conditions and frequency in Tutorials for Dodge and Guard.
  • When you have hit the upper limit of Zonaite Steel you can possess, you will be able to use the weapon enhancements below at the end of combat:
    • Raise Weapon-Level Limit
    • Remove Seals
Fixed Issues
  • Fixed an issue where, when assigning Electric Lizalfos parts to the Material Sensor, a battle in which Electric Lizalfos don’t appear (“Terror of the Sands”) could be tracked.
  • Fixed an issue where the Challenge “A Flash of Steel in the Desert“ would not appear until a number of other battles had been completed, even after all displayed requisite battles had been completed.
  • Fixed an issue where, during two-player split-screen play, the second player’s attack sounds and other sounds could not be heard.
  • Fixed an issue where, when assigning necessary materials to the Material Sensor (Assign to Sensor in Unlock Weapon Arts) a player would only be able to remove them from the sensor via the Materials screen.

Lastly, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is available now for $69.99, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road ‘Galaxy & LBX DLC’ Update Launches on December 21

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Soul Kiwami
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Inazuma Eleven Victory Road Galaxy & LBX DLC update

LEVEL-5 has announced the Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road “Galaxy & LBX DLC” update will release on December 21. The new update introduces a slew of new content, including Grand Celesta Galaxy Conquer stadiums with planet-specific effects. These stadiums allow players to relive classics with “rivals from beyond the stars.”

The Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road Galaxy & LBX DLC update also includes the following content: 

  • New Routes: “Galaxy” and “Inazuma VS LBX”
  • New Re-Story
  • New BB Stadium Teams
  • New 2P Tag Mode
  • Commander Ladder
  • High Speed Commander Mode
  • Story-Based Positioning for Combination Moves
  • New Character Rarity: FABLED – Stronger than HERO and adaptable to any build. Only one can join each match.
  • Marketplace: Atrium of the Untamed

In the meantime, players are encouraged to install Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road update 1.5.0, which is the game’s latest update at the time of this writing. The update makes various adjustments to pre-assigned passives and applies various bug fixes.

Read up on the patch notes for update 1.5.0 below, via the game’s official website:

Balance Adjustments

Adjusted the Specifications for Pre-assigned Passives to Managers and Coordinators:

  • Reverted the specifications for manager/coordinator pre-assigned passives to the previous removable system.
  • Introduced caps (upper limits) on the team’s total accumulated passive values to prevent unintended or abusive abnormal totals and to reduce negative impacts during matches. Please see here for details on the caps for each team passive.
    • For team bonuses, when a value reaches and exceeds its cap, the capped value is displayed in orange to indicate the limit is in effect.
    • As compensation for this issue, 20 Bond Stars have been distributed. Please claim them from the “Claim Bonus Content” section.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed an issue in the side quest “Go Viral! Special Football Drill” that could sometimes cause the game to crash after completing the quest.
  • Fixed an issue in the Chronicle Competition Route that could sometimes cause the game to crash during the post-match fade to black.
  • Fixed an issue in the Chronicle Competition Route where opening the drop rate confirmation screen could sometimes cause the game to crash.
  • Fixed an issue in the Chronicle Competition Route where controls could sometimes become unresponsive on the black screen during the post-match fade-out.
  • Fixed an issue where, when entering a Focus Battle during a match, the opposing CPU could sometimes remain in the “Selecting…” state, preventing further player input.
  • Fixed an issue where, when summoning a large number of Spirits at once, some could fail to be added to the Player Bank.
  • Fixed an issue in Avatar Editor where female-only outfits could not be equipped if the style was set to girly and the body type was not Type 02.
  • Fixed an issue in Pinball Adventure Arena where shots taken from the center of the penalty area toward either post could sometimes cause the ball to be incorrectly deflected by a flipper.
  • Fixed an issue where the team emblem and team name could not be changed in the Team Dock after transitioning from the Chronicle Competition Route.
  • Fixed an issue in Story Mode Special Training where certain characters could sometimes not appear.
  • Fixed an issue where created Avatars could equip outfits they should not be able to wear, and doing so could cause the character’s appearance to display incorrectly.
  • Fixed an issue where exchanges at the Spirit Market could sometimes fail even when the requirements were met.
  • Fixed an issue where, when using the real skill Strong Punch, the ball would not be deflected on a successful save.
  • Fixed an issue in the Scene Archives where the Chapter 2 title was not displayed.
  • Fixed other minor bugs.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is available now for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. 

Cardfight!! Vanguard Divinez Genma Seisen-hen Anime Premieres January 10

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Soul Kiwami
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Cardfight!! Vanguard Divinez Genma Seisen-hen

The official X (formerly Twitter) account for the Cardfight!! Vanguard anime series confirmed the Cardfight!! Vanguard Divinez Genma Seisen-hen anime will premiere on January 10. A new promotional video was also revealed alongside the cast of Cardfight!! Vanguard Divinez Genma Seisen-hen and the anime’s theme songs. 

V.W.P performs the opening theme song “Genkai.” RealRomantic performs the ending theme song “Giragira.”

The cast includes:

  • Toshiya Miyata as Akina Myōdō
  • Jun Fukuyama as Gabwelius
  • Takeo Ōtsuka as Kagetsu Yakumo
  • Takehito Koyasu as Veissrugr
  • Ikumi Hasegawa as Kurumi Ishikawa
  • Yūko Natsuyoshi as Kanami Ishikawa
  • Haruki Iwata as Mikoto Saitō
  • Yūka Nishio as Nao Inabe
  • Daisuke Sakuma as Michiru Hazama
  • Nobuhiko Okamoto as Ryūga Fushimi
  • Amane Shindō as Megumi Ōkura
  • Shūta Morishima as Masanori Iseki

The anime premieres on January 10 at 8:00 a.m. JST on TV Aichi and six TV Tokyo stations. What’s more, the second episode will screen early at “Bushiroad New Year Grand Announcement 2026” event on January 12 on Bushiroad’s official YouTube channel.

Cardfight!! Vanguard DivineZ Deluxe Arc premiered on January 11, 2025 on YouTube,  followed by the Deluxe Finals arc on July 5. The English dub of Deluxe Finals premiered on October 24. 

Cardfight Vanguard DivineZ includes the sixth and seventh seasons of the “D Series,” which began with the first season of Cardfight Vanguard overDress in April 2021. After DivineZ Season 1’s dub aired in April, the anime’s second season premiered in July 2024. 

The first two seasons of Cardfight!! Vanguard DivineZ are streaming on Crunchyroll.

Eren the Southpaw Anime Reveals New Key Visual and Cast Members

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Soul Kiwami
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Eren the Southpaw anime

The staff of the TV anime adaptation of Kappi and Nifuni’s Eren the Southpaw (Hidarikiki no Eren) manga have revealed a new key visual and five more cast members. Advanced screenings for the anime were also confirmed.

Eren the Southpaw anime key visual
©かっぴー/アニメ「左ききのエレン」製作委員会

The new cast members include:

  • Yui Ishikawa as Sayuri Katō
  • Akira Sekine as Akari Kishi
  • Kazuyuki Okitsu as Yūsuke Kamiya
  • Yurina Amami as Yurina Mitsuhashi
  • Kōji Yusa as Hajime Yanagi
Eren the Southpaw anime cast members
©かっぴー/アニメ「左ききのエレン」製作委員会

The Eren the Southpaw anime premieres in April 2026, and the first three episodes will have a limited one-week theater screening starting March 27 in Japan.

The anime’s main cast includes:

  • Shōya Chiba as Koichi Asakura 
  • Yumi Uchiyama as Eren Yamagishi

Toshimasa Suzuki is directing the anime at Signal.MD and Production I.G. Taku Kishimoto is handling the series scripts, while Takayuki Gotō is the animation character designer. Yuka Fukuchi and Akane Tamai are designing the characters and are also the chief animation directors.

Additional staff members include:

  • Color Key Artist: Mitsuko Sekimoto
  • Art Director: Takeshi Satō
  • Art Setting: Kazuhiro Obata
  • Compositing Director of Photography: Shun Arimura
  • Editing: Jun’ichi Masunaga
  • Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa
  • Music: PC Music Club

Kappi’s Eren the Southpaw manga first debuted on the Cake’s web manga service in March 2016. Kappi then launched a remake with art by Nifuni on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ service in October 2017. The manga ended on October 8, 2022, and received an extra chapter in December. The manga’s 23rd and 24th compiled book volumes were also published by Shueisha that December.

Lastly, here’s a description of the series, via the official website:

Halfway through high school, everyone is starting to seriously consider their future career paths. Koichi Asakura, who is aiming to enter an art college to become a designer, is shocked one day by graffiti scrawled on the wall of an art museum.

The artist is Yamagishi Ellen, a left-handed high school girl who has suppressed her talent since a certain incident . Before long, the two come to recognize each other through “drawing,” and Koichi sets out on the path to becoming a designer, while Ellen sets out on the path to becoming a painter.

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 Special Selection Pack Releases January 22, 2026

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Soul Kiwami
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One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 Character Pack 8

Bandai Namco has announced the One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 “Special Selection Pack” DLC will launch on January 22, 2026. One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 Special Selection Pack features playable characters Eneru, King, and Z, and a livestream showcasing these characters will premiere on December 18 at 2:00 a.m. PST / 5:00 a.m. EST on YouTube.

Previously, a free update for One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 Future Island Egghead Pack introduced the “Future Where I’m Most Free” form for playable character Jewelry Bonney. When “Future Where I’m Most Free” Jewelry Bonney uses her “Nika Punch” special move, Gear 5 Monkey D. Luffy joins her in the attack.

The One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 Future Island Egghead Pack includes Rob Lucci from CP0, S-Snake from Dr. Vegapunk’s Seraphim, and Jewelry Bonney, the captain of Bonney Pirates and member of the Worst Generation. What’s more, each character in the Future Island Egghead Pack includes an exclusive alternate outfit.

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S features improved graphics, larger-scale battles with more on-screen enemies, and an expanded playable roster featuring 18 additional DLC characters. Switch players can upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for free via Upgrade Pack.

What’s more, the One Piece Elbaph arc anime premieres in April 2026 with a new two-cour structure featuring a maximum of 26 episodes. This change to the seasonal model aims to bring improvements in story pacing and animation quality. Once the Egghead arc concludes this year, One Piece will go on a three-month hiatus from January to March 2026. Crunchyroll will continue to stream the series.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Direct Announced for December 22

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Soul Kiwami
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Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Direct

SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have announced a Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Direct is set for December 22 at 5:00 p.m. PST / 8:00 p.m. EST on YouTube and Twitch. The livestream will feature new details and gameplay covering both titles in Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties. RGG Studio encourages re-streamers and reactions to the Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties livestream.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties includes a remake of 2009’s Yakuza 3 and Dark Ties, a Like a Dragon Gaiden-style game with Yoshitaka Mine as the protagonist. Yakuza Kiwami 3 features revamped gameplay, story changes, new cast members and English voice-overs, and new cutscenes in the Dragon Engine.

The cast includes:

  • Takaya Kuroda as Kazuma Kiryu
  • Shido Nakamura as Yoshitaka Mine
  • Satoshi Tokushige as Daigo Dojima
  • Ryo Ishibashi as Shigeru Nakahara
  • Teruyuki Kagawa as Goh Hamazaki
  • Show Kasamatsu as Rikiya Shimabukuro
  • Hiroyuki Miyasako as Tsuyoshi Kanda
  • Kenji Matsuda as Shinpei Ikari

Players may choose to play Yakuza Kiwami 3 or Dark Ties in any order. Mine has a unique fighting style and access to mini-games like Karaoke. There’s also Kanda Damage Control, a new request-based system with substories, and Hell’s Arena, a underground fight club with Survival.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties launches February 12, 2026 for $59.99 on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. There will be physical and digital editions, and pre-orders include the Ichiban Legendary Lad DLC. A Digital Deluxe Edition costs $74.99 and includes several DLC packs (also sold separately).

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