Cultural Exchange With a Game Centre Girl Anime Reveals ‘Summer Memories’ Key Visual

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Soul Kiwami
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Cultural Exchange With a Game Centre Girl

With the 12th and final episode of the Cultural Exchange With a Game Centre Girl anime in the books, a new “Summer Memories” key visual was released as a send off with fall underway.

Cultural Exchange With a Game Centre Girl Summer Memories key visual
© 安原宏和/KADOKAWA/ゲーセン少女と異文化交流会

The Cultural Exchange With a Game Centre Girl anime aired from July 6 to September 28 on AT-X, and Crunchyroll streamed the series outside Japan.

The cast of Cultural Exchange With a Game Centre Girl includes:

  • Sally Amaki as Lily Baker
  • Shōya Chiba as Renji Kusakabe
  • Reo Osanai as Aoi Kusakabe
  • Kaori Ishihara as Hotaru Katsuragi
  • Asaki Yuikawa as Karin Kaga
  • Ai Kayano as Momoko Mochizuki

Amaki and Osani will perform the opening theme song “Futari no Start Button,” while Amaki performs the ending theme song “Amusing Flavor.” 

Toshihiro Kikuchi directs the anime at studio Nomad. Yasunori Yamada is in charge of series scripts, and Rikiya Okano is the character designer. 

Other staff members include:

  • Art Director: Isamu Nishiyama
  • Art Setting: Kenta Masuda
  • Color Design: Yukiko Shigemitsu (sola)
  • Editor: Mutsumi Takemiya
  • Sound Director: Yasunori Ebina
  • Sound Effects: Kiyotaka Kawada
  • Recording Adjustment: Shunpei Takeuchi
  • Sound Production: zuvo.
  • Casting: Wataru Matsuoka
  • Music Composer: Takurō Iga

Hirokazu Yasuhara launched the manga on X (formerly Twitter) in 2019 before being serialized in Kadokawa’s Dra Dra Sharp# website in 2020. Kadokawa published the manga’s ninth volume on December 9, 2024.

The story of Cultural Exchange With a Game Centre Girl follows Renji Kusakabe, a part-time worker at a game arcade center. One day, he met a British girl named Lily, who was focused on a crane game by herself on Valentine’s Day. She’s tearful in her pursuit of a crane game prize, so Renji helps her win a stuffed anime. Later, she gives him a message card with the message, “Be My Valentine! (Be My Boyfriend!).”

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Infinity Castle 1st Film Exceeds $600 Million at Box Office

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Soul Kiwami
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Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Infinity Castle

Sony Pictures Entertainment announced Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Infinity Castle – Akaza Returns is the first Japanese film to exceed $600 million at the worldwide box office, making it the most highest-earning anime film of all time. The first Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Infinity Castle film also surpassed 35 billion yen in revenue in Japan, making it the second ever film to reach the milestone at the box office after Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Mugen Train.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Infinity Castle closed out its third weekend in the U.S. with a total of $118.176 million. Currently, Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Infinity Castle is the 8th highest-earning film of the year worldwide, behind Superman. The film surpasses revenue generated by The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Captain America: Brave New World.

©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable

Haruo Sotozaki directed the film at studio ufotable. In addition, Akira Matsushima is the character designer and chief animation director. Further, Aimer performs the theme song “Taiyō ga Noboranai Sekai (A World Where the Sun Never Rises),” while LiSA performs the song “Zankoku no Yoru ni Kagayake (Shine in the Cruel Night).”

Lastly, the film’s English dub cast includes:

  • Zach Aguilar as Tanjiro Kamado
  • Abby Trott as Nezuko Kamado
  • Aleks Le as Zenitsu Agatsuma
  • Bryce Papenbrook as Inosuke Hashibira
  • Brianna Knickerbocker as Kanao Tsuyuri
  • Zeno Robinson as Genya Shinazugawa
  • Johnny Yong Bosch as Giyu Tomioka
  • Ray Chase as Tengen Uzui 
  • Griffin Burns as Muichiro Tokito
  • Erika Harlacher as Shinobu Kocho
  • Kira Buckland as Mitsuri Kanroji
  • Erik Scott Kimerer as Obanai Iguro
  • Kaiji Tang as Sanemi Shinazugawa
  • Crispin Freeman as Gyomei Himejima
  • Lucien Dodge as Akaza (Upper Three)
  • Channing Tatum as Keizo 
  • Rebecca Wang as Koyuki

Jump Festa 2026 Reveals Full Stage Schedule

By
Soul Kiwami
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Jump Festa 2026 schedule

The official X (formerly Twitter) account for Jump Festa 2026 has revealed the event’s stage schedule. Jump Festa 2026 will be held on December 20 to 21 at the Makuhari Messe venue in Chiba, Japan, and there will be 42 stage events, including Jump Super Stages, Jump Studio, and the new Jump Station stage events.

Jump Festa 2026 key visual
©SHUEISHA Inc. All rights reserved.

Here’s the schedule and confirmed anime titles for Jump Festa 2026 (all times in JST):

Jump Festa 2026 Schedule and Featured Anime Titles

Jump Super Stages

Saturday, December 20

  • 11:40 – 12:10 – My Hero Academia
  • 12:20 – 12:50 – Gintama
  • 13:00 – 13:30 – Jujutsu Kaisen
  • 13:40 – 14:10 – Oblivion Battery
  • 14:20 – 14:50 – Blue Exorcist
  • 15:00 – 15:30 – Kaiju No. 8
  • 15:40 – 16:10 – New Prince of Tennis
  • 16:20 – 16:50 – World Trigger
  • 17:00 – 17:30 – Sakamoto Days

Sunday, December 21

  • 11:40 – 12:10 – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
  • 12:20 – 12:50 – Blue Box
  • 13:00 – 13:30 – Dr. STONE
  • 13:40 – 14:10 – SPY x FAMILY
  • 14:20 – 14:50 – DAN DA DAN
  • 15:00 – 15:30 – Bleach
  • 15:40 – 16:10 – Akane-banashi
  • 16:20 – 16:50 – Chainsaw Man
  • 17:00 – 17:50 – One Piece

Jump Studio

Saturday, December 20

  • 11:40 – 12:10 – Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan – Hokkaido-hen
  • 12:50 – 13:20 – Mission: Yozakura Family
  • 14:00 – 14:40 – Hell’s Paradise
  • 15:10 – 15:50 – MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES
  • 16:20 – 17:00 – Chained Soldier

Sunday, December 21

  • 11:40 – 12:10 – WITCH WATCH
  • 12:50 – 13:30 – Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube
  • 14:00 – 14:30 – The Elusive Samurai
  • 15:10 – 15:40 – Black Clover
  • 16:20 – 16:50 – Haikyu!!

Jump Station

Saturday, December 20

  • 11:40 – 12:20 – Moriarty the Patriot stage musical
  • 12:50 – 13:30 – KochiKame / Undead Unluck / Assassination Classroom
  • 14:00 – 14:40 – Marriagetoxin
  • 15:10 – 15:40 – Kindergarten WARS
  • 16:20 – 17:00 – Gokurakugai / Phantom Busters

Livestream links and additional details about Jump Festa 2026 will be revealed at a later date, so please stay tuned.

3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-Sensei Touuunn!! Full-Color Vertical Scrolling Manga is Coming to Jump TOON

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Soul Kiwami
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2025’s 44th issue of Weekly Shonen Jump announced that Tomohito Ōsaki’s 3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-Sensei (Class 3-Z’s Teacher Ginpachi) spinoff novel series is getting a vertical full-color manga adaptation on the Jump TOON service. The manga adaptation is titled 3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-Sensei Touuunn!!, and it will launch on October 6. Ao Suzumemura is storyboarding the series, and Yūki Aonuma is drawing the manga adaptation.

Ōsaki launched the novel series in 2006, and its still ongoing. In the novel series, Gintoki Sakata is a high school teacher in charge of Class 3-Z at Gintama High School. 2025’s combined 36th and 27th issue of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump confirmed the 3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-Sensei novel series is getting a new volume on October 3, titled Oide yo Rinkan Gakkō, or Going on a School Camp.

The GINTAMA – Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class anime will be streaming for free on Anime.com  starting October 6 at 10:00 p.m. EDT. Botchi Boromaru performs the opening theme song “Sakurakaze (Cherry Blossom Wind),” and LONGMAN performs the ending theme song “Underclass HERO.”

Natsumi Higashida is directing the GINTAMA – Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class anime at BN Pictures. Makoto Moriwaki is the general director, and Kazuyuki Fudeyasu and Mitei Mark II handle the series composition. Gintama animation director Shinji Takeuchi returns for the project, and Audio Highs will compose the anime’s music.

Returning cast members for the anime include: 

  • Tomokazu Sugita as Ginpachi Sakata
  • Daisuke Sakaguchi as Shinpachi Shimura
  • Rie Kugimiya as Kagura
  • Satsuki Yukino as Tae Shimura
  • Susumu Chiba as Isao Kondo
  • Kazuya Nakai as Toshiro Hijikata
  • Kenichi Suzumura as Sogo Okita
  • Tetsuharu Ohta as Sagaru Yamazaki
  • Yū Kobayashi as Ayame Sarutobi
  • Akira Ishida as Kotaro Katsura
  • Takehito Koyasu as Shinsuke Takasugi
  • Satoshi Hino as Kamui

Lastly, the Gintama series is streaming on Crunchyroll.

Wind Breaker Live-Action Film Releases ‘Concept Art to Movie’ Video

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Soul Kiwami
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Wind Breaker live-action film concept art to movie video

Warner Bros. Japan released a new video for the upcoming Wind Breaker live-action film adaptation, dubbed “Concept Art to Movie.” The new Concept Art to Movie video shows concept art illustrations for the Wind Breaker live-action film’s shopping avenue, which was transformed into a three-dimensional set.

The Wind Breaker live-action film premieres on December 5 in Japan. Kentarō Hagiwara directs the Wind Breaker live-action film, with a script by Japan Academy Prize winner Yōsuke Masaike. Warner Brothers is distributing the film. The film was shot from February to April 2025 in Okinawa, and the production rented a local shopping avenue for the film to serve as a massive open set. 

The Wind Breaker live-action cast includes:

  • Kōshi Mizukami as Haruka Sakura
  • Taisei Kido as Akihiko Nirei
  • Keito Tsuna as Hayato Suō
  • JUNON as Kyōtarō Sugishita
  • Motoki Nakazawa as Tōma Hiragi
  • Shūhei Uesugi as Hajime Umemiya
  • Rikako Yagi as Kotoha Tachibana
  • Kōki Yamashita as Chōji Tomiyama
  • Noritaka Hamao as Jō Togame

Wind Breaker Season 2 aired weekly from April 3 to June 19 in the Super Animeism TURBO block on 28 MBS and TBS affiliate channels. The anime is streaming on ABEMA, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, U-NEXT, and other streaming services in Japan. Crunchyroll is streaming the anime series outside of Japan with English subs and dubs.

Toshifumi Akai directed the second season at CloverWorks with Hiroshi Seko in charge of series scripts. Taishi Kawakami designed the characters and Ryō Takahashi composed the music.

Additional staff members include:

  • Chief Animation Directors: Taishi Kawakami and Yūsuke Tanaka
  • Action Director: Kazuyuki Asaka
  • Prop Design: Maiko Hado
  • Art Setting/Director: Yasunao Moriyasu
  • Color Key Artists: Kyōko Hara and Asuka Yokota
  • Compositing Director of Photography: Yukiko Nagase
  • 3D Director: Keita Watanabe (Sublimation)
  • Editing: Akinori Mishima
  • Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa

Image credit: ©にいさとる／講談社 ©2025「WIND BREAKER」製作委員会

Zenless Zone Zero Unveils Version 2.3 ‘Memories of Dreams Bygone,’ Launches October 15

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Soul Kiwami
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Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.3

HoYoverse announced Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.3 “Memories of Dreams Bygone” launches on October 15 with the new Timesworn Hills area, playable Agents Lucia, Yidhari, and Komano Manato, new outfits for Vivian and Manato, and new events. 

Timesworn Hills is known for its bountiful Lumite ore deposits, but abandoned research facilities and testing ground ruins hold a secret to this region. Players will hear tales of miners who vanished within the region’s Miasma, the tolling of a phantom ball, creatures that gaze into people’s hearts, and hypnotists that can trap victims in endless dreams. Players start by investigating cases of missing miners and Porcelumex employees, before uncovering haunting truths.

In Version 2.3, Zenless Zone Zero players may recruit new members of the Spook Shack. Lucia is a new S-Rank Ether Support Agent and Ethereal fan, and she wields dreamlike powers to recreate Ethereals in combat. In battle, Lucia can accumulate Dream Points to enter a Dream state and unleash Ether Veil: Wellspring, which boosts all allies’ max HP, enhances damage with Sheer Force, and triggers Aftershocks.

Yidhari is a new S-Rank Ice Rupture Agent that embodies risk and resilience. She gains Sheer Force based on her max HP, and her ice attacks inflict Sheer DMG and pierce enemy defense. The risk comes when her HP percentage drops, since Yidhari’s damage increases in return. Yidhari is joined by A-Rank Fire Rupture Agent Komano Manato, who can unleash Sheer DMG with strikes that scale with his max HP. S-level agents Vivian (Ether – Anomaly) and Ju Fufu (Fire – Stun) will return in this version’s banners. Manato can be earned for free from the “When Dreams Remain Unfinished” turn-based event.

Zenless Zone Zero is available now for PlayStation 5, Android, iOS, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Windows and Epic Games Store. 

CRKD Reveals NEO S 5-Fret Daft Punk Fortnite Festival Edition Controller

By
Soul Kiwami
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CRKD has revealed the new NEO S 5-Fret Daft Punk Fortnite Festival Edition controller, which is designed for use with Fortnite Festival and other rhythm-based games. The controller celebrates the Daft Punk Experience and features a printed “1993-2021” design to commemorate the iconic duo’s Grammy Awards-winning run. 

Like the CRKD Gibson Les Paul Guitar controllers, NEO S 5-Fret Daft Punk Fortnite Festival Edition is designed and engineered by team members behind the iconic Guitar Hero and DJ Hero peripherals. The controller features a unique Festival Attachment with five action buttons that replicates the frets found on a real guitar. However, players can still use the controller to play Keytar, Drum, Mic, and Bass song parts in Fortnite Festival, and the controller is fully featured and usable in other games. 

The NEO S 5-Fret Daft Punk Fortnite Festival Edition controller is compatible on multiple devices, including Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile devices, and Smart TVs. It also features Hall Effect thumbsticks, integrated motion controls, wireless connectivity, remappable back buttons, adjustable vibration, swappable stick tops, and other customizable features.

Lastly, NEO S 5-Fret Daft Punk Fortnite Festival Edition is available to pre-order at CRKD’s product page for $59.99. The controller is expected to ship in November 2025. After purchasing and receiving the controller, players may register it and add it to their personal secure collection in CRKD True Collection System app on Android and iOS. The app’s CRKD CTRL lets users customize the controller’s adjustable features.

Memories Off Sousou: Break out of my shell Fan Disc Revealed

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Soul Kiwami
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Memories Off Sousou Break out of my shell

MAGES. has announced Memories Off Sousou: Break out of my shell, the fan disc to romance visual novel Memories Off Sousou: Not always true. Memories Off Sousou: Break out of my shell launches in early winter 2026 in Japan for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam with Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese language options.

Memories Off Sousou: Not always true released on April 10, 2025 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam in Japan and Asia. The Asia release supports Simplified and Traditional Chinese language options, but it does not support English. 

Mutsumi Sasaki returns to the Memories Off series as the game’s character designer. Steins;Gate series main writer Naotaka Hayashi returns as the scenario writer of Memories Off Sousou: Not always true. Moreover, Science Adventure series composer Takeshi Abo is in charge of the game’s soundtrack. The game’s opening movie features the theme song “Not always true” by Ayane. 

The voice cast of Memories Off Sousou: Not always true includes:

  • Sae Sunomiya (voiced by Lynn)
  • Nene Amaha (voiced by Ai Kakuma)
  • Kazune Kitakata (voiced by Hitomi Sekine)
  • Forster Mary Akira (voiced by Ami Aimoto)
  • Setsuka Nakamori (voiced by Aya Yamane)
  • Itsuki Kusumegi (voiced by Yuuya Hirose)
  • Arata Ootaki (voiced by Tomoya Itou)
  • Shin Inaho (voiced by Junji Majima)
  • Hikari Kurauchi (voiced by Riona Imaizumi)
  • Tsubame Minami (voiced by Haruna Ikezawa)

Terminator 2D: No Fate Delayed to November 26

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Soul Kiwami
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Terminator 2D No Fate

Reef Entertainment and Bitmap Bureau has delayed the release of Terminator 2D: No Fate from October 31 to November 26. Terminator 2D: No Fate was delayed due to “ongoing global trade and tariff changes that delayed shipment of components for our Day One and Collector’s Editions.”

Here’s the full statement issued by Reef Entertainment:

Hi everyone,

We wanted to share an important update on the release of Terminator 2D: No Fate. The game will now launch on November 26, 2025.

This adjustment is due to ongoing global trade and tariff changes that delayed shipment of the components for our Day One and Collector’s Editions. Because we are committed to launching all editions together, this new date applies to both physical and digital releases worldwide.

We truly appreciate your patience and understanding, and we’re sorry for this further delay. The team is working hard to make sure your wait is worth it, and we can’t wait to share Terminator 2D: No Fate with you all this November.

Sincerely,

Reef Entertainment

Terminator 2D: No Fate launches on November 26 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. Lastly, here’s an overview of the game, via Reef Entertainment:

 

Step into a classic arcade experience that pays homage to the Terminator universe with authentic arcade gameplay, music and visuals built from the ground up. See the world of Terminator 2: Judgement Day like never before with detailed 2D sprite artwork of your favorite characters and scenes.

PlayStation: The First 30 Years Commemorative Book Announced, Pre-Orders Now Open

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Soul Kiwami
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PlayStation The First 30 Years

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced PlayStation: The First 30 Years, a new 400-page hardcover photography book launching in spring 2026. The book chronicles 30 years of PlayStation history. 

PlayStation: The First 30 Years pre-orders are available now at Read Only Memory for $125. A Deluxe Edition (limited to 1,994 copies) costs $325 and features an exposed binding, clamshell presentation box, and exclusive prints.

Lastly, here’s an overview, via Read Only Memory:

PlayStation: The First 30 Years is the definitive visual chronicle of Sony’s world-changing videogame console, marking its 30th anniversary with unprecedented access to the company’s archive of R&D prototypes, concept sketches, and development models. Across 400 large-format pages, the book showcases never-before-seen consoles, controllers, and design studies – from experimental early mockups that never left the studio to the finely honed forms of the PlayStation console through to the PlayStation 5 console.

Alongside these striking images are insights from the engineers and designers who shaped PlayStation’s identity, including Ken Kutaragi, Teiyu Goto, and Yujin Morisawa, revealing the creative and technical decisions behind some of the most iconic hardware in gaming history. Available in a Standard Edition and a Deluxe Edition limited to 1,994 copies, the latter featuring exposed binding, a clamshell presentation box, and exclusive prints, PlayStation: The First 30 Years is an essential celebration of three decades of design innovation and cultural impact.

The book’s stunning visuals have been captured by photographer Benedict Redgrove, chosen for this project following his celebrated 2019 publication NASA: Past and Present Dreams of the Future.

PlayStation: The First 30 Years is art directed by Michael C Place and designed by Nicole Motby, working together at Studio.Build. Place is renowned for creating the iconic packaging for the PlayStation launch title WipEout, as well as its sequels WipEout 2097 and WipEout 3.

This publication has been produced in direct collaboration with PlayStation and is exclusive to Read-Only Memory.

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