Visual Novel News:
Kagami Games has announced that they’re bringing SMEE’s 15th anniversary title LOVEPICAL-POPPY! out in English, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. It will be released via Steam on December 19th, 2025.
See Our News Post for More Details
Chorus Worldwide announced that that Coffee Talk Tokyo, the next standalone instalment of the Coffee Talk series, will launch on March 5th, 2026 for Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
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.
PQube Games has announced the upcoming release of Death Match Love Comedy by Kemco on February 19th, 2026. It’s coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox, and Steam. Physical editions will be available for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.
In this strange world a curse can have disastrous effects, and our main protagonist Kei has been afflicted with just that – a curse which causes him to explode if confessed to. Now he must uncover who cursed him and why, and with the help of his friends, he navigates a whole unfamiliar realm of the unknown. As a fresh-faced high schooler there’s nothing worse than not being able to receive confessions of love, but no matter what happens Kei will always have his trusty sense of humour at his side, and with it any horrific situation can be overcome.
More Visual Novel News
- Aksys Games Announced OVER REQUIEMZ, an otome adventure based on The Wizard of Oz, will be coming to Nintendo Switch in summer 2026.
- Birushana: Winds of Fate, will be launching on Nintendo Switch physically and digitally in 2026
- I Write Games Not Tragedies is Out Now
Gaming News:
Even despite the year coming to an end soon, Valve have unveiled something to get excited for that’ll be releasing early next year! Valve are releasing three pieces of new hardware; all titled with the Steam name. They are the Steam Machine, the Steam Controller, and the Steam Frame. The Steam Machine is a miniature PC that runs on SteamOS, can be plugged into your TV or monitor to act as a console, and boasts over six times the power of a Steam Deck. The Steam Controller is their next instalment of their game controllers that includes a wireless transmitter to connect to either your PC or the Steam Machine, magnetic thumbsticks, and gyro support. Finally, the Steam Frame is Valve’s next step in VR headsets that includes camera tracking without the need for a dedicated setup, a dual radio wireless system to stream your games to the device, and a new optimization feature that better focuses on details your eyes are directly looking at.
The Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and Steam Frame are all set to release in early 2026.
Watch the announcement trailer for Valve’s new hardware
Sony broadcast a new State of Play, but this time, it focused purely on games created by Asian developers. They started with an update on the upcoming remake of Dragon Quest VII, revealing a new part of the story focused on an adult version of one of the characters, Kiefer. Not only that, but you’ll also have the opportunity to gather stone tablets, which after being placed in the right areas, will reveal more locations within the game’s world.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined launches for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC on February 5th, 2026.
Watch the trailer for Dragon Quest VII Reimagined
We got a few more details about Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja’s remake of a iconic horror franchise. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake announced a deluxe edition of the game which will include a digital soundtrack and art book, as well as new cosmetic items for the protagonists. We also got the reveal of the game’s full release date.
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake releases for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC on March 12th, 2026.
Watch the release date trailer for Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake
On the topic of Koei Tecmo, they also unveiled plans for a title released earlier this year. A major piece of DLC content for Dynasty Warriors: Origins were revealed and will include new stories on characters from Romance of the Three Kingdoms that weren’t covered in the base game. You’ll also be able to have access to new companions and two new weapons: the bow and the rope dart.
Dynasty Warriors: Origin‘s Vision of Four Heroes DLC expansion will be released on January 22nd, 2026.
Watch the Vision of Four Heroes DLC trailer for Dynasty Warriors: Origins
The next wave of content coming to Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds was detailed! Firstly, the SpongeBob SquarePants DLC is coming to the game on November 19th with the package including SpongeBob and Patrick as playable characters and a race tracked themed on Bikini Bottom. We also got updates on more free characters we’ll be getting from December to February 2026, which include NiGHTS, AiAi from Super Monkey Ball, and Tangle and Whisper who debuted in the IDW Sonic the Hedgehog comics.
Watch the free characters update trailer for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
New DLC for Bandai Namco’s multiplayer game based on Elden Ring was announced! Titled The Forsaken Hollows, this new expansion will include two new playable characters and a new shifting earth to go through.
The Forsaken Hollows DLC expansion for Elden Ring Nightreign releases on December 4th.
Watch The Forsaken Hollows DLC trailer for Elden Ring Nightreign
Square-Enix’s new title in the Octopath Traveler franchise got some more details. In a new trailer for Octopath Traveler 0, we got a deeper look into the various characters and the world players will be able to explore. If you’d like to try it out, a demo of the first three hours of the game is now available and will let you transfer your save file once the full game releases.
Octopath Traveler 0 launches for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC on December 4th.
Watch the story trailer for Octopath Traveler 0
To close out the State of Play, a second closed beta test for Arc System Works’ latest fighting game: Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls was revealed. This new beta test will add both Spider-Man and Ghost Rider to the roster, alongside including both the Savage Lands and the newly announced X-Mansion as playable stages. The second closed beta test for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls will take place from December 5th to 7th without any breaks with sign-ups now available.
But what about news outside of the new State of Play? There was quite a bit there too, so let’s go to the biggest news from last week:
The sequel to Nintendo and Illumination’s incredibly successful Super Mario Bros. movie revealed its first trailer! Titled The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the film looks to take heavy influence from Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy as we also got our first look at two fan-favourite characters. Bowser Jr. will be playing a part in the film, with his voice being provided by Benny Safdie. Alongside him, Rosalina was also fully revealed and she’ll be played by Brie Larson.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is set to release on April 3rd, 2026.
Watch the trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Announced earlier this year, we got an extended trailer all about the upcoming Pokémon life simulation game: Pokémon Pokopia! You play as a Ditto transformed into a human with the hopes of rebuilding a worn-out set of land into a utopia for everyone. As you meet new Pokémon, you’ll then be able to copy their abilities to alter the land or traverse the environment.
Pokémon Pokopia launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on March 5th, 2026.
Watch the extended trailer for Pokémon Pokopia
Another long trailer for an upcoming Nintendo title was also released this week. We’re a few weeks away until Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally releases, so Nintendo published a seven-minute long trailer going over all the details for the highly anticipated title.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch on December 4th.
Watch the overview trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Those of you looking forward to the upcoming collection of Corpse Party games, I’ve sadly got some bad news. XSEED games have chosen to cancel the western release of Corpse Party Tetralogy Pack. The reason they’ve given for the sudden cancellation is due to the content in some of the games in the collection not complying with current platform guidelines. On the bright side, they stated that they’re still working to release Corpse Party II: Darkness Distortion for western audiences.
Anime News:
We now have word on the premiere date for the fourth season of a popular isekai series! Re:Zero‘s fourth season recently got a new trailer announcing that the new season is set to debut in April 2026.
Watch the premiere date trailer for Re:Zero season 4
Based on the video game of the same name, we’re getting an anime adaptation of Needy Streamer Overload next year! The story is all about a young girl wanting to gain the love of others and chooses to do so by becoming a professional live-streamer. As the game progresses, you need to manage her stress levels as her popularity continues to rise, with all your decisions affected the game’s ending. The anime adaptation is now titled Needy Girl Overdose and is being handled by Yostar Pictures, with Masaoki Nakashima serving as the series’ director, who previously worked on New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt.
The anime adaptation of Needy Streamer Overload is set to premiere in April 2026.
Watch the announcement trailer for the Needy Girl Overload
A new anime project based on Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding video game series was revealed. Tentatively titled Death Stranding Isolations, this new project was announced to be released on Disney+ with E&H production working on the series. It’ll be directed by Takayuki Sano, who previously worked as an animation director for Attack on Titan Final Season and Jujutsu Kaisen. The character designer for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2045, Ilya Kuvshinov is also working on this new series.
Death Stranding Isolations will be available on Disney+ in 2027.
Upcoming Releases:
A sequel to a cult classic Nintendo GameCube game is finally releasing this week! Kirby Air Riders is the latest game to be directed by Masahiro Sakurai, who is most well known for directing the Super Smash Bros. games, as well as being the creator of the Kirby franchise. This new game will include all the courses from the original game alongside brand-new race tracks. Other modes from the original game like City Trials and Top Ride are also included, with us also getting a new story mode to play through as well.
Kirby Air Riders launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on November 20th.
An anime/gaming aficionado, experienced content creator and lovable goofball. Name a game genre and Seamus has likely played it… yes, even that one. Follow him @TrueStorySeamus
