Tag: Japan - Page 2
News Pokémon Sword And Shield Shiny Zacian/Zamazenta Distribution Also Headed To Japan
Providing more hope for a worldwide release
The Pokémon Company has announced that Japanese Sword and Shield players will soon be able to get their hands on a shiny Zacian and Zamazenta for the very first time. Previously, the shiny Zacian and Zamazenta rollout had only been confirmed for South Korea, where fans who pre-order Pokémon Brilliant...
News Dragon Quest X Offline Has Been Confirmed For Switch, Launches In Japan Next February
But there's still no mention of localisation
Earlier this year during the Dragon Quest 35th Anniversary live stream, Square Enix announced Dragon Quest X Offline - an "offline" version of the MMO Dragon Quest X for Nintendo Switch. At this year's Tokyo Game Show, the company has now locked in some platforms and a release date - revealing the title...
News Konami Competition Tasks Indie Devs With Reviving Its Classic IP
Konami will fund and publish the winner's creation
Konami is currently hosting a Japanese indie game contest (in cooperation with Shueisha Game Creators Camp), asking small team developers to create action and shooting games based on its classic IP. The winner scores 2 million yen (about $18,000 USD) and will be given the opportunity to...
News Disgaea's Dev Cooks Up A New "Survival Strategy" Dungeon RPG For Switch
The food fight begins in 2022
Nippon Ichi Software - known for series like Disgaea - has announced a brand new food-themed "survival strategy" dungeon RPG for Switch and PS4. It's launching exclusively in Japan next year on 27th January. It's titled Shikabanegurai no Boukenmeshi and requires you to lead a group of adventurers out of a dungeon by...
Video Check Out This Introduction Trailer For Mario Party Superstars Ahead Of Its Launch This Month
100 classic minigames return
October is set to be a busy month for Nintendo with the release of the Switch OLED model and Metroid Dread just the beginning of it. Towards the very end of October though, we've got the arrival of Mario Party Superstars - the second Mario Party game to be released on the Switch. This title includes an all-star line-up...
Japanese Charts Dragon Ball Z Debuts In Second As Switch Takes Seven Of The Top Ten
Hardware sales still lower than usual
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for the week ending 26th September, revealing that Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot + A New Power Awakens Set has entered the rankings in second spot. The game sold an estimated 42,074 copies in its opening week in Japan, making it the highest-charting Switch game of the week...
News Super Monkey Ball's Original Announcer Did Not Work On The New Game, According To Sega
He apparently hasn't been involved with the series for "some time"
The original Super Monkey Ball announcer, Brian Matt - who seemingly teased Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania and his own return to the role last June - is not featured in the new game's credits. According to a Sega spokesperson though, he was never actually involved with the new...
News Konami Celebrates Castlevania's 35th With A 26-Disc Music Collection That Costs $250
What music they make!
This year marks Castlevania's 35th birthday, and Konami is celebrating the occasion with a lavish 26-disc music collection. The catch? It's exclusive to Japan at present and costs an eye-watering 28,600 Yen ($256 / £190). Comprised of two volumes that span the aforementioned 26 CDs, the collection launches on the 15th of...
News It's Official, Super Nintendo World Is Getting A Donkey Kong Expansion
"Set to open in 2024"
It seems the worst kept secret has finally been confirmed - Super Nintendo World is getting a Donkey Kong-themed "expansion" and it's set to open in 2024. According to an official Nintendo press release, this new area will allow park guests to walk through "lush" jungles where Donkey Kong and his friends live. There'll also be...
Random The Song In This Metroid Dread Japanese Commercial Is A Certified Banger
Nintendo is "so cool"
Nintendo Japan has released a new commercial for Metroid Dread and the song in it seems to be getting a lot of attention on social media. Don't be fooled, this isn't some fan-made clip with popular music over the top of it, it's actually an official advertisement for the upcoming Switch release. Twitter user @ScrewyClassic...
And they launch next month
Nintendo fans in Japan will soon be able to pick up new physical versions of both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Splatoon 2 that include their respective DLC, it's been announced. Nintendo shared the news yesterday during all the Direct commotion (the Japanese broadcasts of Directs often contain the odd...
News N64 Gems Custom Robo And Its Sequel Are Coming To Nintendo Switch Online In Japan
Playable for anyone with a sub and a JP Nintendo Account
The announcement during the recent Nintendo Direct that N64 games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online's new 'Expansion Pack' tier — with games like Banjo-Kazooie and
News Japan's Switch Online Service Gets The Six-Button Sega Mega Drive Controller
The "superior" gamepad
One of the highlights of the latest Nintendo Direct was the announcement Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) games will be coming to the Switch Online service next month as an 'Expansion Pack' service. This includes the addition of new (but old) controllers that are now wireless. There's a Nintendo 64 controller and a...
Japanese Charts Ni no Kuni II Enters The Top Ten, But Switch Hardware Sales Are Down
WarioWare remains in second place
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for the week ending 19th September, revealing that WarioWare: Get It Together! is still Switch's highest-charting title. The game sold another 32,131 physical copies in its second week which was almost enough to net it that coveted number one spot; the PS4 version of...
Gallery Here's Another Look At Nintendo's Switch OLED Model "In The Wild"
Releasing in stores October 8th
The release of Nintendo's Switch OLED model is now just over a few weeks away, and the excitement for this ever-so-slightly improved system with a better and bigger screen, wider stand, and new dock is starting to ramp up. Over in Japan, we've already seen some shots of Nintendo's new device in-store and now we've...
News Klonoa "Encore" Trademarks Surface Online In Japan
Is Bandai Namco working on remasters?
Back in September 2019, word spread about the possibility of the classic Namco character Klonoa returning, after Bandai Namco filed some trademarks in Japan. Fast forward to September 2021, and the Japanese company has now gone and filed some new trademarks for "Waffuu Encore" and "1&2 Encore" in the sa
News Atlus Reveals New Details About Persona's 25th Anniversary Celebrations
Anime, concerts and more to come!
The Persona series is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, and as you might recall, Atlus has teased seven projects. The first reveal is tied to Persona anime and music. Anniversary ambassador Morgana revealed in the first "Persona 25th Times" broadcast that all of the past Persona anime would be made...
News Nintendo's Switch OLED Model Makes Its First Public Appearance In Japan
Launching worldwide October 8th
We're just over halfway through September and that means we're getting closer to the Switch OLED's release on October 8th. We've seen trailers from Nintendo, read "hands-on" first impressions from the media about it and now we've got a first look at the device in the wild. As highlighted by our friends at VGC, the...
News Japan's Getting A Stunning Zelda: Skyward Sword Soundtrack With An Adorable Music Box
We need it
For the 500th time this year, we're here to express our excruciating jealousy over the amazing things Nintendo fans in Japan get treated to. This time, it's a stunning Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword soundtrack collection. From Nippon Columbia, the new soundtrack will be available to Japanese fans in either a Regular or First Press...
News Sega To Announce "New RPG" At This Year's Tokyo Game Show
Update: It's a mobile game
Update [Sat 18th Sep, 2021 17:45 BST]: Sega has now launched a website and released a teaser trailer for its "new RPG", which confirms it's a mobile game. More information including the title of this game will be revealed on 1st October during Sega's TGS2021 presentation. Original article [Fri 17th Sep, 2021 02:45 BST]:...
News Microids Signs "Historic" Agreement With Taito To Produce Two New Games
Will be based on the Japanese company's famous franchises
French video game publisher and developer Microids has signed what it's calling a "historic" agreement with Taitos to produce two new games based on the Japanese company's famous franchises. Both games are "already in production" and are scheduled to launch sometime next year in 2022...
Japanese Charts WarioWare: Get It Together! Misses Out On A Debut Number One
But it leads the way for Nintendo
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for the week ending 12th September, revealing that WarioWare: Get It Together! achieved a second-place finish in its opening week at retail. The game sold an estimated 72,277 copies in its debut week, leading the way for Switch but being outperformed by Tales of Arise...
News Pokémon Illustration Contest Could See Your Artwork Made Into An Official Trading Card
Along with a $5,000 prize!
The Pokémon Company is kicking off its latest Trading Card Illustration Contest, giving fans the chance to share their artwork in a bid to have it transformed into a real card. Usually restricted to just Japan, the 2022 Contest will also be thrown open to fans across the US (unfortunately, those of us in Europe will...
News Tokyo's Super-Secret 'Nintendo Cafe' Isn't So Secret Anymore
"I am shouldering debt, and we are barely getting by, treading water"
Remember that super-secret cafe / bar in Tokyo dubbed the 'Mecca of Nintendo Fans'? We reported on it way back in 2018, but it's back in the news again because the owner has been forced to open it to the general public in order to combat financial woes brought on by the ongoing...
News Nintendo's Metroid Dread Marketing Campaign Is Well Underway In Japan
Samus returns
Nintendo has been criticised in the past for not giving the Metroid series enough spotlight compared to certain other franchises, but it seems things will be different this time around. Ahead of the release of Metroid Dread next month, Nintendo is rolling out the red carpet for its intergalactic bounty hunter. In addition to all of...
Japanese Charts Ring Fit Adventure Regains Control In A Familiar Top Ten
Only 18 sales split the top two
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for the week ending 5th September, revealing that Ring Fit Adventure has once again found itself at the top of the pile. Nintendo's fitness RPG managed to (very) narrowly outsell Mario Kart 8 Deluxe this week to claim that top prize – the two were separated by just 18...
News Nintendo Switch OLED Pre-Orders Go Live In Japan Later This Month
Not long to go now!
Alongside the release of Metroid Dread next month, Nintendo will be releasing its brand new Switch OLED model. This slightly updated system has a new screen, a wider kickstand and a number of other minor enhancements. Although it's been available for pre-order in the west for some time now, Nintendo has only just locked in...
News Nintendo Celebrates 20 Years Of GameCube In New Smash Bros. Event
Starts this Friday
At a glance, you might think this week's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate event is about "forgotten games" but no, it's actually celebrating the Nintendo GameCube. Next week marks the 20 year anniversary of its original launch in Japan. As part of this event, all sorts of spirits tied to this particular console will feature - including...
News This Pokémon Trading Card Shop Is The World's Largest, Apparently
Spans five floors!
The Pokémon Trading Card Game went big during lockdown, with stock selling out all over the world and millions of cards being sold. We've also seen the value of rare cards reach
News Japan's Pokémon Centers Are Currently Closed Due To Ongoing State Of Emergency
Won't open again until September 12th
All of Japan's Pokémon Centers are currently closed, and will remain so until September 12th, it has been announced. The closures began on August 28th, and include Pokemon Stores, Pokemon Cafes, and Pikachu Sweet cafes. Last week, Japan declared a state of emergency in 8 of its 47 prefectures due to rising...
News Jet Set Radio Artist And Former Yakuza Director Ryuta Ueda Returns To Sega
As the Super Monkey Ball creator potentially exits
There have been a lot of key figures moving about in the Japanese video game industry in recent times, and the latest individual now making headlines is the art director of Jet Set Radio, Ryuta Ueda. After spending nearly a decade at Yahoo! Japan, Ueda announced in a Facebook post how he returned...
News Pokémon Unite's First Official Tournament Has Been Announced
A sign of things to come?
The first official tournament for Pokémon Unite, the free-to-play MOBA title available now on Switch, has been announced for Japan. As reported by Serebii, this online event will take place on 19th September and registration is now open on Unite's official Japanese website. Sponsored by JCG, the tournament will consist of...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Has Now Surpassed Four Million Sales In Japan
There's no slowing down!
This week marks yet another major milestone for the best-selling Nintendo Switch title Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. If you saw yesterday's Japanese charts, Famitsu sales data reveals the game has now surpassed four million sales in Japan. Yep, that's right! This reportedly makes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the fourth Switch game in Japan...
Japanese Charts Visual Novel 'Tsukihime' Takes Top Spot In Another Strong Week For Switch
No More Heroes III also earns top ten debut
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for the week ending 29th August, revealing that Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon has debuted at number one. The visual novel remake launched on 26th August in Japan, earning itself 72,237 physical sales on Switch and a further 66,171 physical sales on PS4...
News Get Super Cosy In These Super Fluffy Super Mario PJs
Gelato Pique's new line is Japan-only
Gelato Pique is back with more extremely fluffy cosy clothes, after their Animal Crossing line made us wildly envious of Japan's merch back in February. This time, it's Super Mario and friends who are getting pyjamafied, with designs featuring Mario, Yoshi, Boo, Mushrooms, and Super Stars. The PJs and vario
News Forget Professor Layton And Phoenix Wright, Switch Is Getting Its Very Own "Butt Detective"
Popular anime and book series comes to Switch in Japan
Oshiri Tantei might not be a household name in the west, but in Japan, this unusual character has starred in a wide range of books and TV shows since his inception in 2012, and comes courtesy of Yoko Tanaka (writer) and Masahide Fukasawa (illustrator), a duo known professionally as 'Troll'...
Thanks for the memories
We always get a little teary-eyed whenever we hear someone has left a games company after working there for many years and today is one of those occasions. SoulCalibur VI, Tekken 7 and the Pac-Man 99 producer, Motohiro Okubo, has announced his departure from Bandai Namco after 25 years. In a message on social media, Okubo...
News Monkey Ball And Yakuza Creator Is In Talks To Leave Sega For NetEase
Founder of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios reportedly poached
It seems as though veteran Sega developer Toshihori Nagoshi is about to be snatched up by Chinese video game giant NetEase in the company's latest effort to stay competitive with their biggest rival, Tencent. Nagoshi, who's been at Sega since 1989 and has worked on everything from Sega Rally to...
News Fitness Boxing Is Getting An Anime Series In Japan
It's got a storyline and everything
Imagineer's Fitness Boxing series is getting its own anime, it has been revealed. The short-form series will air on Tokyo MX in October, and will focus on what the game's cast of fitness instructors get up to once they're done encouraging flabby gamers to exercise. The original Fitness Boxing arrived on Switch...
Japanese Charts Ring Fit Adventure Goes Top, But Ghost Of Tsushima Ends Switch's Chart Domination
The all-conquering run comes to an end
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for the week ending 22nd August, revealing that Ring Fit Adventure has returned to the number one spot. Nintendo's fitness RPG managed to narrowly outsell Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel: Saikyo Battle Royale!! this week, which has fallen from the first-place debut it achieved...
News Nintendo's Official Online Magazine Gets Treated To A Summer 2021 Edition
Check it out for free
The latest edition of Nintendo's official – and free! – online magazine has landed, just over a year since the first issue launched last August. Following on from that Summer 2020 issue, and then the Winter 2020 issue that followed that, is this month's Summer 2021 edition. As always, it includes plenty of ads for Switch...
News Deathsmiles Collection Brings More Shoot 'Em Up Action To Switch This December
Update: Will include English language support
Update [Thu 26th Aug, 2021 05:30 BST]: City Connection and Cave have released a new trailer (above) for this upcoming collection package. Apart from reconfirming the 16th December release date, it's also been revealed there'll be English language support. Update [Sun 25th Apr, 2021 15:55 BST]:...
News For A Second Consecutive Week, Switch Has Taken Japan's Entire Top 30 Software Chart
How long can this go on?
Last week, the Nintendo Switch managed to lock out Japan's entire top 30 software chart, becoming the first system to do since 1988. The success was described as "unprecedented", yet here we are, seven days later, and it's all happening again. That's right, the Switch has managed to take the entire top 30 for a second week...
Japanese Charts Yu-Gi-Oh! Goes Number One As Switch Takes Entire Top Ten
Another week in the bag for Switch
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for the week ending 15th August, revealing that Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel: Saikyo Battle Royale!! has gone straight to number one. It comfortably leads this week's charts with an estimated 96,297 debut physical sales; the ever-popular Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo...
News Bandai's Candy Division Is Releasing Pikmin Gummies In Japan This September
Ever wondered what Pikmin would taste like?
While we would all love to see a new (and proper) entry in the Pikmin series, right now - there are no real signs of it happening. All we've got to fall back on is Niantic's Pikmin app, which isn't even out yet, and Nintendo's re-release of Pikmin 3 on the Switch. If you're looking for something else to...
News The Pokémon Company Has Opened A TikTok Account In Japan
Get ready for dancing Pikachu
If you're into the latest social media trends you might have heard about a small platform called TikTok. Jokes aside, The Pokémon Company has now opened an official account - specifically in Japan. The plan is to "deliver an even closer" pocket monster experience to fans. To start the channel, videos of Pikachu...
News Switch Takes Japan's Entire Top 30 Software Chart, The First Console To Do So Since 1988
"This is unprecedented"
If you keep up to date with our regular Japanese chart updates, you'll have spotted that Nintendo Switch games made up the entire top ten last week. That's actually a pretty common occurrence these days, but it turns out that last week's performance was even better than we could have imagined. Japanese physical chart data,...
Random Super Nintendo World's Goomba Tower Fell Down, Sparking An Official Investigation
Footage shows the Goombas being carried away
The Goomba Tower in question. If you've seen the pictures and videos of Japan's Super Nintendo World, or especially if you've been lucky enough to visit yourself, you'll no doubt have seen all of the lovely Super Mario-themed models and decorations dotted around the park. Sadly,
Japanese Charts Despite Launching In 2018, Minecraft Beats Zelda To Number One
NEO TWEWY falls out of top ten
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for the week ending 8th August, revealing that Minecraft, which first launched physically on Switch back in June 2018, has returned to the top of the table. The game sold an estimated 14,912 physical copies this week, leaving it ahead of games like Zelda: Skyward Sword HD,...
News Shin Megami Tensei V Switch Accessories Launching In Japan This November
Play in style
Nintendo Switch accessory maker Keys Factory will be releasing some special Shin Megami Tensei V themed products. These items include a quick pouch 2,178 yen (~$19.71), a protective cover set 4,048 yen (~$36.64) and a card pod case 1,045 yen (~$9.46) that can fit two Switch games or even two 3DS game card instead. All of these...
