Tag: Japan - Page 14
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 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 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 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...
Video Retro Gaming Prices Are Much More Reasonable In Japan
Mother, frankly, is quite affordable
If you're a sucker for a few of the classics in the gaming sphere, you'll probably know the sting of looking up some obscure little gem like Doshin the Giant and getting whiplash upon seeing the price. Rare games are just worth a lot, it's just the way it is, right? Well in Japan things are a little bit...
News New Poké Lids Highlight Gardevoir And Alolan Dugtrio
Fukuoka gets five new manhole covers
By this point, we've covered Poké Lids so much that we're genuinely hoping Nintendo might notice and send us one in the post. It's unlikely, of course, because the Japan-only decorative manhole covers are very heavy and probably quite expensive — but still. We can hope. The five newest Poké Lids were all...
News Level-5's Mech-Battle RPG Is Coming This November, Only In Japan
Mega metal mecha mayhem
We've known about Megaton Musashi, Level-5's next big project, since 2016 — when it was announced as a multimedia event spanning toys, anime, and video games. After last hearing about it in 2019, we were wondering where it had got to — but now it seems like it's almost ready to land, just not on the 3DS as was originally...
Japanese Charts NEO: The World Ends With You Gets Debut Number One, Ace Attorney Takes Third
And Zelda has to make way
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for the week ending 1st August, revealing that NEO: The World Ends With You has gone in straight at number one in its debut week. The game sold an estimated 18,799 physical copies in its opening week, outselling Zelda: Skyward Sword HD which is now in its third week on the...
News Here Are The Switch eShop's Best-Selling Games Of July 2021 (Japan)
Zelda loses out to Monster Hunter
Nintendo has released an updated list of its best-selling titles on the eShop in Japan, this time covering July 2021. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin has managed to claim victory this time around, just ahead of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD. It's worth noting that Monster Hunter launched a week...
News After Almost 30 Years, Another Iconic Sega Arcade Is Closing Down
Sega Ikebukuro Gigo shuts next month
28 years ago in July 1993, the Sega Ikebukuro Gigo opened in Tokyo. This sprawling, nine-storey amusement arcade has, over the decades, become popular with gaming-mad tourists visiting Japan and has been the site of many location tests for new arcade machines. However, this September, the Sega Ikebukuro Gigo...
News Minecraft Dungeons Is The Next Nintendo Switch Online Trial In Japan
Is the service upping its game?
Nintendo Switch Online is a service that elicits some feisty conversations online as its merits are debated. As a service it can be relatively inexpensive (especially if you utilise the family subscription), and alongside some 'free' games like Pac-Man 99 it also offers up access to full online play and cloud saves...
Japanese Charts Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Stays Top As Nintendo Dominates Top Ten
Skyward Sword hits 200k physical sales in two weeks
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for the week ending 25th July, revealing that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD has stayed on top for a second week running. The game sold another 42,642 copies at retail this week, taking its total to just over 200,000 physical units sold across its...
News Nintendo's Selling Miniature Versions Of Its Iconic Nintendo Store Statues
Available starting this weekend
If you've been lucky enough to visit Nintendo's world-famous store in Tokyo (or even if you've just watched hundreds of videos of other people visiting it on YouTube instead like us), you'll no doubt have seen the four statues that proudly adorn the shop floor. Mario, Link, Isabelle and an Inkling can all be seen on...
Random The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Opening Ceremony Showcased A Ton Of Game Music
Sonic, Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter, and many more
Earlier today the opening ceremony for the belated, beleaguered Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics kicked off, and while many of us expected video games to feature in some fashion following Mario's appearance at the Rio 2016 closing ceremony, gamers were treated to a smorgasbord of VGM delights during the...
Japanese Charts Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Scores Another Debut Number One
Almost 160,000 physical sales in debut week
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for the week ending 18th July, revealing that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD has gone straight to number one. In its debut week, the game shifted an estimated 159,089 copies at retail, beating this week's other successful newcomer, Crayon Shin-chan, to...
