https://automaton-media.com/en/ AUTOMATON is a website that covers the Japanese gaming world. We bring you the news on video games from Osaka and Tokyo. Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:32:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-automaton-sitelogo-120x120-1-32x32.png https://automaton-media.com/en/ 32 32 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-hand-drawn-psychological-horror-rabbit-circle-lets-you-join-a-club-of-runaway-girls-looping-through-surreal-manifestations-of-their-deepest-traumas/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-hand-drawn-psychological-horror-rabbit-circle-lets-you-join-a-club-of-runaway-girls-looping-through-surreal-manifestations-of-their-deepest-traumas/#respond Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68202 Developed by solo-creator Comet Moth, Rabbit Circle is a horror adventure game following the strange story of 5 runaway girls.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-hand-drawn-psychological-horror-rabbit-circle-lets-you-join-a-club-of-runaway-girls-looping-through-surreal-manifestations-of-their-deepest-traumas/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/ills-absence-from-japanese-state-of-play-sparks-fears-it-may-not-pass-the-countrys-rating-board/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/ills-absence-from-japanese-state-of-play-sparks-fears-it-may-not-pass-the-countrys-rating-board/#respond Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68191 Japanese gamers raise concern over ILL possibly getting rejected by CERO due to its violent and gory content. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/ills-absence-from-japanese-state-of-play-sparks-fears-it-may-not-pass-the-countrys-rating-board/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/indie-games/japanese-psychological-infinite-space-exploration-game-platonica-space-gets-limited-time-steam-demo/ https://automaton-media.com/en/indie-games/japanese-psychological-infinite-space-exploration-game-platonica-space-gets-limited-time-steam-demo/#respond Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68181 Platonica Space is a new title directed by Japanese creator Kazuhide Oka, scheduled to lauch in Q3 of 2026.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/indie-games/japanese-psychological-infinite-space-exploration-game-platonica-space-gets-limited-time-steam-demo/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/capcom-says-abandoning-auteur-driven-development-in-favor-of-team-led-development-is-what-transformed-the-company-and-allowed-flagship-ips-to-survive-for-so-long/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/capcom-says-abandoning-auteur-driven-development-in-favor-of-team-led-development-is-what-transformed-the-company-and-allowed-flagship-ips-to-survive-for-so-long/#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68161 Capcom president and COO Haruhiro Tsujimoto talks about one of the company's biggest organizational changes.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/capcom-says-abandoning-auteur-driven-development-in-favor-of-team-led-development-is-what-transformed-the-company-and-allowed-flagship-ips-to-survive-for-so-long/feed/ 2 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/lies-of-p-lead-to-become-neowizs-first-ceo-from-a-game-development-background/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/lies-of-p-lead-to-become-neowizs-first-ceo-from-a-game-development-background/#respond Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68176 The head of Lies of P studio Round8 has been nominated for the position of CEO at Neowiz, scheduled to take office in August.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/lies-of-p-lead-to-become-neowizs-first-ceo-from-a-game-development-background/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/nintendo-and-the-pokemon-company-have-reportedly-narrowed-palworld-lawsuit-to-older-versions-of-the-game-only-likely-thanks-to-preventive-updates-by-pocketpair/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/nintendo-and-the-pokemon-company-have-reportedly-narrowed-palworld-lawsuit-to-older-versions-of-the-game-only-likely-thanks-to-preventive-updates-by-pocketpair/#respond Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:11:14 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68192 While the lawsuit originally filed by Nintendo and The Pokemon Company did not specify particular versions of Palworld, the claims are now limited to older versions.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/nintendo-and-the-pokemon-company-have-reportedly-narrowed-palworld-lawsuit-to-older-versions-of-the-game-only-likely-thanks-to-preventive-updates-by-pocketpair/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-follows-up-with-new-info-on-fan-favorite-character-tasha-including-voice-cast/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-follows-up-with-new-info-on-fan-favorite-character-tasha-including-voice-cast/#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:48:09 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68166 Project Aces have published new info on Ace Combat 8's most popular character, the blonde- and pink-haired Tasha.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-follows-up-with-new-info-on-fan-favorite-character-tasha-including-voice-cast/feed/ 1 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/why-was-resident-evil-requiem-the-first-game-to-adopt-the-ps5-pros-upgraded-pssr-we-talk-to-capcom-and-sie/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/why-was-resident-evil-requiem-the-first-game-to-adopt-the-ps5-pros-upgraded-pssr-we-talk-to-capcom-and-sie/#respond Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68150 Interview with Capcom and Sony Interactive Entertainment on the PS5 Pro's upgraded upscaler, the so-called PSSR2.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/why-was-resident-evil-requiem-the-first-game-to-adopt-the-ps5-pros-upgraded-pssr-we-talk-to-capcom-and-sie/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/explore-the-psychedelic-dreams-of-an-elderly-dog-abducted-by-an-alien-in-upcoming-indie-a-dogs-dream/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/explore-the-psychedelic-dreams-of-an-elderly-dog-abducted-by-an-alien-in-upcoming-indie-a-dogs-dream/#respond Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68141 Inspired by Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix, A Dog’s Dream releases on October 29.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/explore-the-psychedelic-dreams-of-an-elderly-dog-abducted-by-an-alien-in-upcoming-indie-a-dogs-dream/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-scientists-develop-mobile-suit-gundams-beam-saber-inspired-plasma-technology-that-could-help-grow-and-fertilize-crops-in-space/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-scientists-develop-mobile-suit-gundams-beam-saber-inspired-plasma-technology-that-could-help-grow-and-fertilize-crops-in-space/#respond Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68136 Tohoku University scientists recently revealed new developments on their scientific research based on Gundam's fictional Beat Saber.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-scientists-develop-mobile-suit-gundams-beam-saber-inspired-plasma-technology-that-could-help-grow-and-fertilize-crops-in-space/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/resident-evil-veronica-devs-plan-to-restructure-the-story-to-strengthen-continuity-with-the-modern-series/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/resident-evil-veronica-devs-plan-to-restructure-the-story-to-strengthen-continuity-with-the-modern-series/#comments Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68130 Resident Evil Veronica producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi recently talked about how his team is approaching the remake when it comes to balancing faithfulness to the original and introducing changes.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/resident-evil-veronica-devs-plan-to-restructure-the-story-to-strengthen-continuity-with-the-modern-series/feed/ 1 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/onimusha-way-of-the-sword-recreates-a-real-life-kyoto-site-closed-to-the-public-long-believed-to-be-japans-gateway-to-hell/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/onimusha-way-of-the-sword-recreates-a-real-life-kyoto-site-closed-to-the-public-long-believed-to-be-japans-gateway-to-hell/#respond Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68122 Onimusha: Way of the Sword's developers asked Kyoto City's local government for help in getting a legendary location into the game.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/onimusha-way-of-the-sword-recreates-a-real-life-kyoto-site-closed-to-the-public-long-believed-to-be-japans-gateway-to-hell/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/kyoto-xanadu-unveils-two-distinctly-kyoto-flavored-character-bonding-systems-as-the-series-story-moves-to-the-thousand-year-capital/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/kyoto-xanadu-unveils-two-distinctly-kyoto-flavored-character-bonding-systems-as-the-series-story-moves-to-the-thousand-year-capital/#respond Thu, 11 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68112 Nihon Falcom recently unveiled some of the new in-game features players can expect to see in Kyoto Xanadu - the Blooming Phantom -.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/kyoto-xanadu-unveils-two-distinctly-kyoto-flavored-character-bonding-systems-as-the-series-story-moves-to-the-thousand-year-capital/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/why-do-unannounced-games-keep-leaking-through-koreas-rating-site-it-turns-out-theres-a-legal-issue-that-makes-it-almost-impossib/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/why-do-unannounced-games-keep-leaking-through-koreas-rating-site-it-turns-out-theres-a-legal-issue-that-makes-it-almost-impossib/#respond Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68096 Why South Korea’s GRAC (Game Rating and Administration Committee) ends up prematurely releasing information about games so often.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/why-do-unannounced-games-keep-leaking-through-koreas-rating-site-it-turns-out-theres-a-legal-issue-that-makes-it-almost-impossib/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/final-fantasy-vii-revelation-director-says-todays-rpgs-need-more-player-agency-because-fans-may-be-satisfied-just-watching-streams/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/final-fantasy-vii-revelation-director-says-todays-rpgs-need-more-player-agency-because-fans-may-be-satisfied-just-watching-streams/#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68069 Final Fanntasy VII remake series director Naoki Hamaguchi talks about why FFVII Revelation's emphasis on player choices matters in today's gaming scene.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/final-fantasy-vii-revelation-director-says-todays-rpgs-need-more-player-agency-because-fans-may-be-satisfied-just-watching-streams/feed/ 11 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-indie-title-childrens-garden-turns-a-buddhist-hell-for-children-who-died-too-young-into-a-surreal-puzzle-game/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-indie-title-childrens-garden-turns-a-buddhist-hell-for-children-who-died-too-young-into-a-surreal-puzzle-game/#respond Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=67994 Published by Kodansha, Children's Garden is a game based on the mythological hell Sai no Kawara.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-indie-title-childrens-garden-turns-a-buddhist-hell-for-children-who-died-too-young-into-a-surreal-puzzle-game/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/final-fantasy-resonance-devs-say-ffbe-was-too-good-to-become-unplayable-so-its-been-reborn-with-a-reworked-story-world-map-and-enough-changes-to-feel-like-a-new-game/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/final-fantasy-resonance-devs-say-ffbe-was-too-good-to-become-unplayable-so-its-been-reborn-with-a-reworked-story-world-map-and-enough-changes-to-feel-like-a-new-game/#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68062 AUTOMATON interview with the development team behind Square Enix's new HD-2D styled RPG Final Fantasy Resonance. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/final-fantasy-resonance-devs-say-ffbe-was-too-good-to-become-unplayable-so-its-been-reborn-with-a-reworked-story-world-map-and-enough-changes-to-feel-like-a-new-game/feed/ 4 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/dragons-dogma-2-gets-massive-pre-dark-arisen-overhaul-with-comically-long-patch-notes-first-update-addresses-fast-travel-and-qol/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/dragons-dogma-2-gets-massive-pre-dark-arisen-overhaul-with-comically-long-patch-notes-first-update-addresses-fast-travel-and-qol/#respond Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:24:41 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68089 Ahead of Dragon's Dogma 2's Dark Arisen expansion, Capcom has released a large-scale update, with another planned for August.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/dragons-dogma-2-gets-massive-pre-dark-arisen-overhaul-with-comically-long-patch-notes-first-update-addresses-fast-travel-and-qol/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/deltarune-creator-promises-one-more-fun-adventure-like-before-in-chapter-5-causing-fear-about-what-awaits/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/deltarune-creator-promises-one-more-fun-adventure-like-before-in-chapter-5-causing-fear-about-what-awaits/#respond Wed, 10 Jun 2026 03:33:23 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68054 Toby Fox has released an update on the upcoming Deltarune Chapter 5, as well as progress reports on Chapters 5 and 7.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/deltarune-creator-promises-one-more-fun-adventure-like-before-in-chapter-5-causing-fear-about-what-awaits/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/800-dragon-quest-music-box-sells-out-in-less-than-24-hours/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/800-dragon-quest-music-box-sells-out-in-less-than-24-hours/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=67956 One of Square Enix's premium pieces of merch for Dragon Quest's 40-year anniversary shocked fans with its price tag, but it didn't stop it from selling out.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/800-dragon-quest-music-box-sells-out-in-less-than-24-hours/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/indie-games/touhou-projects-oldest-windows-game-embodiment-of-scarlet-devil-to-get-a-remake-by-an-older-and-wiser-zun/ https://automaton-media.com/en/indie-games/touhou-projects-oldest-windows-game-embodiment-of-scarlet-devil-to-get-a-remake-by-an-older-and-wiser-zun/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:44:19 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68046 During the Japanese version of the June 9 Nintendo Direct, Team Shanghai Alice and Shanghai Alice Reprise announced Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic ~ The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/indie-games/touhou-projects-oldest-windows-game-embodiment-of-scarlet-devil-to-get-a-remake-by-an-older-and-wiser-zun/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/atelier-karia-a-brand-new-entry-in-gusts-atelier-series-announced-for-early-2027/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/atelier-karia-a-brand-new-entry-in-gusts-atelier-series-announced-for-early-2027/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:29:47 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68039 During the Japanese version of June 9's Nintendo Direct, Koei Tecmo announced Atelier Karia, a new Atelier game promising a fresh take on the series. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/atelier-karia-a-brand-new-entry-in-gusts-atelier-series-announced-for-early-2027/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/kingdom-hearts-iv-gets-new-trailer-footage-after-long-radio-silence-confirmed-for-simultaneous-switch-2-release/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/kingdom-hearts-iv-gets-new-trailer-footage-after-long-radio-silence-confirmed-for-simultaneous-switch-2-release/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:20:23 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68032 During the June 9 Nintendo Direct, Square Enix revealed new footage of Kingdom Hearts IV, confirming that development is still very much in progress despite the lack of updates in recent years.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/kingdom-hearts-iv-gets-new-trailer-footage-after-long-radio-silence-confirmed-for-simultaneous-switch-2-release/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/fromsoftware-to-hold-closed-network-test-for-the-duskbloods-in-summer-2026/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/fromsoftware-to-hold-closed-network-test-for-the-duskbloods-in-summer-2026/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:09:24 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68027 During the June 9 Nintendo Direct, FromSoftware announced that it will host a closed network test for the upcoming PvPvE title The Duskbloods in summer this year. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/fromsoftware-to-hold-closed-network-test-for-the-duskbloods-in-summer-2026/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/forza-horizon-6-lets-you-take-driving-lessons-like-they-do-in-japan-thanks-to-a-players-surprisingly-accurate-recreation-of-japanese-driving-school-courses/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/forza-horizon-6-lets-you-take-driving-lessons-like-they-do-in-japan-thanks-to-a-players-surprisingly-accurate-recreation-of-japanese-driving-school-courses/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=67982 Japanese Forza Horizon 6 released an Estate which accurately recreates the driving school course experience in Japan. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/forza-horizon-6-lets-you-take-driving-lessons-like-they-do-in-japan-thanks-to-a-players-surprisingly-accurate-recreation-of-japanese-driving-school-courses/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/square-enix-announces-final-fantasy-resonance-the-ff-series-first-hd-2d-title/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/square-enix-announces-final-fantasy-resonance-the-ff-series-first-hd-2d-title/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:51:01 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68023 During the June 9 Nintendo Direct, Square Enix announced Final Fantasy Resonance, set to release on October 22.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/square-enix-announces-final-fantasy-resonance-the-ff-series-first-hd-2d-title/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/monolithsoft-announced-xenoblade-genesis-for-2027/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/monolithsoft-announced-xenoblade-genesis-for-2027/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:39:45 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68015 During the June 9 Nintendo Direct, Nintendo and Monolith Soft announced Xenoblade Genesis, a brand new entry in the series slated for launch in 2027 on the Switch 2.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/monolithsoft-announced-xenoblade-genesis-for-2027/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/dragon-dogma-2-dark-arisen-announced-for-nintendo-switch-2-expanding-original-game-with-new-region/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/dragon-dogma-2-dark-arisen-announced-for-nintendo-switch-2-expanding-original-game-with-new-region/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:21:48 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=68006 During the June 9 Nintendo Direct, Capcom announced that Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, an expanded edition of the 2024 action RPG, will release for the Nintendo Switch 2 on October 9. Not to be confused with Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen from 2013, this expanded version of the series’ second entry brings the new explorable area Norgan, confirming fans’ longtime theories about an expansion for the game. The new content will be available as DLC on other available platforms.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/dragon-dogma-2-dark-arisen-announced-for-nintendo-switch-2-expanding-original-game-with-new-region/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/blue-archive-executive-producer-who-majored-in-ai-says-the-games-philosophy-is-directly-opposed-to-ai/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/blue-archive-executive-producer-who-majored-in-ai-says-the-games-philosophy-is-directly-opposed-to-ai/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=67962 Blue Archive executive producer Yong-Ha Kim recently talked about generative AI in the context of the game's current and future direction.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/blue-archive-executive-producer-who-majored-in-ai-says-the-games-philosophy-is-directly-opposed-to-ai/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/the-house-in-fata-morgana-creators-upcoming-work-is-a-gargantuan-40-50-hour-game-that-lets-you-enjoy-doing-ethically-questionable-things-in-a-way-only-fiction-can/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/the-house-in-fata-morgana-creators-upcoming-work-is-a-gargantuan-40-50-hour-game-that-lets-you-enjoy-doing-ethically-questionable-things-in-a-way-only-fiction-can/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=67969 Latest details on NOVECT's upcoming title Project Code M (tentative), as shared by Hanada Keika.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/the-house-in-fata-morgana-creators-upcoming-work-is-a-gargantuan-40-50-hour-game-that-lets-you-enjoy-doing-ethically-questionable-things-in-a-way-only-fiction-can/feed/ 0