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. Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:31:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 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/the-hundred-line-director-says-a-larger-studio-would-force-his-team-to-take-on-projects-they-dont-want-just-to-stay-afloat-intends-to-stay-small-and-outsource/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/the-hundred-line-director-says-a-larger-studio-would-force-his-team-to-take-on-projects-they-dont-want-just-to-stay-afloat-intends-to-stay-small-and-outsource/#respond Thu, 08 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73563 The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy director Kazutaka Kodaka talked about his approach to game development with Too Kyo Games. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/the-hundred-line-director-says-a-larger-studio-would-force-his-team-to-take-on-projects-they-dont-want-just-to-stay-afloat-intends-to-stay-small-and-outsource/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/what-are-the-indispensable-elements-crazy-taxi-world-tour-inherits-developers-talk-about-the-importance-of-music-balancing-freedom-map-design/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/what-are-the-indispensable-elements-crazy-taxi-world-tour-inherits-developers-talk-about-the-importance-of-music-balancing-freedom-map-design/#respond Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73589 Interview with Crazy Taxi: World Tour creative producer Kenji Kanno and Director Yo Momotani (Part 2).]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/what-are-the-indispensable-elements-crazy-taxi-world-tour-inherits-developers-talk-about-the-importance-of-music-balancing-freedom-map-design/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-3d-mecha-action-indie-codephantom-gets-steam-demo-no-nonsense-robot-combat/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-3d-mecha-action-indie-codephantom-gets-steam-demo-no-nonsense-robot-combat/#respond Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73583 CodePhantom is a single-player mecha action game featuring ground combat and aerial battles.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-3d-mecha-action-indie-codephantom-gets-steam-demo-no-nonsense-robot-combat/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/anime-styled-magical-girl-action-roguelite-bless-you-again-to-get-steam-demo-next-week/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/anime-styled-magical-girl-action-roguelite-bless-you-again-to-get-steam-demo-next-week/#respond Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:31:42 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73531 Bless You Again follows the story of the battle mage Lily who ventures into a dungeon labyrinth in pursuit of the Philosopher's Stone. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/anime-styled-magical-girl-action-roguelite-bless-you-again-to-get-steam-demo-next-week/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/laica-is-a-space-horror-survival-game-in-which-you-spend-time-with-a-mysterious-girl-while-anomalies-erode-the-world-coming-to-steam-in-2027/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/laica-is-a-space-horror-survival-game-in-which-you-spend-time-with-a-mysterious-girl-while-anomalies-erode-the-world-coming-to-steam-in-2027/#respond Thu, 08 Oct 2026 08:16:18 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73574 Laica is an upcoming game by Santa Studio, which was formed as a venture originating from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Engineering,]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/laica-is-a-space-horror-survival-game-in-which-you-spend-time-with-a-mysterious-girl-while-anomalies-erode-the-world-coming-to-steam-in-2027/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/nara%e2%98%86koi-an-otome-game-in-which-you-romance-japans-historical-figures-as-the-genderbent-version-of-a-7th-century-diplomat-announced-for-steam-and-switch/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/nara%e2%98%86koi-an-otome-game-in-which-you-romance-japans-historical-figures-as-the-genderbent-version-of-a-7th-century-diplomat-announced-for-steam-and-switch/#respond Thu, 08 Oct 2026 07:48:56 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73568 In Nara☆Koi, the player gets to be romantically involved with historical figures like Prince Shotoku and Otomo no Yakamochi.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/nara%e2%98%86koi-an-otome-game-in-which-you-romance-japans-historical-figures-as-the-genderbent-version-of-a-7th-century-diplomat-announced-for-steam-and-switch/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/new-shinobi-nexus-senran-kagura-trailer-showcases-story-prologue-and-new-and-returning-characters/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/new-shinobi-nexus-senran-kagura-trailer-showcases-story-prologue-and-new-and-returning-characters/#respond Thu, 08 Oct 2026 05:09:26 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73554 Shinobi Nexus: Senran Kagura is an upcoming command-based RPG coming to mobile and PC in 2026.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/new-shinobi-nexus-senran-kagura-trailer-showcases-story-prologue-and-new-and-returning-characters/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/pc-98-cult-classic-horror-game-dead-of-the-brain-is-coming-to-steam-on-october-30-with-english-support-for-the-first-time/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/pc-98-cult-classic-horror-game-dead-of-the-brain-is-coming-to-steam-on-october-30-with-english-support-for-the-first-time/#respond Thu, 08 Oct 2026 02:03:30 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73544 Dead of the Brain is a cult classic zombie game by eroge developer FairyTale.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/pc-98-cult-classic-horror-game-dead-of-the-brain-is-coming-to-steam-on-october-30-with-english-support-for-the-first-time/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/yoko-taro-says-he-already-achieved-his-game-development-dreams-with-drakengard-and-now-works-to-prevent-dementia/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/yoko-taro-says-he-already-achieved-his-game-development-dreams-with-drakengard-and-now-works-to-prevent-dementia/#comments Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73525 In a recent discussion panel with Keisuke Okabe, NieR and Drakengard creator Yoko Taro talked about his plans for the future. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/yoko-taro-says-he-already-achieved-his-game-development-dreams-with-drakengard-and-now-works-to-prevent-dementia/feed/ 1 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/diss-diss-discussion-an-ensemble-drama-vn-that-pits-opinionated-students-against-each-other-in-heated-school-policy-debates-gets-steam-demo/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/diss-diss-discussion-an-ensemble-drama-vn-that-pits-opinionated-students-against-each-other-in-heated-school-policy-debates-gets-steam-demo/#respond Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73517 Diss Diss Discussion is an upcoming coming-of-age visual novel by Frontwing and Bushiroad.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/diss-diss-discussion-an-ensemble-drama-vn-that-pits-opinionated-students-against-each-other-in-heated-school-policy-debates-gets-steam-demo/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/transport-fever-3-developers-sit-down-with-the-creators-of-the-a-train-series-for-a-railway-geek-out/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/transport-fever-3-developers-sit-down-with-the-creators-of-the-a-train-series-for-a-railway-geek-out/#respond Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73477 Roundtable interview between the developers of Transport Fever and the A-Train series.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/transport-fever-3-developers-sit-down-with-the-creators-of-the-a-train-series-for-a-railway-geek-out/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/the-nakano-laboratory-is-a-time-loop-mystery-game-with-a-personality-transplantation-mechanic-coming-to-steam-in-2027/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/the-nakano-laboratory-is-a-time-loop-mystery-game-with-a-personality-transplantation-mechanic-coming-to-steam-in-2027/#respond Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73503 The Nakano Laboratory is a Japanese indie game slated to release in 2027.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/the-nakano-laboratory-is-a-time-loop-mystery-game-with-a-personality-transplantation-mechanic-coming-to-steam-in-2027/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/nihon-falcom-significantly-revises-yearly-earnings-forecast-as-kyoto-xanadu-trails-in-the-sky-remakes-perform-strongly/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/nihon-falcom-significantly-revises-yearly-earnings-forecast-as-kyoto-xanadu-trails-in-the-sky-remakes-perform-strongly/#respond Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:49:02 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73505 Nihon Falcom has revised its earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending September 2026. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/nihon-falcom-significantly-revises-yearly-earnings-forecast-as-kyoto-xanadu-trails-in-the-sky-remakes-perform-strongly/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-publishers-reportedly-outraged-after-domestic-company-admits-to-selling-large-volumes-of-books-to-ai-developer-anthropic/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-publishers-reportedly-outraged-after-domestic-company-admits-to-selling-large-volumes-of-books-to-ai-developer-anthropic/#respond Wed, 07 Oct 2026 07:00:57 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73481 Nippan reportedly admitted to selling books, but said it had not understood the purchases to be for the purpose of AI training.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-publishers-reportedly-outraged-after-domestic-company-admits-to-selling-large-volumes-of-books-to-ai-developer-anthropic/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/arknights-endfield-comes-to-steam-on-october-15-cross-platform-saves-supported/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/arknights-endfield-comes-to-steam-on-october-15-cross-platform-saves-supported/#respond Wed, 07 Oct 2026 04:56:09 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73467 GRYPHLINE announced that Arknights: Endfield would come to Steam on October 15 alongside the new Sanctuary of Ink update. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/arknights-endfield-comes-to-steam-on-october-15-cross-platform-saves-supported/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/former-capcom-developer-says-years-of-extreme-crunch-culture-are-part-of-why-japans-game-industry-has-so-few-female-directors/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/former-capcom-developer-says-years-of-extreme-crunch-culture-are-part-of-why-japans-game-industry-has-so-few-female-directors/#comments Wed, 07 Oct 2026 04:52:57 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73465 Masakazu Sugimori, known for his work on Ace Attorney and Viewtiful Joe's music, recently talked about the lack of female directors in Japan's game industry.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/former-capcom-developer-says-years-of-extreme-crunch-culture-are-part-of-why-japans-game-industry-has-so-few-female-directors/feed/ 2 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/90s-anime-inspired-survival-horror-game-signal-veil-announced-navigate-a-haunted-school-with-the-help-of-a-cursed-flip-phone/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/90s-anime-inspired-survival-horror-game-signal-veil-announced-navigate-a-haunted-school-with-the-help-of-a-cursed-flip-phone/#respond Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73438 Signal Veil is coming to PC, PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch 2]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/90s-anime-inspired-survival-horror-game-signal-veil-announced-navigate-a-haunted-school-with-the-help-of-a-cursed-flip-phone/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/dual-blade-wielding-catgirl-roguelite-eternal-palace-sakura-crowdfunds-200-of-its-original-goal/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/dual-blade-wielding-catgirl-roguelite-eternal-palace-sakura-crowdfunds-200-of-its-original-goal/#respond Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:14:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73454 Eternal Palace Sakura developer Denneko Yuugi announced that the game has crowdfunded over 1 million yen via its recent Campfire campaign. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/dual-blade-wielding-catgirl-roguelite-eternal-palace-sakura-crowdfunds-200-of-its-original-goal/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-developer-alleges-unpaid-outsourcing-fees-for-4-games-drove-his-company-into-financial-ruin-with-70-employees-laid-off/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-developer-alleges-unpaid-outsourcing-fees-for-4-games-drove-his-company-into-financial-ruin-with-70-employees-laid-off/#respond Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:03:51 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73450 The CEO of Tokyo-based software developer OGIX recently blew the whistle on domestic mobile game company Poppin Games over unpaid dev fees.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/japanese-developer-alleges-unpaid-outsourcing-fees-for-4-games-drove-his-company-into-financial-ruin-with-70-employees-laid-off/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/hideo-kojima-says-its-not-that-od-isnt-progressing-hes-just-being-mysterious-about-it-on-purpose-shooting-and-some-post-production-to-be-done-by-next-year/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/hideo-kojima-says-its-not-that-od-isnt-progressing-hes-just-being-mysterious-about-it-on-purpose-shooting-and-some-post-production-to-be-done-by-next-year/#respond Tue, 06 Oct 2026 08:33:48 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73439 In the recent episode of the KOJI10 radio program, Hideo Kojima talked about the development of his upcoming horror game OD. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/hideo-kojima-says-its-not-that-od-isnt-progressing-hes-just-being-mysterious-about-it-on-purpose-shooting-and-some-post-production-to-be-done-by-next-year/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/cyberconnect2-ceo-says-the-shift-from-physical-to-digital-only-games-is-nothing-but-a-positive-thing-for-developers/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/cyberconnect2-ceo-says-the-shift-from-physical-to-digital-only-games-is-nothing-but-a-positive-thing-for-developers/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2026 07:06:27 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73430 CyberConnect2 CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama talks about what the shift from physical to digital games means for developers.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/cyberconnect2-ceo-says-the-shift-from-physical-to-digital-only-games-is-nothing-but-a-positive-thing-for-developers/feed/ 10 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/yuri-visual-novel-watamari-part-2-a-fake-marriage-development-resumes-after-bank-blocks-steam-revenue-developer-gives-up-adult-content-patches-for-past-games/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/yuri-visual-novel-watamari-part-2-a-fake-marriage-development-resumes-after-bank-blocks-steam-revenue-developer-gives-up-adult-content-patches-for-past-games/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:00:17 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73421 Takii Noame recently wrote about their "debanking" ordeal over yuri games.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/yuri-visual-novel-watamari-part-2-a-fake-marriage-development-resumes-after-bank-blocks-steam-revenue-developer-gives-up-adult-content-patches-for-past-games/feed/ 2 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/momodora-creator-announces-new-project-record-of-dorathia-a-turn-based-dungeon-crawler-rpg-inspired-by-gamebooks/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/momodora-creator-announces-new-project-record-of-dorathia-a-turn-based-dungeon-crawler-rpg-inspired-by-gamebooks/#respond Tue, 06 Oct 2026 04:38:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73412 Tthe game focuses on the magi, twelve weavers of fate who were briefly mentioned in Momodora: Moonlit Farewell.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/momodora-creator-announces-new-project-record-of-dorathia-a-turn-based-dungeon-crawler-rpg-inspired-by-gamebooks/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/cosmoship-yamato-2199-a-new-anime-film-directed-by-evangelion-creator-hideaki-anno-announced/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/cosmoship-yamato-2199-a-new-anime-film-directed-by-evangelion-creator-hideaki-anno-announced/#respond Tue, 06 Oct 2026 01:22:04 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73400 Acclaimed mecha designer Yutaka Izubuchi serves as co-director.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/cosmoship-yamato-2199-a-new-anime-film-directed-by-evangelion-creator-hideaki-anno-announced/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/happy-propaganda-is-a-censorship-simulator-in-which-you-play-as-a-chat-mod-for-a-totalitarian-state-run-broadcast/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/happy-propaganda-is-a-censorship-simulator-in-which-you-play-as-a-chat-mod-for-a-totalitarian-state-run-broadcast/#respond Mon, 05 Oct 2026 16:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73389 Developed by Not a Dog, Happy Propaganda lets you become a chat moderator for a broadcast run by the fictional totalitarian state of Vesna.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/happy-propaganda-is-a-censorship-simulator-in-which-you-play-as-a-chat-mod-for-a-totalitarian-state-run-broadcast/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/longtime-japanese-voice-actor-of-metal-gears-snake-talks-about-bond-with-hideo-kojima-and-why-he-wont-do-a-metal-gear-without-him/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/longtime-japanese-voice-actor-of-metal-gears-snake-talks-about-bond-with-hideo-kojima-and-why-he-wont-do-a-metal-gear-without-him/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73371 Akio Otsuka, the voice of Snake, recently talked about his relationship with Hideo Kojima.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/longtime-japanese-voice-actor-of-metal-gears-snake-talks-about-bond-with-hideo-kojima-and-why-he-wont-do-a-metal-gear-without-him/feed/ 1 https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/liminal-space-third-person-shooter-anomalith-draws-inspiration-from-resident-evil-and-escape-from-tarkov-while-embracing-an-anime-girl-retro-japanese-worldview-we-talk-to-the-producer/ https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/liminal-space-third-person-shooter-anomalith-draws-inspiration-from-resident-evil-and-escape-from-tarkov-while-embracing-an-anime-girl-retro-japanese-worldview-we-talk-to-the-producer/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73343 AUTOMATON West interview with Anomalith producer Gai Kidokoro. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/liminal-space-third-person-shooter-anomalith-draws-inspiration-from-resident-evil-and-escape-from-tarkov-while-embracing-an-anime-girl-retro-japanese-worldview-we-talk-to-the-producer/feed/ 1 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/upcoming-indie-racing-rpg-ghosts-of-the-mountain-pass-looks-like-initial-d-set-in-90s-italy/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/upcoming-indie-racing-rpg-ghosts-of-the-mountain-pass-looks-like-initial-d-set-in-90s-italy/#respond Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73377 Ghosts of the Mountain Pass is currently in development for PC (Steam),]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/upcoming-indie-racing-rpg-ghosts-of-the-mountain-pass-looks-like-initial-d-set-in-90s-italy/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/capcom-now-has-a-dedicated-team-for-bringing-latest-re-engine-technologies-to-character-creation-across-all-of-its-games/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/capcom-now-has-a-dedicated-team-for-bringing-latest-re-engine-technologies-to-character-creation-across-all-of-its-games/#respond Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73378 During the CAPCOM Open Conference RE:2026, Hiroyuki Chi revealed details about the company's recently established cross-functional team. ]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/capcom-now-has-a-dedicated-team-for-bringing-latest-re-engine-technologies-to-character-creation-across-all-of-its-games/feed/ 0 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/persona-5-graphic-designer-lam-announces-demvamps-an-original-short-anime-project-about-a-vampire-war/ https://automaton-media.com/en/news/persona-5-graphic-designer-lam-announces-demvamps-an-original-short-anime-project-about-a-vampire-war/#respond Mon, 05 Oct 2026 08:59:43 +0000 https://automaton-media.com/en/?p=73365 At the center of the war are Lavinia, a mysterious vampire girl who covets the vampire throne, and Yo, a young boy who becomes her thrall.]]> https://automaton-media.com/en/news/persona-5-graphic-designer-lam-announces-demvamps-an-original-short-anime-project-about-a-vampire-war/feed/ 0