Japanese 3D girlfriend simulator crowdfunds entire development budget in just 2 hours
![VR-Kanojo](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240803-36365-768x432.jpg)
The upcoming 3D dating simulator VR-Kanojo achieved its crowdfunding goal in less than two hours, and is currently 179% funded.
Shinji Mikami slams video game censorship in Japan: “The rules are made by people who don’t play games”
![Game censorship in Japan Sahdows of the Damned Hella Remastered](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240902-36345-header-768x432.jpg)
Mikami recently spoke out about game censorship in Japan, namechecking Dead Space and the upcoming Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered
FromSoftware’s Bloodborne posts on Instagram add fuel to the hype for the franchise’s comeback
![Bloodborne](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822-36335-001-768x432.jpg)
FromSoftware's recent string of Bloodborne-related posts on Instagram has users desperately analyzing textures in hopes of a remaster.
Nintendo can now ban streamers and content creators from using their games if they are caught posting “immoral” content and leaks
![Super Mario Bros. Wonder gameplay screenshot](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240206-26741-header-768x432.jpg)
Nintendo is fortifying its guidelines for online content creators using their games and other copyrighted material.
Among Us players get a free Miles Edgeworth costume to coincide with Ace Attorney Investigations Collection launch
![Miles Edgeworth in Among Us](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240902-36320-768x432.jpg)
Capcom is collaborating with Among Us to bring Miles Edgeworth as a free cosmetic to the impostor guessing game.
Yoko Taro plays new Atlus RPG Metaphor ReFantazio “It’s so stylish, I almost wet myself”
![Yoko Taro on Metaphor ReFantazio](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240830-36248-header-768x423.jpg)
Friendly rivalry and hijinks ensue as NieR series creator Yoko Taro is invited to Atlus's offices to play Metaphor ReFantazio's demo.
Delicious in Dungeon was born from the author’s lifetime “guilt” and struggle with food
![Delicious in Dungeon](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240830-36240-1-768x444.jpg)
Delicious in Dungeon author Ryoko Kui opens up about what led her to write a story about food and eating.
Wizardry developer receives 500-million-yen investment from the Japanese government
![Wizardry Variants Daphne](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/wizardry-variants-daphne-20240830-308449-header-768x432.jpg)
Wizardry developer Drecom received a 500-million-yen "risk money" investment from Japan's Bank of Development.
Like a Dragon’s director and lead planner talk about the weirdest content they’ve put into the series and how they cleverly coaxed the team into agreeing
![Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth Let it Snow](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240830-36216-header-768x432.jpg)
Sega's Like a Dragon series features so many bizarre minigames and fun side content. But how do the planning team heads choose which ideas make it into the game? We found out.
Blue Protocol shutdown: Japanese users lament how the anime MMORPG’s potential was a wasted opportunity
![Blue Protocol server shutdown](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240830-36218-header-768x462.jpeg)
Blue Protocol spent 8 years in development but will end up running for less than 2 years, remaining a Japan exclusive.
Chinese publishers such as NetEase might be abandoning Japanese developers after years of investment
![Visions of Mana by Ouka Studios](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240830-6208-768x443.jpg)
Major Chinese publishers such as NetEase and Tencent are backing out from the Japanese market after years of investment yielded few hits.
PS5 price increase in Japan sends Xbox consoles soaring up sales charts
![Xbox Series X and PS5](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240829-36188-header-768x494.jpg)
PS5's imminent September 2nd price hike in Japan has caused the console to sell out. At the same time, Xbox Series X sales have increased- suggesting that some Japanese people are picking up Microsoft's slightly more affordable console instead.
Like a Dragon series’ director: If there’s no healthy fighting during development, you can only make a “lukewarm” game at best
![Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240829-36179-768x432.jpg)
Does SEGA’s Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio fight when they make Like a Dragon games? The short answer is yet, but there's a lot more to it.
Like a Dragon devs to make new announcements at RGG Summit on September 20
![Like a Dragon RGG Summit 2024](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240828-36169-768x430.jpg)
Like a Dragon series developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has announced that the next RGG Summit will be held on September 20.
Suikoden I & II HD Remaster bounces back from delays to get a March 2025 release date
![Suikoden 1 and 2 HD remaster Duel](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240828-36156-header-768x432.jpg)
Konami's HD remaster of their classic 1990s RPGs Suikoden I & II is coming to all major platforms in March 2025
FAIRY TAIL 2 will have a bigger world map, less puzzle-like battles and more animated characters, according to producer
![Fairy Tail 2](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240828-36148-header-768x438.jpg)
Producer of Koei Tecmo's FAIRY TAIL 2 talks about what's new and improved in the sequel to the 2020 title.
Koei Tecmo’s Atelier Resleriana will no longer be co-developed by Akatsuki Games
![Atelier Resleriana](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240828-36141-header-768x432.jpg)
Atelier Resleriana will be fully managed by Koei Tecmo's Gust and Team Ninja from August 31 onwards as Akatsuki Games leaves the project.
Shiren the Wanderer 6 to get affordable new DLC with extra playable characters and dungeons
![Shiren the Wanderer 6 DLC Plus Pack Asuka and Koppa](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240828-36133-header-768x433.jpg)
A free update and a new paid DLC have just been announced for Shiren the Wanderer 6, much to the delight of fans.
Street Fighter 6’s upcoming Replay Review feature will make learning from mistakes easier
![Street Figther 6 Replay Review](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240828-36125-768x431.jpg)
One new Street Fighter 6 feature that will be coming alongside the Terry Bogard update on September 24 is Replay Review.
Tales of Graces f Remastered is only the first step in the “Tales of series Remaster Project” that will revamp older titles for comfortable playing on modern consoles
![Tales of Graces f Remastered](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240828-36112-768x477.jpg)
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced Tales of Graces f Remastered, the starting point of their new “Tales of series Remaster Project.”
Japanese co-development company Tose shuts down two bases overseas and in Japan to tackle growing scale and complexity of game development projects
![Scarlet Nexus](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240711-33822-768x438.jpg)
TOSE has announced the closure of two of its bases to battle the rising need for efficiency and new technology in game development.
Blue Protocol to end service without making it to the West
![Blue Protocol](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240808-36073-768x433.jpg)
Bandai Namco Online announces end of services of Blue Protocol and cancellation of planned Western release.