Nintendo Switch “hentai” game influx shocks Japanese users
Japanese My Nintendo Store users have been noticing an influx of foreign 17+ Switch games that include the word “Hentai,” and it hasn't been received well.
Square Enix’s foam party shooter FOAMSTARS to release February 6, with new modes and seasonal updates planned
Square Enix's online TPS FOAMSTARS will release on February 6 for the PS5 and PS4, with additional game modes and seasonal updates planned throughout the year.
Japanese manga artists have a problem with… bicycles. Here’s why
Bicycle-themed manga artist Gaku Miyao explains why cycling characters are so hard for anime and manga to get right- the answer is probably not what you think
Minecraft: City mod is so lifelike it’s mistaken for real Japanese city
Japanese modding group creates stunningly realistic Japanese cityscape in Minecraft, causing some people to have trouble believing their eyes
Nintendo offers free device repair for those affected by earthquake regardless of warranty
Nintendo will be donating 50 million yen in relief aid and offering free of charge repair of devices in response to the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake that hit Japan on January 1.
Adorable hiking-themed deck builder announced by Japanese indie dev
Yamafuda! Summit is an upcoming roguelike deckbuilding card game revolving around hiking. The Japanese indie game will be coming to in 2024.
Initiative to integrate AI and Blockchain technology into anime production causes mixed responses in Japan
Japan's AI and blockchain experts have launched the "AnimeChain" initiative, intended to redefine the anime production ecosystem using AI and blockchain technology, causing mixed reactions in the community.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink has a “strongest character” to fit everyone’s taste
Cygames released the free demo for Granblue Fantasy: Relink on January 12 for the PS5 and PS4, and Japanese players seem to be especially impressed by the versatility of the lineup of playable characters.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth dev shows off game’s C++ code, other Japanese devs join the trend
Yutaka Ito, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s Technical Manager, shared a snippet of the actual source code of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, garnering a huge response and starting a trend among devs.
Japan to get first “metaverse high school,” students will attend using 3D anime avatars
Japan will get its first legitimate metaverse high school, which students will attend using VR equipment and custom 3D avatars.
The Exit 8 has been creepily recreated in “live-action” video
Wandering around The Exit 8's liminal spaces is creepy enough, but VFX artist Ray Wakui recently upped the scare factor by combining real-life footage with assets from the game.
New Japanese AI tool will detect suspicious job listings
Tokyo-based recruitment website operator to introduce a generative AI tool to help detect the increasing number of shady part-time job listings in Japan.
Final Fantasy XIV producer talks about what would happen to the game without him
In a recent interview, Final Fantasy XIV producer and director Naoki Yoshida talked about what would happen to FFXIV if he were to retire, get fired or even die.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom player spends 6 months farming 999,999 Poes
We find out why X user Squall spent 1855 hours collecting the maximum amount of Poe you can carry in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and discover his strategy.
Honkai: Star Rail reportedly recorded over 200-million-dollar revenue growth in Japan in 2023
An analysis of Japan's mobile game market in 2023 shows a significant expansion of overseas publishers, with miHoYo’s Honkai: Star Rail topping the rankings with a growth exceeding $200 million.
Running games in extremely small windows seems to be a recent trend among developers
Japanese game developer STP WORKS shares a bit of trivia about their Pusher Friends series games that tells of a possible tendency in idle game development.
Someone has actually made that crazy math action game you saw on YouTube
Developed by Takuo Kihira during the New Year holidays, Formula Warriors is a math puzzle game that looks like "that game ad" on YouTube.
Nintendo Switch gaming brings cheer to children in earthquake evacuation center
Noto Peninsula earthquake evacuees enjoy a Smash Brothers tournament on the Nintendo Switch thanks to community organization efforts and the local power company.
How well does Like a Dragon Gaiden’s Sotenbori resemble Osaka’s Dotonbori?
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name sees Kazuma Kiryu venture into Sotenbori, a fictional district based on Osaka's Dotonbori. We investigate how the well the game mirrors reality.
Mario creator Miyamoto explains why designers shouldn’t be involved in initial stage of game development
In a recent interview, Shigeru Miyamoto explains why it is best to start out with a small team when developing a video game.
Japanese industry veteran warns about negative impact of gamers’ harsh language
Former Hudson Soft executive Takahashi Meijin called on pro-gamers and game companies to consider the detrimental effects of strong language and ultra-realistic FPS games on children.
Automaton West’s top 5 most bizarre moments of 2023
A look back at some of Automaton West's most bizarre moments of 2023.