The review of Star Fox (2026) on the Nintendo Switch 2 describes a polished third‑person rail shooter that revisits the franchise’s classic formula with added cinematic cutscenes and updated visuals. Star Fox, a long‑running Nintendo property, follows Fox McCloud and his team—Peppy Hare, Falco Lombardi, and Slippy Toad—under General Pepper as they confront Andross, linked to the death of Fox’s father, James McCloud. Gameplay consists of linear stages where players fly the Arwing, complete objectives, and manage teammate survival, with three difficulty routes that adjust based on performance. A standard playthrough lasts about an hour, and the game encourages replayability through hidden routes and varied tasks. The title adds full‑motion video sequences that provide narrative context between stages, featuring voice acting and character interaction not present in earlier titles. Critics praised the high‑fidelity music recreations and the well‑rendered graphics, but noted that core gameplay offers little innovation and that many combat voice lines remain unchanged, resulting in repetitive moments. Some transition cutscenes were described as generic. The reviewer recommends the game for newcomers and suggests that returning players consider a price reduction or wait for future releases, as the current title provides a refined but familiar iteration of the series.
Art, books, film, gaming, and the conversations defining the week.
According to the review published on ign.com, the article provides a spoiler‑filled assessment of Rick and Morty Season 9 episodes 6 through 8.
Episode 6, titled "Erickerhead", shows Rick's head separated from his body, leading to a conflict between the two. The reviewer said the episode presents a self‑contained story in which Summer becomes involved while Morty and Rick's head create chaos elsewhere. The reviewer noted that the episode is entertaining in isolation.
Episode 7, titled "Mortgully: The Last Rickforest", follows Rick and Morty on a mission to harvest psychedelic sap that results in their imprisonment in a Hollow Earth facility where they repeatedly experience cycles of life and death. The reviewer explained that the episode separates the characters, with Rick attempting a jailbreak and Morty adapting to his environment, and includes recurring musical montages. The reviewer said the episode concludes with both characters starving their jailer and reveals that their experiences span many cycles while only a day passes on Earth.
Episode 8, titled "Rickuiem Mort a Dream", depicts Rick's pursuit of an unlimited vodka supply and Morty's acquisition of an empathy‑boosting parasite, which leads to a reversal of roles with Morty acting antagonistically and Rick appearing pacifist. The reviewer highlighted a line from the episode and described the Summer and Jerry subplot as entertaining, though it could have been expanded. The reviewer also noted Jerry's brief association with a serial killer.
The review ends by summarizing the episodes' contributions to the season and states that the storylines remain unresolved.
Disney's live-action Moana opened with an estimated $95 million worldwide in its opening weekend, edging past Snow White's $87.3 million debut in 2025.
The figure represents a domestic haul of roughly $43 million and an international total of $52 million, according to box office data. Disney had projected $60‑65 million domestically and up to $75 million internationally, figures cited by Variety.
The $250 million production budget, reported by Variety, means the opening falls short of the studio's expectations. The performance places Moana in first for the mid‑July weekend but does not offset the financial risk of a high‑budget remake. Disney has not announced a revised release schedule for its upcoming live‑action Tangled, which is slated for 2028, though the company continues to develop other adaptations such as Bambi, Hercules, Lilo and Stitch 2, and a Gaston‑focused project.
In separate box‑office movements, Universal and Lionsgate's Michael Jackson biopic surpassed $1 billion globally, becoming the first biopic to reach that milestone, while Toy Story 5 sits at $879 million after four weekends. Supergirl has accumulated $115.4 million to date, well below the $200 million target some analysts had projected, indicating ongoing losses for Warner Bros. and its DCU.
IGN's review assigned the film a 6/10 rating and noted that Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui alongside Catherine Laga’aia, but said the retelling "doesn't do enough to justify being made." The review was written by freelance journalist Michael Cripe.
The underperformance prompts questions about the future of Disney's live‑action remake strategy as the studio prepares additional releases.
Tomofumi Ogasawara launched the crossover manga Shin Kidō Senki Gundam W x Code Geass - Hangyaku no Lelouch - Minuet Zero on Kadokawa's KadoComi platform on Friday.
Ogasawara previously created Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Endless Waltz: Glory of the Losers and Code Geass: Lelouch of the Resurrection manga.
Kōjirō Taniguchi of Sunrise provided the scenario for the new title.
Naohiro Ogata, board director and producer at Bandai Namco Filmworks, announced during the Gundam Conference Spring 2026 livestream in May that the Gundam Wing franchise is receiving a new visual project.
The Gundam Wing franchise celebrated its 30th anniversary last year and presented a promotional video at San Diego Comic-Con International.
The Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz anime was shown in U.S. theaters in 4K resolution beginning last fall.
The Code Geass Project To 20th event in December announced several initiatives, including the manga collaboration, a new anime titled Code Geass Hoshi Oi no Aspal, and a television broadcast of Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture scheduled for July 2026.
The franchise's 13 films conducted revival screenings in Japan on the first and third Tuesdays and Thursdays of each month from January 6 to June 25.
The manga is slated for release on the KadoComi platform, with further publication details pending.
The Mob Psycho 100 anime celebrated its 10th anniversary with a new short that streamed online with English subtitles. The short was presented at the Fukagawa Mirai Hall in Kawaguchi City, Saitama on Sunday. The series began as a manga in 2012 and concluded in 2017, with 16 volumes published by Shogakukan. Yuzuru Tachikawa directed, wrote, storyboarded and handled technical direction for the short. Yoshimichi Kameda, the original character designer, served as animation director and contributed an illustration to mark the anniversary. The short features Reigen, Shigeo (Mob), Dimple and Tome at the Spirits and Such Consultation Office. Crunchyroll streamed the third season worldwide outside Asia with English subtitles and an English dub.
Kevin Feige indicated that Yelena Belova could appear earlier than the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film, possibly in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, during a presentation at Bilibili World 2026 in Shanghai.
He made the remarks while unveiling concept art at the Bilibili World 2026 event in Shanghai.
Feige noted that Yelena plays a significant role in Doomsday but hinted at a possible earlier appearance.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set for release on July 31, 2026 and will also feature Mark Ruffalo as Hulk, Jon Bernthal as The Punisher, Michael Mando as Scorpion, and rumors that Sadie Sink may portray a new version of Jean Grey.
No official confirmation of Yelena’s involvement has been provided, and her role in the film remains unconfirmed.
Marvel Studios showed a concept illustration for Avengers: Doomsday at the Bilibili World 2026 event in Shanghai.
Marvel Studios showed a concept illustration for Avengers: Doomsday at the Bilibili World 2026 event in Shanghai. The image, captured by audience members and later posted by former visual development director Andy Park, depicts more than 20 characters from previous Marvel properties. Visible characters include Cyclops (James Marsden), Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Red Guardian (David Harbour), U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Beast (Kelsey Grammer), Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming), Gambit (Channing Tatum), members of the Fantastic Four, Black Panther (Letitia Wright), Shang‑Chi (Simu Liu), and Loki (Tom Hiddleston). The illustration does not confirm all upcoming appearances. Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studios, presented the artwork. Co‑director Joe Russo noted that the film will reset the MCU to its earliest phase. The movie is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026, and no trailer has been released to date.
Activision announced that its recently released Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 ports support crossplay between PS4 and PS5, according to a statement from the official Call of Duty X/Twitter account.
Players had been uncertain after the surprise launch of the PlayStation ports, which initially lacked clear crossplay information. The ports, developed by Iron Galaxy, launched in July 2026 and received mixed technical feedback, including a low frame-rate cap and reduced resolution.
The announcement clarified that PS4 and PS5 users can matchmake with each other, while crossplay with PS3 or other platforms remains unavailable. Season Pass holders may matchmake with non‑holders in both titles.
Despite criticism of the ports' performance, both games achieved high sales rankings on the PlayStation Store, reaching the top of the Best Selling list. Black Ops 1 is priced at $39.99, with a limited‑time $19.99 offer for PlayStation Plus subscribers; each downloadable content pack costs $29.99, or $9.89 with PS Plus. Activision is also advancing development of the next entry, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.
IGN reviewed Black Ops 1 with a score of 8.5/10 and Black Ops 2 with a 9.3/10. The article was written by freelance writer Michael Cripe, who has contributed to The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP, and can be followed on Bluesky and Twitter.
The update provides clarity on multiplayer compatibility, but the long‑term impact of the ports' technical limitations remains to be seen.
Season 3, episode 6 of The Vampire Lestat, titled “Montreal,” aired on AMC and AMC+. Executive producer Hannah Moscovitch said the writers’ room asked how Lestat and Louis might reunite in a style comparable to the film Before Sunset. The episode follows the two vampires as they move through Montreal, dine at a restaurant, give a joint interview to author Daniel Molloy, rehearse for Lestat’s concert, and watch a released sex tape.
The narrative then shows witch Merrick Mayfair using Claudia’s diary and dress to summon her spirit, leading to an emotional confrontation in which Claudia expresses anger and disappointment about not finding her partner Madeleine in the afterlife. Actress Delainey Hayles provides a strong performance that conveys the character’s feelings. The episode concludes with Daniel and Armand confronting Lestat and Louis, ending with their decapitation in a cliffhanger. Moscovitch said the ending was planned and that Armand’s actions stem from a desire for atonement and revenge after losing Louis in Dubai.
Former GungHo Online Entertainment executive Takanori Kikuchi was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police on July 12, 2026 on suspicion of breach of trust for allegedly embezzling about 246 million yen. The arrest follows a criminal complaint filed by the company on October 5, 2025 after an internal investigation identified the former head of the systems division as having created fictitious business orders through a third‑party work‑matching service used for several years. Prosecutors allege that the scheme diverted company funds and resulted in an outflow of approximately 100 million yen to a business partner for work that did not occur. GungHo filed criminal charges on October 5 but chose not to announce the arrest publicly to avoid interfering with the police investigation. In August 2025 the company announced that it had dismissed a former executive employee for embezzlement in July of that year. GungHo formed an internal investigation team with two independent auditors and said it will strengthen compliance education and training to prevent future misconduct. CEO Kazuki Morishita stepped down on February 1, 2025, and CFO Kazuya Sakai assumed the CEO role. GungHo is known for its puzzle game Puzzle & Dragons and for operating the MMORPG Ragnarok Online, as well as titles such as TEPPEN, Ninjala and Disney Pixel RPG.
The official X account for the late Sachiko Kiyono’s Nontan children’s book series announced on Saturday that a new 3D CG‑animated work will be produced to mark the franchise’s 50th anniversary. The anniversary will be celebrated with an interactive exhibit at the PLAY! MUSEUM in Tokyo from July 18 to September 27, according to the announcement. The Nontan series, which follows a mischievous white cat, began with the 1976 picture book “Nontan Buranko Nosete” and has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide. The franchise has been adapted into an animated series in 1992, an OVA in the late 1990s, a 3D CG series that debuted in 2002, and other media. Studio Pierrot produced a musical‑styled animated series titled “Non‑tan to Issho” in 1992. Kiyono died of a brain tumor in 2008 at age 60. The upcoming 3D CG project will be the latest addition to the franchise’s multimedia portfolio, though no production details or release schedule have been disclosed. The exhibit and the new animation are intended to honor the series’ half‑century legacy.
Netflix announced on Monday that it will add the television anime adaptation of Akimi Yoshida's Banana Fish manga to select regions on August 12, and will release exclusive English and French dubs with Brandon McInnis and Sébastien Baulain voicing Ash Lynx, and Jonathan Tanigaki and Grégory Laisné voicing Eiji Okumura. The series originally premiered on Fuji TV's Noitamina block in July 2018, and is produced by MAPPA with direction by Hiroko Utsumi, scripts by Hiroshi Seko, character design by Akemi Hayashi, music by Shinichi Osawa, and supervision by Akitsugu Hisagi. The anime was previously available with subtitles on Amazon Prime Video, which removed the English and Latin American Spanish dubs in December after labeling them "AI beta". The story follows Ash Lynx, a seventeen‑year‑old former ward of crime lord Dino Golzine, and photographer Eiji Okumura as they become involved in a criminal conspiracy in modern New York. Viz Media published the manga in English, describing a narrative set in 1980s New York. The addition expands Netflix's anime catalog and will be limited to specific territories, with no further release schedule disclosed.
House of the Dragon season 3 episode 4 shows Rhaenyra Targaryen confronting immediate political and military challenges after ascending the throne.
The episode details the actions of Lord Ormund Hightower, who has stationed troops in the town of Tumbleton, creating a dilemma for Rhaenyra as she cannot attack without endangering local supporters.
Aemond Targaryen, riding the dragon Vhagar, is reported missing after a stabbing, and Criston Cole discovers that Alys Rivers remains at Harrenhal. Ormund threatens the displaced ruling lord and lady of Tumbleton, and his volatile behavior includes outbursts and a preference for cleanliness.
Ormund publicly forgives Kat’s brother Leo for defending her, then later abducts him and orders Prince Daeron to execute him, reflecting a pattern of cruelty similar to earlier series events.
In King's Landing, Rhaenyra appoints Ser Torrhen Manderly as Master of Coin and discusses appointments with Alyn, while also receiving requests for favors from Ulf, whom she detains in the Keep.
She orders a search for graffiti labeling her the "Queen of Bastards" and allows Gold Cloaks to respond aggressively, raising concerns about an own-goal that could alienate the populace.
Aegon and his schemer Larys travel to Rook's Rest, where Aegon believes his dragon Sunfyre may still be alive, while Larys works to keep him alive.
Daemon travels to the Vale to request funds from Lady Jeyne, during which his dragon Caraxes flies to a rocky ledge where he finds Rhaena, a half-demented rider bonded with the wild dragon Sheepstealer, who rejects assistance and departs.
Criston Cole expresses enthusiasm for Rhaenyra’s throne claim and announces a guerrilla campaign targeting the River Lords as they move south, pledging a pure and dragon‑free fight.
The episode ends with multiple characters facing personal and political pressures, leaving the outcome of their actions unresolved.
The staff of the television anime adaptation of Hifumi's The Eternal Fool's Words of Wisdom novels announced a teaser trailer, the main cast and crew, and a January 2027 premiere.
The novel series began serialization on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in January 2015 and concluded in September 2019, with 14 print volumes released by Taibundo Publishing.
A manga adaptation launched on Earth Star Entertainment's Comic Earth Star website in April 2017, with the 13th volume shipped in February and the ninth English volume released in June.
Toshiyuki Toyonaga is cast as the sorcerer Asley, and Yōko Hikasa voices the familiar Pochi.
Keisuke Ōnishi directs the series at Studio Elle.
Kurasumi Sunayama handles series composition, Yumiko Mizuno designs characters, and Yuri Habuka composes the music for Lantis.
Additional staff include art design and art director Kaya Aoki, color key artist Yūsuke Watanabe, compositing director of photography Yūsaku Murakami, sound director Yukio Nagasaki, sound effects editor Hiromune Kurahashi, sound production by Procen Studio, and animation producer Suguru Shakagōri.
Crunchyroll will stream the series internationally outside Japan.
J‑Novel Club publishes the manga adaptation titled The Eternal Fool's Words of Wisdom: A Pawsitively Fantastic Adventure.
The story follows Asley, a youthful and naive sorcerer who has lived in isolation for centuries, accompanied by his Level 100 canine familiar Pochi, as he reenters society and tests his magic.
The anime is scheduled to premiere in January 2027, and its release will be followed by the ongoing manga serialization on Crunchyroll's manga platform.
Obsidian Entertainment director Brandon Adler responded to criticism regarding the studio’s recent changes after Microsoft’s Xbox layoffs, stating that some commentators lack insight into the company’s history.
Adler made his remarks in a LinkedIn post, noting that the week had been difficult for the team following the announcement that Microsoft eliminated 1,600 positions immediately and planned further cuts throughout the fiscal year.
He said that many “cold take artists” have emerged to question what Obsidian is or is not, often without understanding the contributions of those who worked on previous titles such as The Outer Worlds, Pillars of Eternity, New Vegas, and KotOR2.
Adler emphasized that leadership roles at the studio remain filled by individuals who have been part of its history, and he said the studio’s core DNA, which originated with games like KotOR, New Vegas, and Neverwinter Nights 2, has remained consistent.
He also mentioned that Obsidian recently canceled a sequel to its fantasy RPG Avowed and began development of a new Fallout game led by former New Vegas director Josh Sawyer.
The restructuring has left the studio navigating uncertainty, with additional layoffs expected and ongoing discussion about its future direction.
The Visual Effects Society announced that it will posthumously induct Japanese filmmaker Ishirō Honda and producer Tomoyuki Tanaka into its Hall of Fame at the 2026 VES Honors Celebration in Los Angeles on September 4. Honda directed the original 1954 Godzilla and eight Godzilla sequels, and directed more than 40 films across genres, retiring in 1975 before returning for Kagemusha with Akira Kurosawa; he died on February 28, 1993. Tanaka produced the 1954 Godzilla and many subsequent Godzilla entries, contributed to numerous Akira Kurosawa productions, worked at TOHO Studios, and served as chairman and CEO of TOHO Pictures until 1989; he died in April 1997. The VES previously inducted special effects pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya in 2025. The society noted the lasting influence of Honda and Tanaka on visual effects and filmmaking. The ceremony will be held at the Skirball Cultural Center.
Deals on RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR Glasses, Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, Apple AirPods Pro 3, LEGO sets and other media are available on July 12, 2026. The sales are being promoted by retailers including Amazon, Woot, GameStop, Barnes & Noble and others, with discounts ranging from 50% to over 80%. Amazon is offering a limited-time promotion on the RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR glasses, which connect via USB‑C and provide a 201‑inch virtual display without an onboard battery. The LEGO Technic McLaren P1 set, comprising 3,893 pieces, is discounted by $60 at Woot. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is listed at $44.99, a reduction from its previous price, and a sequel is scheduled for later this year. The Nintendo Switch 2 camera is available for $9.99 at GameStop, an 82% discount from its regular price. Barnes & Noble is running a 50% sale on Criterion Collection Blu‑ray titles, with 4K transfers and special features. Ys X: Nordics Deluxe Edition is priced at $39.99 at GameStop. Nioh 3 for PlayStation 5 is listed at $47.49 on Amazon, a $20 reduction. Apple AirPods Pro 3 are offered for $199.99 on Amazon, down from earlier pricing. The LEGO Ideas Vincent Van Gogh The Starry Night set is on sale for $136 on Amazon. Chainsaw Man Season 1 Blu‑ray is available for $49.84 on Amazon, reduced by $35. The sales conclude after July 12, and retailers have not indicated further extensions.