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AUTOMATON WEST
@automatonwest.bsky.social
Official AUTOMATON English account. Bringing video game and internet culture-related news from Japan!

Find us at: https://automaton-media.com/en/

Japanese account: @automaton-media.com
“Overwhelmingly Positive” action platformer Sanabi gets free DLC with expanded story, new playable character and new gameplay mechanics
automaton-media.com/en/news/over...
"Overwhelmingly Positive" action platformer Sanabi gets free DLC with expanded story, new playable character, and unique gameplay mechanics  - AUTOMATON WEST
Sanabi's new "A Haunted Day" free DLC is a prequel featuring Major Isun Song (an ally of the Brigadier General) as a playable character.
automaton-media.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Rare Final Fantasy 7 and 10 crossover artwork by series’ concept artist Yoshitaka Amano auctions for over $7.8k USD

The piece, titled "Custom order," depicts Cloud, Aerith, Tidus and Yuna. It also comes with a certificate of authenticity.

automaton-media.com/en/news/rare...
November 27, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Last month, the end of Japan's legendary Super Sentai series was announced, to the shock of many

TV Asahi's CEO says a future revival is possible, but that the network is now looking to "create new heroes" after 50 years of Super Sentai
automaton-media.com/en/news/a-su...
A Super Sentai series revival is "possible," but Japanese TV stations are hoping to “create new heroes” after 50 years of the franchise  - AUTOMATON WEST
Last month, it was announced that Japan's legendary Super Sentai series would be ending after 50 years. TV Asahi's CEO recently commented on the decision.
automaton-media.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:32 AM
“We pretended to mistakenly ship the game just to get feedback” Silent Hill f writer Ryukishi07 reminisces on his humble beginnings as a game creator
automaton-media.com/en/news/we-p...
"We pretended to mistakenly ship the game just to get feedback" Silent Hill f writer Ryukishi07 reminisces on his humble beginnings as a game creator - AUTOMATON WEST
Silent Hill f writer and When They Cry series creator Ryukishi07 reflects on 25 years of his work at 07th Expansion.
automaton-media.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Trails in the Sky the 3rd or from Zero could be next in line for a full remake, but the devs are torn about what order to go in, Nihon Falcom CEO says

A potential remake of Trails of Cold Steel would “be rather difficult to achieve” at the moment
automaton-media.com/en/news/trai...
Trails in the Sky the 3rd or from Zero could be next in line for a full remake, but the devs are torn about what order to go in, Nihon Falcom CEO says - AUTOMATON WEST
In a recent interview, Nihon Falcom CEO Toshihiro Kondo talked about future Trails series remakes potentially coming after 2nd Chapter.
automaton-media.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:31 AM
“Interrupting gameplay for visual flair is unacceptable in a fighting game.” New VIRTUA FIGTHER Project producer talks about the title’s pursuit of “reality, not realism”
automaton-media.com/en/interview...
“Interrupting gameplay for visual flair is unacceptable in a fighting game.” New VIRTUA FIGTHER Project producer talks about the title’s pursuit of “reality”  - AUTOMATON WEST
We talk to New VIRTUA FIGHTER Project producer Riichiro Yamada about what the new title will inherit vs reinvent.
automaton-media.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:31 AM
“It wouldn’t have been possible anywhere but Japan.” COVER talks about hololive’s tight ties to Japanese game development and anime production
automaton-media.com/en/interview...
“It wouldn’t have been possible anywhere but Japan.” COVER talks about hololive’s tight ties to Japanese game development and anime production - AUTOMATON WEST
Interview with COVER CEO Motoaki Tanigo (YAGOO) and promotion lead Ryota Aomi about hololive's ties to Japanese game and anime culture.
automaton-media.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Two insanely dedicated gacha gamers awarded for logging into game for five thousand consecutive days ever since its launch 13 years ago
automaton-media.com/en/news/two-...
Two insanely dedicated gacha gamers awarded for logging into game for five thousand consecutive days ever since its launch 13 years ago  - AUTOMATON WEST
Two players of the Japanese gacha game Puzzle & Dragons have been awarded exclusive honors for logging in for 13 years without missing a day.
automaton-media.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Sega is aware its past “definitive version” releases could be deterring players from buying games at launch

automaton-media.com/en/news/sega...
Sega is aware its past “definitive version” releases could be deterring players from buying games at launch - AUTOMATON WEST
Sega’s full-price games aren’t selling much compared to how highly they’re rated, and the company cites "definitive editions" as one of the possible reasons.
automaton-media.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Silent Hill f: Shu’s Japanese voice actor to livestream the game and reminisce about what filming was like
automaton-media.com/en/news/sile...
Silent Hill f: Shu's Japanese voice actor to livestream the game and reminisce about what filming was like  - AUTOMATON WEST
Natsuki Osaki, who provides the Japanese voice of Shu Iwai, will also be doing a live playthrough of Silent Hill f this year.
automaton-media.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Shift Up signs global publishing deal for new multiplatform game Project Spirits (previously known as Project Witches)
automaton-media.com/en/news/shif...
Shift Up signs global publishing deal for new multiplatform game Project Spirits  - AUTOMATON WEST
Shift Up has teamed up with NIKKE publisher Level Infinite for global publishing of its upcoming title Project Spirits.
automaton-media.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Arknights: Endfield is a long and complex game releasing in an era of quick and easy entertainment, but the developers know there’s a demand

"Players worldwide, and we ourselves, are seeking higher-quality games with strong immersion"
automaton-media.com/en/news/arkn...
Arknights: Endfield is a long and complex game releasing in an era of quick and easy entertainment, but the developers know there’s a demand  - AUTOMATON WEST
Arknights: Endfield developer RUA says the game isn't something you can take for a short and casual run, but they're confident there's a demand for it.
automaton-media.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Not quite a game, not a typical metaverse. What exactly is hololive production’s open-world virtual platform Holoearth?

We asked COVER's CEO Motoaki Tanigo and promotion lead Ryota Aomi
automaton-media.com/en/interview...
Not quite a game, not a typical metaverse. What exactly is hololive production’s open-world virtual platform Holoearth?   - AUTOMATON WEST
Interview with COVER CEO Motoaki Tanigo (YAGOO) and promotion lead Ryota Aomi about the origin and objective of Holoearth.
automaton-media.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Japan’s DLsite launches experimental service for playing SFW and adult doujin PC games on mobile devices

The trial campaign will run until November 30. Over 20,000 PC doujin titles are eligible
automaton-media.com/en/news/dlsi...
Japan's DLsite launches experimental service for playing SFW and adult doujin PC games on mobile devices  - AUTOMATON WEST
Over 20,000 PC doujin games hosted on DLsite are available for cloud streaming through the service. The campaign will run until November 30.
automaton-media.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Atelier Ryza official ASMR tops DLsite rankings, makes over $100k in five days
automaton-media.com/en/news/atel...
November 25, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Rune Factory 4’s creators are doing everything they left undone in their new life sim RPG Farnia Village. We ask them what comes after the massively successful Kickstarter

"Without crowdfunding, development might have taken 10-20 years"
automaton-media.com/en/interview...
November 25, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Steins;Gate Re:Boot to have a brand new ending, producer reveals

The scenario is based on Steins;Gate Elite (2018)
automaton-media.com/en/news/stei...
Steins;Gate Re:Boot to have a brand new ending, producer reveals  - AUTOMATON WEST
At the WePlay Expo 2025 in Shanghai, Steins;Gate series producer Tatsuya Matsubara revealed new details about the upcoming reboot.
automaton-media.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:02 AM
From depressed game dev simulator to cozy store management with crunchy ASMR sounds: Japanese indie games about jobs
automaton-media.com/en/news/from...
From depressed game dev simulator to cozy store management with crunchy ASMR sounds: Japanese indie games about jobs  - AUTOMATON WEST
Showcase of upcoming or recently released Japanese indie games centered around jobs and working.
automaton-media.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 AM
hololive’s indie publishing label was launched to “return the favor” to game creators. We ask CEO Motoaki Tanigo (YAGOO) about the project
automaton-media.com/en/interview...
hololive’s indie publishing label was launched to “return the favor” to game creators. We ask CEO Motoaki Tanigo (YAGOO) about the project  - AUTOMATON WEST
COVER CEO Motoaki "YAGOO" Tanigo talks about how and why his company launched its own indie game publishing label.
automaton-media.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Is Arknights: Endfield an open-world game? The devs say “No, but we won’t get mad if you call it that”
automaton-media.com/en/news/is-a...
Is Arknights: Endfield an open-world game? The devs say “No, but we won’t get mad if you call it that”   - AUTOMATON WEST
Arknights: Endfield developer RUA talks about why his team doesn't consider the game open-world, from a level design standpoint.
automaton-media.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno reveals early idea he had for the Rebuild series’ ending, and fans can’t get over what could have been
automaton-media.com/en/news/evan...
Evangelion creator reveals early idea for Rebuild series’ ending, and fans can’t get over what could have been  - AUTOMATON WEST
Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno initially had very different ideas about how the Rebuild tetralogy should end.
automaton-media.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Gundam GQuuuuuuX was responsible for 20% of Japan top 100 viral buzzwords in 2025

"Char's survival speedrun"
automaton-media.com/en/news/gund...
Gundam GQuuuuuuX was responsible for 20% of Japan top 100 viral buzzwords in 2025  - AUTOMATON WEST
20 out of 100 viral buzzword nominees in Japan are related to Gundam GQuuuuuuX, which is more than any other single franchise.
automaton-media.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:21 AM
How COVER went from "walking the wrong path” as a VR startup to a VTuber powerhouse. We talk to CEO Motoaki Tanigo (YAGOO)
automaton-media.com/en/interview...
How COVER went from "walking the wrong path” as a VR startup to a VTuber powerhouse. We talk to CEO Motoaki Tanigo (YAGOO)  - AUTOMATON WEST
Interview with COVER CEO Motoaki Tanigo (aka YAGOO) about the origins of the company and path towards establishing hololive production.
automaton-media.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Blue Archive now displays worried message when you long-press the app icon on iOS, in case you’re thinking of uninstalling

“Sensei, no! You're just going to move the icon, right?”
automaton-media.com/en/news/blue...
Blue Archive now displays worried message when you long-press the app icon on iOS, in case you’re thinking of uninstalling  - AUTOMATON WEST
Blue Archive now yells “Sensei, no! You're just going to move the icon, right?” when you long-press the app icon on iOS in Japan.
automaton-media.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Chef Kawasaki “micro bikini” ride deleted from Kirby Air Riders Machine Market, immediately replaced by succubus Chef Kawasaki
automaton-media.com/en/news/chef...
Chef Kawasaki “micro bikini” ride deleted from Kirby Air Riders Machine Market, immediately replaced by succubus Chef Kawasaki  - AUTOMATON WEST
As players lament the loss of micro bikini Chef Kawasaki, succubus Chef Kawasaki has replaced it as the priciest custom ride in Kirby Air Riders.
automaton-media.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:34 AM