JAPAN GAMING & ENTERTAINMENT 
Ending service for the MMO FINAL FANTASY XI, which has been running for 24 years, was once under consideration. The directors of both games revealed this in a conversation held to mark its collaboration with Wizardry Variants Daphne.
FINAL FANTASY XI Once Considered Ending Its Service, Directors Reveal in Joint Interview
The conversation was held between Yoji Fujito of FINAL FANTASY XI and the director of Wizardry Variants Daphne. Fujito said that in an MMO that has been running for 24 years, there are parts he would like to change but cannot. He added that the operations team had considered ending the service, but ultimately decided to continue it after receiving feedback from fans on the game’s 20th-anniversary commemorative site.
Suikoden STAR LEAP Launches for iOS and Android in Japan on August 7, Reveals Four New Characters
Suikoden STAR LEAP, a mobile RPG from Konami Digital Entertainment, launches for iOS and Android in Japan on August 7. Four new characters were also revealed. The game is positioned as a numbered mainline entry that continues the series’ tradition of featuring casts of “more than 108 companion characters.”
Fate/Grand Order’s 11th-Anniversary Event Displays New Art Panels of 48 Servants at Makuhari Messe
Fate/Grand Order’s 11th-anniversary event, Fate/Grand Order Fes. 2026 — a Chaldea-themed school festival marking the 11th Anniversary — was held at Makuhari Messe. The venue displayed newly commissioned panel art of all 48 Servants. A Live2D interactive exhibit built around a Chaldea student-council theme was also on offer, and it included a scene of Miyamoto Musashi eating 356 bowls of udon.
Japan’s Public Sports Science Institute Opens a Dedicated Facility to Measure Esports Players
The Japan High Performance Sport Center (HPSC), operated by the Japan Sport Council (JSC), opened the HPSC ESPORTS LAB in June 2026. The facility uses heart-rate sensors, eye tracking, and thermographic cameras to take measurements from players of Puyo Puyo Champions, eFootball, and Gran Turismo. It was built with an eye toward the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, which opens in September 2026 and will make esports an official medal event.
Indie-Developed School Mystery Adventure Miracle Detective Launches on iOS
Solo developer TAKA’s factory released the iOS version of the school mystery adventure game Miracle Detective on August 3. The game previously launched on Steam on June 19. Currently, it is only available in Japanese.