JAPAN GAMING & ENTERTAINMENT 
LEVEL5 Inc. president Akihiro Hino, whose studio makes Professor Layton, explained that the company used generative AI extensively in footage for its September 10 reveal event, LEVEL5 VISION 2026 II Dream, and apologized to viewers who found it unpleasant.
LEVEL5 President Akihiro Hino Explains AI Use in Reveal Event Footage
Hino said on September 12 that he used the latest AI tools because he wanted to make the footage more visually striking, and that the video also incorporated some experimental processing. He said the game’s scenario, character designs, and basic setting are all made by people, and that no carelessly generated AI output made it into the final product. According to Hino, AI is mainly used for processes that digitize human-made work, such as converting original artwork into polygon models. He said the company is still testing this kind of efficiency measure as part of a plan to cut development time for major titles from the current five years down to two.
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Source: X post by Akihiro Hino (September 12, 2026) / AUTOMATON (September 12, 2026) / Game*Spark (September 12, 2026)
MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA Launches April 22, 2027, With White Len Joining the Roster
Aniplex Inc. announced on September 12 that MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA, a 2D fighting game developed by FRENCH-BREAD, will launch on April 22, 2027. It will be available on six platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC (Steam). The game supports multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish (Latin America), and Portuguese (Brazil). White Len has also been confirmed as a playable character, joining Len. It’s a revamped version of the previous installment, MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA, and it will be playable at the Aniplex and Happinet booths at TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026 (September 17–21). Aniplex says this will be the earliest opportunity anywhere in the world to play the game.
Source: AUTOMATON (September 12, 2026) / Famitsu (September 12, 2026) / MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA Official Site (accessed September 12, 2026) / Famitsu (September 4, 2026)
UTA MACROSS Revival Project’s Crowdfunding Reaches 236% of Its Goal
AUGUST is reviving UTA MACROSS, a rhythm game in the Macross series that launched in 2017 and was discontinued in 2022, as a one-time-purchase offline version, with development handled by xeen Inc. Crowdfunding for the project began on the night of September 10 and reached its goal in about an hour. As of September 11, it had 1,680 backers and had reached 236% of its goal. The new version is set to launch on PC (Steam), iOS, and Android in spring 2027, with English support also announced.
Source: AUTOMATON (September 11, 2026) / CAMPFIRE project page (accessed September 11, 2026)
Physics Sandbox OmOchim to Be Exhibited at TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026
Asobism announced on September 12 that it will exhibit its in-development Steam title OmOchim at TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026 and offer hands-on play. It’s a physics-based sandbox game in which players combine everyday objects to build contraptions. Players program the movement of their companion robot, also named OmOchim, using block-based visual programming, and attach wheels and jets to make it move. They can compete with friends’ machines on speed and durability. Release is planned for 2027.
Source: Famitsu (September 12, 2026) / Steam store page (accessed September 12, 2026) / Asobism press release (around August 24, 2026) / Steam Asobism developer page (accessed September 13, 2026)
Creara Select, an Adventure About Talking to a Spider Girl Over Seven Days, Announced
Independent developer Natsumikan announced a new game, Creara Select, on September 12 and published its Steam store page. Players take on the role of an investigator who talks with Creara, a spider girl with eight personalities, through reinforced glass, studying which personality is suited for use as a weapon. Over repeated seven-day cycles, players draw out different personalities by supplying materials and changing her living environment, while watching her stress levels to build trust. Information gathered about each personality carries over to the next loop. At the end, players choose whether to pursue a romantic relationship with her or treat her as a threat. Release is planned for 2027. The game will also be exhibited at the doujin game event Tokyo Game Dungeon 14 on October 31. As of September 13, 99% of the 103 Steam reviews for Natsumikan’s previous game, Midnight Syndrome, are positive.
Source: AUTOMATON (September 12, 2026) / Steam store page (accessed September 12, 2026) / Steam store page for Midnight Syndrome (accessed September 13, 2026)