Weekly Anime & Game in Asia 2026-W39 (2026-09-15~2026-09-21)

Activision’s Team RICOCHET has disrupted more than 375 cheat resellers and issued more than 80 cease-and-desist demands, going after cheat sellers as well as the players who use their tools. Elsewhere, Mercari temporarily banned listings of unopened Pokémon Trading Card Game 30th CELEBRATION packs, and XLGames said it will self-publish ArcheAge Chronicles.

This Week’s Events

Marketplace Limits and Anti-Cheat Enforcement

Mercari, a Japanese consumer-to-consumer marketplace operator, implemented a temporary ban on listings for unopened Pokémon Trading Card Game 30th CELEBRATION expansion packs on September 16, 2026. The intervention, which utilizes AI-based detection and manual monitoring, is supported by a 2023 memorandum of understanding with The Pokémon Company. The ban covers unopened expansion packs and the nine-type 30th CELEBRATION card set, while listings of opened single cards remain permitted.

Activision, separately, is changing its anti-cheat strategy. Team RICOCHET, the publisher’s anti-cheat division, is shifting focus from individual account bans to the supply chain of the cheat industry, which is estimated to be worth approximately USD 8.5B annually. By disrupting the operations of over 375 resellers and issuing more than 80 cease-and-desist demands, Activision aims to destabilize the pyramid-like distribution network of cheat developers. Team RICOCHET says this makes cheating riskier and more expensive for both vendors and users.

Self-Publishing and a Subscription Console

XLGames, a Korean developer behind the ArcheAge franchise, announced that it will directly self-publish its upcoming title, ArcheAge Chronicles, with an Early Access launch scheduled for 2026. The studio will transfer the ArcheAge IP and the ArcheAge S development project to Align Studio, a Kakao Games-funded entity, on October 27, 2026. By bypassing third-party publishers, XLGames gains control over communication channels and service updates, allowing the studio to leverage more frequent engagement leading up to the Early Access launch. Inven suggests the self-publishing announcement is related to that transfer, from which ArcheAge Chronicles is excluded.

Nex, the developer of the Nex Playground motion-control console, raised over USD 150M to support international expansion, including launches in Japan and South Korea scheduled for 2027. The platform sells no individual games: beyond the five bundled with the console, its library of over 60 titles comes through a subscription called Play Pass. Cumulative console sales have passed 1 million units, Play Pass subscribers have grown about sevenfold in 18 months, and titles from SEGA and Bandai Namco Entertainment are coming to the platform.

Valve’s Headset and a Possible Steam Store Change

Valve announced the Steam Frame, a standalone VR headset utilizing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen3 processor and Linux-based SteamOS. The device features FEX x86 emulation to run x86-based games on ARM architecture and emphasizes high-bandwidth wireless streaming. By scaling the Proton compatibility layer used in the Steam Deck and integrating FEX x86 emulation, Valve is attempting to bridge the architectural gap between mobile chipsets and the massive x86-based Steam library. This strategy allows the company to leverage its existing platform dominance to drive hardware adoption, rather than relying solely on native VR content.

Separately, industry figures report that Valve may have adjusted the Steam “Discounts & Events” section to prioritize personalized recommendations over high-revenue titles. One indie title’s traffic from that section rose from 14 visits over five months to 7,341 in a month, though Valve has not explained or confirmed any change.

Game Updates, Closures, and a Paused Promotion

Capcom, the Osaka publisher behind Resident Evil and Monster Hunter, announced that Monster Hunter Wilds will move to free, unlimited character re-editing when the Ascendance expansion launches in 2027, with paid Character Edit Voucher sales ending December 3, 2026.

DMM GAMES, a Japanese platform operator, announced that the 3D battle RPG ANGELICA ASTER will end service on October 19, 2026. The game passed 1 million registered users in September 2025; the operations team said it could not continue to provide sufficient service even after working to improve its operational structure and content development.

Omega Force, a Japanese studio behind the Dynasty Warriors series, announced that the single-player action game Attack on Titan 3 will release on December 10, 2026. The title omits multiplayer modes and covers the entire narrative of the original source material. Producer Suzuki Hideo said multiplayer was left out so players could immerse themselves in the story alone.

In the esports sector, Kkanbu Chicken, a South Korean fried chicken restaurant chain, temporarily suspended its promotions for PUBG: Battlegrounds following a fairness controversy at the PUBG Asia Stars 2026 event, where participants were found to have accessed external information. KRAFTON, the South Korean publisher behind PUBG: Battlegrounds, is currently investigating the incident.

In Brief

Tokyo Game Show 2026 opened with a record 1,138 participating companies and organizations from 53 countries and regions. Separately, the Japan Game Awards 2026 will mark the conclusion of the Game Designers Award, as creator Masahiro Sakurai cited the inability to find a successor capable of managing the specialized evaluation process.

Kakao Games resolved to acquire a 39.56% stake in Me2on for approximately KRW 98B, securing management rights to diversify revenue through Me2on’s social casino and casual game portfolio. Kojima Productions, an independent Japanese studio, confirmed that Sony Interactive Entertainment withdrew support for the PHYSINT project in June 2026. The studio has secured a new partnership with Xbox to continue development.

Company in Focus

KRAFTON — the South Korean publisher built around PUBG: Battlegrounds. Originally the studio Bluehole, known for the MMO TERA, it became the country’s largest game company by revenue after its battle-royale project turned into one of the best-selling games ever made.