One Piece will continue streaming One Piece on April 5, premiering the Elbaph Arc—along with English dub episodes streaming on March 24.

Anime fans can rejoice again, as one of the biggest series returns in time for springtime. One Piece returns to Crunchyroll with episode 1156 and the start of the Elbaph Arc, beginning on April 5, 2026. After a three-month hiatus, the anime will resume in April. Toei Animation and Crunchyroll made the announcement this week, in addition to noting the final Egghead Island English dub episodes will begin streaming on March 24.

For the first time in One Piece history, the anime entered a three-month hiatus—the longest hiatus for the anime. The final episode of the Egghead Island arc aired on December 28, 2025, with episode 1155. There were only two other major streaming breaks for the series. One was during the 202 COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a 9-week break between episodes 930 and 931. The second one was a 5-week break that occurred in 2022 due to the Toei Animation hack.

Ultimately, this three-month break was mandatory to support the new seasonal production schedule. Toei Animation posted on X back on October 28, 2025, that the weekly episodes format would switch to a “two-cour” annual format. This equates to roughly 26 episodes a year. The production company explained that this decision aims to improve animation quality, fix pacing issues, and prevent the show from catching up to Eiichiro Oda-sensei’s manga. Fans have already voiced their pros and cons for this new format, with many opposed to getting fewer episodes per year and others appreciating fewer filler episodes when the show catches up to the manga.

The Strawhat Pirates finally reach the legendary land of giants this spring. Elbaph was originally introduced through the Little Garden Arc (approximately between episodes 70-77), where giants Brogy and Dorry discuss their home. Remember the two duelling giants, who were duking it out for 100 years? Those guys. This arc was literally 25 years in the making. Finally, Usopp will fulfill his wish to visit his dream destination. Usopp was deeply moved by the honour and bravery of the giants, shaping his goal to become a “brave warrior of the sea.”

Here is One Piece’s Elbaph Arc described on the Crunchyroll site:

“After a daring escape from the Future Island Egghead, the Straw Hat Crew set their course for a legendary destination. Joined by the mighty Giant Warrior Pirates, they finally reach Elbaph, the long-awaited Land of Giants. New encounters with Giants, and long hoped-for reunions unfold. A colossal new chapter begins as the crew heads into an adventure unlike anything before, all in the pursuit of the ultimate treasure, the “One Piece!”

The first official trailer dropped a month ago, but the views continue to climb. As of writing, the trailer already has about 1.2 million views with 34,000 likes. The time to set sail again is soon upon us! To Elbaph!

The LEGO Group and The Pokémon Company International reveal the first-ever LEGO Pokémon sets coming out in February 2026.

For both LEGO and Pokémon enthusiasts, this a must-catch set. Today, the LEGO Group and The Pokémon Company International are unveiling the first-ever collection of highly anticipated LEGO Pokémon sets. This comes out as the brand celebrates its 30-year history, allowing fans to build and display their favorite Pokémon in LEGO brick form when they launch on February 27, 2026. Additionally, there will be prizes and rewards for a scavenger hunt starting today, January 12 to February 27.

These first three sets feature five fan favourite Pokémon: Pikachu, Eevee, Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise—recreated in LEGO brick form. From Pikachu leaping out of a Poké Ball to the original Kanto evolutions brought together in one large-scale build, these brand new sets are made for people who grew up with Pokémon and want to experience it in a new way—or for those who grew up on it and want to introduce their children to the world of Pokémon to create lasting memories.

The 2,050-piece LEGO Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball set ($269.99 CAD) encourages fans to recreate one of the most iconic scenes from the franchise: Pikachu jumping out of the Poké Ball ready for battle. It also includes two poses: a dynamic battle stance and a seated pose. The 587-piece LEGO Pokémon Eevee ($84.99 CAD) is made for every Eevee collector out there. Eevee’s expressive face, movable tail, head and limbs allow builders to pose the fan-favourite, either at rest or ready to jump into action.

Round off the three sets, the whopping LEGO Pokémon Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise set ($899.99 CAD) contains over 6,838 pieces. This set is stunning, capturing the three big hitters in the Kanto region with their Pokémon evolutions. For the first time, they are now in LEGO form! The set allows the Pokémon to be displayed individually or together on a shared action base, each with a base incorporating designs reflecting each Pokémon’s biome and includes hidden easter eggs to discover throughout the build.

Chief Product & Marketing Officer of the LEGO Group, Julia Goldin, stated how “This partnership opens up a whole new range of possibilities for Trainers and builders alike, and we can’t wait for fans to experience these new LEGO Pokémon sets.” Design Director on LEGO Pokémon, Siddharth Muthyala, noted that they are a “lifelong Pokémon fan” and explained that their “team approached the design of these sets with immense care and passion, ensuring every detail and pose truly celebrates what makes these characters so beloved.” I can honestly say, they look amazing—as someone who grew up watching the show and collecting the trading cards.

Chief Product and Experience Officer at The Pokémon Company International, Gaku Susai added, “By combining Pokémon’s sense of adventure with the thoughtful design and attention to detail of the LEGO Group, we’re giving fans the chance to build, play, and tell their own stories in ways they’ve never experienced before—something we’re thrilled to see come to life.” I cannot wait to grab these three sets, but they may cost an arm, a leg, and then some.

In addition to the three-set release, fans can look for hidden LEGO Pokémon clues across many digital channels. Contenders will be challenged to find clues hidden throughout LEGO digital content and Pokémon digital content, to unlock exciting rewards and the chance to win The Grand Prize: experiencing PokémonXP and the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, including access to Championship Sunday at the Chase Center, as well as all three new LEGO Pokémon sets.

Those looking to get in on the LEGO Pokémon Scavenger Hunt can visit the official page. Preorders for the three sets are now available!

A banner for The Division: Definitive Edition was seen at the FPS Day X event in Japan recently, confirming some game rumours.

Coming hot off of last year’s success with Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Ubisoft could be looking to another franchise to focus its efforts this year. Recently, a banner at the FPS Day X event in Japan featured poster art for The Division: Definitive Edition, along with Division 2 updates. While The Division 3 is still in development, the original game may still have a lot to offer its players.

Tom Clancy’s The Division is a 2016 online-only action RPG featuring multiplayer co-op and PvP. Some credit the game with pioneering and influencing the extraction shooter genre through core mechanics such as looting, crafting, PvPvE, survival elements (hunger, cold), and the tense goal of extracting a specific item. Although many would say Escape From Tarkov is the first true extraction shooter.

Spotted by domen0204 on X, the banner featured the poster for the upcoming Definitive Edition, with many visitors hoping the developers would finally make an official announcement during its 10th Anniversary celebrations. Another image by the X user showed that The Division 2‘s devs confirmed a ‘Realism mode’ coming in March 2026. It also contains some merch of some kind for the game.

Here is what we already know about The Division 2’s Realism Mode: it will feature action-focused gameplay, reduced time to kill, and realistic weapon damage based on bullet calibre. These changes allow players to immerse themselves in the game in a brand new way. In game-changing fashion, the mode will also introduce a reduced user interface, a limited HUD, no health regeneration, reduced cooldowns, and more. Developers also confirmed this is only the “first glimpse of the celebrations ahead,” with “more surprises” still to come.

FPS Day X attendees were able to try the new Realism Mode, and the Ubisoft Japan channel also posted a video outlining the feature. Creative director Yannick Banchereau said in the video: “Realism Mode is your chance to experience The Division 2 like never before, raw and unforgiving.” The only catch is that the mode will be available only during a special anniversary mini-season beginning in March. Players must also own the Warlords of New York expansion to access it.

Something all players can enjoy is the new anniversary crossover taking place with three other Tom Clancy series. The outfits, based on characters from Rainbow Six Siege X, Splinter Cell, and Ghost Recon, can be unlocked through the Anniversary Pass, although full details have not yet been revealed. However, as with last year’s Payday collaboration, the content could be free and progression-based through the Anniversary Pass.

Ubisoft series such as Far Cry, Assassin’s Creed, and Rainbow Six Siege have carried the publisher for some time. However, The Division series should not be overlooked. As noted earlier, the first game incorporated many extraction shooter elements, helping pave the way for more recent titles such as Escape From Tarkov and Arc Raiders.

My Hero Academia: All’s Justice launches on February 6th, 2026, a great way for the main series fans to play out the greatest battles from the final main series arc that just finished airing. This is a perfect drop time as it also coincides with the airing of the spin-off My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. Bandai Namco reached out to us to try out three specific parts of the upcoming game. 

Like its predecessor games, My Hero One’s Justice 1 and 2, this is a 3D arena fighting game. However, the My Hero One’s Justice games are 1v1 battles; My Hero Academia: All’s Justice features a 3v3 tag-team format—containing free character swapping, dropping the assist system for a more dynamic, team-focused gameplay, building on the expanded roster and improved features of its predecessors. This upcoming game aims to do all this while covering the manga’s epic final arc with cinematic story elements.

Bandai Namco describes the game: “Smash through My Hero Academia’s final story arc and triumph over your foes in spectacular 3v3 battles! Follow Deku and the journeys of other characters in the Final War between Heroes and Villains, and experience the world-shaking, climactic clash between One For All and All For One in My Hero Academia: All’s Justice.” 

This game features classic fighting game controls and special abilities. One key caveat, however, is the Rising gauge. Rising mode enhances a character for a limited time, allowing players to use special actions that are available only while Rising is activated. As in similar fighting games, Plus Ultra is a separate gauge beneath the Rising gauge, and it activates the character’s ultimate ability.

For this first look at My Hero Academia: All’s Justice, we were able to try Story mode, Team Up Mission mode and Hero’s Diary mode, along with extended time exploring characters and stages in Battle mode. Story mode lets players relive many of the anime’s major battles, including clashes such as Ochaco Uraraka and Tsuyu Asui versus Himiko Toga. A central hub ties the experience together, with players assuming the role of protagonist Izuku Midoriya.

“One of the cool things is how Present Mic announced a win with a knockout with the Ultimate ability.”

Set in a semi-open-world structure, the game allows players to move freely through the city and interact with familiar faces from the anime. Team Up Mission mode expands on this by focusing on navigation and exploration around town. One standout mechanic is swinging through the city using Black Whip, one of the One For All quirks Deku can use.

In this preview build, we went hands-on with Katsuki Bakugo versus All For One in a climactic final battle. The matchup required focus and finesse, which is fitting given All For One’s role as one of the anime’s final bosses. Whether players are new to fighting games or seasoned veterans, there are still ways to deal consistent damage to All For One. These strategies rely heavily on long-range attacks, combined with well-timed, repeated strikes. A win is still a win, and the game’s control options help make that possible.

“My Hero Academia: All’s Justice appears to be shaping up as a well-crafted, expansive time capsule to the anime series.”

One of the standout control features in My Hero Academia: All’s Justice is the inclusion of two distinct control modes. Normal Control mode is described as allowing certain actions to activate automatically when attack commands are input. In this mode, the game can link Quirk skills, character swaps and Plus Ultra moves with a single button press. This setup is well-suited to beginners and players who do not regularly play action games. More experienced players can switch to Manual Control mode, which allows for greater freedom when chaining moves and executing combos. This option gives skilled players more precise control over timing and strategy.

Another memorable touch is how Present Mic announces a knockout achieved with an Ultimate ability. If an opponent is defeated with a Plus Ultra attack, he shouts “Plus Ultra!” on the victory screen. The 3v3 tag team battle mechanics also work well, with maximum damage possible when switching characters at the moment an enemy is locked in a damage animation. Not every fight follows a 3v3 format. Battles can also play out as 3v1, 2v1, 1v1 or 2v2 encounters.

For most of Story mode, the game relied on original-resolution footage, largely made up of still images, with original audio played over top. Given how Bandai Namco successfully recreated the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime in a refreshed form in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles and its sequel, I expected a similar level of care for My Hero Academia: All’s Justice. It is possible the final version of the game will present a cleaner, more polished look.

The game features dynamic camera work and action lines inspired by titles such as Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero and the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai games. Environmental destruction also helps sell the impact of each fight, reinforcing the sense of power behind every hit. Being able to play as members of Class 1-A or pro heroes who receive limited screen time in the anime is a major bonus, particularly since most characters are presented with near-maximum power levels. Team Up Mission mode and Hero’s Diary mode help expand on this appeal.

While we could not capture and check out everything the game has to offer, My Hero Academia: All’s Justice appears to be shaping up as a well-crafted, expansive time capsule to the anime series. The fights and attacks felt true to the show, given the current move sets available. There is still plenty of room for improvement, but I look forward to seeing what the final version will look like. 

Genshin Impact comes to the Duolingo App, with a new collaborative 3-day streak quest and rewards.

The popular, free-to-play open-world adventure RPG, Genshin Impact, and the world’s most downloaded educational app, Duolingo, are teaming up for their first time. From December 8 to December 27, Paimon, Tighnari, and Cyno will join Duo to host a limited-time Genshin Impact x Duolingo 3-Day Streak Quest in the Duolingo app. Users who complete their learning exercises for three consecutive days will receive in-game rewards, including an event-exclusive Genshin Impact namecard, avatar, and Primogems.

So, what do you have to do? Starting December 8th, players and learners can unlock the special quest in any course on the Duolingo app. Complete one unit lesson daily for three consecutive days to maintain your learning streak and ultimately sculpt a collectible in-app statue of Paimon and Duo — a token of your persistence (plus a little magic from Teyvat).

Popular Genshin Impact characters Tighnari and Cyno, along with Duo and Paimon, will show up to cheer on learners. Those who complete the quest will receive exclusive rewards, including the avatar “Diligent Study,” namecard “Celebration: Dream Reader,” and a unique Sumeru-style dish “Spiced Fried Chicken” along with its recipe. The reward redemption code can be claimed from the “Shop” page in the Duolingo app before December 30th, 2025, 23:59:59 (UTC) and redeemed in Genshin Impact before January 31, 2026, 15:59:59 (UTC).

The collaboration follows the recently released Genshin Impact Version Luna III, which introduced Durin, a new 5-Star Pyro character with dual battle forms, and a new story chapter set in Nod-Krai. The official collab quest will be available in select regions from December 8 to December 27. December 25 is the last day for learners to join the Quest and earn rewards. Event availability varies by region. Learners can check participation details for their region in the Duolingo app.

Duolingo is the most downloaded education app worldwide, offering lessons for various subjects like math, music, and chess. Oh, and most importantly, the app offers learning over 250 total language courses from Spanish, French, German, and Japanese to Navajo and Yiddish. So, what better way to learn about one of these topics than with some friends from Genshin Impact, led by the best guide in all of Teyvat.

There are a few ways to join the Quest, so be sure to double check the rules!

Veteran Tekken game developer Katsuhiro Harada announced his departure from Bandai Namco after spending 30 years with the company.

After many years and decades crafting the world of Tekken, the person behind it all is throwing in the towel. Well-known Tekken game developer Katsuhiro Harada announced he will be leaving Bandai Namco at the end of 2025. Harada issued a statement this morning with a heartfelt message about how much he thought about this decision. The Tekken 8 team also made a statement regarding the status of the game’s updates.

The Tekken franchise has been a genre-defining fighting game world, standing alongside Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. Harada was the mastermind behind the game’s success over the years, becoming the face of the series at events. While Harada stepping away from Bandai Namco marks the end of an era, the Tekken 8 team said his exit will not impact ongoing development or the post-launch roadmap. They emphasized their commitment to continuing the series “with the vision and spirit built by Harada-san,” promising to keep community feedback at the core of their approach as the well-known fighting game franchise moves into its next era.

Harada explained that his decision to leave came after a period of personal and professional loss. He continued elaborating that the “loss of several close friends” and watching senior colleagues retire or pass away caused him to reflect deeply on “the time [he] has left as a creator.” After decades spent shaping the world, characters, and legacy of Tekken, he felt this was the most befitting time to cap off his own legacy.

He followed up with an outlined message, looking back on his time beginning at Bandai Namco. He recalled his humble beginnings at local Japanese arcade tournaments and traced his journey through the studio’s growth and Tekken’s global rise. He thanked fans for their unwavering support and said he will share details about his future plans in due course.

Harada left off on two final notes, involving two of the last upcoming related activities on his agenda. The first announcements he revealed was that “Bandai Namco has asked [him] to appear at the TWT Finals at the end of January 2026, so [he is] expect[ed] to attend as a guest.” For those of you have seen Harada at these tournaments, you know how great he is and and loves competing too.

The second announcement was a more funny one. His final message stated, “For 30 years I kept saying, “I’ll do it someday,” and never once performed as a DJ at a tournament event. So instead, I will be releasing—for the first and last time—a 60-minute TEKKEN DJ-style nonstop mix (DJ mix), personally edited by myself, together with this announcement. Listening to it brings back many memories. Thank you again, sincerely, for all these years.”

Let us know your favourite Tekken or favourite Katsuhiro Harada memory. While doing so, give a listen to Harada’s mix too.