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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
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Now hiring freelance writers for AUTOMATON WEST. Japanese language skills required. Promotion to full-time work also possible

Application deadline: January 31st, 2026.

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Now hiring freelance writers for AUTOMATON WEST. Japanese language skills required. Promotion to full-time work also possible - AUTOMATON WEST
AUTOMATON WEST is currently hiring freelance writers. Japanese language skills required.
automaton-media.com
Street Fighter 6’s latest fighting pass trailer hints at possible returning characters and summer costumes

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Street Fighter 6's latest fighting pass trailer hints at possible returning characters and summer costumes - AUTOMATON WEST
Street Fighter 6's newest fighting pass trailer showcasing sports-themed outfits is prompting fans to theorize about possible future content.
automaton-media.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:15 AM
Final Fantasy 9 is more popular overseas than in Japan, says composer Nobuo Uematsu, but the soundtrack is still among his personal favorites. “After all, I’m a medieval otaku”

automaton-media.com/en/news/fina...
Final Fantasy 9 is more popular overseas than in Japan, says composer Nobuo Uematsu, but the soundtrack is still among his personal favorites. “After all, I'm a medieval otaku” - AUTOMATON WEST
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of FF9, composer Nobuo Uematsu talks about some of his favorite compositions from the game.
automaton-media.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:04 AM
AI-generated manga becomes top-ranked in Japan’s biggest e-book store

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AI-generated manga becomes top-ranked in Japan’s biggest e-book store - AUTOMATON WEST
An Ai-generated manga has recently been topping "Japan's biggest e-book store" Comic C'moA's Young Adult charts.
automaton-media.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Most of Silent Hill f’s Japanese cast are now streaming the game following Konatsu Kato’s iconic playthrough, with actor and actress portraying Hinako’s mom and dad joining in on the trend

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Most of Silent Hill f’s Japanese cast are now streaming the game following Konatsu Kato's iconic playthrough, with Hinako’s mom and dad joining in on the trend - AUTOMATON WEST
The newest members to join in on the Silent Hill f livestream trend are the actor and actress who portrayed Hinako’s father and mother.
automaton-media.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Development of upcoming Princess Maker game is back on track with new studio after entire production team got laid off mid-early access

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Development of upcoming Princess Maker game is back on track with new studio after entire production team got laid off mid-early access  - AUTOMATON WEST
Princess Maker: Children of Revelation has resumed production after abrupt restructuring of its development studio D-ZARD.
automaton-media.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Genshin Impact anime adaptation still in the works with no issues, developer confirms
automaton-media.com/en/news/gens...
Genshin Impact anime adaptation still in the works with no issues, developer confirms  - AUTOMATON WEST
During the Genshin FES 2026, MiHoYo confirmed that the Genshin Impact anime project announced in 2022 is still on track without issue.
automaton-media.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Digimon Story: Time Stranger may have taken 8 years to make, but the team “is now gradually expanding in scale,” with various ideas for future games
automaton-media.com/en/news/digi...
Digimon Story: Time Stranger may have taken 8 years to make, but the team “is now gradually expanding in scale,” with various ideas for future games  - AUTOMATON WEST
Digimon Story: Time Stranger developers Ryosuke Hara and Yusuke Tomono talk about their team's expansion and future goals.
automaton-media.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Minoru Arakawa, the man who never became CEO of Nintendo. Part 1: The humble beginnings of NOA, the creation of Mario, and a legendary lawsuit
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Minoru Arakawa, the man who never became CEO of Nintendo. Part 1: The humble beginnings of NOA, the creation of Mario, and a legendary lawsuit  - AUTOMATON WEST
A deep dive into the life of Minoru Arakawa, the man who created Nintendo of America, by Syosin Kai, a researcher of the history of Japan’s game industry.
automaton-media.com
January 3, 2026 at 12:57 PM
From Atelier Ryza’s thick thighs being a product of the Japanese economic recession, to FGO causing a boom in demand for European 13th century classic: Automaton West’s top 5 most bizarre moments of 2025

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From Atelier Ryza's thick thighs being a product of the Japanese economic recession, to FGO causing a boom in demand for European 13th century classic: Automaton West's top 5 most bizarre moments of 2...
A round-up of the top 5 weirdest, most random and downright bizarre topics Automaton West covered in the year 2025.
automaton-media.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:59 AM
“Final Fantasy 7 almost gave me a heart attack.” Japanese developers talk about their most memorable bugs

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“Final Fantasy 7 almost gave me a heart attack.” Japanese developers talk about their most memorable bugs - AUTOMATON WEST
From FF7 jumpscares to "many weird old men," Japanese devs discuss some of the craziest bugs they encountered throughout their careers.
automaton-media.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Stupid Never Dies was built in Unreal engine, but the devs wanted to “leave photorealistic graphics to the big guns.” Everything we know about Devil May Cry and Dragon’s Dogma producer’s new game

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Stupid Never Dies was built in Unreal engine, but the devs wanted to “leave photorealistic graphics to the big guns.” Everything we know about Devil May Cry and Dragon’s Dogma producer’s new game - AU...
AUTOMATON decided to dig into some of our past interviews with GPTRACK50 and look back on everything we know so far about Stupid Never Dies.
automaton-media.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Cygames’s beloved JRPG Granblue Fantasy getting global Steam release, 12 years after Japan launch
automaton-media.com/en/news/cyga...
Cygames’s beloved JRPG Granblue Fantasy getting global Steam release 12 years after Japan launch  - AUTOMATON WEST
Cygames has announced a global Steam version of its majorly popular free-to-play RPG Granblue Fantasy, coming March 2026.
automaton-media.com
December 28, 2025 at 8:34 AM
From shooting your neighbors with baked fish missiles to flipping off cult members: 5 Japanese high-octane/crazy indie games
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From shooting your neighbors with baked fish missiles to flipping off cult members: 5 Japanese high-octane/crazy indie games  - AUTOMATON WEST
We introduce five Japanese indie games on crack - from brawlers and Doom-likes to aggressive "Terms and Conditions" simulators.
automaton-media.com
December 28, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond: Exclusive preview of new Emperor of Elements card from card set 5, Blossoming Fate. A formidable addition to the Runecraft class
automaton-media.com/en/news/shad...
Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond: Exclusive preview of new Emperor of Elements card from card set 5, Blossoming Fate. A formidable addition to the Runecraft class  - AUTOMATON WEST
An early look at "Emperor of Elements," a new card coming to Shadowverse Worlds Beyond with the Blossoming Fate Card Set.
automaton-media.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Silent Hill f Hinako’s name was literally a When they Cry series reference, says writer Ryukishi07. “I think it’s high time somebody noticed”

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Silent Hill f Hinako's name was literally a When they Cry series reference, says writer Ryukishi07. “I think it’s high time somebody noticed” - AUTOMATON WEST
“I think it’s high time somebody finally noticed that the names of the characters are just Umineko references.”
automaton-media.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Key’s new romance visual novel anemoi release postponed to April. Devs “will be making no compromises” until the game reaches intended quality

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Key’s new romance visual novel anemoi release postponed to April. Devs “will be making no compromises” until the game reaches intended quality - AUTOMATON WEST
Key announced that the release of their upcoming visual novel anemoi will be postponed from January 30 to April 24, 2026.
automaton-media.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Magical Girl Witch Trials devs’ “sickly sweet” adventure RPG about hunting down owners of toxic alt accounts to get official English Steam release in 2026

automaton-media.com/en/news/magi...
Magical Girl Witch Trials devs’ “sickly sweet” adventure RPG about hunting down owners of toxic alt accounts to get official English Steam release in 2026  - AUTOMATON WEST
The Streamer's Alt Account Labyrinth, Magical Girl Witch Trials devs' upcoming adventure RPG, will release with English support in 2026.
automaton-media.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Gameplay footage of Japanese “lost media” RPG surfaces after 30 years. Book compiling unreleased material considered for publishing with permission from original devs

automaton-media.com/en/news/game...
Gameplay footage of Japanese "lost media" RPG surfaces after 30 years. Book compiling unreleased material considered for publishing with permission from original devs  - AUTOMATON WEST
Indy The Magical Kid, a cancelled NES RPG, will possibly be revived as a concept book. New gameplay footage was also released on YouTube.
automaton-media.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Steam open-world roguelike Elin publishes official newsletter for December, packed with new updates and community highlights

automaton-media.com/en/news/stea...
Steam open-world roguelike Elin publishes official newsletter for December, packed with new updates and community highlights  - AUTOMATON WEST
Elin State of the Game – December 2025, the first edition of Elin's official newsletter.
automaton-media.com
December 25, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Jujutsu Kaisen production team cracks down on rip-off mobile games featuring characters “oddly similar” to those in the anime. “We will be taking strict measures”

automaton-media.com/en/news/juju...
Jujutsu Kaisen production team cracks down on rip-off mobile games featuring characters “oddly similar” to those in the anime. “We will be taking strict measures” - AUTOMATON WEST
The Jujutsu Kaisen anime production committee issued a statement regarding the unauthorized use of copyrighted content in mobile games.
automaton-media.com
December 25, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Japanese publisher G-Mode to bring elusive Armored Core mobile game to Steam and Switch

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Japanese publisher G-mode to bring elusive Armored Core mobile game to Steam and Switch - AUTOMATON WEST
G-Mode recently announced that it will be bringing the mobile-exclusive Armored Core: Mobile 3 to Nintendo Switch and Steam.
automaton-media.com
December 25, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Action Taimanin developers confirm new series entry will be a turn-based squad RPG, coming in early 2026

automaton-media.com/en/news/acti...
Action Taimanin developers confirm new series entry will be a turn-based squad RPG, coming in early 2026 - AUTOMATON WEST
Taimanin Squad was announced as a free to play turn-based RPG, slated for an early 2026 release for PC and mobile.
automaton-media.com
December 25, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Japan’s massive population of otaku is dominated by anime fans, but idol fans are the biggest spenders, survey reveals

automaton-media.com/en/news/japa...
Japan's massive population of otaku is dominated by anime fans, but idol fans are the biggest spenders, survey reveals - AUTOMATON WEST
According to the results of a recent survey, Japan's anime otaku population is estimated at around 5.5 million people.
automaton-media.com
December 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM
“There were many lessons learned, and we’re grateful for the criticism.” Duet Night Abyss producer discusses the action RPG’s major overhaul and new features

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“There were many lessons learned, and we’re grateful for the criticism.” Duet Night Abyss producer discusses the action RPG’s major overhaul and new features  - AUTOMATON WEST
We talk to Deca Bear, producer of Duet Night Abyss, ahead of the game's Steam launch and major "The Wind Awakening" update.
automaton-media.com
December 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Neon Genesis Evangelion director Hideaki Anno doesn’t believe creating for the global market is the way to go. “I’m sorry, but the audience will have to be the one to adapt”

automaton-media.com/en/news/neon...
Neon Genesis Evangelion director Hideaki Anno doesn’t believe creating for the global market is the way to go. “I’m sorry, but the audience will have to be the one to adapt” - AUTOMATON WEST
In a recent interview, Neon Genesis Evangelion director Hideaki Anno shared his impressions of the Japanese content industry going global.
automaton-media.com
December 25, 2025 at 12:56 AM