Japan Report #3 brings several announcements from yesterday's Nintendo Direct, held on June 9, 2026. Nintendo Switch 2 was once again at the center of Japanese announcements, and among the showcased games were the new Nobunaga’s Ambition, One Piece in a Kairosoft edition, the return of Tales of Eternia, a new Atelier, and the continuation of Derby Stallion.
Koei Tecmo and Kou Shibusawa announced Nobunaga’s Ambition: Hishou for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The new historical strategy game will be released this winter in Japan and Asia, while a western release has not yet been announced. The game will focus on the Warring States period, and the special feature of this new installment is the return of city development around castles and the first story mode in the history of the series, centered on the life of Oda Nobunaga.
Bandai Namco and Kairosoft presented One Piece: Grand Gourmet, a restaurant management simulation for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS, and Android. The game will be released on October 23, 2026, and players will manage a second location of the famous floating restaurant Baratie alongside the Straw Hats. In Kairosoft's pixel-art style, over 400 One Piece characters will appear, and the restaurant can be decorated with more than 200 pieces of furniture, buildings, and decorations.
Bandai Namco and TOSE announced Tales of Eternia Remastered for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The remaster will be released on October 15, 2026, in Japan and on October 16, 2026, in the rest of the world. This is the first remastered edition of this installment in the Tales of series, featuring the story of Reid Hershel, Farah Oersted, and Meredy, and their journey through the worlds of Inferia and Celestia.
Metaphor: ReFantazio will be released on November 12, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2. The acclaimed RPG from ATLUS and Studio Zero will receive another version, after being originally released in 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, and PC.
Koei Tecmo and Gust revealed Atelier Karia: The Night Kingdom & the Guide of Memories, a new main installment in the Atelier series. The game will be released in early 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. The first teaser mentions a mysterious world deep beneath Aladissa, and more information will be presented on June 12, 2026, during a special livestream.
Derby Stallion 2 has been announced for Nintendo Switch 2, and it will be released in Japan on September 24, 2026, in both physical and digital editions. The sequel to the popular Japanese simulation of breeding and managing racehorses continues a series that has had a loyal audience in Japan for years, and the new version has so far only been confirmed for the Japanese market.
D3 Publisher and Sandlot are bringing the Earth Defense Force series to Nintendo Switch 2. Earth Defense Force 5 will be released on October 8, 2026, while Earth Defense Force 6 will follow during the winter. Both games will support English, Japanese, Korean, traditional Chinese, and simplified Chinese languages, with the ports being handled by Yuke’s.
