Picking Up Where the Shorts Left Off

The series continues the story that began with the fan-favorite "The Ninth Jedi" short from Star Wars: Visions Volume 1 and picked back up with "The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope" in Volume 3. In this new eight-episode series, Lah Kara continues her training in the ways of the Jedi under Margrave Juro, then joins a small fellowship of Jedi-in-training on a journey to find and save her missing father while evading Jedi Hunters. The trailer leans into the "trust in the Force and listen to your heart" theme that has defined Kara's arc since the character's introduction.

Who's Making It and Who's Voicing It

The series is directed by Shunsuke Tada and written by Mitsuyasu Sakai, with Kenji Kamiyama serving as supervising director. Much of the returning cast is back for both the English dub and original Japanese version: Kimiko Glenn and Chinatsu Akasaki share the role of Lah Kara across languages, Andrew Kishino and Tetsuo Kanao voice Juro, and Simu Liu and Shinichiro Miki both return as Lah Zhima. New additions to the cast include Feodor Chin, Young Mazino, Chase Sui Wonders, and Keone Young, expanding the world introduced in the earlier shorts.

Why This Matters for the Visions Franchise

The Ninth Jedi marks the launch of a new "Star Wars: Visions Presents" banner, designed to let filmmakers turn their favorite Visions shorts into longer, fuller stories instead of one-off anthology pieces. Given how popular the original 2021 short was among fans, expanding it into a full eight-episode series signals Lucasfilm's continued investment in anime-inspired Star Wars storytelling beyond the anthology format that made Visions popular in the first place.

Conclusion

Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi gives one of the anthology's most beloved stories room to breathe as a full series, and the Anime Expo trailer debut suggests Lucasfilm is treating it as a genuine tentpole rather than a side project. Fans can catch the whole thing on Disney+ and Hulu starting August 5.

FAQ

When does Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi release?

The full eight-episode series streams on Disney+ and Hulu starting August 5, 2026.

How many episodes does The Ninth Jedi have?

It's an eight-episode limited series.

Do I need to watch the original Visions shorts first?

It helps. The series continues directly from "The Ninth Jedi" (Volume 1) and "The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope" (Volume 3), though new viewers can likely follow the core story.

Who plays Lah Kara?

Kimiko Glenn voices her in the English dub, and Chinatsu Akasaki voices her in the original Japanese version.

Who directed the series?

Shunsuke Tada directed, Mitsuyasu Sakai wrote it, and Kenji Kamiyama served as supervising director.

What is "Star Wars: Visions Presents"?

It's a new banner that expands standout Star Wars: Visions shorts into longer, full series, starting with The Ninth Jedi.

FromSoftware has opened sign-ups for a closed network test of "The Duskbloods," its upcoming PvPvE multiplayer exclusive for Nintendo Switch 2. Applications opened July 22 and run through July 28, with the test itself taking place across five sessions between August 21 and August 24.

What the Network Test Covers

The Duskbloods is FromSoftware's first major departure from single-player action RPGs like Elden Ring and the Dark Souls series, built instead around session-based online play. Up to eight players drop into a match as "Bloodsworn," each handed a randomized quest with victory conditions that can help or hinder the other participants, creating a mix of competition and forced cooperation.

Nintendo and FromSoftware say the network test will focus on server load, matchmaking stability, and overall game balance rather than showcasing final content. To participate, players need a Nintendo Switch 2 console and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. Sign-ups close July 28 at 6:59 a.m. PDT, and selected participants will be notified afterward with download instructions.

Why This Test Matters

The Duskbloods was first revealed as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, marking a notable partnership between Nintendo and FromSoftware, a studio best known for punishing, atmospheric action games. Because the title leans so heavily on live multiplayer systems, a public network test is a bigger deal than it would be for a traditional single-player release. Server stability and matchmaking are difficult to validate internally at scale, which is likely why FromSoftware is running dedicated test sessions months ahead of launch.

The test also gives the studio a chance to gather balance data on the quest-based victory conditions, a system unlike anything in its previous catalog. How players respond to being handed objectives that can sabotage others in the same match will likely shape adjustments before the game's 2026 release.

The Duskbloods closed network test is a rare early look at FromSoftware's biggest structural experiment yet: a session-based multiplayer game built for Nintendo Switch 2. With sign-ups open through July 28 and testing scheduled for late August, players interested in a hands-on preview should apply soon.

Where the Story Picks Up

Elbaph is the second arc of One Piece's Final Saga, sending the Straw Hats into the mythical Land of the Giants, a location fans have anticipated since it was first mentioned decades ago in the manga. The arc introduced major new characters including Loki, and the first cour built toward escalating conflict on the island before pausing after its thirteenth episode on July 5. Part 2 continues directly from there, with Toei Animation releasing new episodes on Crunchyroll every Sunday and on Netflix the following Saturday, running all the way through a Part 2 finale scheduled for October 10.

Why the Release Schedule Looks Different This Year

Longtime fans will notice One Piece isn't following its usual nonstop weekly broadcast this time around. After running continuously for more than 26 years, the anime shifted to a seasonal format in 2026, with Toei Animation now releasing a planned 26 episodes annually split into two 13-episode cours, rather than airing every single week year-round without pause. Toei has said the change is meant to protect production quality and avoid the schedule strain that has hit other long-running anime, and the studio has confirmed the seasonal approach will continue for the rest of the Final Saga.

What to Expect From Elbaph Part 2

With the setup work from the first cour out of the way, Part 2 is expected to push further into the giants' history and the escalating threat tied to Loki and the Knights of God, elements introduced in earlier trailers for the arc. Given Elbaph's long-awaited status in the source material, expectations for this stretch of episodes are high among fans who have been waiting years for the anime to reach this part of the story.

Elbaph Arc Part 2 picks up one of the most anticipated stretches of One Piece's Final Saga, and the new seasonal release format means fans get a defined endpoint to look forward to on October 10 rather than an open-ended weekly grind. New episodes land every Sunday on Crunchyroll and the following Saturday on Netflix starting July 18.

FAQ

When does One Piece Elbaph Arc Part 2 start?

Part 2 begins streaming on Netflix on July 18, continuing weekly episodes that started on Crunchyroll.

When does Elbaph Arc Part 2 end?

The Part 2 finale is scheduled to release on Netflix on October 10.

What days do new One Piece episodes come out?

New episodes release on Crunchyroll on Sundays, then on Netflix the following Saturday.

Why is One Piece not airing weekly year-round anymore?

Toei Animation moved to a seasonal format in 2026, releasing 26 episodes per year in two 13-episode cours instead of continuous weekly episodes, in order to protect production quality.

What is the Elbaph Arc about?

It's the second arc of One Piece's Final Saga, set in the long-teased Land of the Giants, and it introduces major new characters including Loki.

Do I need to watch the first cour before Part 2?

Yes, Part 2 continues directly from where the first 13 episodes left off on July 5.

Prime Video has released the first teaser trailer for "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" Season 3, debuting the footage during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con. The teaser opens with Sauron pouring molten metal into a ring-shaped mold, setting the tone for a season built around his growing plan for Middle-earth. Season 3 premieres November 11 exclusively on Prime Video.

What the Teaser Reveals

The trailer opens on Sauron, voiced by Charlie Vickers, declaring "Now is the mighty hour come" as his forge produces the object at the center of the entire saga. From there the footage cuts to a markedly happier Galadriel, played by Morfydd Clark, dancing with Celeborn, an Elf Prince played by Jamie Campbell Bower and introduced this season as her new love interest.

The tonal whiplash between Sauron's forge and Galadriel's dance underlines where the show is heading: a season split between the quiet moments before disaster and the machinery of doom already in motion.

New Cast and Season 3 Details

Comic-Con also brought a wave of casting news for the season. Simon Pegg is set to voice the Balrog, Eddie Marsan joins as Thrain, a Dwarven royal and descendant of The Hobbit's Thorin Oakenshield, and Andrew Richardson will play Anarion, a king of Gondor. Zubin Varla joins as a Ringwraith named Khamul the Easterling, alongside Adam Young as an original character named Marnukh.

Season 3 is set several years after Season 2, at the height of the War of the Elves. The eight-episode season will roll out in three waves: the first four episodes arrive November 11, episodes five and six follow on November 18, and the final two close out the season on November 25.

With Sauron's forge lit and a stacked new cast confirmed, Rings of Power Season 3 is positioning itself as a turning point for the series heading into its November premiere. The staggered three-part release means Middle-earth fans will have a full month of new episodes to work through this fall.

Bandai Namco Filmworks unveiled a new Gundam anime series, "Mobile Suit Gundam RG XARX-ZERO," during the "GUNDAM Showcase 2026 - Unveil the Next Gundam" panel at San Diego Comic-Con. The series is directed by Kenji Kamiyama, best known for "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex," and is set for a 2027 release.

A New Timeline for Gundam

RG XARX-ZERO is part of what Bandai Namco is calling the RG Project, a cross-media initiative that also includes the upcoming game "Gundam Rogue Orbit." Both projects share the same world but tell it from different angles, and both sit on a new timeline entirely separate from the original Gundam anime's "Universal Century" continuity.

RG XARX-ZERO takes place roughly 100 years before the events of Gundam Rogue Orbit, positioning the series as an origin story for the setting rather than a continuation of an existing one. The story centers on humanity's war against an Autonomous Interstellar Object, following protagonist Ray Azumi as he goes from test pilot to the cockpit of the state-of-the-art Gundam ZERO.

Why Kamiyama's Involvement Matters

Kenji Kamiyama has a track record of taking established franchises in more grounded, procedural directions, most notably with Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. His attachment to RG XARX-ZERO signals that Bandai Namco is looking to give this new timeline a distinct creative identity rather than simply repackaging familiar Gundam beats under a new name.

The series is animated by SOLA Animation, and its launch alongside a tie-in game suggests Bandai Namco is treating the RG Project as a long-term multimedia push rather than a single anime release.

Mobile Suit Gundam RG XARX-ZERO gives the franchise a fresh timeline and a notable director in Kenji Kamiyama, with a 2027 release date and a connected game already in the works. It's an early step in what Bandai Namco is positioning as a broader RG Project universe.

What AMD Announced

The Ryzen 7 7700X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread desktop CPU running at a 4.0 GHz base clock with boosts up to 4.5 GHz. It carries a 120W TDP and 104MB of total cache, including 96MB of L3 cache thanks to AMD's stacked 3D V-Cache technology. The chip is compatible with existing AM5 motherboards, meaning current Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series owners can drop it in without a platform change. At launch, the 7700X3D was sold exclusively through Newegg in the US and Canada for the third quarter before wider retail availability opens up.

Pricing places the chip just above the Ryzen 7 7600X3D's $299 MSRP and well below the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, which runs closer to $490. AMD is positioning it as an entry point into 3D V-Cache gaming performance for people upgrading an older AM5 build or building fresh on a tighter budget.

How It Actually Performs

According to AMD's own internal testing across more than thirty modern titles at 1080p, the 7700X3D delivers roughly four percent higher average gaming performance than the standard, non-X3D Ryzen 7 7700X, despite running at noticeably lower clock speeds. Independent reviewers largely confirmed that the extra cache does what 3D V-Cache chips typically do best: smoothing out frame times and boosting performance in cache-sensitive games, even without class-leading clock speeds. Efficiency numbers also came in strong, with several outlets noting low power draw and cooler operating temperatures compared to non-X3D parts in the same price range.

Why Reviewers Are Skeptical

The performance is solid, but the pricing has drawn criticism. At $329, the 7700X3D sits awkwardly between two siblings that make it harder to recommend. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D, a faster and more established chip, often sells for only marginally more than the 7700X3D's launch price, undercutting the case for choosing the newer, slower part. On the other end, the cheaper Ryzen 7 7600X3D closes much of the performance gap for significantly less money, further squeezing the 7700X3D's position in the lineup. Some outlets described the chip as a "good CPU, terrible launch," arguing the hardware itself is fine but AMD's pricing strategy undermines the value proposition it's supposed to offer.

Conclusion

The Ryzen 7 7700X3D proves 3D V-Cache still delivers a real gaming boost even on aging Zen 4 silicon, and its efficiency and AM5 compatibility make it an easy drop-in upgrade for existing builds. Whether it's worth buying largely depends on where it lands relative to the 7800X3D and 7600X3D once wider retail pricing settles in over the coming weeks.

FAQ

When did the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D launch?

The chip launched on July 16, 2026, with an SEP price of $329.

What architecture does the Ryzen 7 7700X3D use?

It's built on AMD's older Zen 4 architecture, the same generation as the original Ryzen 7000 series, rather than the newer Zen 5.

Is the Ryzen 7 7700X3D compatible with existing motherboards?

Yes. It uses the AM5 socket, so it works in existing Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series motherboards with a BIOS update if needed.

How does it compare to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D?

The 7800X3D is generally faster and, depending on retail pricing, can cost only slightly more, which is the main criticism reviewers have raised about the 7700X3D's value.

Where can I buy the Ryzen 7 7700X3D?

At launch, it was sold exclusively through Newegg in the US and Canada for the third quarter, with broader retail availability expected afterward.

Is the Ryzen 7 7700X3D a good gaming CPU?

Reviewers agree the chip performs well for gaming thanks to its 3D V-Cache, with roughly four percent higher average gaming performance than the standard 7700X, but its pricing relative to AMD's own lineup is the main point of contention.

Valve's standalone VR headset, the Steam Frame, appears to be inching toward release after a string of signals suggested the company is nearly ready to announce pricing and a reservation date. As of mid-July, the hardware has reportedly cleared U.S. customs, FCC filings are public, and Valve has been steadily building out a "Great on Frame" storefront section filled with certified games, all while its companion device, the Steam Machine, has already shipped.

What Is the Steam Frame?

The Steam Frame is Valve's standalone SteamOS-powered VR headset, built to work both independently and as a wireless PC VR streaming device via a dedicated 6GHz wireless dongle. Reported specs include dual 2160x2160 panels, pancake lenses, eye tracking with foveated rendering, and refresh rates up to 144Hz in experimental modes.

Under the hood, the headset is said to use a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset paired with 16GB of memory, double what Meta's Quest 3 offers, positioning the Steam Frame as a more powerful standalone option aimed squarely at PC gamers who want console-free VR performance.

Price and Release Signals

Valve has not officially announced pricing or a release date as of mid-July, but retailer database listings that surfaced in June pointed to roughly $950 for a 512GB model and around $1,070 for a larger storage tier. Analyst estimates cluster between $899 and $1,199.

Those numbers come with a cautionary comparison: Valve's companion device, the Steam Machine, launched June 30 at $1,049, about $250 higher than many expected, with Valve pointing to a roughly 170% year-over-year spike in DDR5 memory contract prices as the culprit. If that same pricing pressure carries over to the Steam Frame, buyers should brace for a headset priced toward the higher end of leaked estimates.

Signs a Launch Is Close

Beyond the hardware clearing customs and FCC review, Valve rolled out a major SteamVR dashboard overhaul in beta and launched the "Great on Frame" section of the Steam store on July 13, which had already grown to eight verified titles within a day. Taken together, industry watchers see these as the clearest indications yet that Valve is preparing to formally reveal pricing and availability for a headset it has been teasing since its initial announcement.

Conclusion

The Steam Frame has been one of the most anticipated pieces of PC gaming hardware of 2026, and the pieces appear to be falling into place for a summer launch. With customs clearances, FCC filings, and a growing certified game library all pointing the same direction, Valve looks poised to finally give PC gamers a firm price and release date in the very near future.

Xbox has reportedly cancelled an unannounced Halo multiplayer project known internally as "Project Ekur" after years of quiet development. The cancellation was first reported by leaker Rebs Gaming and later corroborated by Windows Central's Jez Corden, though Microsoft and Halo Studios have never officially acknowledged the project existed in the first place.

What Was Project Ekur?

Project Ekur was described as a multiplayer extraction shooter set in the Halo universe, developed by Certain Affinity, the longtime Halo multiplayer collaborator behind numerous map packs and modes across the franchise. According to reports, Ekur began life as an offshoot of Halo Infinite's battle royale-style "Tatanka" project before splitting off into its own standalone game.

Sources say the project would have gone further than past Halo multiplayer spinoffs, reportedly including full character customization for both Spartans and the alien Sangheili, known to fans as Elites. That detail alone had some longtime players hopeful the project could have delivered a deeper multiplayer identity than Halo has offered in recent entries.

Why It Got Cancelled

Reports indicate that active development on Ekur quietly stopped months before the wider fan community learned the project existed at all. The cancellation is being attributed to "major development problems," with Halo Studios reportedly pulling staff and resources away from Ekur to prop up Campaign Evolved, the studio's next mainline single-player Halo project.

This is the latest in a string of difficult headlines for Xbox and Halo Studios, which has weathered layoffs, restructuring, and shifting priorities across its game lineup in recent years. Because Ekur was never officially announced, there is technically no formal cancellation statement from Microsoft, leaving fans to piece together the story from developer accounts and industry reporting.

What This Means for Halo's Future

With Ekur off the table, Halo Studios' public roadmap narrows further around Campaign Evolved, the story-focused project many fans have been asking for after years of multiplayer-first spinoffs. Whether any of Ekur's ideas, including the expanded Elite customization, resurface in a future project remains unknown.

For a franchise that has struggled to recapture its multiplayer heyday, the loss of another ambitious side project is a reminder of how much churn has hit Halo development behind the scenes, even as Microsoft continues to lean on the IP as one of Xbox's flagship franchises.

Conclusion

Project Ekur's reported cancellation closes the book on a multiplayer extraction shooter most fans never knew existed. With development resources shifting toward Campaign Evolved, Halo Studios appears to be betting its near-term future on delivering a strong single-player experience rather than another multiplayer experiment.

Marvel Studios and Sony have released the final trailer for "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," the next chapter in Tom Holland's run as the wall-crawler. The trailer leans heavily on emotional callbacks to Peter's journey from "Homecoming" through "No Way Home," before pivoting into new, action-heavy footage of a brutal clash with Mark Ruffalo's Hulk. The film swings into theaters on July 31.

A Trailer Built on Nine Years of History

Rather than lead with new footage, the final trailer spends much of its runtime recapping Peter Parker's entire MCU arc, from his first outing in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" to the reality-altering spell that erased him from his friends' memories at the end of "No Way Home." That framing sets up the emotional core of "Brand New Day": Peter is once again fighting crime full time as Spider-Man, but now in a world where the people he loves no longer remember who he is.

Watching old friends move on without him is presented as the emotional pressure point of the film, one that the trailer suggests pushes Peter toward a change he "may not have the power to control."

The Hulk Enters the Fight

The trailer's biggest new reveal is extended footage of Spider-Man going toe to toe with Mark Ruffalo's Hulk, delivering the kind of large-scale action Marvel has largely kept under wraps in earlier marketing. The confrontation appears to be a centerpiece set piece of the film, and its inclusion in the final trailer signals Marvel wants audiences walking into theaters with high expectations for the film's action scale.

Alongside Holland and Ruffalo, the film stars Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, and Michael Mando, with Destin Daniel Cretton directing.

Conclusion

"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" is positioning itself as both a culmination of Tom Holland's nearly decade-long run as Peter Parker and a fresh, higher-stakes chapter with the Hulk thrown into the mix. With the final trailer now out and the film opening July 31, Marvel is clearly banking on nostalgia and spectacle in equal measure to close out the summer box office.