Square Enix shared new concept art on the official Final Fantasy VII Remake social media , and this time it showed the effect of the Toad status on Cait Sith and Red XIII and their unique forms as frogs in FFVII Rebirth. As is common, both amphibians feature traits and accessories inspired by the characters.

In the case of Cait Sith, it features a black and white color scheme like the tuxedo cat. It also wears a crown and red cape, just like the character. The comment noted it almost ended up being two frogs, to represent how the character rides a Moogle. The Red XIII frog is red with accents that mimic his markings, and it features two feathers behind its eyes. It also has a scar over the right eye.

Here are the two pieces of FFVII Rebirth concept art of Cait Sith and Red XIII as frogs after being afflicted by a Toad spell or Frog Song.

This isn’t the first time Square Enix shared concept art of the frog status effect in FFVII Remake and Rebirth, as the characters’ frogs resemble them when the Toad form is in effect. Back in 2022, around the first game in the trilogy’s launch, we got a better look at the Aerith, Cloud, Tifa, and Barret designs. 

Final Fantasy VII Remake is available for the PS4, PS5, and PC, and FFVII Rebirth is on the PS5 and PC. There’s no release window for the third entry in this remake trilogy yet. FFVII Remake will also come to the Switch 2.

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When the NieR: Automata 2B and A2 bunny girl figures first debuted, there ended up being a large amount of demand, and so Good Smile Company announced a second round of pre-orders for both of them. This applies to the US storefront. They are $332.99 each. 

While this is a second run, the launch window is the same. The A2 will show up first. She’ll launch in Japan in October 2025, then the US in Q1 2026. Back when Good Smile Company revealed the 2B one back in March 2025, it had a December 2025 release estimate for Japan and Q2 2026 for the US. That remains the same for this one. So there’s no penalty for having waiting to commit to one or both of them.

The contents of each shipment will also remain the same. With A2, you get her in a bunny girl swimsuit with glossy finish. Her hair is long, with a black bunny ear headband. She also wears black fabric fishnet tights. 2B also wears a similar swimsuit and bunny ears, though she does also have some sleeves on her arms. She comes with an additional head part, so you can display her with or without her visor. 

Here’s how both the NieR: Automata 2B and A2 bunny girl figures look, as a reminder. 

The NieR Automata 2B figure of the character in a bunny girl outfit will debut in Japan in December 2025 and worldwide by Q2 2026. This second round of pre-orders is open now The game is available on the PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and Windows PC. The anime adaptation is streaming via Crunchyroll. 

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Square Enix announced a new Final Fantasy kuji lottery for Japan to celebrate the 25th anniversary of FFIX, and some of the top possible prizes are a Vivi plush and Final Fantasy IX Chiptune Arrangement Tracks CD soundtrack. It will begin on July 7, 2025 in Japan, and someone will need to pay 770円 (~$5) per try. It is one of multiple kinds of merchandise collections being sold to honor the game’s anniversary.

As is typical with kujis run by companies like Square Enix and Bandai Namco, there are A through F tiers of prices, with the lower tier rewards being the most likely ones to get. There is also a “last one” prize that is awarded to the person who buys the very last ticket. The company didn’t share the exact amounts of each item in this lottery. However, odds are there will only be one of the Vivi plush prize, which is the A-tier item, and of course there is only one “last one” 25th anniversary piece of art of the cast drawn by FFIX character designer Toshiyuki Itahana. 

Here is the full list of FFIX 25th anniversary items available, aside from the Vivi plush and soundtrack CD.

• A: Vivi Plush that stands at almost 20 inches (50cm) tall.
• B: Final Fantasy IX Chiptune Arrangement Tracks CD soundtrack.
• C: Fake leather tissue box cover.
• D: One of four mini plates with character art drawn by Itahana on it. 
• E: One of five different postcard sets that include three postcards and a Mognet envelope.
• F: Rubber keychain with one of 10 characters from the game on it.
• Last One: A canvas of the cast with Itahana art that is F3 size (~10in x 10in)

Square Enix already shared images of each item, which you can see below.

While these aren’t available in physical stores outside Japan, some online storefronts do get and sell them. Aitai Kuji is, and it is selling a random ticket pull for 1,350円 (~$9.40) each and items piecemeal for higher prices.

The Final Fantasy IX 25th anniversary kuji lottery will appear in Japan on July 7, 2025, and FFIX is available on the PlayStation, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC, and mobile devices.  

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Hibino Corporation opened pre-orders for the new smart toy replica of the Virtuous Contract sword used by protagonist 2B in NieR: Automata. The smart toy has functions that allow it to light up, it costs 89,100 yen (or approximately $621.07), and it will release in Japan in November 2025.

The Virtuous Contract sword replica is approximately 139cm long (or about 54.7 inches), and it is faithfully reproduced to 1:1 scale. The replica includes realistic wear and tear to simulate it seeing use in combat, with especial attention paid to the hilt and other metal parts in the handle.

The handle is made of the same braided cord as used in typical Japanese swords, as well as being based on the weapon's design in the game. Each unit will be engraved with a unique serial number. In addition to the light up functions, the smart toy includes some Japanese voice lines from NieR: Automata protagonist 2B.

You can check out the new NieR: Automata smart toy 2B sword replica in more detail here:

Back in August 2024, Hibino Corporation announced the line of NieR: Automata smart toys, which included the sword in addition to a remote-controlled Pod 042 toy. While it seems like the toy sword will soon make its debut in the market, the remote-controlled Pod 042 won’t be available until 2027.

The new NieR: Automata toy replica of the Virtuous Contract sword is now available for pre-order in Japan, and it will release on November 2025. Meanwhile, NieR: Automata is readily available for the PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

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Happinet and Okuruto Noboru will develop an anime adaptation of the manga series Wash It All Away, known in Japanese as Kirei ni Shite Moraemasu ka. It will debut in 2026. While there’s no trailer yet, we can see how Wakana Kinme looks in the first piece of key art and her voice actress was revealed.

The story is a slice of life tale about a young woman named Wakana with amnesia. She lives in Atami running the Kinme Cleaning laundry. In addition to running the wet laundry service, she also connects with people in her community. However, as the story goes on, we get hints about her life before stepping into that role. The manga is already available in English via Square Enix, which also published it in Japan.

Here’s the key visual showing Wakana Kinme in the Wash It All Away anime adaptation.

Sayumi Suzushiro will play Wakana in Wash It All Away. Most recently, she appeared as Himari Ishikura in I’m Getting Married to a Girl I Hate in My Class. She was also Nonoa in 2.5 Dimensional Seduction and Lawine in Frieren. She’s also played two HoYoVerse heroines, as she’s Kirara in Genshin Impact and Hanya in Honkai: Star Rail. 

The Wash It All Away manga is available now in English, and the anime adaptation will debut in 2026. 

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Square Enix announced the Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles English voice actors, and the FFVII Remake voice actors for Aerith Gainsborough and Cloud Strife will both be reprise their roles as the characters. Both Briana White and Cody Christian are confirmed. The two appeared in both FFVII Remake and Rebirth.

The full list came up after Square Enix talked more about the June 2025 State of Play reveal. It shared eight of the English voice actors. Among them is the English voice of Clive Rosfield, as Ben Starr will be Dycedarg. 

Here’s the full list of Final Fantasy Tactics English voice actors we know so far:

• Aerith: Briana White
• Agrias: Hannah Melbourn
• Cidolfus: Timothy Watson
• Cloud: Cody Christian
• Delita: Gregg Lowe
• Dycedarg: Ben Starr
• Mustadio: Harry McEntire
• Ramza: Joe Pitts

In the original Final Fantasy Tactics, you could actually encounter both Aerith and Cloud. It’s also possible to recruit Cloud, if you follow certain steps. 

In addition to the $49.99 standard edition, there will be a Collector’s Box. That includes a Ramza Akademy version figure, a set of three Chocobo plush, Outlying Church pop-up art, an art sheet, acrylic Zodiac Stones, and an option to get it with the game. It costs $200 directly through Square Enix, but sold out.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles will come to the Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on September 30, 2025. 

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As part of the latest June 2025 State of Play, Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is the long rumored remaster of the classic. The game is set to release on September 30, 2025.

The newly announced Final Fantasy Tactics remaster will include two version of the classic game. The Enhanced version includes multiple quality of life changes alongside full voice acting. Meanwhile, the Classic version is a faithful recreation of the original PlayStation title released on 1997. As shown in the trailer, Square Enix’s Creative Studio III is involved in the development of the remaster.

Here is the reveal trailer for the remaster:

The original Final Fantasy Tactics appeared in 1997 for the first PlayStation console, and it follows the story of Ramza Beoulve, a noble knight cadet who gets involved in a military conflict known as The Lion War. The game received a 2007 enhanced port released for the PSP under the title Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions.

As a reminder, the latest Square Enix classic tactic RPG game to receive an overhaul was Tactics Ogre Reborn, which released in November 11, 2022 for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles will come out on September 30, 2025 for PlayStation 5. Information on other release platforms for the game might appear in the future.

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Square Enix announced its Final Fantasy music box collection will grow in October 2025, as three more songs from the FFIX soundtrack will be part of it. This is part of the ongoing nod to the 25th anniversary of this installment. Each one costs 2,750円 (~$19) in Japan. Only the e-Store features listings for them as of time of writing, but Square Enix sold past entries in its Online Store and on Amazon.

The three FFIX songs in the Final Fantasy music box lineup this time are “Not Alone,” “A Place to Call Home,” and “Roses of May.” The first one, “Not Alone,” is associated with the cast as a whole, and it relates to the way in which they Zidane. “A Place to Call Home” comes up frequently throughout the game, and the top of that one features the game’s logo and track name. As “Roses of May” is the theme for Beatrix, she’s featured prominently on the top of that box. Finally, “You are not Alone.” 

Here’s how all three look. Square Enix didn’t share YouTube videos that let us hear how they sound.

This isn’t the only entry from this game in the Final Fantasy music box collection. A “Melodies of Life” one of the game’s main theme is already available worldwide. It usually costs between $22 and $30, depending on where you find it and its age.

The next three entries FFIX music box releases will debut in Japan in October 31, 2025, with a worldwide launch following that. The game is available on the PlayStation, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC, and mobile devices.  

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Ahead of the debut of Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster, Square Enix shared looks into the past lives of Agnes Oblige and Edea Lee. Each one highlights what they were doing just ahead of the events of the game, which debuts on the Switch 2 on June 5, 2025. It also offers glimpses at other people we see throughout the game.

The first image involved a peek at Agnes before she headed out on her mission for the Crystal Orthodoxy in Bravely Default. She’s the Wind Vestal devoted to that elemental crystal. As shown in her prequel art and story, she’s working alongside another nun from the Temple of Wind to teach people in Ancheim about the importance of crystals. 

The Bravely Default second image showed Edea Lee at the Duchy of Eternia back when she fought alongside the Sky Knights. This is before we meet and up with her in the game following her mission to intercept Agnes. In the background we can see her father Braev Lee, Grand Marshall of the Council of Six, watching as she walks alongside Alternis Dim, another member of the order. 

Here’s how both images look. Each one features a brief story segment below it.

As a reminder, this is one of multiple JRPGs that are part of the Switch 2 launch window, with all of them being familiar faces.

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster will come to the Switch 2 on June 5, 2025, and the original game appeared on the 3DS. 

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Square Enix announced a second run of the Kingdom Hearts 2 Sora Form-ism figure. It will launch in Japan on December 27, 2025, following the original release in March 2025. It costs 7,480円 (~$52). While pre-orders aren’t open on the US storefront yet, there are other figures in the line there and on Amazon.

The Form-ism line involves static figures of characters. These are in a fixed, active pose and feature both Square Enix games and ones from companies like Atlus. (The Nahobino from SMT V is in the line.) Sora is in his standard outfit here, and he’s wielding the default Keyblade. He’s in the midst of an attack. It stands at about nine inches tall (23cm). 

In case you missed it the first time around, here’s a closer look at how this version of Sora looks:

This isn’t the only Form-ism Kingdom Hearts statue. Square Enix announced a second one in March 2025. That one is based on Riku, and it also pulls from his Kingdom Hearts 2 design. It is expected to appear in August 2025. 

The next run of the Kingdom Hearts 2 Form-ism Sora figure will launch in December 2025. The game first appeared on the PS2, but now is on the Switch, PS3, PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix.

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Taito announced its latest piece of Final Fantasy XIV merchandise heading to arcades in Japan, and it is a squishy squeeze toy based on the Cornservant from FFXIV Dawntrail. It will show up on June 28, 2025. 

The Cornservant squeeze toy is a squishy toy that, when squeezed, causes the ear of Turali Corn to pop out of the husk body. It looks exactly like the character from the MMORPG. It will sit at about three and a half inches tall (nine cm) and be able to be displayed when not being squeezed.

Here’s a closer look at the character, as well as what it looks like when someone squeezes it.

The Final Fantasy XIV Cornservant NPC is part of a whole storyline of its own that kicked off in the FFXIV Dawntrail questline that started with “Corn of Necessity.” During them, our Warriors of Light accompany the Curious Corn NPC, then go around talking to hungry individuals. As part of it, we can eventually earn a Cornservant Minion for finishing “Tasteful Memories.” 

This comes after another Final Fantasy XIV merchandise selection from Taito based on FFXIV Dawntrail characters. In May 2025, plush keychains based on the Outrunner appeared. 

Final Fantasy XIV and the FFXIV Dawntrail expansion are available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. 

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Square Enix announced it will sell three different kinds of pixel art game merchandise with sprites of NieR, NieR: Automata, and NieR Reincarnation characters in Japan on August 30, 2025. These include a mug, a package of flake stickers, and two sets of rubber keychains. The US storefront isn’t taking pre-orders for any of the items yet. 

The set of flake stickers is the cheapest of the new items. It costs 1,100円 (~$8). There are 18 stickers in each package. All of the leading characters from each of the three NieR games appear, as well as side characters like 2B and 9S’ Pods and Mama and Carrier who assist The Girl of Light Fio. Each sticker is under an inch tall at around 18mm. 

The glass mug with the NieR pixel art sprites is second most expensive at 3,300円 (~$23). This doesn’t feature every character in this collection on it. In the top row are NieR characters Kaine, Nier, and Emil, in that order. The middle row features NieR: Automata leads 9S, 2B, and A2. Finally, the third row puts Fio between Mama and Carrier. The back of the cup has Emil’s head on it.

Finally, there are two sets of NieR pixel art keychains made of rubber and featuring sprites of the characters. Volume 1 features adult Nier, Kaine, and Emil from NieR, Pod 042 and Pod 153 from NieR: Automata, and Hina Akagi, Yuzuki Kurezome, and 10H from NieR Reincarnation. (I can’t tell who the final character in this set is meant to be.) Volume 2 features young Nier and Yonah from NieR, Fio, Mama, and Carrier from NieR Reincarnation, and 2B, 9S, A2, and a machine lifeform from NieR: Automata. Each set consists of nine pieces in the box. Each box costs 6,435円 (~$45).

Here’s how all the new NieR merchandise looks:

The NieR, NieR Automata, and NieR Reincarnation merchandise with characters from each game will debut in Japan on August 30, 2025. It’s likely we’ll see them worldwide after. NieR appeared on the PS3 and Xbox 360, then later on the PS4, Xbox, and PC one as NieR Replicant. NieR: Automata is on the Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and the anime is on Crunchyroll. NieR Reincarnation appeared on mobile devices, but is no longer available. 

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I’m constantly bombarded with ads from manga apps with shojo series, like Emaqi and Manga Plaza, taunting me with a few pages from a Cinderella story series about a black sheep twin or stepsister who meets the best man who recognizes her for the diamond in the rough she is. Some of these types of stories can be great in their own right due to certain takes on the genre, like Bride of the Barrier Master. Now that we’re five volumes deep into the My Happy Marriage manga, I keep being reminded how its the superior series when it comes to characters, handling of sensitive topics, and actual relationship development.  

Editor’s Note: There will be some minor spoilers for early volumes of the My Happy Marriage manga below. 5d5p6b

The first reason I feel like My Happy Marriage is the superior Cinderella story manga is because the start is exactly that. Miyo Saimori’s the elder daughter who is pushed aside in favor of her stepsister due to not possessing a Gift and the marriage between her father and mother being essentially a political one. She’s engaged to Kiyoka Kudo, a person with a powerful gift who is also head of the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit and rich. He’s as close as a prince as we can get in this period piece. Because she’s so kind, humble, considerate, and unlike any fiance ever forced on him, he ends up seeing exactly who she is and realizing how special she is. And because this is a manga based on a light novel, there’s ample characterization to make him appealing too.

Also important is how Miyo is depicted throughout My Happy Marriage compared to the Cinderella fairy tale and other shojo manga. Miyo went through hell in her family home. She was abused. Throughout the first two volumes, we see her responses to that. She hides the fact that she has so little clothing and is working to make what she has last. She apologizes too much. She goes out of her way to not cause trouble. Don’t make requests. Don’t make mistakes. Don’t make assumptions. It might almost seem like overkill sometimes to see someone trip over herself so much to keep out of others’ ways. However, if you ever were in her position or knew someone who was, it comes across as quite realistic. It isn’t like other shojo manga that involves a heroine more quickly getting over years of abuse because now she’s got a normal life where she’s potentially pampered and loved. She’s very much in recovery.

I also appreciate that Kiyoka’s approach to the situation feels equally realistic. He tries to be patient and kind. He reaches out to her. He sets up gifts in such a way to possibly encourage her accepting them and not feeling guilty about doing so. He has his housekeeper Yurie reach out to her and her. But at the same time, there are moments in later volumes of the manga in which even he gets frustrated. Which happens! Even if you care about someone, it could be easy to get impatient about the time table for recovery not being what you’d expect. 

The fact that Miyo keeps growing throughout My Happy Marriage and her own development as a person isn’t sidelined for the sake of the more romantic elements in this shojo manga and immediately resolved Cinderella story is encouraging as well. By the time the fourth volume hits, we’re aware of her capabilities. But this isn’t a blessing. All gifts are shown to have their own trade-offs, and in her case being untrained is leading to negative experiences that exacerbate her PTSD reflected throughout the story. This means as we lead into the fifth volume, we’re hitting a point at which her own character development is going to be prioritized. As a result, I feel like we’re seeing her feelings for Kiyoka coming through more clearly and better understanding her own power.

I love My Happy Marriage so much, and I’m so glad Square Enix Books picked it up, as the manga ended up being one of the best period piece Cinderella style stories out there. It feels like one of the best written “underdog” tales in a sea of manga about twin sisters who supposedly aren’t the gifted ones, but actually are, and end up with a too-good-to-be-true fiance who realizes exactly how amazing they are and fights off their jealous family. Here we see things like PTSD acknowledged. We watch personal growth between characters. Difficulties surrounding supernatural abilities are addressed, so they don’t seem all wonderful. Plus the actual relationship between Miyo and Kiyoka feels as though it is developing in as health a manner as it can, given the circumstances. It’s a wonderful shojo manga. 

Volumes 1-5 of the My Happy Marriage manga adaptation are available via Square Enix, and both seasons of the shojo anime are on Netflix.

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Now that the FFVII Ever Crisis high school AU event Ever Crisis Academy Seven is about to end, Square Enix shared concept art of the uniforms Aerith and Tifa wear in it. It highlights Tifa’s more traditional “honor student” design and Aerith’s modified sukeban delinquent attire. They appeared alongside two-koma FFVII comics based on the event.

Here’s the FFVII Ever Crisis concept art showing the high school uniforms for Aerith and Tifa and gym teacher costume for Barret. 

As for the two-koma comics based on this FFVII Ever Crisis high school event, four showed up on social media. They all offered peeks at the characters going through their school days. The one released the evening of May 27, 2025 also referenced characters who didn’t appear during this storyline, suggesting Cid is a janitor at Midgard Seventh High School and Reeve might be the vice principal.

Here’s all four of those comics. The first to appear was "Grooming? Not Interested." "Dream Come True" appeared after that. The third was "Mr. B's Secret." Finally, the fourth was "Seven Wonders of Seventh High."

Previously, Siliconera spoke with FFVII Ever Crisis Producer Shoichi Ichikawa about the Ever Crisis Academy Seven high school event and character designs. Ichikawa told us, “Tifa is an honor student and Cloud/Zack are delinquents, so while we were wondering what we should do with Aerith, the art team proposed a rough sketch of Aerith as a sukeban. It was visually impactful but also showed a side that was very Aerith-like, such as her fondness for flowers, and we thought we could depict the relationship between Zack and Aerith that is unique to this world setting.”

Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is available on PCs and mobile devices, and the Ever Crisis Academy Seven event ends on May 28, 2025.

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Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIV Online Store started selling a new His Royal Headness on Parade mount based on the Leonogg I boss in the FFXIV Dawntrail The Strayborough Deadwalk dungeon. It costs $24. This is an -wide mount, so all of your characters will be able to get and use it.

When Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail launched, The Strayborough Deadwalk dungeon with His Royal Headness Leonogg I, Jack-in-the-Pot, and Traumerei lurking inside debuted, and the FFXIV mount is close to an exact replica of the character. The theme of this dungeon involved a sort of abandoned amusement park. You can only access the Solution Nine dungeon after beating “Dawntrail” and “Something Stray in the Neighborhood.” His Royal Headness Leonogg I is the first of the three bosses we face within. 

In the case of the mount, our characters will ride on top of His Royal Headness on Parade’s head. The example screenshots and video involve a Lalafell on top of it. However, after the 20 second mark of the video, we do get to see what it looks like when other races ride on the creature. It can be used on the ground or to fly through the air.

Here are the two screenshots introducing the mount:

And you can see the video of the mount below:

Final Fantasy XIV and the Dawntrail expansion are available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. 

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