05/19/2016 Update: This
has been confirmed by images from
V Jump.
May 17th, 2016. Japanese spoiler blog
Alternator reported today that the latest issue of
V Jump magazine contains an announcement of a new upcoming
Digimon series,
Digimon Universe Applimonsters. Said to be an Autumn 2016 collaboration between Bandai, Bandai Namco Entertainment, and Toei Animation,
Universe Applimonsters is supposed to encompass a toyline, TV anime series, and video games.
Alternator acquired the information via a
furage ("Flying Get") meaning they acquired an issue of the magazine more than a day ahead of its street date. Such acquisitions are made possible by paying off middleman distributors, or stores that get their stock early.
Alternator's original statement with an English translation is provided below.
「デジモンユニバース アプリモンスターズ」
"Digimon Universe Applimonsters" (Dejimon Unibaasu Apurimonsutaazu)
バンダイ×バンダイナムコエンターテインメント×東映アニメーションのホビー・ゲーム・TVアニメ超大型プロジェクト2016年秋始動、というのですがどうもこれ名前からしてもスマりそう。
A super massive scale hobby, game, and TV
anime project between Bandai x Bandai Namco Entertainment x Toei
Animation beginning in Autumn 2016, or so it says, but going by this
name it seems more likely to fit smartphones.
6/9からの東京おもちゃショー2016でさらなる情報解禁ともあるので、スマんなくても3DSったりはしそうですし。
Additional information will be unveiled at the Tokyo Toy Show beginning 6/9, if not for smartphones then likely for 3DS.
ちなみにおもちゃ連動という事でPSVitaの可能性は低かろうと考えていますが、デジモンワールドnext 0rderについても無料配信コンテンツで謎のデジモンが育成出来るという情報もあり、まだ動きは続いていきそうです。
By the way, I think the possibility of toys accompanying the PS Vita may
be low, but since there is also information about freely distributed
content for Digimon World -next 0rder- allowing you to raise a mysterious Digimon, this activity is likely to be followed up on.
Whether this news is to be regarded as trustworthy or not is a source of contention. The facts are as follows;
Alternator has been around since April 2013, and in that time seems to have maintained a clean record, not attempting to spread hoaxes. The other statement in their post, that
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 will be announced for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, was proven true
four and a half hours after they first reported it.
Alternator normally
labels rumors, but is treating
Digimon Universe as fact. No other source has corroborated the
Universe story, but the site also has a number of other claims made around the same time, and confirming or debunking them may point to the reliability of the
Universe story;
- Weekly Famitsu volume 1433 features a Guilty Gear Xrd -Revelator- illustration as its cover image. (
As of yet unproven; the "current" cover on Enterbrain's website is from volume 1432. This has been confirmed true as of 5/19/16.)
- At 9:52 PM on 05/17/2016 JST, Alternator reported that the same issue contains a lengthy interview with five team heads from Koei Tecmo, summarizing each person's portion. Approximately eight minutes later Hachima Kikou (veteran source of 9+ years) corroborated this. Alternator's summary matches up with the actual interview, down to the ordering of individual points like Ruby Party developing a "neoromance" title that will appeal to men as well as women, and the 20th anniversary of Atelier. An English translation of Hachima Kikou's version of the interview was published by Gematsu.
- At 1:57 AM on 05/11/2016 JST, Alternator reported that Persona 5 producer Hashino Katsura would be providing commentary in Dengeki PlayStation volume 614, which was confirmed within twenty-four hours by Persona Central's scans of the issue.
- They also described Divine Prison Tower: Mary Skelter and Genkai Tokki: Seven Pirates being covered in the same issue of Dengeki PlayStation, but no scans of these sections have surfaced. Their statement that the next issue would feature a full guide of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, as well as an introductory feature to Dragon Quest Heroes 2, were both later confirmed when images of the magazine cover were put out by Enterbrain.
The site's regulars are accepting the
Universe story at face value, some of them expressing disappointment in the comments at the lack of a
Cyber Sleuth 2. After scrutinizing
Alternator's track record, I'm inclined to believe that they're telling the truth.
Alternator has been publishing game news for several years with no indication of attempting to create or promote hoaxes, has put out reliable
furage before, and has
a relatively strong following for a site of its size that indicates a degree of trust. Whatever the truth is, we'll know come next
V Jump. The next issue's street date is May 21st.
