We have prepared a digest of the main news for September 3, 2026, for Players readers.
Yuji Yanase Dies — The Director and Animator Who Worked on Akira, Death Note, Naruto and Pokémon
The Japanese anime industry has suffered a heavy loss. Yuji Yanase, a director and animator with over 30 years of experience, passed away at the age of 59. His death was announced on September 2 by MAHO FILM studio and the creators of the anime projects he worked on. Yanase passed away on August 22, 2026, due to an acute myocardial infarction.
Total War: Rome II — the return to Rome that became one of Creative Assembly’s biggest releases
On September 3, 2013, Total War: Rome II was released on PC — a large-scale sequel to Rome: Total War, which back in 2004 became one of the most famous historical strategy games of its generation. Expectations for the sequel went beyond just another entry in the series to establishing a new benchmark for the genre: Creative Assembly promised the largest campaign in Total War history, a massive map, hundreds of unit types, and the opportunity to rewrite the history of the Ancient World.
The Witcher 3 surpasses 65 million copies sold, while Cyberpunk 2077 tops 40 million
CD Projekt RED reported its financial results for the first half of the year, sharing the sales success of its flagship titles, feedback on announcements from gamescom 2026, and upcoming project plans.
Esports Organization Team Vitality on the Verge of Acquiring Volleyball Club Paris Volley
French esports organization Team Vitality is considering an expansion into traditional sports. According to a report by Le Parisien from August 26, Vitality Group is currently in talks with existing shareholders of the Paris Volley volleyball club to acquire a majority stake.
EA Sports FC 27 will feature over 21,000 licensed players and 800 teams
EA Sports revealed the scope of licensed content for EA Sports FC 27, scheduled for release on September 25. The new entry will feature more than 21,000 officially licensed players representing over 800 clubs and national teams.