Category Archives: Technology

BookWalker Welcomes Crossed Hearts: Expands Catalog with Manga, Manhwa, GL, and Novels

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Bookwalker Crossed Hearts

BookWalker has officially launched its highly anticipated partnership with Crossed Hearts, a global publishing house. Fans can now access a rapidly growing library of localized Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, Chinese manhua, and Asian novels directly on the platform, featuring both immediate chapter purchases and a massive slate of future volume pre-orders.

The partnership launches with several key titles already live, anchored by the ongoing bi-weekly digital serialization of the hit romance “You’re Way Too Cheeky, Chigaya-kun!” 

Volumes Now Available for Purchase

Readers can skip the wait and immediately dive into the following titles, available right now on BookWalker:

  • You’re Way Too Cheeky, Chigaya-kun! Vol. 1
  • OctoPiece Vol. 1
  • The Abandoned Villainess Became a Zombie (Novel, Volume 1)

Chapters Now Available for Purchase

For fans who prefer reading chapter by chapter the following titles can also be found on BookWalker:

  • You’re Way Too Cheeky, Chigaya-kun! (Chapters 1 – 9)
  • Glam Beat Updates 

Crossed Heart’s Imprint Glam Beat! focuses on women-driven narratives that are intimate, bold, and unapologetically romantic, celebrating girls’ love (Yuri) in all its intensity and emotional complexity. The following titles are available to read:

  • Afternoon Tea for Two (Chapters 1–3)
  • Time is a Closet (Chapters 1–2)
  • Borrowing your Textbook (Chapters 1-4)

Upcoming Digital Volume Release Schedule

A robust lineup of full-volume digital editions is locked in through late 2026 and early 2027, with pre-orders currently live on the BookWalker platform:

  • August 11, 2026
    • The Executioner of Grenimal (Volume 1)
    • The Matchmaker’s Fiancée: My Fiancé Won’t Leave Me Alone While I’m Finding Him the Ideal Bride (Volume 1)
  • December 1, 2026
    • The Executioner of Grenimal (Volume 2)
    • You’re Way Too Cheeky, Chigaya-kun! (Volume 2)
    • All-Rounder Maid Connie Wille (Volumes 1 & 2)
    • A Gaze Like Lightning (Volume 1)
    • The Bird in the Cage Dreams
    • The King of Owls and His Troubled Attendant
    • Until We Fall in Love
    • Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion (Novel, Volume 1)
    • Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion (Novel, Volume 2)
  • January 12, 2027
    • The Abandoned Villainess Became a Zombie (Volume 2)
  • February 2, 2027
    • You’re Way Too Cheeky, Chigaya-kun! Vol. 3

Paizo and DriveThruRPG Expand their Partnership to offer Paizo’s Full Title Catalog

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Paizo and DriveThruRPG have expanded their partnership to offer Paizo’s full title catalog in PDF from both DriveThruRPG and the Pathfinder and Starfinder Infinite marketplaces. Over 1,200 Pathfinder and Starfinder titles will now be available as PDF, with printed options and connections to Paizo’s store coming soon. These PDFs include the latest Pathfinder and Starfinder second edition remastered titles, as well as first edition materials, fiction, and audiobooks. This will give players the chance to dive deeper into the world of Golarion or the Pact Worlds, opening up new adventures and creativity to bring to the table.

Paizo and DriveThruRPG have a long history of working together, most notably on the Pathfinder and Starfinder Infinite programs and marketplaces which offer independent creators the opportunity to publish works within the official Pathfinder and Starfinder settings. Until now however, Paizo’s own official titles were not available on DriveThruRPG.

The companies also announced that in the months ahead, DriveThruRPG would also offer most Paizo titles for sale in print, and that the companies would be implementing Paizo Connect. With Paizo Connect, customers will have the option to connect their accounts at Paizo’s website with DriveThruRPG and sync their PDF libraries and purchases across both sites. Ownership of PDFs offer Paizo fans several benefits with Paizo and its licensed partners, while ownership on DriveThruRPG allows fans the conveniences of DriveThruRPG’s library including apps to keep your library up to date on PCs and devices.

Disney and TikTok cut a Short-Form Content-Sharing Deal

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Disney has been on a roll with cutting deals with terrible technology. In late 2025 the House of Mouse cut a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI. That deal lasted about 6 months as OpenAI shut down Sora and with it Disney’s investment in May 2026.

Now, Disney has a new collaborator in TikTok, the tech platform that was formally owned by a Chinese company but Donald Trump couldn’t have that and forced its sale to his buddies, including Larry Ellison who is currently helping fund the purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery by his son David and Paramount.

The Disney/TikTok deal will pilot in the US in the coming months and “will bring an expansive collection of thoughtfully curated Disney-centric fan-created content from TikTok to the Disney+ app.”

Participating creators who opt-in will see the content they create live on TikTok and in Verts on Disney+. They can feature characters and stories across Disney’s brands including Pixar, Marvel, Star Ears, and more.

TikTok will provide creators access to assets related to hundreds of films and series from Disney’s library.

Mentioned in the announcement is the ability to “unlock special rewards” as well as increase the visibility of creators. It also will feature exclusive events and “career development pathways.”

The deal, which the press announcement calls a “first-of-its-kind global deal” sounds similar to Disney’s deal with OpenAI which would have provided access to Disney IP while bringing the AI creations to Disney+.

Crunchyroll Manga Adds Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You and more on August 10

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Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You

On August 10, the Crunchyroll Manga library will expand its 400+ catalog of unique titles with the arrival of Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You, Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Bocchi the Rock!, Tougen Anki, and more. Spanning across all genres, from slice-of-life and sports to fantasy and romance, these new entries to Crunchyroll Manga include series with recent and ongoing anime adaptations streaming on Crunchyroll, as well as many other manga additions brought together from multiple publishers available to read all in one place.

See the complete list of new titles coming to Crunchyroll Manga on August 10:

  • At Summer’s End
  • Bocchi the Rock!
  • Demon Lord Exchange!!
  • Don’t Blush, Sekime-san!
  • East, Into The Night
  • From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman
  • KoLD8: King of the Living Dead
  • LAND LOCK
  • Magical Girl Tsubame: I Will (Not) Save The World!
  • Nano Hazard
  • Prison School
  • Raius: Master Swordsman Reborn
  • Rugby Rumble
  • Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You
  • Tougen Anki
  • Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun

Featured new titles on Crunchyroll Manga:

Bocchi the Rock! (created by Aki Hamazi) – Things are finally getting serious for Hitori “Bocchi” Gotoh and the rest of Kessoku Band. Nijika and Ryou are graduating, Bocchi is finding she’s not quite so alone in class anymore, and Stray Beat is planning to celebrate the release of the gang’s first album with their biggest show yet! What’s more, they’ll be joined in concert by Klimt’s Night-a hit musical duo who pack some real star power. In preparation, Kessoku Band is introduced to the group’s reclusive songwriter, who’s…an even bigger introvert than Bocchi? Can they really make a successful indie debut while juggling two black holes of social anxiety?!

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman (written by Shigeru Sagazaki and illustrated by Tetsuhiro Nabeshima) – Middle-aged Beryl Gardinant has only ever accomplished one thing: running a humble sword-fighting dojo in the quiet countryside. But when he’s paid a visit by his former pupil, Allusia, he discovers that she has become an elite commander—and she’s hardly the only ex-student who’s a renowned warrior! Now forced by Allusia to become a special instructor to the strongest order of knights in the kingdom, can Beryl reach his full potential even though he’s an old man?

Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You (created by Jinushi) – At age forty-five, office worker Sasaki has had enough of the corporate grind. His only solace is smoking-and the friendly smile of supermarket cashier Yamada. When Sasaki can’t find Yamada after a particularly trying day, a striking woman invites him to smoke with her. The despondent man thinks he’s made a new smoking buddy in the cool, teasing Tayama, but Sasaki doesn’t realize he already knows her!

Tougen Anki (created by Yura Urushibara) – Shiki Ichinose would have never guessed his adoptive father used to be an Oni-hunting Momotarou, much less that the old man walked away from that life just to raise him despite Shiki’s dangerous Oni blood. After seeing the only parent he ever knew murdered by a Momotarou assassin, Shiki’s blood awakens. Thrust into an ancient conflict between Oni and Momotarou, Shiki will fight to survive, to take his revenge—and to hold back the calamity coursing through his veins…

Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun (created by Osamu Nishi) – Hopeless pushover Iruma Suzuki has found himself in a devil of a predicament… His trashy parents have sold off his soul, and he now has to live and attend school in the Netherworld. But with his unique survival skills and doting demon grandfather’s support, Iruma will surely make it through this hellish experience. He’ll just need to subjugate rival classmates, summon familiars, and more, all while never revealing that he’s human… Easy as aleph, bet, gimel, right?

BookWalker Expands its Digital Library with Launch of Abrams Books’ Kana imprint

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BookWalker Kana

BookWalker has added Abrams Books‘ Kana imprint to its digital platform. Readers worldwide can now access and read Kana’s acclaimed lineup of graphic novels and manga directly through BookWalker’s web browser and mobile apps.

Known for high-quality production and compelling international storytelling, Kana brings a fresh wave of rich narratives and stunning artwork to BookWalker’s vast catalog of over 79,000 digital titles.

Now Available on BookWalker

The following Kana titles are live and available for purchase now, with even more releases from Kana’s growing catalog scheduled to join the BookWalker platform in the coming months.

Explore the full Kana Collection on BookWalker:

  • Leviathan Vol. 1–3
  • Manhole Vol. 1–3
  • Blades of the Guardians Vol. 1–2
  • City Hunger Vol. 1–3
  • Cat’s Eye Vol. 1–3
  • My Life in 24 Frames per Second
  • Scars Vol. 1–3
  • Space Punch Vol. 1-5
  • Eden of Witches Vol. 1-7
  • Silence Vol. 1-4
  • Billy Bat

To explore the newly launched Kana catalog, visit www.bookwalker.com or download the BookWalker app on iOS and Android.

Gen Con 2026: Free League Unbound Brings Official Games and Digital Tools Together

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Developed by the creators of D&D Beyond, Free League Unbound is an official digital platform built for Free League’s tabletop roleplaying games. It gives players access to official game content and searchable rules across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

Early Access is available now at freeleagueunbound.com. The initial release includes a digital reader and game compendia for four game lines:

  • The One Ring
  • ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game Evolved Edition
  • Coriolis: The Great Dark
  • Invincible – Superhero Roleplaying

During Early Access, players can test new features and share feedback that will help shape the platform. Character creation and progression tools are planned for later this year, with more Free League games joining the platform in the months ahead.

SDCC 2026: Scott’s Collectables joins Neon Ichiban for Commissionable Remarques

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Just days after launching Neon Ichiban 2.5 and introducing Commissionable Remarques, Neon Ichiban has announced a long-term partnership with Scott’s Collectables, bringing the agency’s acclaimed roster of comic creators—including available today Björn Barends, Chris Condon, Adam Gorham, Martin Simmonds, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Werther Dell’Edera with more to come—to the platform’s new digital commissions program.

To celebrate the partnership, Neon Ichiban will host Scott’s Collectables at Booth #2314 during San Diego Comic-Con, where fans can meet some of comics’ most celebrated creators across four days of signings while getting an early look at the future of creator commissions.

The partnership marks Neon Ichiban’s first agreement with a creator representative for Commissionable Remarques, extending one of comics’ most personal traditions beyond the convention floor. Fans can commission authenticated digital signatures and original sketches directly from creators through Neon Ichiban, creating a new year-round way for creators and fans to connect while opening an entirely new revenue stream for artists.

Neon Ichiban 2.5 Arrives

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Neon Ichiban 2.5

Just eight weeks after launching Neon Ichiban 2.0, Neon Ichiban has released Neon Ichiban 2.5, introducing Commissionable Remarques, new community features, redesigned series pages, the public Android beta, and an alpha version of its Mac desktop app.

Built directly from customer feedback, Neon Ichiban 2.5 introduces new ways for creators to earn revenue, for fans to discover their next favorite comics, and for creators and fans to connect like never before.

Neon Ichiban 2.5 also introduces one of the platform’s most anticipated features: Commissionable Remarques. Fans can now commission digital signatures and original sketches directly from participating creators, creating a new always-on revenue stream while making one of comics’ most personal experiences accessible without the limitations of convention schedules or geography.

WHAT’S NEW IN NEON ICHIBAN 2.5

Creator Commissions Are Here

The end-to-end creator portal is now live, allowing fans to commission digital signatures and original sketches directly from participating creators. Payments flow directly into creators’ wallets, creating an entirely new revenue stream.

Community Profiles, Reviews & Reading Lists

Neon Ichiban 2.5 introduces a new community built around comics. Fans can create public profiles, build custom reading lists, review books, showcase their collections, and discover what fellow fans are reading, collecting, and recommending—including digital Remarques and the creators behind them.

Your profile, your featured collection, your lists, and your reviews live alongside the books themselves—making it easier to discover your next obsession, share your favorite stories, and connect with fellow fans who love comics as much as you do.

Redesigned Series Pages

A streamlined reading experience makes it easier than ever to jump into a new series, with single issues and collected editions clearly organized so fans always know where to begin.

Android App Now Available in Public Beta

Following a successful private beta, the Neon Ichiban Android app is now available to everyone, bringing fast, native reading to even more fans.

Early Access: Mac Desktop Alpha

The first alpha version of the Neon Ichiban Mac desktop app is almost here. Sign up now to gain access in the coming weeks. Once invited, you’ll be able to browse, read, and sync your library across devices. PDF support is available now, with CBR/CBZ support coming soon. Join the waitlist today.

Ignition Press launches digital comics on Sweet Shop

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Ignition Press

Ignition Press has announced their comics are now available digitally on Sweet Shop. This marks the first digital comics platform the publisher has partnered with to provide a wider reach for more fans to discover their catalog of comics.

Ignition Press comics are available on the platform for readers to purchase, giving fans access to over 15 series including The Beauty (the inspiration for Ryan Murphy’s FX television series), Roots of Madness (from the recently announced Eisner Award nominated writer Stephanie Williams), Tyler Rake: An Extraction Story (the prequel series to the Netflix Extraction movies), and many more. The entirety of the Ignition Press’s published catalog, totaling over 50 comics, is available on Sweet Shop for immediate purchase.

Sweet Shop is the all-new digital comic and manga store brought to you by Sweet, a software company for comic folk. Sweet Shop brings readers direct to their favorite comics and manga on Android and iOS worldwide with features like in app purchase, PDF backups (per-publisher), and a hassle-free comic reading experience. Dedicated to the craft of comics, its community, and human-powered creativity, Sweet Shop is firm in their stance against VC investors, crappy AI tools, and crappy AI-generated comics.

Stan Lee’s Voice and Likeness are Coming to AI Slop

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Stan Lee at the Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Via Gage Skidmore Flickr
Stan Lee at the Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Via Gage Skidmore Flickr

We apparently can’t let the dead rest and AI will superpower the exploitation of them for years to come. ElevenLabs has acquired the rights to Stan Lee‘s voice and likeness to be used to narrate books in the Eleven Reader App.

Under a deal with Stan Lee Universe, the Stan Lee Book of the Month Club will debut with Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. An additional 11 books will be adapted over the year.

The tech uses professional recordings with Lee’s voice available on ElevenLabs’ Iconic Voice Marketplace and his likeness available on ElevenLabs Image & Video Marketplace. Music inspired by the “aesthetic and energy” of Lee’s imagination has also been created.

Stan Lee passed away in 2018 at the age of 95. There are claims of abuse that began in his last few years, leading to an individual charged, and it’s been a topic of discussion in the years since his passing. Stan Lee Universe has had no issues slapping the iconic Lee’s name and visage on to products over the years and soon it’ll be virtually.

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