The Video Game Library Newsletter - Vol. #040
Pokémon's 30th Anniversary, Vivi graces the cover of 2 books, and Japanese gaming magazines galore!
Welcome back to The Video Game Library Newsletter!
First off, huge thank you for all the amazingly positive feedback on last week’s juggernaut of an issue! Hard to top it, but this one gets close with over 30 new book announcements and releases to discuss.
It’s that time of month where the Japanese gaming mag market is overflowing on the konbini shelves, and art book fans should be celebrating this week with some really cool projects on the horizon. Manga takes center-stage in a few different languages, and Third Editions out of France has a trio of releases that I’m personally very excited about. Plus a couple indie projects that are generating a lot of excitement.
We also have a lot of great new behind-the-scenes cataloguing work that I’m excited to share. So grab a coffee (or your drink of choice), and let’s dive in!
📰 News & Highlights
Let’s start with one of the most hotly anticipated art books of the year. The Art of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has officially released in a whole host of languages including English, French, Italian, Ukrainian and more! Hundreds of concept works, including artwork by character and mechanical design director, acclaimed artist Yoji Shinkawa. This game was absolutely gorgeous, and I for one, am VERY excited to be adding it to the shelves.
Square Enix has revealed more details about the long-awaited English translation of the Final Fantasy IX Picture Book. Officially titled Final Fantasy IX Picture Book: Vivi and Grandpa’s Memories for the Sky, this prequel storybook to the game is set to release on May 19 this year. I love this so much.
And you know what else Square Enix revealed this week? The Art of Final Fantasy Tactics English release! I mean, we all knew this one was coming, but we can officially report now that its scheduled to hit shelves this November in all its hardcover glory.
Now let’s chat about Super Rare Games. In celebration of their first 150 titles, they’ve announced that they’ll be releasing Super Rare Games: 1 to 150 Games – A Collector’s Artbook. Packed with stunning photography of every release, this premium hardcover showcases the artwork, editions, and memories that defined its journey, featuring messages from developers, influencers, and fans, along with a foreword and thoughtful presentation of each title.
And speaking of rare, Limited Run Games’ upcoming Formation Z Deluxe Edition has been revealed with details of a very cool artbook bundled in. Not too much is known quite yet, but I’ve reached out. All I can say is that this book will be a celebration of this remake of one of Jaleco’s most iconic arcade shooters!
Mega Man X kicked into high gear this week, debuting his own comic series with Mega Man X #1 from Udon Entertainment! A whole new generation of super fighting robots face-off against the backdrop of a techno-future. In this issue, X and Zero track down the Prince of the Skies, the noble and deadly Storm Eagle!
And that’s not the only blue mascot getting some comic love this week. DC Comics has just announced DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Legion, a new five-issue mini-series that reunites Sonic and friends with the Justice League after last year’s crossover. The series brings back writer Ian Flynn and artist Adam Bryce Thomas, and it kicks off in May 2026. In the story, mysterious mechanical rings link the two worlds and spark the heroes’ reunions, while hiding a sinister cause behind the team-ups. Issue #1 arrives May 5, 2026 with a main cover by Pablo M. Collar and variant covers by Adam Bryce Thomas, Serg Acuña, and Min Ho Kim.
The treasure hunt is on for Captain Edward James Kenway! A slow follow to the French releases, Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple, Vol. 2 makes its way to English readers this week thanks to VIZ Media. Still sitting 4-5 volumes behind the latest, but this might work out great with the rumors of the “Resynced” version of Black Flag around the corner.
The 2nd volume in Dark Horse’s latest Minecraft graphic novel series, Minecraft: Heart of Cobblestone #2 hit shelves this week. Brothers Cobb, a quiet farmer, and Flint, a bold adventurer, clash until their friend Rochelle follows a treasure map into a mob-filled danger zone. To rescue her and chase the treasure, they cross wild biomes, face monsters, and learn teamwork, forming an unlikely squad to survive Minecraft’s world.
Only just announced last week, SHELL Method: Mental Framework for Survival in Solo Game Development from Polish author Łukasz S. Kowal has officially released. Developed over 25+ years of solo work, this method grew out of real mistakes, burnout, and projects that almost failed before they could begin. Looking forward to seeing some reviews of this one.
After teasing it for over a year, Harvey Newman just put out a video promo for his upcoming book, How To Thrive In The Game Industry: The Long Game. Pre-orders are up, and it’s expected to drop on May 28th this year. From surviving crunch, navigating studio closures, building a personal brand, to understanding the business side of game dev — this book covers the full arc of a game developer's career, backed by interviews with seasoned professionals from Ubisoft, DICE, Valve, and Epic Games.
In the world of GameStudies, Playing Politics in Digital Spaces got its official release from Routledge this week. This edited collection examines the intersection of gameplay and political agency. It covers how digital spaces (including MMOs and open-world games) are used for political expression, activism, and the construction of power dynamics. Not solely video games, but enough intersect to warrant a spot in our catalogue.
For fans of the bizarre and charming cookbooks coming out of Job Job LLC., they had a fun social media announcement this week, just in time for Pokémon’s upcoming 30th anniversary. Pocket Munchies! Not much is known quite yet, but rest assured, I’ve reached out and will get it catalogued on our site ASAP alongside all the others!
As expected, with the approach of the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy movie, books are being hinted at over on Amazon. Random House, and author Benjamin Harper, have a few books now listed. Not a lot of details, but expect to see these pages start to get populated soon!
And in the spirit of fun teases, author Mat Bradley-Tschirgi has confirmed that his new book Doom Video Games will be coming out this Fall from White Owl Books. In addition to Doom, it looks at the early days of id Software, Wolfenstein 3D, and features over a dozen interviews with game designers, programmers, and journalists. I know there’ve been a bunch of teases for this, but I think this is the first time we’ve heard about a Fall publishing. Very exciting!
And before moving on from English, want to make sure I shout out the latest issue of EDGE magazine, with EDGE #421. Neon Giant’s No Law is the feature, with a visit to the studio’s Uppsala HQ to access the world of Port Desire. Also inside: The science of speedrunning, the joy of Eurojank, the making of Deus Ex: Invisible War, catching up with Tetsuya Mizuguchi at Enhance, and a return to C64 classic Impossible Mission.
Now let’s head over to France for some VERY COOL releases thanks to the folks at Third Editions. First off is L'Histoire de Square Enix. Oscar Lemaire chronicles Square Enix’s 40+ year rise, especially Final Fantasy, revealing the messy reality of game-making: creative ambition vs. deadlines, leadership gambles, and some near-disasters. Look at this gorgeous First Print cover!
In the same vein, L’Histoire de FromSoftware from Victor Moisan is next. A history of FromSoftware’s rise, showing how its “die and rebirth” design cycle reshapes old ideas into new classics, from King’s Field to Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Armored Core, and Elden Ring, told through both creators and the players who lived them.
And finally from Third Editions, their 3rd installment of the Inside series which are included as a bonus when 5 or more books are purchased. Inside: Returnal from Simon Aunai invites you to dive into the winding depths of Housemarque’s masterpiece.
At the Premios DeVuego 2025 gala, DeVuego exclusively revealed a preview of the upcoming Anuario DeVuego 2026. We’ve been cataloguing them all each year, and this one looks especially great. Still more details needed before fully getting it catalogued on our site, but wanted to make sure I squeezed it into this week’s newsletter for all of our Spanish readers out there!
Also for Spanish readers, copies of Kentinel Studios’ Sigo Mañana are starting to ship out. In the wake of the 2024 and 2025 layoffs in the video game industry, this book seeks to focus on the evolution of hardware, technological cycles, and the history that has shaped the sector, what it has enabled, and what the future might hold.
Germany has been quite this week, but we can always count on M! Games to make headlines! M! Games 390 teases a hands-on look at Resident Evil Requiem and previews big upcoming titles like Forza Horizon 6 and the Fable reboot. Inside, you’ll also find a stack of fresh reviews—ranging from major RPGs to tougher action games—plus special features celebrating 40 years of The Legend of Zelda.
Heading down through Europe, our fellow Italian readers can now finally explore the Altus Plateau in Elden Ring: La Via per l'Albero Madre 9. Panini Comics has been quickly catching up on the Road to the Erdtree gag manga series, and we can expect a few more of these translations before the year is done.
And Panini’s not done yet! Resident Evil: L’Isola Della Morte has officially released, marking the first time this manga has made it to Italian readers. In San Francisco, Claire Redfield and Jill Valentine investigate two cases revolving around Alcatraz Island. They, along with Chris Redfield, decide to travel there, but they don't know that Leon Scott Kennedy, an old acquaintance of theirs, has infiltrated the former prison to track down a criminal scientist. There, the three will face an enemy who threatens to destroy the entire world!
Great to see Minecraft mania continue to sweep Poland, with the latest books being more of the Minecraft: Novels. These were all released last week thanks to the translation efforts of Ewa Ziembińska and join several more already in the series.
Jumping over to Japan, publisher Sansai Books has launched their latest release. シューティングゲーム大全（ゲームラボ選書 is a comprehensive guide to the history of home console shooting games from 1981 to 1999. Spanning 208 pages, this Japanese-language volume covers 717 titles across 32 hardware platforms; from Cassette Vision and Famicom to PlayStation and Dreamcast.
Also from Japan, a self-published, 350-page essay originally drafted in 2016, is now released for the first time as a full publication. 美少女ゲームとは何だったのか: 1996―2011 explores the history of bishōjo games, analyzing key works from 1996 to 2011.
Kadokawa has officially announced its upcoming NIKKE Official Material Book. Slated for an April 2 release in Japan, it promises over 400 pages of world design from the game. Haven’t got it officially catalogued on our site quite yet, but hope to see a more official cover revealed soon!
Also from Kadokawa, pre-orders for a Guilty Gear -STRIVE- Artbook have gone up. Not a ton of details yet outside of an April 2nd release, but thanks to the Slimpress blog, looks like it’s a 320-page tomb filled with illustrations and concept art, collecting materials from all 4 seasons of DLC and 32 characters. It also includes some exclusive Guilty Gear short stories.
Weekly Famitsu 週刊ファミ通 2026年3月5日号 No.1936 leads the Japanese gaming magazine releases this week. It starts with a 16-page feature, including Ubisoft Montréal interviews, on Rainbow Six Mobile, arriving worldwide on February 23. There’s also a substantial 30-page commemorative feature celebrating CyberConnect2’s 30th anniversary, revisiting the studio’s history from .hack to Fuga: Melodies of Steel.
NintendoDREAM (2026年4月号) continues its long tradition as a monthly Nintendo-focused magazine with a massive celebration of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary. The issue delivers three in-depth Pokémon features, from a first look and early impressions of the slow-life city-building title Pokémon Pokopia to a character deep dive into Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A, alongside a sweeping retrospective tracing the series from Red & Green to today. There are also some features on Mario Tennis Fever, Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch 2 Edition), The Legend of Zelda and Urban Myth Dissolution Center.
Meanwhile, SWITCH Vol.44 No.3 特集 ポケモン百景, released this past week, marking their own Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebration with “Pokémon Hyakkei” (100 Views of Pokémon), taking a more reflective, cultural approach. Instead of pure mechanics, it focuses on the “scenery” players have shared with Pokémon over three decades—how the series changed, and how its audience grew alongside it. The feature also looks at what new landscapes Pokémon might show next.
For character-driven and otome fans, B’s-LOG 2026年4月号 puts A3! front and center with an illustrated cover featuring Masumi Usui and Sakyo Furuichi. Inside, it leans into themed Q&As and character-focused features, while still showcasing some of the upcoming otome releases. I’ll be honest, a lot of this stuff is out of my wheelhouse, but I know this is hugely popular for the female gaming demographic in Japan.
And rounding out the week, Dengeki Nintendo April 2026 (電撃Nintendo 2026年4月号) dives deep into the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Ver.3.0 free update. It explains major additions like the resort hotel, Dream Islands, collaboration items, and guest recruitment, then goes further with 15 original room designs packed with practical decorating techniques.
Did I miss something cool? Want to see this laid out differently?
Drop it in the comments or swing by our Discord to share it with the community.
Let’s keep this celebration of game-inspired books going strong!
📚 Behind the Shelves
Every week, I take you behind the scenes of The Video Game Library. From surprising discoveries to cataloguing challenges, there’s always something new as we dig deeper into this ever-expanding archive of game-related literature.
Coming up to the end of February, and that means it’s almost been 4 full years since starting this crazy project. A time to celebrate, surely, but also a time to renew all of the website’s annual licenses. The Premium Tier had served me well to-date, but the site has grown enough that a full-blown Business Tier is necessary. Sadly the costs are almost double…
Sucked it up and renewed for another year. Hoping to see all this work pay off, and a few more Paid subscribers to this newsletter.
In the meantime, have a really great group of volunteers who’ve continued to do amazing work on the site. Our newest member, Stephen, was an immediate natural with the cataloguing, and has dove headfirst into IDW’s Sonic the Hedgehog collection.
Comics are some of the most time consuming records to catalogue because of the collection of cover variants and extensive rosters of credits, but he’s been doing an absolutely phenomenal job!
Fran continues to be a rockstar on our team, plugging away at the Prima collection. These, again, are some of the most frustrating because of the crappy images and detail online - but somehow Fran keeps working her magic and getting these things polished up!
And of course Tommy is the master of these obscure GameDev/GameStudies books that span the decades. A few more this week!
Taking inspiration from Fran, I also spent some time with Strategy Guides this week, focusing on LucasArts and Sierra Hint Books from yesteryear. Found a great side that catalogued these as PDFs, and have been slowly chipping away.
And I’ve been working closely with Yoann at S!CK Magazine which I just discovered. They have an amazing backlog of video game issues, so I’ve got them all catalogued now. Absolutely love the look of these covers, particularly once they started making it onto news-stands and got the vertical strip treatment.
Physical additions to the shelves this week were light, but never-the-less exciting! Zen and Slow Games from Víctor Navarro-Remesal, and James Batchelor’s latest book, The History of Pokémon Games.
This, as usual, is only a small sample of all the things that have been happening behind the scenes, so take a peek at the site to see everything that’s been added since last week! And while you’re at it, drop your thoughts in the comments below. Your feedback helps shape how we deliver these looks behind the curtain.
💡 Book Spotlights
Every week I like to zoom in on a few standout books from the collection. Sometimes it’s brand new releases, other times it’s older gems that deserve more love.
If you’re looking for deeper dives and not just quick headlines, check out some of these past spotlights:
BOOK SPOTLIGHT - REDO FROM START (USA & JAPAN)
Andrea Pachetti (2025); Microzeit Publishing; Non-Fiction, Game History
"I had originally intended to start with the CRACKER books, but Paul Norman’s eyes….they drew me in."
BOOK SPOTLIGHT - A Brief Legal History of the Video Game (Une Brève Histoire Juridique du Jeu Video)
Geoffray Brunaux (2025); Mare & Martin; Non-Fiction, Game History
"...sets out to recount the history of the video game industry, not through sales numbers or nostalgic releases, but through the courtroom battles that helped define one of the world’s most influential entertainment sectors."
BOOK SPOTLIGHT - The Best Life Adventure Games
Jupiter Hadley (2025); Pen & Sword Books - White Owl; Non-Fiction
"The Best Life Adventure Games isn't just a catalogue. It's a love letter to the art of slow, thoughtful play."
🙏 THANK YOU for Reading
That’s a wrap for this week’s Newsletter. I hope you discovered something new, surprising, or just plain fun.
As always, your feedback helps shape this project - so don’t be shy! Drop a comment below, join the conversation on Discord, or just reply to this newsletter and share your thoughts.
And if you’re enjoying these weekly roundups, please consider supporting The Video Game Library with a paid subscription or forwarding this to a fellow fan. Every little bit helps us keep preserving and celebrating these incredible works - and the passionate people behind them.
Until next week — happy reading,
Dean (Founder, The Video Game Library)
Oh god! This is not going to help my finances. The book about the intersection of gaming and politics looks super interesting. Political movements in MMO games like EVE Online are so fascinating.
Good stuff this week! Definitely want to pick up that Death Stranding art book, and again wishing I had learned to read Japanese lol.