LIONA held a media briefing for Dark Mecha at Tokyo Game Show 2026 on September 18, 2026, introducing the mecha action shooter game, TV anime, and newly announced manga project.
The game features up to 7v7 battles, where both sides aim to destroy the opponent's "Terminal" facility. Players can control small "Worker" mechs, board medium-sized "Ride Loaders," and then switch to large "Giant Loaders." Each size has distinct roles, and smaller and medium mechs can defeat larger ones through strategic actions.
The development team stated that after its debut at Tokyo Game Show 2024, the project was almost entirely reworked, retaining only core concepts such as three mech sizes, battles in alternate dimensions, and environmental destruction. Mech designs and gameplay structure have been significantly adjusted. The game is scheduled for release within 2027, with producer Akihito Ikeda hoping to hold closed beta tests in 2026 if conditions permit, followed by open beta tests in early 2027.
The anime consists of 11 episodes, 10 of which include battle scenes. It will begin airing on Fuji TV and other channels starting October 13, 2026, with the ending theme confirmed as "Galaxy Mode" performed by Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS.
Additionally, the manga illustrated by Kei Konfuji is set to launch on September 25 on Jitsugyo no Nihonsha's web manga site. This announcement highlights the project's expansion from a standalone game to simultaneous anime and manga releases, explaining the reasons behind the game's prolonged development adjustments.
