BODY: Nothing says "battle royale" quite like the immortal, ever-multiplying face of Tomie parachuting onto the island. On July 18, 2026, NetEase Games launched a crossover event in the mobile battle royale Knives Out (荒野行動) with the TV anime adaptation of Junji Ito's Collection, dragging one of horror manga's most iconic villains into the firefight.
The centerpiece of the collaboration is a pair of limited-time character skins recreating Tomie — the beautiful, malevolent woman whose regenerating body has terrorized readers for decades — and The Handsome Boy at the Crossroads (四つ辻の美少年), a lesser-known but memorably eerie figure from Ito's catalogue. Both are rendered in the game's signature style while preserving the unsettling atmosphere fans expect.
Beyond the character skins, the event rolls out a suite of collaboration-exclusive items, including weapon skins and vehicles themed around each character. It's a full cosmetic package designed to let players wear their love of Japanese horror straight into the drop zone.
The pairing follows a well-worn playbook for Knives Out, which has aggressively courted anime and pop-culture tie-ins to keep its enormous player base engaged years after launch. Slotting in a horror license adds a darker flavor to a roster of crossovers that usually skews brighter.
The insider take
From Tokyo, this crossover reads as a savvy read of Knives Out's core demographic. The game remains a quiet juggernaut in Japan — far bigger domestically than its overseas profile suggests — and its audience skews toward anime-literate players who instantly recognize Tomie's silhouette. Junji Ito's stock has never been higher here, buoyed by anime adaptations and a steady stream of merchandise, so NetEase is essentially renting one of the most bankable names in J-horror. Expect these skins to move fast, and don't be surprised if resale of the limited items becomes its own small drama.
Originally reported by 4Gamer.net − 最新記事 (Japanese).