Anime Expo 2026 CBT Announcement
What Happened at Anime Expo 2026
During Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles, Bandai Namco Entertainment officially opened BLEACH Mirrors High closed beta applications and premiered a new trailer introducing original Soul Reapers Shirin Migishima and Shirane Sanari — both designed by BLEACH creator Tite Kubo. The announcement confirmed the game as a licensed mobile action title set after the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, dispelling confusion with unofficial Roblox BLEACH games.
Press materials distributed at AX and via PR Newswire state that applications run until July 12, 2026 at 7:59 PM PDT (July 13, 2:59 AM UTC), with the playable CBT scheduled July 22–29, 2026 on iOS and Android. Up to 20,000 participants worldwide will be randomly selected if applications exceed capacity.
The reveal timing aligns with BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity premiering July 25, 2026 — Bandai Namco likely targets anime finale hype to drive CBT sign-ups and long-term gacha engagement.
New Protagonists and Returning Cast
Shirin and Shirane headline an original post-war narrative in Karakura Town. Kubo's direct design involvement — including voice audition participation and recording sessions per his December 2025 message — distinguishes Mirrors High from prior mobile spinoffs. Trailer frames show Ichigo, Rukia, Renji, Byakuya, Toshiro, and Kisuke Urahara alongside the new leads in TYBW visual style.
Genre description on official materials reads "Immersive 13 Court Guard Squads Action," implying squad-based real-time combat with Gotei 13 theming. Exact gacha rates and stamina systems remain unconfirmed until CBT datamines or publisher blogs publish numbers.
Explore individual profiles on our Protagonists page and Kubo involvement guide for creator context beyond AX trailer editing.
CBT Registration Details from AX
Applicants use the Bandai Namco survey form linked from bleach-mh.bn-ent.net — see our How to Apply guide for step-by-step instructions with embedded AX trailer footage. Device requirements mandate iOS 17+ / 4 GB RAM with TestFlight, or Android 12+ / 6 GB RAM via Google Play beta. Tablets are excluded.
One application per person. Email must match Apple ID or Google Account. Selection notifications planned after July 16, 2026 — detailed on Selection Results. Bandai Namco will not resend lost emails or answer selection inquiries per the user agreement.
Klub Outside members follow a parallel agreement track documented on Klub Outside CBT page. Standard applicants and membership applicants share the same July test window but may use different registration forms.
After AX — July 5 Follow-Up
Bandai Namco posted the Key Visual & 2nd Trailer notice on July 5, cementing AX assets on the official site. No release date was announced at AX — only CBT timing. Global launch estimates remain late 2026 or early 2027 on our Release Date hub.
Watch official channels on Official Channels page for post-AX community campaigns and potential pre-registration opening after July 29.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Anime Expo 2026 announce BLEACH Mirrors High CBT?
Bandai Namco announced CBT applications on July 4, 2026 during Anime Expo in Los Angeles, with press release distribution the same day.
Who designed Shirin and Shirane?
Tite Kubo, creator of BLEACH, personally designed both original protagonists and supervised their presentation in the AX trailer.
How do I apply after watching the AX trailer?
Complete the official Bandai Namco form before July 12, 2026 7:59 PM PDT. Our How to Apply guide walks through the process with video reference.
Is BLEACH Mirrors High at AX the same as Brave Souls updates?
No. Mirrors High is a separate new mobile game. Brave Souls continues as Bandai Namco's existing BLEACH mobile title — see our comparison review.