Visual Novel News:
This has been a great week for visual novel announcements. NekoNyan have announced five new titles and Sekai Project have announced nine. Despite some of these being announced on April Fools Day, they’ve come out and confirmed they’re happening.
Starting with NekoNyan, the first project is Koikari: Love for Hire. This is one of Asa Projects’ newer projects. You may remember them from the popular Sankaku Renai: Love Triangle Trouble. In this comedy, you find yourself paying your way through school by acting as a boyfriend (or other) for hire.
The second announcement was Cafe Stella and the Reapers’ Butterflies. This one is by Yuzusoft, known for Riddle Joker, Senren*Banka and Sabbat of the Witch. This involves running a café with a death goddess.
Sugar Style is up next. Much like Making*Lovers by the same developer, it features a post-high school setting. The protagonist is entering college and finds himself in an all-girls dorm. This has been announced as an end of April 2021 release.
The Future Radio and the Artificial Pigeons is the fourth announcement. This title is by Laplacian, who you may remember brought us Newton and the Apple Tree. Interestingly this now has Sol Press, JAST USA and NekoNyan all translating or having translated different Laplacian titles.
The final announcement by NekoNyan is Aoi Tori by Purple Software. Being the only male at an all-girls school and having the power to bring bliss to those he touches, the girls come to him. But a suddenly arrival of a vampire opens a new story.
Many of these titles seem relatively far along in the localisation process. More information can be found on the NekoNyan website.
The Sekai Project announcement of nine titles can be summed up as this; they’ve acquired feng’s entire lineup. This includes full titles and fandiscs. Sekai Project plans to localize and publish these titles on various gaming platforms, but further details are yet to come.
You can read more about the individual titles here.
Gaming News:
In a controversial move, Sony have chosen to shut down the Playstation Store for the Playstation 3, Playstation Portable and Playstation Vita this Summer. The PS3 and PSP stores will close on July 2nd, with the Vita’s store closing down on August 27th. Don’t worry though; you’ll still be able to re-download any purchases you’ve made, even after the stores shut down. However, if you’re eying some digital exclusive games on these platforms, it’s best to purchase them now before they’re likely lost!
The action RPG that took the world by storm last year is getting another port! While the PS4 version was fully backward compatible, a native port of Genshin Impact has been confirmed for the Playstation 5. No release window has been confirmed, but a new trailer was released alongside the announcement.
Watch the Genshin Impact PS5 trailer
Koei Tecmo’s Atelier series is making the jump to mobile with a western release of Atelier Online: Alchemist of Bressisle being confirmed! To announce this, Boltrend Games released a trailer of the game’s animated opening.
Atelier Online: Alchemist of Bressisle is coming to iOS and Android, but no release window has been announced.
Watch the Atelier Online: Alchemist of Bressisle trailer
Remember the original Utawarerumono: ZAN back in 2019? Well, a sequel has been confirmed with Utawarerumono: ZAN 2! Developed by Aquaplus and Tamsoft, the ZAN sub-series takes the famous Utawarerumono series and adapts it into an action RPG. ZAN 2 will adapt the story of Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth and aims to bring more changes to the combat system, as well as introduce new storylines.
Utawarerumono: ZAN 2 releases in Japan on Playstation 4 and Playstation 5 on July 22nd (western release pending.)
Watch the Utawarerumono: Zan 2 trailer
Anime News:
Back in December, famed anime director Mamoru Hosoda announced his next film: Belle. Initially planned for a Summer 2021 release, it has now been narrowed down to July 2021. The film is being produced by Studio Chizu, the studio behind the critically acclaimed films Wolf Children, The Boy and the Beast, and Mirai. To announce the release window, a brand new trailer for the film was showcased with tons of new footage from the film.
Belle is set for a July 2021 premiere in Japan (western release pending.)
The final episode of Attack on Titan‘s final season was recently aired… or at least that’s what we thought. We received official confirmation that the final season will continue this Winter! A short teaser trailer was released to announce the series’ continuation.
On a related note, the final chapter of the Attack on Titan manga is now set to be published in the May issue of Bessatsu Shonen Magazine, marking the end of the series’ 11-year-run. The chapter will be published on April 9th, with the publisher even threatening legal action if the chapter is leaked or uploaded without authorization.
Watch the teaster for Attack on Titan‘s final season continuation
On the topic of series ending, Black Clover‘s anime adaptation recently came to an end with episode 170. A few days before the final episode, a movie based on the franchise was announced to be in the works! To announce the film, a promotional video showcasing the series’ impact was released, with a key visual for the film was also revealed not long afterward.
No release date has been confirmed for the Black Clover movie.
Watch the Black Clover film announcement
Fans of comedic isekai series will have a series to look forward to during this Spring anime season! The premiere of I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level‘s anime adaptation is fast approaching; as such, a new key visual was revealed just before the series begins.
I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level premieres on April 10th.
Watch the I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level trailer
Upcoming Releases:
Abe is making his return in Oddworld: Soulstorm! As a follow up to 2014’s Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty, this cinematic platformer brings the familiar Abe character to the Playstation 5!
Oddworld: Soulstorm will release on Playstation 5, Playstation 4 and PC on April 9th.
An anime/gaming aficionado, experienced content creator and lovable goofball. Name a game genre and Seamus has likely played it… yes, even that one. Follow him @TrueStorySeamus
