Welcome to Digitally Downloaded’s regular catch-up news feature. With each issue we will bring you the best news that you may have missed. Grab the biggest mug you’ve got, fill it with your favourite brew, and catch up with us (and our favourite news anchor, Dee Dee)!
The Good Life has a publisher, launch window
When it comes to games I’m excited for next year, The Good Life is near the top of the list. The game was created by the infamous SWERY, the creator of Deadly Premonition and The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories. The game is being developed by White Owls Inc. and Grounding Inc., and last week it was announced that it will be published by The Irregular Corporation. There is also now a target release window: next (Northern) summer. The Good Life will launch for PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. Here’s the latest trailer:
The Good Life follows Naomi Hayward as she comes to a rural English town, Rainy Woods, to uncover the mystery behind the town considered the happiest in the world. She quickly learns that the town and its residents are hiding secrets; namely, they transform into cats and dogs at night. Somewhere along the way Naomi must also gain this skill, and the developer promises she can transform to use unique skills, such as jumping as a cat or smelling as a dog.
Naomi isn’t just a quick visitor, and she’ll need to earn a living while in town. She can do photo commissions, social media posts, and part-time jobs. Her camera is quite integral to her work, which is good as she came into town with outstanding debt. Naomi can grow veggies, cook, explore, and socialise, with days being spent however the player chooses.
Have you updated your Nintendo Switch yet?
Early last week, Nintendo released version 11.0.0 of the Nintendo Switch’s system software. The new features include automatic cloud save downloads, a trending page, two new (and far better) ways of getting screencaps from the device, and more. If you don’t know how to update your system, you’re looking for this page under your settings menu:
Arguably the best part of the new update are the ways to get your images and videos from the Nintendo Switch without having to post to social media and save from there. The first, although I’ve heard it doesn’t work so well, has users wirelessly connect their system to their smart device. Users can scan a QR code through the app on their phone to connect. There is a limit, though, as only 10 still images and one video can be transferred at a time. The second method isn’t wireless, but functions better than the wireless option. Connect a USB cable from your console to your computer, and transfer to your heart’s content! The single downside is that you can’t have the system in its dock at the time.
Now onto the other new things you’ll find in the system update. Nintendo Switch online has been added to the home menu (not available in certain regions) for easy access to information and membership status. Those using multiple systems, and with a Nintendo Switch Online membership, will now have save data backed up on one console automatically downloaded to the other console; this option has to be enabled under system settings, data management, save data cloud. If downloading multiple items at once, users can now prioritise which to download first. Preset button mappings can be named. There are 12 new user icons celebrating Super Mario Bros’ 35th anniversary. Finally, one new language was added: if a user sets their region to Americas and language to Portuguese, the language used where applicable (including the home menu) will be displayed in Brazilian Portuguese.
Details available for physical releases of Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town
XSEED Games and Marvelous Europe, the publishers of Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town in North America and Europe respectively, have announced what versions of the game will be available in a physical edition. The game is set to launch for Nintendo Switch on February 25 in Japan and March 23 in the Americas and Europe. Before we discuss the retail versions, take a gander at the new trailer:
North Americans will have two options to purchase the game via retailers or the XSEED game stores. The standard edition will cost USD$49.99, and is just the game. The premium edition, with the price set at $10 more, is where the party is at: it includes a copy of the game, a Buffy the buffalo pocket plushie (which is seriously adorable), and a 13.5″x24″ cloth poster featuring the game’s key illustration.
For Europe, the standard edition will cost £44.99 / €49.99 and include a copy of the game. The Deluxe Edition will be £54.99 / €59.99 and include a copy of the game, a 140-page A5 notebook, 10 trading cards that feature character bios (and helpful hints for marriage candidates!), an A3 poster, and a collector’s box.
Princess Connect! Re: Dive is coming West!
Originally launched in February 2019 in Japan, followed by releases in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, China, and Thailand, Princess Connect! Re: Dive is finally about to head to Western mobile devices thanks to publisher Crunchyroll Games. Yes, the same Crunchyroll that delivers us a ton of anime has a Games devision that publishes titles now (as of about two years ago), and considering the game spawned an anime series (season two is already inproduction) available via Crunchyroll, having the game released by the same company makes sense. Here’s a trailer:
Developed by Cygames, Princess Connect! Re: Dive is a fusion of anime and RPG elements. It is described by Cygames executive director / producer Yuito Kimura as, “playing through an anime.” Crunchyroll Games is excited to add the game to its list of published titles; Crunchyroll Games general manager Terry Li said via a press release, “the addition of Princess Connect! Re: Dive symbolizes a real evolution for our brand and our portfolio of titles … we’re excited to bring this title to anime fans around the world who have been patiently waiting outside of Asia.”
Princess Connect! Re: Dive is set in the land of Asturm, and features the Princess Knights. And a lot of Princesses at that: there are over 50! The story is told through cinematics and animation. The Princesses will take part in the real-time battles, and each has unique skills so the team can be made to meet the player’s preferences. Characters can evolve and level up, and the player can cultivate their bond with each Princess to unlock special story content.
– Lindsay M.
News Editor
