Time again to look at the handheld gaming news that stood out to us this week! We have news about: Animal Crossing New Horizons sales figures, InkyPen library, Doraemon Story of Seasons branching out, Railway Empire on Switch delayed again, Suzerain coming to Switch this Summer, Lonely Mountains: Downhill Arriving May 7th on Switch, Spawn rate of Tarantula halved, management game House Flipper coming to Switch and Nordic Folklore in Spirit of the North.
Animal Crossing New Horizons sales figures
Our most favourite game, Animal Crossing on Switch, has sold more digital units in a single month than any console game in history! A report on Super Data Research shows that:
“Animal Crossing: New Horizons sold more digital units in a single month (5.0M) than any console game in history. The Nintendo-published title broke the console record for monthly digital game sales previously held by Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII. Animal Crossing: New Horizons also roughly matched the first-month digital sales of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Pokémon Sword and Shield put together. The game’s combination of social features and a relaxing setting likely appealed to individuals stuck at home. Closures of brick and mortar stores also meant that a higher share of consumers purchased the game digitally compared to past Switch titles.”
Plus, the Famitsu charts this week of physical releases of Animal Crossing New Horizons in Japan show that it has surpassed those of Pokémon Sword and Shield: AC has sold 3,611,246, while the last Pokémon adventure has sold 3,570,493! The next game to overtake is Super Smash Bros Ultimate, which now stands at 3,655,868.
InkyPen library
Remember InkyPen? A subscription service that was released on the Switch in December 2018, it allows comic book and graphic novel fans to read what they want. It now had good news, as they partnered with Kodansha to bring a huge library of manga to InkyPen. The new additions include Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, Battle Angel Alita and more.
Manga is here!
We've partnered with @KodanshaUSA to bring a HUGE library of manga to InkyPen on your #NintendoSwitch.
Available now, you can read hits such as Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, Battle Angel Alita, Parasyte and many more! pic.twitter.com/7jvfLTjPV5
— InkyPen Comics (@InkyPenComics) April 24, 2020
Doraemon Story of Seasons branching out
Doraemon Story of Seasons is no longer a Nintendo Switch exclusive game. The title will be available on PlayStation 4 on July 30th, 2020. But, this is a Japan only release for now and fans without a Switch in the west will have to wait a little longer!
Railway Empire on Switch delayed again
Railway Empire had an expected release date in February, but If you like tycoon games, you’ll have to wait a little bit longer. Now, we have a date for June 19 2020. The game has been out on PS4 and Steam for some time, but the Switch version is the first game you can play on-the-go.
It includes the main game (with all added content and improvements since its initial launch), alongside the Mexico DLC, Crossing the Andes DLC, and The Great Lakes DLC. The Germany DLC, France DLC, and Great Britain & Ireland DLC will also be available as additional purchases via the Nintendo eShop.
You can create an elaborate and wide-ranging rail network by purchasing over 40 different trains modelled in extraordinary detail, building railway stations, maintenance buildings, factories and tourist attractions to stay ahead of the competition.
Suzerain coming to Switch this Summer
Indie game developer Fellow Traveller is bringing Suzerain to the Switch (and mobile and PC) this Summer. In this story driven political drama RPG you lead the fictional country of Sordland in 1954.
You are President Rayne, who leads Sordland into ruin or repair in his first term. Can you keep Sordland out of war with the encroaching nation of Rumburg? Can you launch and complete a new mega infrastructure project? Can you fix the welfare system? The responsibility falls on your shoulders.
Navigate a political drama driven by conversations with your cabinet members and other significant figures.
Will you beware or embrace corruption; shirk or uphold ideals. How will you lead?
Lonely Mountains: Downhill Arriving May 7th on Switch
Thunderful Publishing have announced that they will publish the low-poly style mountain biking game Lonely Mountains: Downhill for Nintendo Switch worldwide on May 7, 2020. The game is already available for PS 4, Xbox One and Steam.
“Ride any way you like – reckless and fast or careful and slow – and feel the thrill while progressing downhill. Lonely Mountains: Downhill is a mountain biking game where it’s just you and your bike with the objective of successfully getting downhill. There are challenges to complete which unlock new trails and mountains, and leaderboards for those who want to master the mountainousterrain and reach the base with the fastest time possible. Players can also take their time and explore the mountains to find hidden rest areas.”
Spawn rate of Tarantula halved!
Finally I had worked up the courage to get some routine in my Tarantula catching in Animal Crossing New Horizons. Helped by my daughter who is a pro at this, I learned which remote islands work best, how to strip it entirely and to make a pattern of holes to confuse the scary beasties. I was ready to kick some spider butt and earn me some bells. Two hours after I had made the bamboo island into a barren wasteland I sighed to Caroline: “why are there so few to catch? Am I doing something wrong?”
Seems I didn’t: in the update that we got last week of New Horizons, Nintendo halved the spawn rate! What a pity….Tom Nook is gonna have to wait for my hard earned cash!
House Flipper coming to Switch
Merge Games has partnered with developer Frozen District to bring House Flipper to the Switch (and PS4 and XBox) this Summer. The game is currently available on PC and offers the unique chance to become a one-man renovation crew. Players buy, repair and remodel devastated houses turning them into desirable homes that sell for sizeable profits.
From quick and simple make-over and interior design changes to all out demolition and rebuild work. The ultimate goal is to make big profits, invest in new tools and skills and then take on even more challenging projects. Sounds like my kind of management game!
A collector’s Signature Edition will also be available on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. Pre-orders open on May 8th on the Signature Edition Website.
Nordic Folklore in Spirit of the North
Merge games, along with Infuse Studio, is bringing the emotional exploration-puzzle adventure Spirit of the North to the Switch and PC on the 7thMay. This single-player 3rd-person adventure game inspired by the breath-taking and mysterious landscapes of Iceland looks really good. The story takes root from various pieces of Nordic folklore.
You play as an ordinary red fox whose story becomes entwined with the guardian of the Northern Lights, a female spirit fox. As you journey over the mountains and under red-stained skies, you’ll discover more about your companion and a land left in ruin. Traverse tundra, glaciers, and mountainsides as you follow a foreboding scarlet trail that paints the sky.
Solve various puzzles and speculate the meaning of a lost ancient civilization. With the help of your new companion, shed light on the ruins of the past and overcome obstacles. What did I tell you? Intriguing, right? Check out the trailer!
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