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XSEED Games to Publish Fate/EXTELLA, Akiba's Beat, Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns Games

North American video game publisher XSEED Games announced its plans on Tuesday to localize the Fate/EXTELLA: The Umbral Star, Akiba's Beat, and Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns (Bokujō Monogatari: Mitsu no Sato no Taisetsu na Tomodachi) games. The company will share more information on all three games at the 2016 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles next week.

Fate/EXTELLA: The Umbral Star is slated for release on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita this winter. In Japan, the game is slated for November 10 on the same systems.

XSEED Games describes Fate/EXTELLA:

Expanding upon the extensive and much-beloved Fate universe with a standalone story from acclaimed series writer Kinoko Nasu (of Fate/stay night fame), Fate/EXTELLA: The Umbral Star, developed by Marvelous Inc., transpires on the new world of Extella through a diverse cast of “Servants” – ancient warriors of legend and imagination, always at their Masters' orders – who survived the Holy Grail War that took place on the Moon. In a future ruled by the all-powerful lunar super computer Moon Cell Automaton, these champions now duke it out for dominance over this digital realm, known as “SE.RA.PH.” This story takes place after the events described in Fate/EXTRA, and depicts the world after that previous Holy Grail War. Players will experience the story from the independent perspectives of the three heroine Servants and face off against foes from a variety of Fate productions, including characters from Fate/stay night, Fate/Apocrypha and Fate/Grand Order, in fast-paced action. A new form change battle mechanic debuts in this entry to match its series-first gameplay style, transforming the player-controlled Servants and granting them considerable powers that allow them to devastate enemies and take formidable challenges head-on.

Kinoko Nasu is writing the game's main scenario, and Hikaru Sakurai is the scenario assistant. Aruko Wada is designing the characters, and Takashi Takeuchi is credited as the Fate series original character designer. Type-Moon is producing the game's music.

Acquire's Akiba's Beat is slated for this winter on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. In Japan, the game is slated for this fall on the same systems. The game is a successor to the Akiba's Trip series of games, but is the first "action RPG" in the series.

The story is set in an alternate Akihabara where the characters constantly repeat the same Sunday. Kōta Takano is directing the game and ClariS performed the theme song "again."

The Akiba's Trip games take place in reproduction of Tokyo's Akihabara district, where the player must fight vampires by tearing off their clothes and exposing them to the sunlight.

Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns is slated for release on Nintendo 3DS in 2017. In Japan, the game will ship on June 23 as a celebration of the Bokujō Monogatari game franchise's 20th anniversary.

The game features three locales: Lulucoco Town (Lulucoco Mura), Tsuyukusa Village (Tsuyukusa no Sato or Dew Grass Village), and Wes Town. Players are able to build facilities on their farm, which modifies the rate of crop growth and efficiency depending on their arrangement. Players are also able to raise pets that live with them in their home. They can take the pet to festival events in the village. The game includes the ability to fish, participate in seasonal festivals, and work part-time jobs. Players are able to create a custom character, and are able to choose their gender and appearance. NPCs exist in the game that the player can build relationships with. Players are able to eventually marry NPCs, and can have children with them.

Natsume published most of the previous games in the franchise under the umbrella title of Harvest Moon in North America. However, since XSEED Games — Marvelous AQL's own subsidiary — published the most recent game in North America, it cannot use Natsume's Harvest Moon title. The last game, Bokujō Monogatari: Tsunagaru Shin Tenchi for Nintendo 3DS, debuted in North America under the title Story of Seasons in March 2015.

Update: Corrected Fate/EXTELLA's release window. Thanks Nyren!