Correction 11:54 a.m. Pacific: Harvest Moon has appeared on mobile platforms before.
Harvest Moon is going to keep you feeling warm this winter — on the inside, at least.
Natsume just announced that it’s bringing Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories to Wii U, PC, iOS, and Android this winter. It’s the first title from the popular role-playing farming series — which started nearly 20 years ago — to hit either Wii U or PC, and it’s also the first full Harvest Moon game for mobile devices.
Harvest Moon has always been a console experience until now — not counting Natsume’s Frantic Farming mobile puzzler — but times are changing. With explosive growth in the mobile and PC markets — PC gaming revenue is estimated to hit $35 billion by 2018 — developers need to start thinking of the bigger picture in order to succeed. That’s especially true when you consider the Wii U’s generally disappointing hardware sales to date.
Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories takes inspiration from early Harvest Moon titles, bringing players a “sense of nostalgia,” according to Natsume. It tasks players with raising livestock, keeping pets, and taking part in contests and festivals, while also looking for love with 10 eligible partners. The seeds in the title are unlocked by befriending villagers in various ways, such as giving them their favorite item or catching a giant fish.
“From the farm to the town, we wanted Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories to evoke the feeling of a classic Harvest Moon game with modern twists,” said Natsume president Hiro Maekawa in a statement. “We’re also excited to finally bring the Harvest Moon series to the Nintendo Wii U, PC, and mobile platforms, where fans have definitely told us they want to see the series.”
Natsume will share more information about Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) that runs from June 16-18 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.