Xseed reaps record-breaking sales from Story of Seasons on 3DS

By Danny Cowan Published July 16, 2015

story of seasons breaks xseed sales record header — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Video game publisher and localization studio Xseed Games announced that its farming-themed Nintendo 3DS simulation RPG Story of Seasons has become the company’s fastest-selling game ever, moving over 100,000 copies since its North American launch on March 31.

Story of Seasons‘ success outpaces Xseed’s former record-holder Rune Factory 4, which has sold over 160,000 copies to date.

Recommended Videos

Xseed previously named Mistwalker’s Wii-exclusive RPG The Last Story as its “most successful title to date” in 2012. The studio has produced a number of localized Japanese games for consoles and portable platforms in recent years, including Pandora’s Tower, Senran Kagura Burst, Ys: Memories of Celceta, and Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed.

Xseed has also been active on PC platforms, releasing English-language Steam versions of Falcom’s Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim and The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky. The company’s next PC project, The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC is due to launch in August.

Story of Seasons is the latest entry in Marvelous AQL’s long-running Harvest Moon series. Dating back to the 16-bit era, games in the Harvest Moon series challenge players to cultivate a thriving farm empire while maintaining friendships and finding love with villagers in nearby towns.

Due to a publisher conflict regarding the title “Harvest Moon,” the latest Japanese entry in the series was localized for North America under the title Story of Seasons. Publisher Natsume retains its North American rights to the series in name only, publishing unrelated games from internal studios under the Harvest Moon banner.

Natsume published its first internally developed Harvest Moon game, Harvest Moon 3D: The Lost Valley, for the Nintendo 3DS last year. Borrowing land-shaping gameplay features from Mojang’s Minecraft, The Lost Valley retained many of the elements that defined the Harvest Moon series while shifting its play mechanics in new directions.

The next Story of Seasons game, the cross-franchise spinoff Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale will premiere for the Nintendo 3DS in North America this winter.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Danny’s passion for video games was ignited upon his first encounter with Nintendo’s Duck Hunt, and years later, he still…

Gaming

How to upgrade and repair weapons and gear in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl

A soldier with a broken gun in Stalker 2.

It won't be long into Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl that you encounter your first weapon jam. Whether you're fighting mutant dogs or enemy bandits, the last thing you want to hear when lining up a shot is the clicking of your weapon despite still having plenty of ammo. The more you use your weapons, the lower their durability becomes and the more likely you are to experience a jam. You don't have the skills to repair or upgrade your weapons yourself, and Stalker 2 is more than willing to let you miss out on finding the places to do it. Never get caught with a broken or weak weapon again by learning how to repair and upgrade your weapons in Stalker 2.
How to upgrade and repair weapons

You can see how beaten down your weapon is in the inventory by highlighting it or based on the color of the broken shield icon. If that icon appears at all, you can expect jams to start popping up.

Gaming

How to fix reputation in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Two groups pointing at each other in Stalker 2.

Unless you played any of the previous games, it might come as a surprise to learn just how many immersive sim elements are in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl. In a lot of ways, it is closer to a more hardcore Fallout game than a pure FPS title, with lots of loot, quests, and characters to meet and talk to. One somewhat hidden mechanic is the reputation system. Stalker 2 won't stop you from opening fire on anyone you want, but not without consequence. Upset someone from a particular group, and you'll find yourself being hunted by them until you do something about it. There are enough things in Stalker 2 trying to kill you so if you accidentally angered a group and want to get back in their good graces, here's how you can fix your reputation.
How to fix your reputation in Stalker 2

If you've intentionally or accidentally shot or hurt a friendly NPC from one of the main groups in Stalker 2, you will instantly be put on their "shoot on sight" list if it lowers your reputation enough. Thankfully, there are ways to get yourself a second or third chance, but only two.

Computing

The 10 best gaming monitors of 2024: tested and reviewed

Alienware ultrawide OLED on a desk.

Editor’s note: Gaming monitors are always hot sellers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We're expecting some really great discounts on some of the top models, including high-end OLED gaming monitors, super-fast refresh rate screens, and more budget-oriented fare. There are tons of fantastic monitor deals available now, and they're bound to get even better on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Make sure to check out our other Black Friday deals or Cyber Monday deals for even more bargains on TV, headphones, and more.

A good monitor is essential for gaming due to its significant impact on the overall experience. There are a ton of options if you are on the hunt for one of the best gaming monitors, but for us, Alienware's 34 QD-OLED still takes the cake in 2024. It's not the display for everyone, though, and after reviewing dozens of the top gaming monitors, we've settled on a list of displays that offer great gaming performance for any budget or purpose.