Multiplayer breaks out in The Escapists 2

A much-loved Harvest Moon game gets a new lease of life on Nintendo Switch.

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is a ground-up remake of Marvelous Interactive’s classic Game Boy Advance life simulation, Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town. (The reason for the name change is that Harvest Moon is now used exclusively by Natsume following a split between the two companies in 2014.)

The game is out today for Nintendo Switch in Europe and Australia, and will be released in North America next week, on July 14, along with a PC edition on Steam.

The new version of the game retains the gameplay of the 2003 original but adds bold cartoon-like HD visuals. The new look reminds us of recent Pokémon games, which is no bad thing. It’s also accompanied by new animal-themed cosmetic DLC that lets players dress up like a cow, chicken, dog, chick or sheep. Dreams can come true, it seems.

On the surface, Friends of Mineral Town might look similar to Animal Crossing: New Horizons but it’s a distinctly more structured experience. In our humble opinion, the game’s core loop of farming, animal husbandry, and relationship building has never been bettered by the franchise, and we’re looking forward to playing a life sim that keeps things simple.

The game has its own easy-going rhythm and is well worth a look if you have exhausted Nintendo’s effort or had your fill of Stardew Valley.

---

Check out the Thumbsticks new releases page for weekly Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 updates. You can also follow us on Facebook, Google News, Twitter, and Flipboard.

Sony has revealed the box art design for PlayStation 5 games with the cover of Spider-Man Miles Morales. Here’s how it compares to PlayStation box art layouts from the past.

There’s not a huge amount to say about the PlayStation 5 box art design. PS5 games will come in a standard-sized Blu-ray case, and the cover art will feature the PS5 logo in black on a white stripe. The design is pretty consistent with the box art layouts Sony has used in the past, with a couple of notable exceptions.

Here’s a look back at previous PlayStation box art designs, using old Spider-Man games as examples.

PlayStation 4 – Marvel’s Spider-Man

The PlayStation 4 design includes a similar stripe across the top of the box, but in blue. Late PS3 games also adopted this design in 2015. We love the cover art for Marvel’s Spider-Man. It’s bright, bold, dynamic, and refreshingly simple. Top marks.

PlayStation 3 (Second version) – The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Sony revised the PlayStation 3 cover art layout with the introduction of the PS3 Slim console in 2009. It’s a sleek and stylish improvement over…

PlayStation 3 (First version) – Spider-Man 3

The original PlayStation 3 branding caused much mirth by using the same typeface as Sony’s Spider-Man movie franchise. The font is not particularly readable and when used on a Spider-Man game, it’s all kinds of messy.

PlayStation 2 – Spider-Man

The PlayStation 2 branding retains the original PlayStation font and colour version of the logo. The design is now so iconic that it’s almost impossible to critique. Simple and timeless.

PlayStation 1 – Spider-Man

We’re in CD-ROM country. Again, it’s basic, but all the better for it. The layout does a much better job of selling a game than Nintendo managed with its fussy and inconsistent N64 boxes.

PSP and PS Vita

The box art branding for PSP and PlayStation Vita games is also reflective of their respective eras.

We apologise for bringing up memories of bad Activision Spider-Man games in this article.

---

Swing by the Thumbsticks news page for the latest in gaming. You can also follow us on Flipboard, Facebook, Google News, and Twitter.

Sony Corporation has invested a cool $250 million into Fortnite and Unreal Engine developer Epic Games.

PlayStation owner Sony has ploughed $250 million into Epic Games via a wholly-owned subsidiary, acquiring a minority interest in the Fortnite creator. In a joint press statement, the two companies say that the investment will broaden collaboration across Sony’s entertainment portfolio and Epic’s social entertainment platforms.

Sony chairman, president, and CEO, Kenichiro Yoshida says:

“Epic’s powerful technology in areas such as graphics places them at the forefront of game engine development with Unreal Engine and other innovations. There’s no better example of this than the revolutionary entertainment experience, Fortnite. Through our investment, we will explore opportunities for further collaboration with Epic to delight and bring value to consumers and the industry at large, not only in games, but also across the rapidly evolving digital entertainment landscape.”

Tim Sweeney, founder and CEO of Epic, adds:

“Sony and Epic have both built businesses at the intersection of creativity and technology, and we share a vision of real-time 3D social experiences leading to a convergence of gaming, film, and music. Together we strive to build an even more open and accessible digital ecosystem for all consumers and content creators alike.”

Epic and the PlayStation-side of Sony have long been on good terms with both the PS4 and upcoming PS5 used to demonstrate the capabilities of Unreal Engine.

---

Follow Thumbsticks us on Facebook, Google News, Twitter, and Flipboard for more gaming news.

A new Nintendo eShop promotion rewards players with Double Gold points for buying Switch games.

The Nintendo eShop Double Gold Points Fest has launched in today in Europe. During the promotion, selected games give customers double the usual amount of My Nintendo Gold Points on selected games. In some cases, this is the equivalent of getting up to 10% of your money back, albeit in Nintendo’s digital currency.

The first games to be included are Square Enix’s masterful JPG, Dragon Quest XI, the brilliant Snipperclips – Cut it out, together!, and puzzle adventure, Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy.

Three new games will be added to the promotion every Thursday until July 30, 2020. We’re not sure if the promotion is coming to North America but update this page if we get confirmation.

Nintendo eShop Double Gold Points Fest – Week 1

• Snipperclips – Cut it out, together! – 200 EU / 180 UK
• Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition – 600 EU / 500 UK
• Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy – Deluxe Edition – 400 EU / 350 UK

And what can you do with Gold Points? Well, they can be redeemed against future game purchases on the Nintendo eShop. Recent titles we’ve enjoyed include Star Wars Episode 1: Racer and The Eternal Castle.

They can also be exchanged via the My Nintendo website for Nintendo 3DS game discounts and digital themes. Read our roundup of the latest rewards to see what’s on offer.

If we’re honest, we’d rather a nice big eShop sale. But if you were thinking of picking up one of the included games, the Gold Points Fest is a nice bonus.

---

More from Thumbsticks

Check out the Thumbsticks new releases page for weekly Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 updates. You can also follow us on Facebook, Google News, Twitter, and Flipboard.

The latest Xbox One Free Play Days promotion features two new games, including The Sims 4. Trust us, you’ll need more than a weekend.

The Sims 4 is a big game, a fun game, and, for its keenest players, almost a way of life. Speaking as someone who has put over 200 hours into Animal Crossing: New Horizons without even thinking about it, there is something both comforting and compelling about life simulation games. If you like experiences where the most mundane of tasks gives as much pleasure as saving the universe, The Sims 4 is worth a look.

The Sims 4 is now free to play on Xbox One until Sunday, July 12 at 11:59 pm. That’s just enough time to scratch the surface of the game and see if grabs you. There’s a 75% discount on the standard edition to tempt you into a full purchase. There are also savings to be had on many of the game’s expansions and content packs. Just make sure you have plenty of free time in the calendar.

Online sandbox RPG Citadel Forged is also free to play for the next four days. Again, it’s probably just enough time to see if you click with the game’s loop of heroic activities and busywork.

Save progress and achievements in both titles are carried over to the purchased copies.

Xbox Free Play Days Discounts

Citadel Forged

• Standard Edition – 60% off

The Sims 4

• Standard Edition – 75% off
• Deluxe Party Edition – 75% off
• Dogs & Cats Bundle – 50% off
• City Living Pack – 50% off
• Dine Out Pack – 50% off
• Discover University Pack – 50% off
• Get Famous Pack – 50% off
• Get to Work Pack – 50% off
• Pack Bundle – 50% off
• Get Together Pack – 50% off
• Island Living Pack – 50% off
• Jungle Adventure Pack – 25% off
• Outdoor Retreat Pack – 25% off
• Parenthood Pack – 25% off
• Realm of Magic Pack – 25% off
• Seasons Pack – 25% off
• Spa Day Pack – 25% off
• StrangerVille Pack – 25% off
• Vampires Pack – 25% off

For more Xbox One games, you can grab savings of up to 90% in this this week’s four new sales.

---

Visit the Thumbsticks sales page for more video game deals, and our new releases section for the latest PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch games. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.