The Ushi No Tane websites specialize in information, FAQs, and guides about the Nintendo console versions of the Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, and Legend of the River King video games. These game genres are created and published in Japan by Marvelous (JP). In other regions, you'll find Natsume, XSeed Games/Marvelous (USA), Marvelous (EU), and Rising Star involved in the series' release.
The latest version of the mainstream farming series that have been released in various regions of the world are:
- Japan: Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (August 2025)
- North America: Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home Special Edition (October 2025) and Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (August 2025)
- Europe: Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home Special Edition (October 2025) and Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (August 2025)
The latest version of River King, in all regions of the world, is River King: Mystic Valley (JP 2007, NA 2008, EU 2009).
Since 2000, Ushi no Tane has been run by a grouchy old lady who happens to be fond of video game agriculture along with two feline helpers: Intern Captain Bootu and Intern Hondo Mewnaka. The website is not officially affiliated, sponsored, endorsed, or employed by the developers of Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, or River King. This is simply a fan site.
Latest Farming Video Game News
SoS:GB Rivals(?), a Special GB DLC for Hoverfly Conservation, and Indie Farm'n Updates | Posted at 04:55 PM 15 August 2025
Happy Farm'n Friday! Summer's beginning to wind down, sadly. I'm not ready for the earlier sunsets, as I like to be outside after 8pm while it is still light outside. Makes it nicer to take evening walks when I can see where I am going!
I've also started taking walks in the mornings before work, as I try to match Mr.Fogu's daily step count. Somehow, he hits that 10,000-step goal every day by walking around the office building where he works. On the other hand, my day usually starts with sitting on my butt, looking at farming stuff on the internet before work, and then I just sit some more for most of the day staring at laws and regulations. I think I could use the morning poke-walks.
SoS:GB Updates
In this week's Zephyr Town Walker, Marvelous JP released four mini-commercials for the game, with a catchy tune that showcases a week of activities in the game. Each commercial starts on Saturday - the bazaar day - and explains the task that farmers do to prepare for the weekly bazaar. Bazara za ra za ra za ra!
The fourth one in the group covers a week of romance, with the Monday scene mentioning a "rival check." In the original Grand Bazaar, there were romance events between the marriage candidates, as a feux rival system, but not competitive rivals. Though players could see the romantic events between Gabriel/Maple, Derek/June, Freya/Jules, and Lloyd/Sophie, the couples never marry. We know these original rival events are returning in GB.
The closest thing I can think of from this scene is Jules' blue heart event, where he feels guilty about yelling at Derek, but the original event doesn't involve the little brother. I'm not entirely sure what Marvelous is implying with their "rival check on mondays" subtitle here, as I am skeptical they brought back rival events... maybe the phrase just fits well with the catchy tune of the video. There's definitely some buzz going on. Are romance rivals returning? Hmm... super sus... we're bound to find out in two weeks!
This week's article also introduced other merchants at the bazaar: the lottery booth, the fortune teller, the animal donation stall (to dump off unwanted pets, poultry, and livestock), and the wrapping stall.
If you're itching for a preview, Josh's Gaming Garden has a 10-minute summary of his experiences with the game, including both positive and negative critiques. You can check it out on his YouTube channel:
Hoverfly Conservation
Back in 2020, Marvelous, Jellymedia, and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) teamed up to raise awareness of the plight of the Pine Hoverfly, an endangered beneficial pollinator residing in a small forested area in a national park. Around the release date of Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town (March 2021), Marvelous EU announced a donation of £20,000 to kickstart conservation efforts. Along with funding efforts from other organizations, RZSS was able to construct a modern facility at the RZSS's Highland Wildlife Park to raise larvae and care for adult Pine Hoverflies. EU-based PoOT streamers were also sent vegetable garden growing kits by Marv EU to bring attention to the importance of pollinators.
Five years later, Marv and RZSS have released an update on RZSS's conservation efforts for the Pine Hoverfly. The new facility was greatly beneficial in bringing the rare insect species back into the wild. Instead of the one little spot in the Cairngorms National Park, the hoverfly is now established in four additional sites in the UK, helping to ensure the ongoing survival of the little pollinator.
As conservation efforts are ongoing, Marvelous EU is continuing the partnership with RZSS by making a DLC Pine Hoverfly outfit available in Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar. One hundred percent of the funds collected from this DLC purchase will be donated to RZSS's efforts with the Pine Hoverfly. The DLC will be available in all regions on August 27. Cost will be revealed later.
Indie Game Updates
Wacky and cartoony crop farming strategy game, Super Farming Boy, is now available on Steam Early Access. Grow and harvest crops by turning into tools and earning money to buy back your mom and friends from the evil KORPO, who forces the Super protagonist to work for profit. Purchase power-up cards to improve the profit earned at each harvest, increasing harvest combos for bigger scores, but head to bed before the ghosts come out at night! A FREE demo is also available from the Steam Store page:
A new farming game was announced by publishers PerfectGen and GrabThe Games. Solo-developed Sky Harvest by Hamzah Kirmani puts players in the role of the Chief Farmer, a title previously held by their grandfather. Taking over the old abandoned farm in the sky, players will grow crops, raise animals, explore the other floating islands, build friendships, and revitalize the floating village of Magica. There is also fishing, crafting, questing, and secrets to discover. The game is currently planned for a release by the end of 2025, with a FREE demo available on its Steam Store page.
The multi-player and romance update for Coral Island is now available on Steam, XBox X/S, and PlayStation 5; Nintendo Switch players will have to wait a bit for their content release. The 1.2 update allows up to four players to live and work together on a host game's community farm. Various settings allow the farm host to control whether players pool their funds/items or each player has control of their inventory, whether everyone can decorate or just the homeowners, and whether players can share quests or be responsible for their own tasks. The 1.2 update also permits players to marry each other and have children.
While there is some cross-play support, there is no cross-play between XBox and PlayStation games. Stairways Games explained that a hosting Steam farmer can connect to either a PlayStation or an XBox farmer, but a PS or XB farmer together cannot connect to the same host Steam farmer. Something to do with connectivity between the two home console platforms, apparently.
Additionally, 1.2 increases the marriage candidates' hearts up to level 15, with levels past 10 unlocking after the marriage ceremony. Post-marriage cut scenes trigger in later romance levels. For earlier romance, there are now hang-out experiences to view that are required events to unlock level 6 and then again to unlock level 9. Finally, view four heart events from levels 9 to 10 to entice the candidate to accept the marriage proposal.
The fall-season Spooky Festival also received an update, where romance candidates will wear costumes.
The game is currently on sale 33% off on the Steam platform until August 21. The 1.3 update, scheduled for a mid-to-late 2025 release, will introduce children growing up, mini-games for the game center, and a merfolk festival.
I'm waiting for the game to be "done" before I tackle a playthrough.
Until next time!
- Cher
(Taking Mr.Fogu to see the rerelease of the original TMNT movie this weekend in theaters, as he hasn't seen it; talk about a high-school flashback!)
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