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

Happy Farm'n Friday! Strangely, the little watermelon sprouts haven't grown much at all over the past week, even with temperatures in the 90s. A few of them even got sunburned, despite having been outside for a while. I did start clearing out the area where I intend to put the watermelon grow bags, as Mr.Fogu noted, "You could always grow something else." He just wants the lawn destroyed so it doesn't have to be mowed anymore.

On the bright side, the front-yard potatoes are doing great! They are already tall enough to be layered with a few inches of straw. And the backyard, forgotten-about potatoes have flowered and are dying back, so they'll be ready to harvest in a month or so. I also have leftover potatoes growing in a felt bag along with a horseradish root. Yay, Potatoland!

New Cow-box Plushies

Arcade prize producer System Service has released a collection of Bokujou Monogatari pudding cow pouches at participating game centers in Japan. These four bags are about 5.5 inches tall (14 cm) and are themed after the four FOMT cow types (normal, coffee, fruit, and strawberry). Each can be unzipped to hold a few small trinkets. There isn't a carry handle on these guys, but a crafty farmer could create a makeshift strap to convert a cow pouch into a shoulder bag.

Tencent Divestment Rumors

According to those "with knowledge of the matter," via Bloomberg Business News, Tencent may be looking to reduce its stake in several video game-related companies. The shares the company holds in Kadokawa (FromSoftware) and PlatinumGames will remain, but the shares it holds in companies such as Marvelous may soon be divested.

Since May 2020, Tencent has been Marvelous' largest shareholder via its subsidiary, Image Frame Investment, with a 12 million-share stake (about 20% of the total shares) and a seat on the Board of Directors. The goal was to establish a relationship between the companies that would expand their IP and develop new business ventures. That did begin with the reveal of the China-planned Bokujou Monogatari mobile game in May 2021, but as we know now, that game's development and promotion disappeared a few months after the Chinese government cracked down on youth mobile game usage near the end of 2021. Since then, things have been quiet regarding the partnership, as Tencent appears to have taken on a more passive role.

Marvelous will be fine, of course, so it'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

Speaking of the Tencent mobile game, the 29th shareholders' meeting took place this week. One question presented to the company did ask for an update on that project. Marvelous essentially replied that there was nothing new to report. Looking back a year ago, when the same question was presented, Marvelous acknowledged there were challenges with doing business in China and that the game was still in development, even though we haven't heard anything about it for several years at this point.

Marvelous also noted that since this year is the 30th anniversary of the Bokujou Monogatari series, there are plans to release additional prize goods, other merchandise, and company/brand collaborations. More information will be released later.

Steam Summer Sale

Until July 9, a haypile of farm'n games are discounted during the annual Steam Summer Sale:

• Cattle Country = 30% off
• Collector's Cove = 25% off
• Coral Island = 40% off
• Cornucopia = 30% off (Early Access)
• Doraemon Story of Seasons = 60% off
• Doraemon Story of Seasons: Friends of the Great Kingdom = 60% off
• Echoes of the Plum Grove = 50% off
• Everafter Falls = 30% off
• Everdream Valley = 25% off (Early Access)
• Fae Farm = 66% off
• Farlands = 30% off (Exits Early Access on July 16)
• Farmagia = 80% off (lol)
• Farming Simulator 25 = 25% off
• Fields of Mistria = 20% off (Exits Early Access on August 5)
• Firefly Village = 20% off
• G-Mode Archives: BokuMono Mobile Life & Love = 30% off
• G-Mode Archives: BokuMono Mobile - Fruitful Island = 30% off
• Grimshire = 20% off (Early Access)
• Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home = 50% off
• Harvest Moon: Light of Hope SE = 50% off
• Harvest Moon: Mad Dash = 50% off
• Harvest Moon: One World = 50% off
• Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos = 50% off
• Harvestella = 60% off
• Immortal Life = 65% off
• Japanese Rural Life Adventure = 20% off
• Little Known Galaxy = 50% off
• Luma Island = 35% off
• My Time at Sandrock = 65% off
• Ova Magica = 25% off
• Paleo Pines = 80% off
• Peaceful Days = 50% off
• Piczle Cross: Rune Factory = 50% off
• Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons = 50% off
• Roots of Pacha = 40% off
• Rune Factory 3 Special = 75% off
• Rune Factory 4 Special = 70% off
• Rune Factory 5 = 65% off
• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma = 35% off
• Rusty's Retirement = 50% off
• Seeds of Calamity = 40% off
• Snacko = 25% off
• Stardew Valley = 40% off
• Starsand Island = 29% off (Early Access)
• Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life = 50% off
• Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town = 75% off
• Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar = 20% off
• Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town = 65% off
• Sun Haven = 70% off
• Tales of Seikyu = 30% off
• Typing Farmer = 10% off
• Wylde Flowers 30% off

Though not a farming game, Toybox's Natsu-mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is also discounted 65% off during the Steam Summer Sale. This game was produced by the OG farming game creator, Yasuhiro Wada, in collaboration with the Millennium Kitchen (Boku no Natsu Yasumi series). The game is a delightful jaunt through a rural Japanese village during the summer of 1999. Explore the hills, catch fish and bugs, experience events, and even participate in morning stretches with the villagers of Yomogi Town.

Nintendo Summer Sale

There are also several digital download farm'n games on sale via the Nintendo eShop:

• Collector's Cove = 25% off (NA only, ends July 5)
• Echoes of the Plum Grove = 50% off (NA only, ends July 8)
• Everafter Falls = 25% off (NA only, ends June 30)
• Fae Farm = 50% off (NA only, ends July 8)
• Harvest Moon Cozy Bundle: Lost Valley + Skytree Village = 50% off (end June 28)
• Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home SE = 50% off (ends June 28)
• Harvest Moon: Light of Hope SE = 50% off (NA only for some reason, ends June 28)
• Harvest Moon: One World = 50% off (also NA only, ends June 28)
• Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos = 50% off (ends June 28)
• My Time at Portia = 85% off (NA only, ends July 9)
• One Lonely Outpost = 65% off (NA only, ends July 8)
• Orange Season = 55% off (NA only, ends July 8)
• Paleo Pines = 80% off (ends July 5)
• Sun Haven = 50% off (ends July 4 in NA, July 2 in EU/UK)
• Wyld Flowers =30% off (NA only, ends July 8)

Natsu-mon is also on sale on the Nintendo eShop until July 8, through only 50% off.

Other Indie Updates

Life simulation game Kynseed will be coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox Series X|S on August 4. In this game, players take on the role of whatever they want. They can be a farmer, run a blacksmith shop, apothecary, or general goods store, explore strange ruins, rebuild the town and become friendly with the villagers, and much more. The game can also span generations, as your children can inherit some talents and take over when you get too old. As the game was made by a group that previously worked on Fable, you can see how elaborate things can become when the game responds to player choices.

Kynseed has been out on Steam/PC for a few years, and a free update was just released, allowing players to run a tavern as a business option. The game is currently 75% off until July 9.

• Kynseed | Steam Store

Until next time

-Cher
(Yaay here comes the rain!)

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