System: Switch [reviewed], Switch 2
Release date: August 27, 2025
Developer: Marvelous
Publisher: Marvelous
The Story of Seasons series has always lived in this cozy niche between farming sim and life sim, where your day-to-day rhythms matter just as much as your long-term goals. Grand Bazaar originally released on the Nintendo DS back in 2010 under the Harvest Moon label, and now it’s been rebuilt for a modern audience on Nintendo Switch. This remake stays faithful to its unique spin on the formula – putting the weekly town bazaar at the center of everything – while smoothing out some of the rougher edges from the DS era. But how well does it hold up in 2025, now that farming sims are practically their own genre?
We’re a few months behind the launch of Nintendo Switch 2, but apparently getting development kits hasn’t gotten any easier.
Digital Foundry shared its latest findings following Gamescom 2025 last week. The outlet’s John Linneman, after speaking with various developers, has heard that Nintendo is encouraging teams to simply ship their games on Switch 1 and “rely on backwards compatibility.” The interest from teams is there, but access to development kits are still limited. The reasoning for that isn’t clear – only Nintendo would have the answer.
Another major DLC expansion is coming to Astroneer, and today, Devolver Digital and System Era Softworks unveiled the Megatech expansion. Nintendo Switch owners can play it starting this November.
Here’s what’s been shared so far:
August 7: After waiting for a few years, Demonschool now has a release date. It was just announced that the school-life tactics RPG is due out on September 3, 2025.
Demonschool, which has hints of Persona, Shin Megami Tensei, and Italian horror cinema, was originally announced in 2022. While it was originally planned for 2023, it obviously didn’t launch that year.
If you’re interested in learning more about the game, read the following overview:
Ratalaika Games and Stranga Games will release Ash Pines: The Motel on Nintendo Switch this week, they’ve announced. THe title is due out on August 29, 2025.
Ash Pines: The Motel is a horror adventure game. After being stranded at a motel, players will need to gather clues and unravel a mystery as they try to escape.
Learn more in the following overview:
July 1 Today, Rocket Panda Games unveiled Kaho Shibuya as a new DLC character for Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate. Currently we don’t have information about launch timing.
The DLC character is based on the real-life Japanese pop culture personality and cosplayer.
Rocket Panda Games provided the following details about the DLC:
Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion has been hit with another delay, with the game now expected to launch in 2026. The title will launch worldwide.
According to today’s announcement, Mages “is using the additional time to ensure that the next installment, introducing significant changes in perspective to enhance the immersive horror, lives up to the Corpse Party legacy and delivers the biggest frights yet.”
Multiple sources are coming forward, claiming that a Nintendo Direct is happening in September.
Switch Force was the first to hint at a date of September 12. That would be a Friday, which would be abnormal, but it’s also possible that it could be September 11 in the west due to time zone differences.
Koei Tecmo just unveiled its lineup for the 2025 Tokyo Game Show, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment will be playable for the first time.
The Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive is currently slated for this winter. Aside from a playable demo, we’re also expecting Koei Tecmo to share the latest news – which could include the release date. More details about the company’s plans for the expo will be shared at a later date.
