3/15/24 ~ Newsletter
✨ Upcoming Games ✨
A Cozy Farming Game Where You Heal The Island With Harmony (3 minute read)
Sugardew Island is a cozy farming game where you rebuild a deserted island. Players will farm crops, raise animals, and sell goods to adorable forest folk. The ultimate goal is to restore harmony to the island by fulfilling quests from the Harmony Tree. The game is expected to be released on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5 sometime between April and June 2024.
Creatures of Ava Release Date Estimate, Trailers and Latest News (3 minute read)
Creatures of Ava is an upcoming adventure game where players explore a planet and tame over 20 creatures to fight an infection. The game features exploration, puzzle-solving, and a narrative co-created by Rhianna Pratchett, known for her work on Tomb Raider. While a specific release date isn’t available, it is expected in 2024.
Sophia The Traveler Releases April 11 For Switch and PC (5 minute read)
Sophia the Traveler, a hand-painted hidden object game, launches on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam on April 11th, 2024 for $8.99. Players explore a digital recreation of Venice searching for hidden objects, inspired by Where’s Wally. Pre-orders for the Switch version begin March 21st with a 10% launch discount.
🎮 Game Updates 🎮
You Can Now Play a Free Demo For Princess Peach: Showtime (2 minute read)
A free demo for the upcoming Nintendo Switch game Princess Peach: Showtime is now available on the eShop. The demo lets you try out two playable versions of Peach: Swordfighter Peach with combat abilities and Patisserie Peach who uses baking to solve problems. The full game launches on March 22nd, 2024.
Disney Dreamlight Valley Finally Brings Back Old Star Path Items (1 minute read)
Disney Dreamlight Valley allows players to purchase old Star Path items, which were previously unavailable after their season ended. These Star Path items functioned like a battle pass, offering cosmetic rewards. Players can now use Moonstones, the game’s currency, to buy past Star Path items they missed or couldn’t afford. Moonstones can be purchased with real money or earned in-game through activities like DreamSnaps.
EA is Giving Away The Sims 4’s Backyard Pack For Free (2 minute read)
Electronic Arts is giving away The Sims 4 Backyard Stuff pack for free on PC and consoles until April 13, 2024. This pack adds backyard-themed items like a slip-and-slide, potted plants, and casual clothing. The Sims 4 has a lot of downloadable content, and this is a free chance to get one of the Stuff Packs.
🌿 Cozy Corner 🌿
4 Ways To Customize Your Steam Profile Just For You (5 minute read)
Featured are tips on customizing your Steam profile. You can personalize your profile picture, add a bio and custom URL, and choose a background. Showcases allow you to display screenshots, artwork, or inventory items from your games. To unlock showcases, you need to be at least level 10 on Steam.
🍄 Events 🍄
Wholesome Direct Game Showcase Returns This June (2 minute read)
The Wholesome Direct, a video game showcase focused on cozy, cute, and wholesome games, will return in June 2024. This event provides a platform for smaller developers to present their games and offers players a chance to discover heartwarming titles. If you’re interested in indie games that promote joy, you should keep an eye on Wholesome Games’ social media channels for updates.
Summer Game Fest Return Dates for June 2024 (3 minute read)
The Summer Game Fest, a video game showcase hosted by Geoff Keighley, returns on June 7th, 2024. Expect game reveals, announcements, and trailers for consoles, PC, and mobile platforms. The event will be live-streamed and take place in person at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles. Limited public tickets go on sale on May 7th.
💖Cozy Gear & Accessories 💖
Cozy Gamer Hat ($29)
Sport your cozy gaming obsession with this adorable ball cap
Link Here
The Comfy Blanket Hoodie ($50)
Get wrapped up in this comfy oversized hoodie blanket
Link Here
Cozy Gamer Sign ($25)
Decorate your gaming room with this cute hand-crafted sign
Link Here
💌 Worthy Mentions 💌
Even Cozy Gaming’s Biggest Fans Can’t Decide on Its Definition, But They Aren’t Worried (6 minute read)
Cozy games are popular but hard to define. They’re relaxing, low-stress, and often involve building or creating at your own pace. Bright visuals and chill vibes are common, but some find comfort in darker games too. Basically, cozy is subjective – what’s relaxing for you might not be for someone else.
Multiple Indie Devs “Blindsided” After Multi-Year Passion Projects Get Immediately Buried by EA’s Command & Conquer Steam Onslaught (4 minute read)
Multiple indie game developers released their games on the same day that EA released a collection of classic Command & Conquer titles on Steam. This unexpected move buried the indie games and hurt their launch visibility. One developer, Renee Gittens who worked on her game Potions: A Curious Tale for 10 years, expressed her frustration on social media. While acknowledging it wasn’t intentional by EA, she highlighted the challenges faced by indie developers due to factors beyond their control.
Leveling Up Together: Millennial Women Leading Tech Innovation in Gaming Bridging the Controller Gap (4 minute read)
Featured is the underrepresentation of women in the gaming industry despite their significant presence as gamers. Women have a long history of contributing to technology and gaming, but their leadership roles are scarce. To address this gap, the author calls for more women game developers and for the industry to create games that resonate with a broader audience. The future of gaming should be inclusive and celebrate the diversity of its players.
I created a Cozy Game and Learned How They Can Change Players’ Lives (6 minute read)
Cozy games boomed during the pandemic as people sought comfort in relaxing, social virtual worlds. These indie-made games offered a welcome escape. The author created a pandemic-themed cozy game but faced challenges despite the positive impact on a small audience. The article offers tips for indie developers, like collaboration and community building. The pandemic’s effect on gaming may change development, but personal stories in cozy games can still connect with players.
10 Best Games If You Like The Sims (6 minute read)
Recommended are 10 games for people who enjoy playing The Sims. The Sims is a life simulation game where you can create a character, build a home, and live out their life. Here are some of the recommended games: Coral Island, Animal Crossing, My Time at Portia, The Tenants, and Let’s School.
Disney Dreamlight Valley: Is the Starlight House Bundle Worth It (8 minute read)
This article discusses the Starlight House Bundle in Disney Dreamlight Valley. The bundle offers exclusive items like a new house skin, clothing, furniture, and hairstyles for Belle. While the variety of content is appealing, the bundle is considered expensive by the author. Overall, the Starlight House Bundle is seen as good but not essential.