The Direct season has commenced. Coming off of the February 2021 Nintendo Direct and PlayStation’s State of Play, Pennsylvania-based studio Whitethorn Games has announced an upcoming winter showcase, showing a plethora of new and exciting games releasing in the near future. This showcase appears to be very similar to the Eastasiasoft Winter Showcase, which aired earlier this year.
The news comes from the Whitethorn Digital newsletter. The newsletter titles the showcase “A Very Whitethorn Winter,” accompanied by a small graphic of the company logo in the snow. The details for the winter showcase are listed but are direct and to the point. There will be 17 updates on Whitethorn titles currently released or in development. However, six completely brand-new and never-before-seen games will be announced during the showcase. The final detail reveals the date, time, and platform for the showcase. Friday, March 12th at 10 a.m. Pacific/1 p.m. Eastern.
Whitethorn Games has been spearheading the introduction of relaxed and cozy, but nonetheless engaging games for various players. Recently, the studio launched Calico, a warm and lighthearted life-simulation game where magical girls gather together to rebuild the town’s cat cafe. Other games include Agrond a pixelated survival game, and Where The Bees Make Honey a story-driven game of childhood from an adult perspective. An incredibly striking game from Whitehorn Digital, Evan’s Remains, was reviewed here at Marooner’s Rock by Matthew Hilday. Remarking at the game, Matthew states:
“The puzzles are fun, yes, and the art style is strangely beautiful, but the game’s true strength lies in its deceptive plot and engrossing characters.”
Whitethorn Digital has been making waves within the indie scene and has become an inspiring model for aspiring developers. Their releases are stretched out and the marketing isn’t as wide, but the biggest focus on their games is creating a positive experience of warm feelings and a combination of healing and positivity. Calico, in particular, was surprisingly announced and launched during the winter 2020 Nintendo Direct, striking a chord with players and even game developers. Despite the chaos of Summer of 2020, Evan’s Remains and We Need To Talk made a remarkable impression on those that played it, known for finding a means to tell meaningful life lessons, but without bringing feelings of sadness. It’s unknown what they will announce, but any game announced will be an adventure worth embarking on.
The A Very Whitethorn Winter showcase broadcasts at 10 a.m. Pacific/ 1 p.m. Eastern on YouTube.
