hakuoki Archives - Samantha Lienhard

Eastasiasoft held its spring showcase today, and it started out with quite an unexpected announcement for otome fans.

It was a little over a year ago that Eastasiasoft announced Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom, the Switch version of Hakuoki that combines Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms into a single game.

With a new publisher handling it, I’d wondered if that might lead to more Hakuoki localizations later on down the line, since there are fandiscs and spin-offs.

Well, it must have been a hit for Eastasiasoft, because Hakuoki SSL: Sweet School Life will be coming to the west for the first time later this year!

Hakuoki SSL originally came out in 2014 for the Vita and was ported to the Switch in 2023. This is the first time it will be getting an English translation.

It’s an alternate universe spin-off that puts the characters in a modern day school setting instead of the historical era of the main series, so it sounds like it will be a lighthearted, fun twist on the story.

They also announced a Limited Edition that contains the game, a manual, the soundtrack, an art book, acrylic standees, and a few other bonuses, with preorders going live at Play-Asia on April 10.

I haven’t played Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom yet since 1) my backlog is huge, and 2) it’s a long game, but now I’m motivated to play it before this spin-off comes out! It’s planned for Quarter 4 2025, so at least I have some time…

Are you interested in Hakuoki SSL: Sweet School Life?

Back when I tracked down physical Vita copies of Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds and Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms, I wondered what the chances were that they’d come out on the Switch before I played them.

Turns out the chances were quite good!

Today, Eastasiasoft announced that they’ve partnered with Idea Factory to bring the Switch version that includes both Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms to the west as Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom.

Despite having those Vita copies already, I’d actually been hoping this would happen, because Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms are two halves of one game. Not just in a Great Ace Attorney / Trails in the Sky sense, either, but rather that Kyoto Winds contains the start of all the character routes and Edo Blossoms finishes them. The recommended way to play is to switch between the two games to play each character route all the way through before moving on to the next. Having them together in a single release sounds much more convenient.

Not only that, but Eastasiasoft also said this new release will have a revised localization based on feedback from fans. I’ve seen criticisms of the Kyoto Winds / Edo Blossoms translation, so that should be good.

Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom will be out in 2024. Physical editions will be available through Play-Asia, including a Limited Edition that includes the game, a manual, a soundtrack CD, an art book, a sticker sheet and a numbered certificate, as well as a collector’s box. Preorders for both the standard and limited editions will open this Thursday.

This is a great way to start 2024! And if Eastasiasoft is getting in on otome localizations, things could be better than ever for otome fans.

Are you planning to pick up Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom?

Hakuoki SSL ~Sweet School Life~ is Coming West This Year

Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom Localization Confirmed