This weekend's Anime Expo in Los Angeles has given us a truckload of news to unpack across the board, but let's start by taking a look at what major new announcements have surfaced on the visual novel front over the course of the event so far.

MangaGamer

To kick things off we have MangaGamer, whose most notable announcement is that they'll be bringing 07th Expansion's Umineko: When They Cry to the west. Here's more on their plans from the company themselves:

In Umineko, the player will join Battler, a scion of the wealthy Ushiromiya family, as he attends their annual reunion on the island of Rokkenjima for the first time in six years. However, that night, a disaster falls upon the Ushiromiya family, and they all begin to fear for their very lives. Battler's cousin Maria believes the golden witch Beatrice has returned and committed murder through magic, but Battler doesn't believe in such a fantasy. Still, could anyone in his family really have killed their own kin for the sake of riches? You know both the situation leading up to the incident and its tragic result, but the course of events is an enigma, and no one willing to share the whole truth. What really happened on Rokkenjima that night?

Fans of Higurashi will already be familiar with Umineko's unique manner of storytelling—over the span of eight different chapters the player will experience several different ways in which events of the murder may have played out. None are certain. All bear truth. Will you be able to piece together the real story of what happened that day by the climactic finale? Accompanied by a soundtrack worthy to deem this prose a 'sound novel' just by itself, this enticing tale is a must-read for anyone who enjoys thinking outside the box.

We'll be working with the team at Witch Hunt to update the translation for Umineko alongside this new, official release on our platform and Steam. We'll also be including new character artwork for this upcoming release! We plan to follow R07's episodic release system with Umineko in order to to make it accessible with the new art as soon as possible, just as we have for Higurashi.

Other announcements from MangaGamer include yuri visual novel A Kiss For The Petals -Remembering How We Met-, which will be coming to Steam, and also news that they will be releasing the PC remake of hard sci-fi story Himawari: The Sunflower, which is still yet to enjoy a release in Japan. The latter of these titles will be available in adult and all-ages versions, with the latter coming to Steam.

Finally, AliceSoft's "sexy RPG" Beat Blades Haruka has also been acquired by MangaGamer.

Sekai Project

Not to be outdone, next up we have a whole bucketload of announcements from Sekai Project, who also continue to make waves in the business of bringing Japanese titles to the west - here's what they have in store for you:

First up, well-known visual novel G-senjou no Maou – The Devil on G-String will be coming to Steam this summer, bringing intrigue aplenty as you play as the son of a gangster.

The next instalment in the Sunrider space opera series, Sunrider: Liberation Day, has been confirmed for a release at an as-yet unspecified future date.

Also acquired for a future release is Chrono Clock, a tale of low-key time travelling courtesy of a pocketwatch that allows its user to travel back in time five minutes - a fun distraction which takes a serious turn...

Another new acquisition is Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition-, which leaves you trying to escape the midst of a nuclear meltdown having lost all of your memories in the middle of a rescue mission.

Finally, we have confirmation that WORLD END ECONOMiCA episode.02 will be coming to Steam this July, while another steam title Narcissu, has just been greenlit for a complete remake.

JAST USA

JAST USA were also on hand over the weekend to unveil some titles of their own, so here's their slate of announcements:

First up is Innocent Grey's four-part mystery series Flowers - JAST have picked up the first of these four instalments, Flowers - Spring Arc, for a release on the PC this autumn.

Also acquired is SoniComi, which allows you to work as a fledgling cameraman as he builds up a relationship with gravure idol Super Sonico. This PC game is scheduled for a winter release.

So, are you looking forward to any of these titles? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!