Sol Press debut multi-platform releases

Written by Russell Phillips on 05 Nov 2018

Anime News Network reports a newcomer to the publishing industry. Sol Press will be releasing light novels, manga and visual novels.

The new company's initial offering will compriser 2 new light novel titles from publisher Hobby Japan and 8 visual novels. At their panel at the US anime convention Kumoricon, they announced their plans to offer simultaneous releases of their light novels timed to closely match their Japanese releases. they are also offering a range of adult titles that will be sold via steam, with free 18+ patches being made available for free.

Finally they announced their own purpose-built online digital platform titled Project Hyourin, which will enable users to purchase games, manga and novels digitally, with options to store them on a virtual library in a manner similar to Steam.

No announcement has been made as to whether this platform will be available to the US only, or to the UK as well.

According to their panel their release schedule will comprise of:

Light novels

Author Nekomata Nuko and illustrator teffish's Why Shouldn't a Detestable Demon Lord Fall in Love?! (Kiraware Maoh ga Bozuraku Reijō to Koi ni Ochite Nani ga Warui!) tells the story of a powerful demon lord who is transported to another world and meets a cute girl who runs an orphanage. He immediately falls in love with her and decides to help her run the orphanage.

The volume shipped in Japan on September 1. Sol Press hopes to keep a localisation schedule that matches the pace of the Japanese releases.

Author Hayaken and illustrator Akita Hika's Redefining the Meta at VRMMO Academy (VRMMO Gakuen de Tanoshii Makaizō no Susume ~Saijaku Job de Saikyō Damage Dashitemita~) follows characters at a school for VRMMO games. The lead character likes to play the weakest class in any given game, and he has a knack for making his character into the strongest in spite of that.

Hobby Japan released the first novel in June 2017 and the fifth novel on September 1.

In addition, Sol Press confirmed that it will release the Strongest Gamer: Lets Play in Another World 2 and Battle Divas: The Unshakable Winter Blossom Princess light novels in December. The novels will be available digitally on Amazon at launch, with a physical release at a later date.

Visual Novels

Sol Press has partnered with Favorite to localise its Irotoridori no Sekai (Multi-coloured Sky) series. The company plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign for this title on December 1.

The visual novel is set at a student dorm in a remote seaside town, and follows a young man who has the power to heal any wound at the cost of his own memories. One day, a girl falls from the sky and asks for his help.

Sol Press is also partnering with developer Harmorise and releasing its debut title Under One Wing (Hitotsu Yane no, Tsubasa no Shita de). The game debuted on February 23 in Japan and is slated for early 2019 in the West.

The story takes place at a boarding school where mock aerial dogfighting with World War II-era planes is the sport of choice. The protagonist goes to the school to follow in his grandmother's footsteps as a master of the sport, and stays at a dorm with all girls.

Sol Press also licensed The Future Radio & the Artificial Pigeons (Mirai Radio to Jinkōhato), the newest visual novel project by Laplacian (Newton & the Apple Tree).

The story takes place in a future when all radio waves have been removed from Earth, so everyone reverts to using carrier pigeons. The protagonist receives a message from the future that says he will die in three weeks.

Sol Press also announced five titles at its 18+ panel. As mentioned above These visual novels will be available on Steam with free 18+ patches.

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