The Cats of Providence Oaks Need Cuddles — New Update for Lake Out Today

Text: Lake | Image: A calm, clear blue lake is surrounded by towering pine trees. Hazy mountains can be seen far off in the distance. It is early morning on a clear sunny day.

Looking for another excuse to visit the peaceful town of Providence Oaks? Well, developer Gamious and Whitethorn Games have a great one for you. Today (on National Cat Day, nonetheless), a brand-new, highly asked-for feature has been added to Lake on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation — you can now pet the cats that are lounging around Mildred’s home! Just like in real life, each cat is different and has their own unique response, so it’s up to you to determine how to earn their trust so you can give them all the pets… and maybe even that ever-elusive belly rub. 

In celebration of the new update, you can purchase Lake on Steam at a 50% discount starting today until August 14.

Catch a glimpse of the Pet the Cat update in the trailer below:

But that’s not all — in addition to the Pet the Cat update, a new Endless Mode, recently released on PC, has been added for Xbox and PlayStation players! If you can’t get enough of the sleepy little town by the lake after you’ve finished the main story, you can now jump back into The Goose and keep on delivering mail to the eclectic residents as long as you’d like — no new stories, no additional dialog, just some scenic and relaxing driving around beautiful Providence Oaks. 

About Lake

Travel back to 1986 and take on the role of 40-something-year-old Meredith, who leaves the fast-paced drudgery of her big city life and returns to her quiet, rustic hometown. During her two-week stay in the beautiful lakeside community of Providence Oaks, Oregon, she’ll fill in for her father – the local mail carrier – where she will not only deliver letters and parcels to new and old friendly faces but will also rekindle old friendships, make new ones, and maybe even find romance.

At the end of her vacation, will Meredith return to the big city, or will she choose a different path for her life? It’s up to players to steer the story how they see fit in this slice-of-life interactive game.

Key Features of Lake include:

• Travel back to 1986 and escape to a beautiful, rustic town that is free of the stresses of smartphones, the Internet, and social media.

• Ditch that city life and desk job and go to drive your father's mail truck in rural Oregon, or kick up your feet and let auto-pilot do the work.

• Choose from a variety of after-work activities that include hanging with friends, helping out your neighbors, or staying in with a good book.

• Experience a branching story that doesn’t shy away from slice-of-life themes. Like life, there are no right or wrong answers.

Lake is now available on PC via Steam or Epic Games Store, on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch for $19.99 USD. The Pet the Cat update and Endless-Mode are now available for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation platforms.

Follow Lake on Twitter, Facebook, and visit the official website, for more updates.  

For more updates from Whitethorn Games, follow the publisher on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch, join the official Whitethorn Games Discord, and visit https://whitethorngames.com.
To learn more about the accessibility features available for Lake, visit: https://whitethorngames.com/lake/accessibility.

Flora’s Delivery Service is Open For Business — Metroidvania-lite Meets Cooking Game Magical Delicacy is Now Available on PC, Xbox, and Xbox Game Pass

Text: Magical Delicacy Out Now! | Image: Flora, a girl with white hair in a ponytail tied up with a red bow, wearing a black jacket, red shirt, and jeans, sits on a bench on a dock overlooking ships on a stary night, gazing at a big, bright crescent moon.

We hope you’re hungry because today, Whitethorn Games — publisher of inclusive, accessible, easy-going games including APICO, Calico, Botany Manor, and Lake — and solo-developer sKaule are thrilled to share that their Metroidvania-lite-meets-cooking game Magical Delicacy is now available on PC, Xbox, and Xbox Game Pass! A non-violent game with mechanics inspired by Metroidvanias and cozy anime classics, this charming title invites you to explore a world of witchy wonder and intrigue with a beautiful seaside town to explore through light platforming, mysterious and quirky townsfolk to meet, and of course, delicious delicacies to make and serve!

In celebration of Magical Delicacy’s launch, the game will be available for a 10% discount on Steam until July 23. 

The Magical Delicacy soundtrack is also available on Steam and your favorite music service. Full of relaxing tunes and gorgeously orchestrated melodies, it’s the perfect soundtrack to prepare fantastic fare and super snacks!

Watch the launch trailer below:

In addition, Whitethorn Games has also put together a special edition Magical Delicacy Treat Pack, which comes with a limited-edition Heji the Dragon patch, a sticker collection featuring the characters from the game rendered in stunning pixel art, a Flora enamel pin, and a PC code for the game, all bundled together for a discounted price! The Magical Delicacy Treat Pack is available in the Whitethorn Games shop: https://whitethorngames.com/shop/magical-delicacy-special-edition

A wholesome adventure set in an enchanting world, Magical Delicacy invites you to play as the young witch Flora. Growing up on the small island of Ulport, located in the far North, young Flora has never known any witches other than herself. Determined to reach greater magical heights, she knew she needed to find a new home in order to develop her skills. With that goal in mind, she ventures forth to the harbor town of Grat — a gathering place for adventurers from across the world.  

Upon arriving in Grat, she is offered a place to live — but not for free! To make sure that she can earn her keep, Flora takes up the task of delivering food and potions, cooked with the power of magic, to deliver to hungry townsfolk — mysterious travelers, forgotten legends, and masters of their craft. As she explores the seaside town and meets all its colorful characters, she’ll discover their stories and learn that there is more to Grat than meets the eye.

Collect an assortment of inspiring ingredients from shops, foraging through the town, and by growing them in your garden. Cook up a storm in your upgradeable kitchen using a variety of tools and deliver your meals to fulfill hungry customers' orders. Explore the unfamiliar town of Grat, learn new ways to traverse, discover secrets, and experience a unique and witchy world one dish at a time.

Imag: Flora is petting her adorable baby dragon who is having a nap under the stairs in her cozy kitchen.

Key Features of Magical Delicacy include:

• Collect new recipes and ingredients through trade, questing, growing vegetables in your garden, and exploring throughout the town of Grat. 

• Learn an extensive cooking system, allowing for flexible, creative choices to fulfill even the oddest orders.

• Build the kitchen of your dreams by commissioning new equipment to help you create even more delicious dishes.

• Experience a wholesome linear story filled with witchy wonder and intrigue, with many optional encounters and free play opportunities.

• Traverse a 2D platformer inspired by Metroidvanias, gain new abilities, reach new areas, and unlock shortcuts.

• Immerse yourself in a dynamic cozy pixel art style that brings colorful characters, environments, and, of course, delicious food, to life.

Image: Flora is cooking a tasty dish in the oven of her kitchen. A menu is open showing the ingredients she has (Hornpepper, Jade Moss, Garlic, Wildvine, and Rocksalt). A second menu shows that she has added s Timbershade mushroom into the oven to roast for her dish.

Magical Delicacy is now available for purchase on PC via Steam, and Xbox One and Series X|S for $24.99 USD and for free to Xbox Game Pass holders. The Magical Delicacy soundtrack is out now on Steam, Bandcamp, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora, Tidal, and Deezer. The game will launch on Nintendo Switch on August 15.

The game is available in the following languages on PC and Xbox: English, French, German, Japanese, Latin American Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.

Accessibility features for Magical Delicacy can be found here: https://whitethorngames.com/magicaldelicacy/accessibility. 

Image: Flora takes a platform elevator up to a higher level of the town. The street is crowded with trees, and European seaside-style multi-level buildings.

To stay spellbound, be sure to follow Magical Delicacy on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, and visit the official website. Follow sKaule on Twitter and their official website.

Keep up to date with Whitethorn Games on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch, join the official Whitethorn Games Discord, and visit https://whitethorngames.com.

Flora's Magical Delivery Service Soon Open for Business — Magical Delicacy Coming to PC and Xbox Next Week

Text: Magical Delicacy | Image: Image: A girl with white hair, a black jacket, blue jeans and a red shirt and a girl with blond hair and a purple shirt are surrounded by kitchen utensils, vegetables, herbs and a sparrow on a blue background.

Get ready to cook up a storm because, in less than a week, solo developer sKaule’s upcoming Metroidvania-lite meets cooking game, Magical Delicacy, will be available on PC and Xbox — available day one with Xbox Game Pass! A non-volient game with mechanics inspired by Metroidvanias and cozy anime classics such as Kiki’s Delivery Service, this charming title invites you to explore a world of witchy wonder and intrigue with a beautiful seaside town to explore through light platforming, mysterious and quirky townsfolk to meet, and of course, delicious delicacies to make and serve!

If you just can’t wait to visit Grat we have good news! The Magical Delicacy soundtrack is now available on your favorite music service and can be purchased on Steam on July 16. Full of relaxing tunes and gorgeously orchestrated melodies, it’s the perfect soundtrack to prepare fantastic fare and super snacks as you want for your chance to visit this magical, witchy world!

Image: Flora, a young witch with white hair tied up in a red bow, wearing a black bomber jacket, red shirt, blue jeans, is in her cozy kitchen on a beautiful summer day. A gentle breeze blows leaves and flower petals into the window. Flora is petting a pink and white baby dragon having a nap on the kitchen floor.

A wholesome adventure set in an enchanting world, Magical Delicacy invites you to play as the young witch Flora, who travels to the adventurer’s town of Grat to grow her magical skills and fulfill her dream of becoming a full-fledged witch. Upon arriving, she takes up shop to cook meals and potions for the diverse cast of locals, from the charming townsfolk and mysterious travelers to forgotten figures of legend and masters of their craft. As she traverses the cozy harbor town, she’ll discover their stories and learn that there is more to Grat than meets the eye. 

Collect an assortment of inspiring ingredients from shops, foraging through the town, and by growing them in your garden. Cook up a storm in your upgradeable kitchen using a variety of tools and deliver your meals to fulfill the orders from hungry townsfolk. Explore the unfamiliar town of Grat, learn new ways to traverse, discover secrets, and experience a unique and witchy world one dish at a time.

Image: A screenshot of Flora’s kitchen showing recipes. The kitchen is a cozy space with pots, pans, books, drying herbs and a woodfired stove where Flora is cooking something tasty in a big pot.

Key Features of Magical Delicacy include:

• Collect new recipes and ingredients through trade, questing, growing vegetables in your garden, and exploring throughout the town of Grat. 

• Learn an extensive cooking system, allowing for flexible, creative choices to fulfill even the oddest orders.

• Build the kitchen of your dreams by commissioning new equipment to help you create even more delicious dishes.

• Experience a wholesome linear story filled with witchy wonder and intrigue, with many optional encounters and free play opportunities.

• Traverse a 2D platformer inspired by Metroidvanias, gain new abilities, reach new areas, and unlock shortcuts.

• Immerse yourself in a dynamic cozy pixel art style that brings colorful characters, environments, and, of course, delicious food, to life.

Magical Delicacy can be purchased for $24.99 USD on PC via Steam, and Xbox One and Series X|S — available day one with Xbox Game Pass — on July 16, 2024, and on Nintendo Switch on August 15. The Magical Delicacy soundtrack will be available on Steam on July 16, and is currently available on Bandcamp, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora, Tidal, and Deezer.

Text: Mysterious Witch: Another Witch? | Image: A witch in a wide brimmed black hat and clock and Flora, a white haired girl in a black bomber jacket, red shirt, blue jeans, and a red bow in her hair stand under a moon and meet in a glowing crystal decaled canyon on the outskirts of an adventurers town.

The game will launch with the following languages available on PC and Xbox: English, French, German, Japanese, Latin American Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.

Accessibility features for Magical Delicacy can be found here: https://whitethorngames.com/magicaldelicacy/accessibility. 

To stay spellbound, be sure to follow Magical Delicacy on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, and visit the official website. Follow sKaule on Twitter and their official website.

Keep up to date with Whitethorn Games on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch, join the official Whitethorn Games Discord, and visit https://whitethorngames.com.

Release Date Announced for Metroidvania-lite Meets Cooking Game Magical Delicacy — Coming to Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC This July

Text (white): Magical Delicacy | Image: A girl with white hair, a black jacket, blue jeans and a red shirt and a girl with blond hair and a purple shirt are surrounded by kitchen utensils, vegetables, herbs and a sparrow on a blue background.

A Delicious Adventure Awaits — Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC Release Date Announced for Metroidvania-Lite Meets Cooking Game Magical Delicacy

Befriend a Divers Cast of Characters, Explore the Cozy Harbor Town of Grat, and Cook Mouthwatering Meals This July

Erie, Pennsylvania (June 4, 2024) — Preheat your ovens to 350oF, set up your mise en place, break out your grimoire and get ready for a scrumptious and wholesome adventure! Today, Whitethorn Games — publisher of inclusive, accessible, easy-going games including APICO, Calico, Botany Manor, and Lake — and solo-developer sKaule are thrilled to share that their upcoming Metroidvania-lite-meets-cooking game Magical Delicacy is coming to Nintendo Switch, PC, and Xbox — available day one with Xbox Game Pass — on July 16, 2024. 

Check out the Magical Delicacy release date and Nintendo Switch announcement trailer below:

A wholesome adventure set in an enchanting world, Magical Delicacy invites you to play as the young witch Flora, who travels to the adventurer’s town of Grat to grow her magical skills and fulfill her dream of becoming a fully-fledged witch. Upon arriving, she takes up shop to cook meals and potions for the diverse cast of characters, from the charming townsfolk and mysterious travelers to forgotten figures of legend and masters of their craft. As she traverses the cozy harbor town, she’ll discover the stories of the townsfolk and learn that there is more to Grat than meets the eye. 

Collect an assortment of inspiring ingredients from shops, foraging through the town, and by growing them in your garden, cook up a storm in your upgradeable kitchen using a variety of tools and deliver your meals to fulfill the orders from hungry townsfolk. Explore the unfamiliar town of Grat, learn new ways to traverse, discover secrets, and experience a unique and witchy world one dish at a time.

Key Features of Magical Delicacy include:

• Collect new recipes and ingredients through trade, questing, growing vegetables in your garden, and exploring throughout the town of Grat. 

• Learn an extensive cooking system, allowing for flexible, creative choices to fulfill even the oddest orders.

• Build the kitchen of your dreams by commissioning new equipment to help you create even more delicious dishes.

• Experience a wholesome linear story filled with witchy wonder and intrigue, with many optional encounters and free play opportunities.

• Traverse a 2D platformer inspired by Metroidvanias, gain new abilities, reach new areas, and unlock shortcuts.

Magical Delicacy is coming to PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One and Series X|S on July 16, 2024. Magical Delicacy will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass.

APICO Update 4.0 Available Now on PC and Switch

Text: APICO (yellow and orange with a black outline and a bee shaped in a honeycomb pattern) | Image: APICO logo overlayed on a green pixelated forest filled with trees, flowers, bees, and beehives.

An industrious new update to the bee-loved beekeeping sim APICO is now available for free to budding beekers! Update 4.0: A Hive of Industry, the final update, available now on PC and Nintendo Switch, introduces a new automation system, new seasonal events, new craftable materials, and, best of all, pets! At the same time, Update 3.0: What Lies Beeneath is also available to play on Nintendo Switch. Dive deep into the oceans of the APICO archipelago to discover new underwater bees, or return to the surface to check out new craftible items, a new fishing mini-game, and much more!

Check out what’s coming to APICO in Update 4.0: A Hive of Industry by watching the launch trailer below:

Some of the new features coming to APICO in Update 4.0: A Hive of Industry include:

• Automation Machines: Craft the Auto-sawmill, Auto-centrifuge, and Auto-squeezer, along with eight new automation machines — Hoppers, Shredders, Loggers, Pickers, Sprinklers, Condensers, Ploppers, and Shippers — on your new Crystal Workbench, which can be purchased from Bobbee, to bring your thriving industry to new heights.

• New Resource — Honeycore Crystals: Use the newly-added resonance meter and engage in its new mini-game to seek out different sounds throughout the various environments that will help you locate six different types of crystals. Melt them down in the forge and craft new crystal items, including Crystal chests, the Crystal axe, hammer, shovel, and more.

• Pets: Choose from 16 different adorable little companions to accompany you on your expeditions, including your very own tiny dinosaur! 

• New Seasonal Events: Celebrate Hivemas, active during the month of December, and Hallowbeen, active during the month of October, in the world of APICO with the NPCs! Each event brings new decor, new paints, and secret easter egg items for you to enjoy. There’s no need to bee patient waiting for each event, as you’ll be able to toggle each event in the settings menu!

• …and so much more: TNgineers have added ten new quests, new decor, paints, new environmental events, and of course, new bees and pollinators! There’s also a new 100% completion surprise that the most dedicated beekeepers can uncover through the Hive Mother’s door.    

Even more bee-guiling features await you in Update 4.0: A Hive of Industry, so check out full details here: https://wiki.apico.buzz/wiki/Patch_Notes#4.0.0. 

In celebration of the final update to come to APICO, aspiring apiarists can pick up the game on Steam at a 60% discount as part of APICO’s Birthday Bundle. The bundle includes the base game with updates 2.0 through 4.0, as well as four bee-autiful OSTs — how sweet is that?!

About APICO

APICO combines resource gathering, biology, and minigames with ideas from both real-life and fantasy beekeeping and gardening, as it teaches players about the ins and outs of maintaining a healthy hive and the importance of our irreplaceable pollinating pals. The islands of APICO were once abuzz with different species of bees, and it’s up to players to rediscover lost species, cross-breed new ones, and repopulate each unique bee-ome. Progressing further into the game may also uncover some forgotten secrets. 

As well, a portion of the games’ profits goes toward bee conservation. Full details about these efforts can be found here: https://tngineers.com/charity.

Features of APICO include:

• Play together with up to four in online co-op, with cross-play available on all platforms!

• Unique crafting and beekeeping minigames that drive gameplay progression.

• Cross-breed different bees and other pollinators, including butterflies, moths, and solitary bees, to discover over 30 new species.

• Grow flowers — each with their own special effect on the environment — to keep your pollinators happy!

• Make and sell honey, Apicola, incense, candles, and other beekeeping products.

• Repopulate lost species and release them back into the wild.

• Multiple biomes to explore, each with its own unique pollinator species.

• A chill soundtrack by Mothense creates a relaxing atmosphere.

• Uncover the forgotten secrets of the APICO Islands. 

APICO is currently available on PC via Steam, Epic Game Store, Humble Games, itch.io, Utomik, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One and Series S|X for $19.99 USD. 

APICO Update 4.0: A Hive of Industry is available for free on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, Humble Games, itch.io, and Utomik. Update 3.0: What Lies Beeneath and Update 4.0: A Hive of Industry is also available for free on Nintendo Switch.

APICO Bee-parture OST is now available on Steam and your favorite music platform.

Follow APICO on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Discord for more updates. 

Keep up to date with Whitethorn Games on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch; join the official Whitethorn Games Discord and visit https://whitethorngames.com.