Hilltop Works Teases Special Game Announcement at Wholesome Direct 2024

Hilltop Works, the acclaimed localization leader recognized for their high-quality fan translations of Japan-only games, has confirmed an exciting game announcement set for Wholesome Direct 2024.

The event will be live-streamed on Saturday, June 7th at 9am PT / 12pm ET / 6pm CET, promising fans a first look at the team’s latest project.

Background: Excellence in Fan Translations Hilltop Works, led by a highly respected fan translator within the gaming community, has built a strong reputation for their unofficial English patches for classic Japanese titles.

The group’s efforts have brought professional-grade localizations to cult favorites previously inaccessible to Western audiences.

Their project resume includes standout translations for PlayStation 1 gems like Sony Computer Entertainment’s survival adventure game Aconcagua and Square’s unique street racing RPG Racing Lagoon.

More recently, they worked on the well-received English patch for PlayStation 2’s Boku no Natsuyasumi 2, a summer vacation life simulator beloved among retro fans. A Teased Announcement for Those Who Love Retro Japanese Games In a recent statement, Hilltop Works teased that their upcoming appearance at Wholesome Direct would include "a special game announcement." Though details remain under wraps, Hilltop indicated that viewers will get a glimpse of what the team has "been working on," especially appealing to fans of classic Japanese titles that never officially launched outside of Japan.

The quote, paraphrased, highlights the announcement as must-watch for enthusiasts of previously Japan-only retro games. Expanding Reach: From Fan to Official Projects Earlier this year, Hilltop Works revealed their ongoing fan translation project for Rowdy Princess—a 2001 PlayStation 2 JRPG crafted by Shoji Masuda (noted for works like Linda Cubed and Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru), published by Kadokawa Shoten and developed by Alfa System and MARS Corp.

The team’s new tease suggests that, in addition to their fan work, they may now be working in an official capacity to help bring a yet-unrevealed title to the West for the first time, a landmark achievement for any fan-led localization group. Where to Watch the Announcement The Wholesome Direct stream, a widely anticipated event for indie and feel-good game announcements, will be available on YouTube for viewers worldwide.

Fans interested in seeing which classic or new title Hilltop Works is set to introduce can subscribe to the Wholesome Direct YouTube channel to catch the reveal live and stay updated on further announcements. Hilltop Works’ continued passion for localizing rare and region-locked games has expanded gaming experiences for a global audience.

Their upcoming announcement at Wholesome Direct 2024 marks another thrilling chapter in their mission to bridge language and cultural gaps within gaming, especially on platforms like PlayStation 2, and potentially beyond, such as the Nintendo Switch eShop.