TOHO Games, the publisher behind the Sakuna series’ live-service spin-off Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin ~Hinuka Junreitan~ has begun releasing the game’s narrative segments as complimentary YouTube clips. The prologue and Chapters 1 through 5 were made available on July 27, with the concluding Chapter 6 scheduled for September 30, accompanied by additional unreleased material.
This farming sim RPG initially launched in February this year on mobile devices, with plans for a Steam version also disclosed at launch. However, an April announcement revealed that the game’s services would conclude on July 27, just six months after its debut. Consequently, the intended Steam port was also called off.
After the service termination was communicated, the development team continued to deliver new content to active players while gradually removing paid features and providing refunds for any unused virtual currency. Now that the game has fully shut down, it appears they have opted to safeguard its storyline by uploading it to YouTube. Each episode, lasting roughly 2 hours, will encompass the complete game narrative and incorporate unreleased content that extends beyond the original experience.
Though an unconventional strategy, the choice to preserve the game’s content in this manner has earned praise and thanks from Sakuna enthusiasts in Japan, although numerous players are still requesting a standalone, offline re-release.