Hello everyone! It's only a few days to go now until the release of [b]Eastward: Octopia DLC on January 31st[/b]! As a reminder it's coming to Steam and Nintendo Switch first, and is priced at [b]$5.99 / £4.99 / €5.89 / 700円 / ¥22 CNY[/b]. It will be playable in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, French, German, and Spanish! Although the pastoral life in Octopia is leisurely and comfortable, as farmers, John and Sam still need to work hard to turn their muddy fields into bountiful harvests. In order to restore prosperity to the town, we have prepared a guide to farm management and land reclamation for you ahead of your stay in Octopia: [h2][b]Cultivation, Exploration, and Hard Work![/b] 🌾🐣[/h2] In this parallel universe of Eastward, you’ll find a beautiful pixel art world free from miasma and monster invasions. Instead waiting for you beyond the train station gates is a small town ready to be renovated and a rundown farm desperately in need of some TLC. First step? Clear away all of that the rubble and weeds, and sow some colourful seeds instead! On sunny days you’ll need to irrigate your crops with your handy unlimited watering can, and once they’re ready pop on your gloves to harvest them with one click. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33911849/c0307d05acc6dcb73de29bd5ce2396af40ce9747.gif[/img] In addition to the half-acre field at your doorstep, the town also has other ecological wonders waiting to be discovered - woods, wetlands, beaches… Use various tools to crush rocks and chop trees to collect building materials, and find special resources - perhaps you'll encounter something that can be used as ingredients for cooking or sold at William’s shop - every natural gift can be put to good use! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33911849/20bac54bccf75b00af566fc4b15559b311c2bd78.jpg[/img] Of course all tasks require a bit of effort to be done properly - from sowing seeds, to chopping and watering tasks, each mechanic reduces the energy bar in the lower left corner of the screen. You can restore your vitality with a good sleep and some of John’s amazing cooking. In the early stages of the game, food and money may be a little scarce, so it’s important to think carefully about ‘economical’ farm work, and how you will best spend your day. For example, a secret to making a fortune quickly might be in planting crops with short harvest times, or grinding grains to sell in William’s shop for higher rewards. When you're ready to lay down your tools for a while, John and Sam can sit on the bench in front of your home to watch the day roll by, and slowly regain energy. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33911849/30da07dfb95065e852999b5742690562afd82dfa.gif[/img] [h2][b]Recipe Creativity & Ingredient Preparation[/b] 🍳🥗[/h2] In comparison with the travelling adventures in the base Eastward game, John’s time in Octopia sees his finally having a chance to improve his cooking skills, creating and studying the preparation of new recipes and rich specialties. As you spend more time in Octopia, you will discover special recipes based on different ingredients through thought-bubble association. You can then harvest, forage or source these ingredients to combine and cook delicacies from the mountains and seas. For example, think of rice and shrimp together, and you'll get a delicious new recipe. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33911849/ec703a0e7a497b9b0b058bf06c8c51fcf09e0ea7.gif[/img] Food doesn't only restore the physical strength of John and Sam, but also furthers the story of Octopia and its inhabitants. Throughout your journey you’ll spot familiar faces from Eastward’s base game, but they might look a little different this time around and act in unexpected ways in their new life in Octopia... Some things never change though, and certainly not these character's foodie nature - so if you want to get to know their stories, you’ll first need to sate their appetites! Preparing ingredients is also a key part of cooking: foraging in the wetlands and rivers, planning planting according to the maturity and harvesting times of different crops, and ordering seeds and stock from the store in advance of running out of stock… It all adds up! But remember the best way to celebrate many days of busy work on the farm is to invite all of your friends around for dinner and share stories across the table while eating delicious home-cooked meals. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33911849/132d5d63c016e7597ea37b94c39bb169b0268d15.gif[/img] [h2][b]Fishing time! [/b]🎣🐡[/h2] Octopia is full of rivers and ponds, making it an absolute paradise for budding anglers. But this might not be fishing like you know it - long gone are the days of swinging the rod to reel in the line, putting down the bobber and waiting for a hungry fish to take the bait. In Octopia fishing is about speed and strength! Fish will race in a circle, so you’ll need to pull up the rod at the exact moment you catch up with their shadow. Some agile fish species may require a few more attempts! If you’re too slow, the fish will break free from the line and escape back into the waterways. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33911849/17398c4e03dc84ee36ecbf786f3e2a730ed3ff14.gif[/img] Not only is fishing a way to spend some time away from the farm, but in the early stages of the game it can also be a great way to obtain cooking ingredients without expending too much energy, or can be turned into a tidy profit if sold in the store. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33911849/29f5cf823b38f9a86a0a432d3e877c94e7b3760a.gif[/img] In addition to your farm’s nearby ponds, you can also explore new fishing areas as the town develops. Different types of fish require different physical strength and can also be more difficult to fish. By choosing a variety of baits, you can reel in unexpected catches - even if you happen to catch a roll of toilet paper, it might have other ‘convenient’ uses! [h2][b]Resources, Upgrades & Construction[/b] 🏗👷‍♂️[/h2] When you first arrive in Octopia it looks a little bit… unloved. Well fear not! By cutting down rocks and chopping trees to collect building materials, you will gradually be able to build new facilities, such as stores, pastures and even laboratories, slowly transforming Octopia to its former vibrancy! Collecting resources will require some time and effort, but keep in mind that upgrading daily farming tools can achieve twice the result with half that effort. For example, upgrading your watering can and fishing rod in the store and through shrines can greatly improve the efficiency of your crop watering and fishing adventures. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33911849/b51d958bd586386ef95e53fc1f8a82c141393209.gif[/img] As the story progresses, you will unlock the underground mine area! Similar to the visual style of Earthborn, the mining mini-game in the Octopia DLC is inspired by retro arcade machines. Various precious ore resources can be mined by bomb explosions, which can be used to upgrade more practical tools and building facilities. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33911849/beec9d0319bc20394bd14f5c427625374a67a2ed.gif[/img] That’s it for our short introduction to farm management in Eastward: Octopia! We hope it will help you settle into your new rural town life when the DLC launches next week. (There's also still plenty of secrets and easter eggs waiting to be discovered!) Until then, be sure to wishlist the game here on Steam for a notification as soon as Eastward: Octopia releases, and follow us on social media for more information. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2305370/Eastward__Octopia/ [list] [*] [url=https://discord.com/invite/chucklefish]Discord[/url] [*] [url=https://www.instagram.com/chucklefishltd/?hl=en-gb]Instagram[/url] [*] [url=https://www.reddit.com/r/eastward/]Reddit[/url] [*] [url=https://twitter.com/pixpilgames?lang=en]Twitter/X[/url] [*] [url=https://www.tiktok.com/@chucklefish?lang=en]TikTok[/url][/list] Until next time! [previewyoutube=Y8TcG8U6OWQ;full][/previewyoutube]