STEINS;GATE, by far the most well-known of the SciADV Visual Novels, will finally head to Steam courtesy of MAGES.INC (!) The title releases on the platform next month. Fans of the VN are probably already aware that it has been available for PC for years now via JAST USA, though it appears that this version of the title will include the 1080p assets from the Japan-only PlayStation 4 "STEINS;GATE HD" release. The game saw a PlayStation 3/PlayStation Vita console release last year that has done especially well, so it should be interesting to see how the title fairs on Steam.
In other related news, Rice Digital have announced that they're releasing their own exclusive "Amadeus Edition" limited edition release for the upcoming STEINS;GATE 0. Like we've previously covered, STEINS;GATE 0's plot might be hard to explain without spoiling the first title, but you can think of it as a sequel, or more accurately a look at some events that had to happen for the original title to end the way that it does. That title also releases next month on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita - look forward to our coverage of the title closer to launch.
The Amadeus Edition for STEINS;GATE 0 should look very similar to players that are already familiar with Rice Digital's limited edition for the original STEINS;GATE. Much like that release's "El Psy Kongroo" edition, this upcoming Amadeus Edition comes with a pin, an upa, a soundtrack, and an artbook - along with the game in a fancy package. The release is priced at $79.99 on Vita and $89.99 on PS4, or your regional equivalent. Potential buyers outside of the UK be warned, as Rice Digital will charge you $30 for shipping.
Quick Take
Honestly, the most interesting part of today's news is the fact that Mages is self-publishing on Steam. If you've been following the situation surrounding the SciADV Visual Novels recently this makes sense to an extent, but it's still interesting to see that the company has continued to move towards regaining complete control over their releases in the west. Other than that, I really wish that Rice Digital could work something out regarding their absurd shipping costs... $30 is only $2 less than how much the Vita version of STEINS;GATE 0 on Amazon with Prime.
