Sol Press

Sol Press is an American publishing company that focuses on localizing Japanese visual novels, light novels, and manga. Located in Orange County, California, it was formed in 2017.

For the publishing company founded by Michael Neff, see Del Sol Press.
Sol Press
StatusActive
FoundedFebruary 2017 (February 2017)
FounderMichael Valdez
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationOrange County, California
Publication typesVisual novels
Light novels
Manga
Owner(s)Michael Valdez
Official websitesolpress.co

As of November 2018, the company has licensed six visual novels, five light novels, and three manga for release on the Steam and Kadokawa Dwango's Bookwalker platforms.

History

Sol Press was founded in February 2017 by Michael Valdez, who was unhappy with the slow translation processes and products of other video game localization companies.[1] For the company's titles, Valdez emphasized the importance of not charging players for patches as he believed it was unnecessary and an unpopular business tactic. Although Sol Press-licensed visual novels are censored when released on Steam, free patches to receive adult content in the original games are downloadable on external websites.[1][2]

In September 2017, Sol Press created a Kickstarter fundraiser to support the localization of the Haikuo Soft visual novel/eroge Sakura Sakura.[3] Despite Sakura Sakura's age and obscurity, Sol Press elected to pick up the game following positive feedback from the staff.[1] Funding for the Kickstarter was completed a month later.[4] It was released on November 19, 2018 on Steam.[5] A second Haikuo Soft visual novel, Yotsunoha, saw a Western release on July 13, 2019 on Sol Press' website after it was denied publishing by Steam.[6]

Joined by MiKandi Japan, another campaign was launched on December 1, 2017 to fund the Laplacian VN Newton and the Apple Tree.[7] After just three days, it had already reached its goal of $31,200.[8] It was released on August 15.[9] Later in the year, DareSora: Tears for an Unknown Sky was localized and released on September 14.[10]

In April 2018, it began expansion into licensing light novels with the books Strongest Gamer – Let's Play in Another World and Battle Divas – The Incorruptible Battle Blossom Princess. The two were digitally released on April 30.[11] At Kumoricon 2018 in Oregon, Sol Press announced the creation of Project Hyourin, a digital distribution client for works licensed by the company. It also formed an alliance with Japanese game publisher Entergram to release visual novels on consoles in North America.[12]

On May 24, 2019, Sol Press announced a partnership with Kadokawa Dwango to release light novels and manga on Kadokawa's Bookwalker platform.[13]

Published works

Visual novels
Title Developer Release date Ref
Newton and the Apple Tree Laplacian August 15, 2018 [9]
Sakura Sakura Haikuo Soft November 19, 2018 [5]
DareSora: Tears for an Unknown Sky Anagram September 14, 2018 [10]
Under One Wing Harmorise February 28, 2019 [14]
Yotsunoha Haikuo Soft July 13, 2019 [6]
Onii-Kiss: Onii-Chan Where Is My Kiss? Tinkle Position September 24, 2019 [15]

Light novels
Title Author Release date Ref
Strongest Gamer – Let's Play in Another World Yuki Shinobu April 30, 2018 [11]
Battle Divas – The Incorruptible Battle Blossom Princess Kouka Kishine April 30, 2018 [11]
Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for my Retirement FUNA March 4, 2019 [16]
Redefining the META at VRMMO Academy Hayaken April 26, 2019 [17]
Why Shouldn't a Detestable Demon Lord Fall in Love?! Nekomata Nuko September 20, 2019 [18]
Chivalry of a Failed Knight Riku Misora November 16, 2019 [19]
I Surrendered My Sword for a New Life Shin Kouduki December 28, 2020 [20]
Let This Grieving Soul Retire! Woe is the Weakling Who Leads the Strongest Party Tsukikage December 28, 2020 [20]
The Game Master has Logged In to Another World Akatsuki December 28, 2020 [20]

Manga
Title Author Release date Ref
Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for my Retirement FUNA January 7, 2019 [16]
Harem Royale ~When the Game Ends~ Ryukishi07 March 4, 2019 [16]
The Ride-On King Yasushi Baba July 6, 2019 [21]
How to Treat a Lady Knight Right Kengo Matsumoto July 6, 2019 [21]
Blend S Miyuki Nakayama TBA [20]
Is the Order a Rabbit? Koi TBA [20]

References
  1. Baltimore, Steve (September 5, 2017). "INTERVIEW with Sol-Press Featuring Sakura Sakura". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  2. Baltimore, Steve (September 7, 2018). "(18+) REVIEW: Newton and the Apple Tree". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved October 9, 2018. The game is heavily edited on Steam, but you can go to PantyPress.com and download a free patch to uncensor the game. There is of course the 18+ patch which restores all of the cut content or you can go for the 17+ patch which leaves out the CG for the H scenes but restores all the dialogue.
  3. Ressler, Karen (September 4, 2017). "Sol Press Launches Kickstarter to Localize Sakura Sakura Visual Novel". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  4. "Sakura Sakura Localization Funded Via Kickstarter". Siliconera. October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  5. Kavanagh, Jacob (December 4, 2018). "Sakura Sakura Review – The Duality of a Love". Noisy Pixel. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  6. Baltimore, Steve (July 13, 2019). "Sol-Press Opens Their Store Yotsunoha is now Available". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  7. Ressler, Karen (December 1, 2017). "MiKandi Japan, Sol Press Launch Kickstarter to Localize Newton and the Apple Tree Visual Novel (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  8. Estrada, Marcus (December 4, 2017). "Visual Novel Newton and the Apple Tree Already Fully Funded". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  9. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 13, 2018). "Newton and the Apple Tree Visual Novel Debuts on Wednesday". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  10. Baltimore, Steve (August 29, 2018). "Sol Press is Bringing Visual Novel Series DareSora to the West". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  11. Ressler, Karen (April 11, 2018). "Sol Press Licenses Yotsunoha Visual Novel, 2 Light Novels". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  12. Ressler, Karen (October 29, 2018). "Sol Press to Launch Digital Light Novel, Manga, Visual Novel Platform". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  13. "Sol Press Titles Now Available on Book☆Walker Global". Anime News Network. May 24, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  14. "Romance Visual Novel 'Under One Wing' Gets New Western Release Date for Late February". Noisy Pixel. February 21, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  15. Hernandez, Diego (September 24, 2019). "Heartwarming Visual Novel 'Onii-Kiss: Onii-Chan Where Is My Kiss?' Now Available". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  16. Ressler, Karen (November 9, 2018). "Sol Press Licenses Ryukishi07's Harem Royale Manga, FUNA's 'Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for my Retirement' Novels/Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  17. "Sol Press Announces Physical Release for all Currently Available and Upcoming Light Novels and Manga". Noisy Pixel. April 20, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  18. Why Shouldn't a Detestable Demon Lord Fall in Love?! Vol. 1. Sol Press. 2019-09-20. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  19. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 2, 2019). "Sol Press Licenses Chivalry of a Failed Knight Light Novel Series". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  20. Sherman, Jennifer (November 6, 2020). "Sol Press Licenses Is the order a rabbit?, Blend S Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  21. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 7, 2019). "Sol Press Releases How to Treat a Lady Knight Right, Ride-On King Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
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