Sol Press was an American publishing company that focused on localizing Japanese visual novels, light novels, and manga. Located in Orange County, California, it was formed in 2017. In October 2021, it was prohibited from doing business in the state of California for non-payment of taxes.
 | |
| Status | Defunct[a] |
|---|---|
| Founded | February 2017 |
| Founder | Michael Valdez |
| Defunct | October 2021[1] |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Headquarters location | Orange County, California |
| Publication types | Visual novels Light novels Manga |
| Owner(s) | Michael Valdez |
| Official website | https://solpress.co/ |
The company had licensed nine visual novels, nine light novels, and six manga for release on the Steam and Kadokawa'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.[2] 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.[2][3]
In September 2017, Sol Press created a Kickstarter fundraiser to support the localization of the Haikuo Soft visual novel/eroge Sakura Sakura.[4] Despite Sakura Sakura's age and obscurity, Sol Press elected to pick up the game following positive feedback from the staff.[2] Funding for the Kickstarter was completed a month later.[5] It was released on Steam on November 19, 2018.[citation needed] 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 Corporation to release light novels and manga on Kadokawa's BookWalker platform.[13]
The company was forfeited by the California FTB for failure to pay taxes in late October 2021.[14][1] Citing requests from the original Japanese publishers, BookWalker removed series licensed by Sol Press on February 21, 2022.[15]
Licensed works
Visual novels
| Title | Developer | Release date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton and the Apple Tree | Laplacian | August 15, 2018 | [16] |
| DareSora: Tears for an Unknown Sky | Anagram | August 31, 2018 | [10] |
| Sakura Sakura | Haikuo Soft | November 19, 2018 | [17] |
| Under One Wing | Harmorise | February 28, 2019 | [18] |
| Yotsunoha | Haikuo Soft | July 13, 2019 | [19] |
| Onii-Kiss: Onii-Chan Where Is My Kiss? | Tinkle Position | September 24, 2019 | [20] |
| My Fair Princess | PeasSoft | November 8, 2019 | [21] |
| Choose Your Mistress | PeasSoft | N/A | [22] |
| Love Among the Sunflowers | More | N/A | [23] |
| Irotoridori no Sekai | Favorite | N/A | [24] |
Light novels
| Title | Author | Illustrator | Release date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Divas Vol. 1: The Incorruptible Battle Blossom Princess | Kouka Kishine | Nekonabeao | April 30, 2018 | [25] |
| Strongest Gamer: Let's Play in Another World Vol. 1 | Yuki Shinobu | Itsuwa Katou | April 30, 2018 | [26] |
| Battle Divas Vol. 2: The Unshakable Winter Blossom Princess | Kouka Kishine | Nekonabeao | April 12, 2019 | [27] |
| Strongest Gamer: Let’s Play in Another World Vol. 2 | Yuki Shinobu | Itsuwa Katou | April 12, 2019 | [28] |
| Redefining the META at VRMMO Academy Vol. 1 | Hayaken | Hika Akita | April 26, 2019 | [29] |
| Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for my Retirement Vol. 1 | FUNA | Touzai | April 26, 2019 | [30] |
| Battle Divas Vol. 3: The Unyielding Twin Blossom Princess | Kouka Kishine | Nekonabeao | May 17, 2019 | [31] |
| Why Shouldn't a Detestable Demon Lord Fall in Love?! Vol. 1 | Nekomata Nuko | Teffish | September 20, 2019 | [32] |
| Chivalry of a Failed Knight Vol. 1 | Riku Misora | Won | November 16, 2019 | [33] |
| Chivalry of a Failed Knight Vol. 2 | Riku Misora | Won | November 16, 2019 | [34] |
| Chivalry of a Failed Knight Vol. 3 | Riku Misora | Won | November 16, 2019 | [35] |
| Why Shouldn’t a Detestable Demon Lord Fall in Love?! Vol. 2 | Nekomata Nuko | Teffish | May 1, 2020 | [36] |
| Redefining the META at VRMMO Academy Vol. 2 | Hayaken | Hika Akita | June 15, 2020 | [37] |
| Chivalry of a Failed Knight Vol. 4 | Riku Misora | Won | July 6, 2020 | [38] |
| Why Shouldn’t a Detestable Demon Lord Fall in Love?! Vol. 3 | Nekomata Nuko | Teffish | July 20, 2020 | [39] |
| Redefining the META at VRMMO Academy Vol. 3 | Hayaken | Hika Akita | August 17, 2020 | [40] |
| Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for my Retirement Vol. 2 | FUNA | Touzai | December 14, 2020 | [41] |
| Chivalry of a Failed Knight Vol. 5 | Riku Misora | Won | December 28, 2020 | [42] |
| I Surrendered My Sword for a New Life Vol. 1 | Shin Kouduki | Necömi | December 28, 2020 | [43] |
| Let This Grieving Soul Retire! Woe is the Weakling Who Leads the Strongest Party Vol. 1 | Tsukikage | Chyko | December 28, 2020 | [44] |
| The Game Master has Logged In to Another World Vol. 1 | Akatsuki | Merontomari/Yuui | December 28, 2020 | [45] |
Manga
| Title | Author | Manga adaptation | Release date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harem Royale ~When the Game Ends~ Vol. 1 | Ryukishi07 | Yukari Higa | January 7, 2019 | [46] |
| Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for my Retirement Vol. 1 | FUNA | Keisuke Motoe | January 7, 2019 | [47] |
| How to Treat a Lady Knight Right Vol. 1 | Kengo Matsumoto | N/A | July 6, 2019 | [48] |
| The Ride-On King Vol. 1 | Yasushi Baba | N/A | July 6, 2019 | [49] |
| Harem Royale ~When the Game Ends~ Vol. 2 | Ryukishi07 | Yukari Higa | December 16, 2020 | [50] |
| Is the Order a Rabbit? Vol. 1 | Koi | N/A | December 16, 2020 | [51] |
| Blend S Vol. 1 | Miyuki Nakayama | N/A | December 23, 2020 | [52] |