Pigeon-dating sim Hatoful Boyfriend dated, pre-orders open

Amazing pigeon-dating sim Hatoful Boyfriend has, fittingly, been dated. By a pigeon, probably.

Hatoful Boyfriend is due to hit Steam on 21 August, with pre-orders – which are open now – knocking 10% off the £6.99 price. Not only that, but there’s a collector’s edition! Hatoful Boyfriend: Summer of Dove Collector’s Edition will net you a digital soundtrack, a digital comic from series creator Hato Moa, some wallpapers of insane fantail pigeon Oko-san, and a digital St. Pigeonations 2014 Yearbook. That version costs £11.99.

In Hatoful Boyfriend, you play as the only human in the prestigious St. Pigeonations school for birds. Go to class, make friends with birds, and choose a feathered love interest – but make sure you don’t get dissected or assassinated. And yes, if I remember the original version properly, those are both possible Bad Ends. This version includes an all-new scenario and ending, so if you too have played the original, there’s something new here for you.

Outspoken Devolver Digital CFO Fork Parker has chimed in: “You nerds can keep your virtual reality headsets and your haptic feedback. Pre-pubescent bird love games are the next big growth category.” Better than Twilight, anyway.

Hatoful Boyfriend is due out on 21 August, and if you want to pre-order it you can do so here. I am almost certainly going to wind up getting the collector’s edition, because I’m mad.

I’ve included three screenshots below, to prove both that this is a real game and that it’s completely off its tits.