In a surprise release for survival horror fans, Yomawari: The Long Night Collection has officially launched on the PlayStation 5 in Japan. The compilation is currently available digitally via the PlayStation Store, featuring a significant launch discount for PlayStation Plus subscribers. Members can purchase the collection for 3,839 yen until May 29, after which the standard price will revert to 7,678 yen.
The collection bundles two acclaimed atmospheric horror titles: Yomawari: Night Alone and its sequel, Yomawari: Midnight Shadows. Originally released for the Nintendo Switch in October 2018, this new PlayStation 5 version marks a notable milestone for the franchise. It is the very first time that Yomawari: Night Alone - which originally debuted on the portable PS Vita before moving to PC via Steam - is playable on a non-portable PlayStation home console.
The sequel, Yomawari: Midnight Shadows, followed a similar multi-platform path, initially launching on the PlayStation 4 and PS Vita before arriving on PC via Steam. Both games eventually made their Nintendo Switch debut as part of this exact collection.
Traverse the haunting world of Yomawari: Night Alone as a young girl searches for her sister, or share in the terror facing schoolgirls Yui and Haru in Yomawari: Midnight Shadows. Uncover the mysteries plaguing a rural Japanese town, hide from the things lurking in the night, and maybe get home alive…
- NIS America
This latest release follows a pattern for the franchise. On March 12, the third game in the series also received a surprise PlayStation 5 launch in Japan, having previously been available on PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam. Currently, Nippon Ichi Software's western subsidiary, NIS America, has not confirmed whether the PlayStation 5 versions of The Long Night Collection or the third installment will receive an official release in the West.
The Strategy Behind Shadow-Dropping Legacy Horror
The decision to quietly release Yomawari: The Long Night Collection on the PlayStation 5 highlights a growing trend among Japanese publishers: utilizing current-generation hardware to preserve legacy portable titles. By moving a game like Night Alone from the discontinued PS Vita ecosystem to the PS5, Nippon Ichi Software is ensuring its back catalog remains accessible to modern audiences without the need for full-scale remakes.
However, the lack of a synchronized global launch is a frustrating reality for international fans. The aggressive 50% discount window for PlayStation Plus users in Japan suggests the publisher is testing the waters to gauge immediate demand on the new platform. If the Japanese sales metrics prove strong during this promotional period leading up to May 29, it could provide NIS America with the exact data needed to justify the localization and certification costs for a Western PS5 release.
