AIR coming to Steam in English on March 5

Key will release acclaimed romance visual novel AIR for PC via Steam on March 5 worldwide for 3,200 yen, the company announced. It will support English, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese subtitle options with Japanese voice-overs.

AIR first launched for PC on September 8, 2000 in Japan, and has since been ported to Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, feature phones, PSP, iOS, Android, PS Vita, and Switch. While unofficial translation patches have been released by fans, the Steam version marks the first-ever official English release.

Here is an overview of the game, via its Steam page:

About

AIR is the work from the visual novel studio, Key, known for titles such as CLANNAD, Little Busters, Summer Pockets, and more. It received great acclaim and was even adapted into an anime series.

• The story evolves depending on the choices you make, providing a variety of different endings to the visual novel’s story for you to discover.
• Also includes AIR‘s side story novel, “First Sky Chapter” in visual novel format!
• Featuring retouched high-definition visuals and CG coloring!

This version not only offers the best high-definition quality to date, but the game’s CG coloring has also been adjusted to better complement LED display colors. Enjoy the experience with beautiful graphics!

• Although the Windows version of AIR has never had voice support before, the Steam version adds full voice support with an amazing cast of actors!
• The text can be set to Japanese, English, or Simplified Chinese (audio only available in Japanese). This includes in-game text, options, and the digital manual. Language settings can be changed at any time.
• Touch gestures can also be used if you’re playing on a tablet PC or a Steam Deck.

Story

Summer had come to that town.

A young man is performing with a puppet in front of a seaside bus stop. Only two children are watching his show. However, they soon lose interest and run off.

The young man is a traveler. He has two companions on his travels. A decrepit doll that moves without strings and a powerful oath made a long time ago.

Just when he began to feel despair, a young girl comes to talk to him. She has a friendly, innocent smile. Following this meeting with her, the young man begins to live in that town.

Spending gentle days enveloped in the scenes of summer. Encounters with girls in the sunlight.

Summer stretches on endlessly. Beneath the vast blue sky. Beneath the air in which she awaits.

Characters: Dream

• Yukito Kunisaki (voiced by Hikaru Midorikawa) – A young man traveling in search of the meaning behind the words spoken to him by his late mother. He earns money by performing with a doll that mysteriously moves without strings. The story begins when his travels bring him to a countryside bus stop by the sea.
• Misuzu Kamio (voiced by Tomoko Kawakami) – A young girl who attends a school by the sea. She lives together with her mother, Haruko, but takes care of the household chores since Haruko is busy with work. She’s a bit of an airhead, but is an honest and gentle girl.
• Kano Kirishima (voiced by Asami Okamoto) – The second daughter of the Kirishima Clinic, which has served the community for many years. Her parents have passed away, and she now lives with her sister Hijiri, who took over as the clinic’s doctor. She’s good friends with Potato, a mysterious creature (a dog?) who is always with her.
• Minagi Tohno (voiced by Ryoka Yuzuki) – A tall, beautiful girl. Her quiet, soft way of doing things. at her own pace often gives those around her the impression that she’s mysterious and unfathomable. She often spends time with her younger friend, Michiru, at the unmanned station on an abandoned train line.
• Haruko Kamio (voiced by Aya Hisakawa) – Misuzu’s mother, who lives a life of indulgence. Her lifestyle doesn’t seem to align at all with that of Misuzu, who is still a student, so they rarely spend time with each other. Her greatest joy in life right now is drinking sake.
• Hijiri Kirishima (voiced by Yumi Touma) – Kano’s older sister, who is the doctor at Kirishima Clinic. She hasn’t been working long, but her skills as a doctor are not bad. She is very overprotective of her sister, often going to extremes over how much she cares for her.
• Michiru (voiced by Yukari Tamura) – An energetic young girl always playing at the station together with Minagi, who she loves with all her heart. She accuses Yukito of being a kidnapper when they first meet, and from there they have many battles each time they see each other.

Characters: Summer

• Kannabi-no-Mikoto (voiced by Chinami Nishimura) – A “winged one” who is said to be a servant of the gods. Although she is of high status, she is basically a prisoner of those who use her power for their own benefit.
• Uraha (voiced by Kikuko Inoue) – Kanna’s lady-in-waiting, who adores her. She’s soft-spoken, but also a little unpredictable.
• Ryuya (voiced by Nobutoshi Canna) – A warrior assigned to guard the shrine where Kanna is kept. He can be a little arrogant, but he’s a serious person and is unmatched with the sword.

Watch a trailer below.

Steam Trailer

English

Japanese

Simplified Chinese