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Press release:
Hallstadt, Germany, March 23rd, 2023.
The Montpellier-based (France) indie games publisher Dear Villagers and Hallstadt-based (German) indie games developer Studio Windsocke, are today super excited and happy to announce that their hot-air ballooning survival adventure “Passing By – A Tailwind Journey“, is coming to PC (via Steam) in Q3 2023.

“Passing By – A Tailwind Adventure” lets you befriend fellow travelers and quirky islanders, use your wits to solve immersive puzzles, and gather enough resources to continue to where your journey takes you!

Set in a beautiful and whimsical world of floating isles and a never-ceasing west wind, Passing By – A Tailwind Journey allows you to embark on a memorable voyage as Curly, a young balloonist, who is tasked with delivering a mysterious letter.
In this innovative genre hybrid of 2D puzzle platformer, survival and adventure game, you can explore the world at your own leisure, traveling from island to island by balloon ship and solving various puzzles while having to manage your resources in order to survive. An exciting adventure full of wholesome encounters and meaningful experiences awaits you!
But remember: since the west wind only ever blows in one direction, once you decide to leave an island, this means goodbye for good. Think carefully before you board your balloon ship; are you prepared to make the long trip through the clouds towards an unknown destination?
The journey is its own reward. May your burner always warm you and the west wind ever favor you!

KEY FEATURES:

Explore carefully crafted levels across a large variety of colorful biomes
Meet quirky island inhabitants and make memorable friendships with fellow travelers
Solve each island’s unique puzzles and find ancient secrets
Customize your balloon ship to your liking using a wide range of designs and attachments
Discover whimsical details presented in a beautiful 2D low-poly art style
Experience a fully dynamic, atmospheric score
Available in English, Spanish, French, German, and Chinese localization

“Our prototype of Passing By was very well received on itch.io, so we’re delighted to be partnering with Dear Villagers on the much expanded full game,” said Ilona Treml, Managing Director of Studio Windsocke.

“We want Passing By to be relaxing enough that you can sit back and chill out to it, yet deep enough that the experience and story will stick with you for a long time.”

“We were all blown away by the prototype of Passing By and it fit so perfectly with our company ethos,” said Guillaume Jamet, Head of Publishing for Dear Villagers.

“Dear Villagers specializes in original, emotionally moving experiences, and Passing By’s charming art style, and whimsical, yet slightly wistful tone really connected with us!”

For more information on Passing By – A Tailwind Journey:
Wishlist Passing By – A Tailwind Journey on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2085440/Passing_By__A_Tailwind_Journey/
Follow Studio Windsocke on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/studiowindsocke
Follow Studio Windsocke on Twitter: https://twitter.com/StudioWindsocke
Follow Studio Windsocke on Instagram: https://instagram.com/StudioWindsocke
Follow Studio Windsocke on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StudioWindsocke
Follow Dear Villagers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DearVillagers
Follow Dear Villagers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearvillagers

About Studio Windsocke
Studio Windsocke is a young indie studio based in Hallstadt, Germany, which was founded by four passionate game developers in 2021 with the goal to create meaningful games with a wholesome and whimsical atmosphere. Currently, the team is working on Passing By – A Tailwind Journey, a charming adventure combining typical elements of puzzle platformers and survival games. In 2021, the game won both the “Young Talent Award: Best Prototype” at the German Computer Games Awards and the “Ubisoft Newcomer Award” at the German Developer Awards.

About Dear Villagers
Based in the South of France, in sunny Montpellier, we are a boutique publishing label composed of a team of twenty people. Open-minded and versatile, Dear Villagers offers handcrafted marketing and production guidance. Our mission: We tell memorable stories through memorable games. We love pixels, but we believe in people. https://dear.link/dearvillagers/