Farming Sim 25 get new Highlands-inspired expansion

Look, I get it, every country’s Green Party is usually about as useful as a chocolate teapot in Summer, but I’ll give the Scottish Greens credit (and shout at them elsewhere) for trying to stop the reckless damage being done to historic Scottish landscapes. About 125 miles north of where an utterly stupid English company wants to destroy natural beauty for the sake of ruining its finances and a beautiful landscape, there is another Loch (kind of) that’s about to come to Farming Simulator 25. Titled “Highlands Fishing Expansion,” the Loch Ness-inspired DLC will bring a new Scotland-inspired map and maybe a little bit more.

This is what yesterday’s press release had to say for the announcement: “Farming Simulator 25: Highlands Fishing grants the popular series by publisher & developer GIANTS Software another requested form of farming: aquaculture. Available as an Expansion and Edition (bundled with the main game), ‘Highlands Fishing’ invites players to build a farm and man a fishing boat in the Scotland-inspired town of Kinlaig – a lush paradise of rolling green hills and open water.“

On Kinlaig, the press release notes: “[Kinlaig is] A Wind-Bitten Environment. Rocky valleys, covered with rough grass and overcast by clouds that stretch far out to sea: Kinlaig, inspired by the Scottish Highlands, prompts farmers and aquaculturists to put to sea and plough the soil in an environment rich with history, enjoying authentic architecture like century-old castles as well as new construction projects.“

The press release also goes on to give a little more detail on what the additions (of fishing and Scottish agriculture) will include: “Fishing both on land and at sea enables aquafarmers to breed, raise, and harvest a variety of fish. Venturing out onto the water offers a new, productive way to gather resources and another peaceful escape in addition to fields, forests, and stables. Casual shore fishing, rod in hand, rounds out the peaceful image of life by the water.

While salmon and rainbow trout populate the salty waters of Kinlaig, a new crop becomes available to grow on the land: Onions. Specialized equipment is included in the expansion, and the fleet of vehicles and implements grows with four new brands and over 20 new machines. Manufacturers Monosem, Can-Am, Agri Spread & GT Bunning join the series.” The announcement and press release came with a 14-minute presentation showcasing the expansion.

If it is not obvious from context clues thus far, I’m not only excited for the new expansion, but I’m excited because it is where I’m from. Better still, a place I’ve been many times, mostly to the touristy traps thanks to Americans, but it means I noticed something rather quickly when I first saw the announcement. As highlighted in the showcase, the key art has a few details, such as fishing from a bridge into a marshy river and a boat out on the water, but the castle and setting look rather familiar.

Nestled in a valley of the highlands, there is a large body of water, but beside that is a castle. Now with the context clues of valley, loch, castle, you’d be thinking Urquhart Castle, but that’s kind of rubble at this point. Go a bit further West to Dornie and Ardelve, however, and you get to Eilean Donan Castle (or Eilean Donnain), which is practically 1-for-1 with the castle. The in-game screenshot from the port area isn’t so much Eilean Donan, but what do you expect?

However, all of that could have gone in the bin (alongside Flamingo Land) if we didn’t get my fluffy boys and girls. It always surprises me when someone calls them “Highland Cattle” or “Highland Cows,” because there is only one thing to call them, “Highland Coos.” I said it about Atomfall, I said it about Watch Dogs: Legion, and I’ll say it here too: it is something special to see something so familiar but rarely shown in games. From the Coos to the stone buildings made on sloping hills, as seen in the showcase of Kinlaig.

I’m not going to say that the “Highlands Fishing Expansion” is 100% realistic, but it has that feel of Scotland about it, just as Watch Dogs: Legion had the feel of London. I’m beyond excited to see more, as will be shown off at Farm Con 25 this weekend (July 5th-6th), but I’m also excited to get hands-on later this year when the expansion releases on PC and consoles. The “Highlands Fishing Expansion” is set to release on November 4th on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC/Mac. Those who already own the Year 1 Season Pass are set to get the expansion alongside the season pass.