Companion of Darkness Chapter 12.5 is now live!

Hey all,
Companion of Darkness Chapter 12.5 is now live!

This is the biggest half-chapter so far, and honestly, I think it might also be the best one yet, though of course, I’m not exactly unbiased. How could I be?

I’m really excited to hear what everyone thinks about this one, because it includes some new systems that I’ve been working on for a while. I’m especially looking forward to feedback on how they feel in actual play, what works well, and what still needs improving.

Either way, I’m very happy to finally share this half-chapter with you.
Download link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/159245795?pr=true

Thank you all for the support, patience, and feedback. It really helps me keep the game going and continue improving it.

With love,

Berki

PS: I have a cool picture, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to share it publicly, I don't want to step on anyone's toes.

You can find the picture via the download link or on Discord.

PS2:


Regarding the public release:

Half-chapters usually are not released publicly.

BUT!

Since this one is so big, I am thinking about making an exception.

There are two things I need to figure out first:

First and most importantly, those who follow me on patreon know, i am forced to move out of my current apartment that i rented. Until that is done, I cannot properly work on the game. Once things are settled, hopefully in about two or three weeks, I will take a closer look at how much work is still needed to finish Chapter 13.

Right now, it is hard to estimate, especially because this update uses some new systems, and I do not know yet how much time they will need for the rest of the chapter.

So, if I realize, “Okay, finishing Chapter 13 is going to take much longer than expected,” then I will seriously consider making Chapter 12.5 public.

For now, though, I am forced to shift my focus elsewhere for a little while. You will hear from me again in about two weeks.

I also want to be honest: I have been completely exhausted these past few weeks. Because I knew I would not be able to work on the game properly for a week or two, I switched into turbo mode, took unpaid leave from my job (shoutout to my boss for accepting that, absolute MVP) and worked exclusively on the game.

Basically:

Wake up in the morning.

Drink three coffees.

Work on the VN.

Eat something in the evening.

Pass out in bed.

Repeat.

So, honestly, it is probably good that I am being forced to do something different for a bit, because I am completely drained right now.

Thank you for understanding, and thank you for your patience. As soon as I know more about Chapter 13 and a POSSIBLE public release for 12.5, I will let you know.

PS3:

I also want to make one thing clear for current supporters: if Chapter 12.5 does get a public release, it will not happen immediately.

First, I will be away from my usual setup for roughly two weeks. After that, I need to get back to work, check the state of Chapter 13, and see how much development time is realistically still ahead.

Only if I realize that Chapter 13 is still very far away, more like several months than a few weeks, would I consider releasing Chapter 12.5 publicly. And even then, I would announce it in advance, with some time between the announcement and the actual release.

This would be more of a “bridge” for public players if the next full chapter takes much longer than expected, not a replacement for the early access that supporters receive.

It is very important to me that the people who support the game financially do not feel ripped off. Your support is what makes it possible for me to keep working on the game, and I really appreciate that.