0.13 - Update Status (What should I do?)

Hello everybody!

Here are the new numbers for this update: 2050 renders, 69 animations and ~45,000 words.

The numbers didn't go up that much since last time, mostly because production slowed down during the holidays. But I'm at full speed now. I also finally hired a voice actress and completed the sound design for Riley's scene. This was my first time working with a VA, so it took lots of back-and-forth and adjustments, but I learned a lot from it. Because of that, the next scenes should be faster/easier to work on the audio side.

This progress report is pretty short, because I need to talk about something more important: the release of 0.13.


To be honest, I'm getting a bit worried (if not terrified) about the scope of what's left to do. I think it's clear now that I always end up making things bigger than planned! I told myself I wouldn't go over a year without an update, so I'm considering releasing something in February. The problem is that if I cut things short, 0.13 would NOT end the way I originally intended.

If I was a player, I'd be pissed. To spend all this time with Kayla, the buildup and emotion is all there, only to not get a real payoff a the end. The rest of the update and the more intimate scenes with her are already really good, but missing that proper ending would most likely ruin the experience for many people, especially after waiting a year. On top of that, I'd also have to cut story content, which would make the whole update feel underwhelming/convoluted. So here is the dilemma:

On one hand, I could release an unofficial, unfinished version of 0.13 sooner. I would make it very clear that this is ONLY for people who absolutely cannot wait anymore. That would give me more time to expand and polish Kayla's lewd scene (and the other remaining scenes) without rushing everything like I am right now. But like I said, there's a good chance you'll be disappointed by the weak ending, and the release would be underwhelming, compared to what I had planned for the full 0.13 release. I can also almost guarantee that some people would say "I waited a year for this?", and that's the last thing I want to read. I'm not saying 0.13 is bad in any way, but it's really just that feeling of a bad ending that I want to avoid.

On the other hand, I could stick to my original plan and finish 0.13 exactly how I want it, make it the best possible overall experience. And I expect the general reaction to be more like "the wait was worth it." But that also means more waiting and more pressure for me, especially with everyone's expectations being higher than ever.

So basically, my choices are:

Option 1: Release an unfinished 0.13 sooner. This should ease the wait and give people something to play, but it would come with a weak ending, cut story content, and a risk of disappointment. It could hurt the long-term perception of the game.

Option 2: Take more time, deal with the frustration of the wait, and release 0.13 the way it was originally meant to be experienced. A much stronger ending, and a more impactful overall update. I believe this is the best option for the game in the long run.

(Option 3?): Run a closed, invite-only beta of the unfinished 0.13. This would let me gather feedback from players, before making a final release decision. Spots would be limited, and this would be treated as a private test, not an early release.

Anyway, maybe I'm not thinking straight, so please let me know what you think. You can reply here, on Discord, or in my DMs. I might have to make a poll soon 😅