Quick SDA 4.4 Public Release Update

TL;DR:

• SDA 4.4 is still planned for August 28 as a free public open beta - no Patreon account or payment required.

• Nexus will remain on 4.3.2 during testing; all beta reports must go through Jotform.

• Existing saves and direct upgrades are supported. Ashe and Asherana Early Access are expected within one to two months.

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Hey fam! Here’s a quick update on SDA 4.4.

SDA 4.4 is still planned to become freely available on August 28. Rather than immediately replacing 4.3.2 on Nexus, however, I’m planning to release it first as a fully free public open beta.

Early Access (which is basically our closed beta) has gone smoothly aside from a few hiccups, and the build would otherwise be ready for a normal public release. However, a larger testing group could reveal less common issues before the unrestricted Nexus release.

This also gives us a more manageable support process. The first few weeks after a major Nexus update can get pretty hectic, so keeping everything in one place should mean fewer emergency-hotfix marathons for me, hahaha.

Access and feedback

For PC, the open-beta files will be attached to a public Patreon post. You won’t need to pay, register, or have a Patreon account. The Xbox version will have its own Bethnet page (it'll just be the closed beta page made public), which I’ll link in the release post.

Jotform will be the only place where I read and handle beta bug reports. You can still discuss the beta on Discord, but please don’t send reports to Taylor or through the regular Discord and Nexus channels.

SDA 4.3.2 will remain on Nexus during this period, avoiding confusion between reports for the two versions. The full 4.4 Nexus release is currently expected after roughly three to four weeks, but it could arrive earlier if testing goes smoothly.

Save compatibility

SDA 4.4 Early Access was safe to install on existing saves. Early Access users can also upgrade directly to the open beta, and open-beta users can later upgrade to the full release, unless the relevant release notes specifically say otherwise. You shouldn’t need a new playthrough for each stage.

Other development news

• Much of the SDA 4.4 promotional/showcase footage has been shot, and I’m currently editing it.

• Ashe and Ashe–Serana development has been progressing smoothly. I briefly paused them to focus on getting SDA out first without overwhelming myself.

• I also expedited a quality-of-life Ashe–Serana hotfix that makes conversations better spaced out, more varied, and less repetitive.

• Ashe and Ashe–Serana Early Access are currently expected within the next one to two months.

I’m still deciding how future releases will work, but I’m considering a similar rollout for Ashe and Asherana banter: roughly one month of Early Access, followed by a free public open beta before the unrestricted release. We’ll see how SDA 4.4 goes before I lock that in.

Update - PlayStation versions: Official PlayStation/PS5 mod support is now available, and I plan to release official PlayStation versions of SDA and my other applicable mods. They may not be available immediately while I work through the necessary development and upload setup. Existing unofficial ports that I previously authorized can remain available for now. I’ll share another update once I have a tested path forward.

I’m really excited to open SDA 4.4 up to everyone in just under a week, and I can’t wait for you all to experience everything in the update!

• Marty