A few days have passed since the release, so now with a clear head, its time for a quick recap of the last update of the year, plans for the coming weeks, and a look at whats ahead for next year. Hi there! Lets start with the latest update. Overall, Im pretty happy with it. From what Ive read, most of you received it quite positively, except the usual complaints about "so short", "add my favorite path", "such a long wait for nothing". Ive responded to these points after every update, but Ill do it again here. Update 4.0 took me two months to make, working 1416 hours a day, including weekends, and giving up social outings and personal enjoyments like the Stalker and PoE2 releases Id been looking forward to (still havent played them). Comments like these make me a bit sad because I put so much of myself into this, but the reaction are always the same, no matter how hard I try. As for paths like Richards, not every path gets touched in every update - youll sometimes need to wait longer. So, if small updates arent your thing, it might be better to wait for 34 updates to drop or just hold out for the full release in 2026. That said, I dont want to sound bitter. Im still happy with where we are now. Over the past 14 months since the games release, I think weve made huge progress. The renders are at a solid quality level, and the animations have significantly improved, so our focus now is on maintaining this standard. The latest update also marks a turning point many of you were waiting for, but I also want to mention that there are not going to be a lot of branching paths - for example, the LI choice in the park quest had some importance but wasnt crucial enough to warrant separate saves. Youll see more in the next update. For now, were planning 4 main endings with some smaller variations. Before moving on, I want to say thank you. When I launched the game in October 2023, I never imagined it would become my hobby, passion, and main source of income. This wouldnt have been possible without your support. Thanks to you, I can create this game and not worry about tomorrow. Starting in January, Ill be returning to my main job as a firefighter, but Ill still dedicate all my free time to the game to keep updates coming every 23 months. And yes, theyll be the same size as the current ones. I prefer to make smaller updates, but more often. In three days, Im taking my first proper break in a long time. I cant remember a single day in the past 14 months when I wasnt working on the game or at least thinking about what to add or improve. These two weeks should help me recharge so I can come back ready to continue Rileys story. As I mentioned, the full version of Steps of Debaucheryis planned for 2026. We dont want to stretch this project endlessly, and we already have a clear vision of what we want to deliver. The next update will likely come in March. Updates 4.1 and 4.2 will be smaller, as usual, focusing on side stories, slight progress in the main plot, and expanding additional features like jobs and free roam. Well also add some optional elements that we hope youll enjoy. I wont spoil everything, though as that would ruin the fun! :) Lot of reading, huh? So heres the conclusion: Updates will stay small because we simply dont have the resources (i.e., 3D artists) to create more scenes faster. Quality will always come before quantity. Ive scheduled a few posts for you while Im away so you dont forget about me.
Once again, thank you. Together, were building something truly special, and who knows what else well create in the future. I wish you all a peaceful Christmas filled with time well-spent with your loved ones, and a great start to the new year. Go crush your goals and make all your plans happen. Thanks, and see you soon! Ps. There is a Christmas Sale on Steam and you can get both Steps of Debauchery and Bright Lord in nice discounts, even in a bundle! Once you get your version, don't forget to leave a review! https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/48735/Secret_Obsession/