Last year, I announced that Eldritch Academy was getting a major update for Version 3. After a lot of on-and-off work, that update is nearing completion. In the meantime, I figured it was time to give a better look at the update while the last chunk is implemented. For that reason, I'm planning to make a beta branch for the game here on Steam once I've double-checked the common route for any major bugs or issues.

What's in the Version 3 Beta?

The current plan is to have the full game be available in the beta, though some scenes will not have finalized art implementation and final script checks. In general, this is the breakdown:

Prologue/Act 1/Act 2/Act 3: Implemented
Act 4/Epilogue: Art not implemented, script under review
Aftermath stories (standalone): Implemented
Bonus Features: Implemented

If there are any major issues in the "implemented" scenes and features in the beta, bug reports would be very helpful in removing these issues from the final v3 build.

How do I access the beta?

When the beta is uploaded, you will be able to switch to the beta by:

Right-clicking on Eldritch Academy in your library and selecting Properties
Navigate to the Betas tab
Select the v3 beta branch and apply your selection

After this, the game will replace the files from v2 with the v3 beta. Once the final version is out, you may need to opt out of the beta build to download it. (Needs comfirmation.) This is the same process, but choosing to not opt into any beta builds.

When will this beta be available?

I'd like to do some final checks on the existing content before uploading the beta, so I'd say the beta will be uploaded within the next week or so. I'll delay the beta if something major comes up, but otherwise I'd like to get it out there so people can pick up on any issues that escaped my notice. I'll post an announcement on the Eldritch Academy page once the beta is available, so keep an eye out if you'd like to try the beta.

What's different about Version 3?

Many of the changes can be found in the original announcement. A quick summary:

Resolution, UI, and art changes
New (custom) BGM tracks
Common route script changes (particularly involving choices)
Redundant scenes removed or combined

For those who are more visual, I'll leave you with a few new screenshots of the game. I hope everyone looks forward to the update!

[ 2021-09-11 16:59:16 CET ] [ Original post ]

Eldritch University

Nightshade Developer

Nightshade Publisher

2020-06-11 Release

Indie Singleplayer Tags

Game News Posts: 14

🎹🖱️Keyboard + Mouse
🕹️ Partial Controller Support

9 user reviews (9 reviews)

Steam Store

The nightmare is not over.

Kasumi Kawamura just wants to get through university while rekindling her relationship with her girlfriend. But not long after she arrives at school, a strange epidemic starts to infect the city, causing the afflicted to have terrible nightmares and lose the motivation to live their lives. Coinciding with the appearance of this "Nightmare Syndrome", an old wound that Kasumi thought healed starts to burn and cause frightening visions to those around her. Caught in the center of this situation, Kasumi and her friends try desperately to find a solution. Yet all the while, Kasumi wonders if she might be to blame...

Features:

A horror/romance visual novel with multiple endings. Kasumi's decisions determine whether she finds a way to end the nightmares or succumbs to them. And even if Kasumi survives, she may damage her relationship if she isn't careful...
Continue not only the story of Eldritch Academy, but also the story of the amateur paranormal detectives Shizuka and Yuri from the Shireishi anthology of short stories.
A collection of bonus scenes taking place after the main story. See how the main characters recover from the ordeal and try to move on with their lives after the nightmare.

MINIMAL SETUPMemory: 1 GB RAMStorage: 150 MB available space
Storage: 150 MB available space
RECOMMENDED SETUPMemory: 2 GB RAMStorage: 200 MB available space
Storage: 200 MB available space