LockedOn Games · Erabit
Changed Larika's "month of Sundays" line in Chinese translation Fixed a color error and size inconsistency in File 05 CG
Fixed Viu saying Larika's line in Chapter 16
Fixed error in evidence in File 06
Fixed error in evidence in File 06
Added additional explanation to Chapter 29 about mystery Cynthia apartment number fix Chinese translation typo fix
Fixed incorrect apartment number in File 06 Fixed suspect statement issue in File 06 Chinese translation typo fixed
Missing/corrupted Chinese translations fixed Other small improvements
Another patch to address achievement unlocking
Another patch to address achievement unlocking
Fixed Steam achievement issue! Important note : If the game is failing to launch after the update, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. Fixed autopsy not appearing properly in Chapter 28 English typo fixes
Fixed Steam achievement issue! Important note: If the game is failing to launch after the update, try uninstalling and reinstalling it.
Fixed autopsy not appearing properly in Chapter 28
English typo fixes
Note: If you're having issues, fully uninstall and reinstall the game to make sure all the game files are properly updated. Loading from old saves may result in bugs after this update. To celebrate the 1.0 release, I've put together this special presentation — enjoy! In this upda
Note: If you're having issues, fully uninstall and reinstall the game to make sure all the game files are properly updated. Loading from old saves may result in bugs after this update.
To celebrate the 1.0 release, I've put together this special presentation — enjoy!
In this update...
The final File, and the conclusion of the story awaits... the fateful events of Stage Six are revealed, as well as the horrible truth that Larika discovers... a dramatic showdown that you won't want to miss!
That secret item in the Extras menu all this time was in fact... Vignettes! This 1.0 launch includes two Vignettes — I'll let you see what they are for yourself!
All extra content has now been added to the game — you can now view sprites in the Sprite Gallery, backgrounds in the Backgrounds Gallery, titlecards, behind the scenes articles — and more!
The full soundtrack to Methods: The Canada Files has now been uploaded to YouTube and bilibili.
File 03's evidence box has more contrast
In File 04, the "Traitor" role has been rewritten a bit to create higher stakes
Prevented submitting incorrect number of evidence
Thanks for sticking with the game throughout its development journey. I hope you will enjoy File 06, and look forward to the next game in the series — Motives: The Ultimate Problem, entering development this year. Wishlist Motives here:
Best,
— LockedOn & Erabit
Sixth & Final case of the Detective Competition. Detective Larika Downs v.s. Mastermind Joane Tremblay. Long-buried secrets await their reckoning. Methods: The Canada Files – Full Release Launching Mar. 5, 22:00 (UTC-5)
Sixth & Final case of the Detective Competition.
Detective Larika Downs v.s. Mastermind Joane Tremblay.
Long-buried secrets await their reckoning.
File 06's development is nearing completion. What I worked on since the last update: Finished all backgrounds Finished all CGs Composed 4 new music tracks Completed writing revisions As of yesterday, I've completed work on all the CGs in File 06 — which ended up being around 60 i
File 06's development is nearing completion.
What I worked on since the last update:
Finished all backgrounds
Finished all CGs
Composed 4 new music tracks
Completed writing revisions
As of yesterday, I've completed work on all the CGs in File 06 — which ended up being around 60 in total. Now the work that remains is music, additional polish, and the translation. It feels great to be so close to completing this multi-year project at last. I hope you're looking forward to File 06.
Until next time!
— LockedOn.
File 06's development continues into the new year! What I worked on since the last update: Blocked out all backgrounds, finished 15 Rendered placeholders for CGs, unfinished backgrounds Made another music track Conducted playtests Last month my main goal was working on all those
File 06's development continues into the new year!
What I worked on since the last update:
Blocked out all backgrounds, finished 15
Rendered placeholders for CGs, unfinished backgrounds
Made another music track
Conducted playtests
Last month my main goal was working on all those backgrounds — I'm pleased to say that I am very close to completing them, and that the remaining ones just need a few additional props and lighting. My new workflow of doing multiple passes of every background, rather then finishing them completely one by one, has really paid off and made the entire process go faster. In addition, the amount of CGs in the File has increased to 50. The work I did in the past of going to the trouble of making custom 3D models of the characters is helping me a lot with that. My biggest challenge now is the sheer volume of remaining assets to create, and a few writing revisions that I'm dragging my feet on. So, in the final few months of the development of this game, I'll be "locking in" more than ever to finally complete it.
Until next time!
— LockedOn.
Characters are finished! What I worked on since the last update: Finished the designs and sprites for the characters Coded the game to a "playable" state Finished File 06 UI recoloring This month went by super quickly, and after designing the characters went so slowly, I've reali
Characters are finished!
What I worked on since the last update:
Finished the designs and sprites for the characters
Coded the game to a "playable" state
Finished File 06 UI recoloring
This month went by super quickly, and after designing the characters went so slowly, I've realized I really need to ramp up my productivity if I want File 06 to be released in early 2026. So I've been pushing myself to work more, and have just finished make the File fully "playable" — I'm now able to play the entire File through, though obviously its missing all the art and music and looks super rough. It's as though I've laid down a "blueprint", and now I can begin actually building the house. The next big goal will be blocking out all those backgrounds and then modeling all the props and everything for them.
Until next time!
— LockedOn.
I have finished writing File 06! What I worked on since the last update: Finished writing File 06 Created 2 music tracks Designed 3 characters Well, it took a little longer than I thought, but I finished writing File 06, which means that The Canada Files is now fully written. I c
I have finished writing File 06!
What I worked on since the last update:
Finished writing File 06
Created 2 music tracks
Designed 3 characters
Well, it took a little longer than I thought, but I finished writing File 06, which means that The Canada Files is now fully written. I can finally move on to the other parts of the process, which are still difficult but not nearly as much of a struggle to get myself to do. I'm pretty excited about it— it's a dark and dramatic finale. I hope it won't take too long to complete, since there are a ton of backgrounds, CGs, music... but at the same time, knowing it's the final File is very motivating.
Until next time!
— LockedOn.
Writing has begun on File 06! What I worked on since the last update: Outlined the mystery for File 06 Wrote Chapter 26 Designed 1 character Finished Part 2 of The Art of Methods I've begun writing File 06, after outlining the mystery. I'm trying to apply all the lessons I learne
Writing has begun on File 06!
What I worked on since the last update:
Outlined the mystery for File 06
Wrote Chapter 26
Designed 1 character
Finished Part 2 of The Art of Methods
I've begun writing File 06, after outlining the mystery. I'm trying to apply all the lessons I learned from creating all the previous Files to try to make it the most thrilling mystery yet. I also recently released Part 2 of The Art of Methods on my Patreon and Afdian pages. It takes some time, but it's definitely worth it to fill in all those details about the Methods universe. I will make sure it's finished before I begin production on Motives.
Until next time!
— LockedOn.
Fixed "Wrong Room" evidence number count
Fixed "Wrong Room" evidence number count
Both Hangout Four and Hangout Five have been released, which means that the Hangouts feature is now finished. Please note that the price of the game will increase soon now that the Hangouts are released, so now is a good time to get the game at a reduced price! With these Hangout
Both Hangout Four and Hangout Five have been released, which means that the Hangouts feature is now finished. Please note that the price of the game will increase soon now that the Hangouts are released, so now is a good time to get the game at a reduced price!
With these Hangouts comes two new Outfit sets — Pirates and Suits. Whether you prefer to plunder other detective team's ships or make sure Team Tads looks spiffy for a night out on the town, you will now have the option!
Vote choices no longer impact Morale
Outfits now unlock when you get a good ending instead of requiring both good and bad endings
The votes in each File used to impact Hangout Morale — for example, the character who you voted for as "Most Useless" would have a lower Morale when you began the Hangout. This wasn't very intuitive or clearly communicated, and led to some edge cases of players not being able to improve Morale for a character, so this is no longer the case.
I also realized that making you play through both "good" and "bad" routes to unlock the Outfits was a little too demanding. I designed it that way so you would be encouraged to see as much of the dialog as possible, since there is some interesting dialog hidden behind "bad" options. However, asking players to try to get the characters to dislike them on purpose seemed a bit odd and confusing, especially since whether the characters like each other or not doesn't affect the dialog in the main story. After running a poll to get a sense of what solution would be best, I've now changed it so they unlock after getting good endings.
Bagels and Baguettes has been given a quieter remix to play during Hangout Two
Improperly aligned text in Support minigame in File 04 fixed
Line added for context during File 04 theories
I've started working on File 06, and judging from how long the other Files took, it will take at least six months to finish. When I release it, Methods: The Canada Files will finally be complete. It's been a longer development journey than I predicted, so thank you for your patience and for supporting the game in Early Access.
Have fun with the new Hangouts and outfits!
Until next time!
— LockedOn & Erabit
Hangout Five has been written! What I worked on since the last update: Wrote Hangout Five Implemented 3 Outfits Coded all Hangouts The biggest hurdle has finally been overcome — writing Hangout Five. The past few months, it was a bit of a struggle to write, but bit by bit, I hack
Hangout Five has been written!
What I worked on since the last update:
Wrote Hangout Five
Implemented 3 Outfits
Coded all Hangouts
The biggest hurdle has finally been overcome — writing Hangout Five. The past few months, it was a bit of a struggle to write, but bit by bit, I hacked away at it and now, it's done!
Here's a screenshot from the upcoming release! I still have another Outfit set to draw, Hangout Five's background to create, and of course, the Chinese translation needs to be finished, but it's getting close!
Until next time!
— LockedOn.
Hangout Four has been written! Hangout Four has been written, and soon I can send it off for translation! As I was aiming for, it's about 5k words. However, my plan is to go ahead and create Hangout Five as well before the next release. I would like to be completely focused on Fi
Hangout Four has been written!
Hangout Four has been written, and soon I can send it off for translation! As I was aiming for, it's about 5k words. However, my plan is to go ahead and create Hangout Five as well before the next release. I would like to be completely focused on File 06, so finishing up all the Hangouts first is my top priority, and creating both at once will allow me to save some time I think. It's fitting, since I also created File 04 & 05 at the same time. This will mean that the Hangouts feature will be complete with the next update — there was never going to be a Hangout Six. However, there will be something better, and it has to do with that unknown feature in the Extras menu that is currently labeled with a question mark. ;)
What I worked on since the last update:
Wrote Hangout Four
Designed 5 New Outfits
Implemented 2 Outfits
Until next time!
— LockedOn.
Typo fixes in Chinese localization
Typo fixes in Chinese localization