Citizens, the time has come!
We're happy to announce that as part of the Top Hat Studios showcase, we have debuted a brand new trailer in order to highlight all the mechanics in SteamDolls.
You can view the new trailer below:
BUT ALSO, FINALLY, Version 0.4 is now officially live for everyone! 🔥
INCLUDING THE DEMO! 🔥
Yes — even the demo now runs on Version 0.4, letting new players experience just how far we’ve come.
After a decent run on the Beta Branch and valuable feedback from those brave enough to test it early, we've ironed out the kinks, polished the edges, and made key improvements based on what you experienced.
🛠️ Patch Notes – Steamdolls 0.4 🛠️
Finalized and deployed after Beta testing
Save Data Overhaul
The save system has been fully reworked to eliminate stutters on lower-end machines — including the Steam Deck. Smoother saves, smoother runs.
Energy Recharge Feedback
Enhanced animations give a better feel and more responsive energy recharge. Small detail, big impact.
Mob Balancing & Enemy Death Improvements
Enemy health and speed have been fine-tuned for a fair but challenging combat experience.
Enemies now die instantly (no more floaty delays) and won't try to attack while dying.
Some placements have been adjusted based on your feedback to reduce frustrating chokepoints.
Dash Attack Simplification
We’ve streamlined the dash attack mechanics for smoother, more intuitive execution. It just feels right now.
Improved Map Navigation
You can now move the map more freely.
Marker tracking system added.
Markers now auto-remove after solving puzzles or opening new paths, preventing clutter.
Level Design Adjustments
Several zones were tweaked to better support stealthy players and reward thoughtful approaches.
Ladders (Yes, finally!)
We’ve fixed and refined ladder behavior after extensive testing. Up you go — the right way.
Combat Feel Enhancements
Better anticipation for Whisper’s attacks.
Freeze frames on hit make combat snappier and more brutal.
White flash when humanoid enemies die = instant feedback.
Damage colliders and attack animations now sync perfectly.
Blade particles and sound effects are retimed to feel cleaner and sharper.
Whisper’s Animator Controller Rework
We’ve reworked Whisper’s entire animation controller for smoother, more fluid movement.
Includes a brand-new jump animation that finally gives his motion the punch it deserves.
⚠️ Some minor animation bugs may still lurk — let us know if you spot any oddities.
🔧 Bug Fixes & Polish
Too many small fixes to list, but the whole experience should feel tighter and more refined now.
What’s Next?
With 0.4 solidifying the core systems, we’re shifting gears toward narrative expansion — expect new zones, deeper lore, and the next pieces of the story puzzle.
We're also happy to announce that a 0.5 update will be coming soon.
⚙️ Incoming in Version 0.5 – Teaser Breakdown
“What breaks the mind is not the cage. It’s knowing someone is watching.”
🎬 New Hand-Drawn Cutscene
You wanted it, we love it — and it’s back.
A brand-new animated cutscene will drop with 0.5, continuing Whisper’s descent and adding another layer to the mythos. Expect stunning, gritty hand-drawn frames that crackle with tension.
(This one's personal.)
🧱 New Biome: The Prison Asylum
A self-contained story biome soaked in shadows and regrets.
Explore the Prison Asylum — a place where the mad, the augmented, and the forgotten are locked away... often for knowing too much.
Twisted architecture, corrupted surveillance systems.
Cells filled with incomplete whispers of the past.
Echoes of experiments and rebellions long buried.
🧟♂️ New Enemies
Brutal new foes unique to the Prison Asylum.
Twisted ex-soldiers, broken cyborg patients, and eyes that never blink.
Expect tighter, more oppressive encounters that test your reflexes and your paranoia.
💬 Badass Dialogue: Whisper x Gabriel x ???
The Whisper and Gabriel trade barbs, threats, and philosophical venom.
Their ideological clash burns brighter than ever.
And then there’s... the Warden.
A new character shrouded in mystery — a wannabe star who think he is in a game show.
No one knows who he answer to.
Some say he never blink. Some say he is not real.
All we know is: he is watching.
🧪 Experimental Mechanics (Top Secret)
Multiple experimental gameplay tests will be hidden inside 0.5.
Preparing the game for the next updates coming after it.
0.5 is not just an update — it’s a descent.
Get ready to dig into the cracks of the city’s foundation — and maybe your own.
Try the demo again. Feel the difference.
This isn’t a patch — it’s a statement.
👁️ The Eye will not like what you’re about to discover.
But we will.