[✨The below changes are part of the v1.0 update! Release date will be announced when ready.✨]
Hi Researchers!
It's been a while since my last update about the progress towards 1.0! Amidst the minor updates (v0.12, v0.13) that included several QOL features, I've been working hard on the final content for Research Story 1.0.
📖 Additional Main Story Quests leading to end-credits
While the current Main Story Quest (MSQ) does give an 'ending' in the current version of the game, there are some loose ends remaining, as some of you have pointed out. I've added an additional 'Epilogue' segment to the MSQ, to give a more conclusive end to some of the story elements. It will be a (fairly) short questline that will lead you to the end-credits of the game. Players can continue to enjoy the game and end-game content indefinitely after the end-credits.
Due to spoilers, I can't show you much! I hope you enjoy it when the time comes.
💍 Proposals and Reverse-Proposals
In the full release, players will be able to reach ❤️Red Hearts with all 10 romanceables of the game. Once you reach ❤️Red Hearts, you'll unlock the proposal or reverse-proposal event specific to each character. A proposal can be scheduled as a Proposal Date (player-initiated), while a reverse-proposal includes a Proposal Cutscene from the NPC (NPC-initiated).
During or after those events, you'll be able to gift a Ruby Ring to the character, finalising the engagement! You'll unlock several Wedding Outfits in your Wardrobe the following day.
NPC hearts will max out at 🧡 Orange Hearts if they are not romanceable or if the player is already engaged/married.
Example of maxed hearts after being engaged/married
💐Wedding
While engaged, you can schedule your Wedding Day, just like how you'd schedule a Hangout Event. You can even choose the type of decor you'd like for your big day!
On the day of the Wedding, time is paused in the morning for you to make preparations (e.g. change into different outfits/hairstyles). Once ready, you can attend the wedding by leaving the house.
Wedding sneak peek!
Your spouse moves into your home right after the wedding! ✨ Spouses will have new sweet things to say and will continue their usual routines but also spend time in the spouse room.
📝 What's next
I've completed the Red Heart (i.e. proposal) content for all 10 romanceables. Each Red Heart Event is unique to the character and their stories, so it should feel very special~ I'm looking forward to seeing players experience those proposal cutscenes and dates!
I'll be working on unique spouse dialogue and routines next, as well as some small married life events (such as celebrating the player's birthday and the couple's wedding anniversary).
After which, I'll start work on the Legendary Research content, and spend any remaining time adding other end-game content. There are also some artwork-related & polishing tasks that I've left to the end (e.g. Fiances' Wedding Outfits). I'll work on those after the texts are done and I share them with the localisation team (for CN).
All in all, things are progressing well and I'm really looking forward to the full release! As we get closer to the end of Q2 2025, some of you might be curious about the release date. I can only confirm and announce the date when the game is ready, so please give me a bit more time for that. The community has been so patient and supportive, which I'm very thankful for. It surely keeps me going!
💛 Community Updates
Our Discord recently reached 1000 members! Thank you to everyone for making our community a welcoming and helpful one. It's something I'm always grateful for! I can't say that enough.
Even if you're not on the Discord, thank you so much for playing Research Story, leaving reviews, comments, feedback, bug reports, and questions about the game. I read every single one and I try to respond when I'm able. I'm also thankful for everyone who contributed to our community wiki, and all the videos and live streams for the game - here's one that I enjoyed recently:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OIRyr6Xdmg
Once again, I really appreciate all of you who have supported the game over the past couple of years in Early Access! Development took longer than expected but we're close to the finishing line, and that's very exciting!
Cheers~
Miki
