A few days have passed since the release, so now with a clear head, it’s time for a quick recap of the last update of the year, plans for the coming weeks, and a look at what’s ahead for next year. Hi there!
Let’s start with the latest update. Overall, I’m pretty happy with it. From what I’ve 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". I’ve responded to these points after every update, but I’ll do it again here. Update 4.0 took me two months to make, working 14–16 hours a day, including weekends, and giving up social outings and personal enjoyments like the Stalker and PoE2 releases I’d been looking forward to (still haven’t 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 Richard’s, not every path gets touched in every update - you’ll sometimes need to wait longer. So, if small updates aren’t your thing, it might be better to wait for 3–4 updates to drop or just hold out for the full release in 2026.
That said, I don’t want to sound bitter. I’m still happy with where we are now. Over the past 14 months since the game’s release, I think we’ve 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 wasn’t crucial enough to warrant separate saves. You’ll see more in the next update. For now, we’re 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 wouldn’t have been possible without your support. Thanks to you, I can create this game and not worry about tomorrow. Starting in January, I’ll be returning to my main job as a firefighter, but I’ll still dedicate all my free time to the game to keep updates coming every 2–3 months. And yes, they’ll be the same size as the current ones. I prefer to make smaller updates, but more often.
In three days, I’m taking my first proper break in a long time. I can’t remember a single day in the past 14 months when I wasn’t 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 Riley’s story.
As I mentioned, the full version of Steps of Debauchery is planned for 2026. We don’t 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. We’ll also add some optional elements that we hope you’ll enjoy. I won’t spoil everything, though as that would ruin the fun! :)
Lot of reading, huh? So here’s the conclusion: Updates will stay small because we simply don’t have the resources (i.e., 3D artists) to create more scenes faster. Quality will always come before quantity. I’ve scheduled a few posts for you while I’m away so you don’t forget about me.
Once again, thank you. Together, we’re building something truly special, and who knows what else we’ll 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/