Dear Friends!
The upcoming game release on the scheduled release date has been jeopardized.
Today we received a request from the service of Steam, which checks games before release. Their request concerned the possibility of making in-game payments in Royal Quest (one of the necessary requirements for the release). This feature is available in the game and has already been checked by Steam employees, but for some reason additional data was required. And according to Steam rules, until the Steam platform receives all the requested information, the release on the platform is blocked.
It would appear that this is not a big deal. We have the data confirming the ability to accept and process payments in the game via Steam; we have already sent it in response to the request we received today. But the Steam team will be able to review this data on Monday at the earliest - within the framework of the working schedule, which implies working only on weekdays.
The situation is aggravated by the time zone difference. We received the request today - when it was already Saturday, it was Friday evening in the Steam team office. If we get a positive answer on Monday (Steam team's local time), we will have Monday-Tuesday night.
In the morning we had a team discussion of all possible scenarios of the situation. The conclusions are as follows:
1. The most optimistic option. On Monday morning our data is reviewed by the Steam team; they make sure that all the data is correct; the release on October 22 is allowed again. Our plans do not change: in the late evening of 21.10.24 we inform you that the release will take place on time; we hold the release on 22.10.24.
2. Less optimistic option. On Monday afternoon our data starts to be studied by Steam team, they ask clarifying questions; gradually they make sure that all data is correct; they allow the release, but we have no time to hold it on October 22. In this case, we set the nearest date and inform you about it; the release is moved to 23.10.24 or 24.10.24.
3. Pessimistic option. Our request is being studied by Steam team not since Monday. The official position of Steam platform: the answer can be given within 3-5 working days. In this case, we inform you about the situation and together we wait for the request to be approved. Once the request is approved, we set a release date for the nearest weekday and inform you about it.
Now from the raw facts to the personal: we are very unhappy with the situation that has arisen, for which there was no obvious precondition, but even more upset for you. We are well aware of the expectations and engagement many people have for Royal Quest. We know that some players have been taking time off for the release on Steam and have been putting together and reorganizing guilds. So, we will be working hard to keep the release on track or push it back as little as possible.
We have already changed the release date from October 1 to October 22, realizing that the game still has a lot to prepare for the launch on Steam. But (!) more than two weeks ago the game was sent to the Steam platform team for pre-release testing, and we responded to all their requests in a timely manner, time after time confirming that all the platform requirements were met. It will be the same now, only time and human factor are against us.