Hello everyone,
Thank you for your patience since the last update.
After receiving valuable feedback from the playtesters, I realized there's still more I can improve on in Insider Trading. This means the full release will be delayed to Q1 2026, instead of the originally stated 2025.
However, to make up for it, I've decided to showcase the progress so far in this major demo update.
This 0.3.0 update consists of substantial gameplay changes, with the addition of new characters, more than double the card pool, and new systems.
I apologize for the delay in full release. But I have confidence in how the game's shaping up, and am excited to share the new set of updates. As always, thank you for keeping up with the patches and enjoying Insider Trading.
The changes on 0.3 are as follows:
New Characters:
The demo now features 3 playable characters, each with a unique playstyle, and starting decks.
Each character can be unlocked by hitting different goals.
New Cards:
The card pool has been expanded significantly. More than double the number of cards from before.
This will offer many new strategies and combinations to be discovered.
Pill Consumable:
Consumables named 'Pills' have been added in this update. There are 10 unique pills you can find during runs. Using a pill gives a one-time effect that has various effects.
These will give you further agency in your gameplay, acting as a vital tool to combat RNG.
Other Improvements
Hard Mode: For those who have mastered the demo so far, a new difficulty mode is now available.
Events & Perks: Several in-run events and perks have been reworked or rebalanced.
Card Reworks: Most cards from the previous version have been redesigned or updated.
Combo System: The combo system has been reworked to trigger based on card colors and give 2 extra tokens when formed.
Connections System: A new system lets you customize which card types to spawn.
Shop System: The shop has been reworked to include consumables and offer individual perks directly.
Inflation Rework: Prices for Perks and pills will increase every week, instead of increasing with every purchase.
Audio Additions: Includes 9 new BGM tracks along with various new sound effects.
Minor Visual Improvements: UI and VFX have been improved here and there.
Tutorial: A new tutorial has been added to better introduce core mechanics.
Bug Fixes: Various bugs have been fixed, including the audio cracks happening when playing with certain types of headphones.
Aside from these updates, I want to take a moment to thank all the playtesters who have shared their feedback. As a solo developer, I truly appreciate the support. I'll be setting up another round of playtesting soon and will continue working on further improvements.
That's it for this patch. I'd love to hear what you think of the changes and make further adjustments based on it. I am still paying close attention to all the feedback that is left in the Discord, or the Steam discussion page, and will be on an ongoing lookout to improve the game based on that.
With that said, I'll be off to work further towards release.
As always, thank you all for playing Insider Trading and staying in the loop.