Hi everyone!
Here is a tentative outline of major development goals I'm aiming for during this year. I didn't include dates because it's impossible to know how long each thing will take, and many things are likely to change along the way. Some of this probably won't make it into the initial early access release, but that just means it will come soon after that.
Cellscape 2026 Roadmap
1. Finish Basic Virus System
At least 2 player viruses with different effects
Halteria cures viruses
2. New Creatures
Possible new ciliates:
Cyclidium
Vorticella
Cinetochilum
Euplotes
Various new flagellates
More biofilm-associated bacteria with special effects
3. Fungi & "Locked Food"
Fungal spores & hyphae
Using eg. enzymes to access special loot stuck in decomposing plant material
Spores can clear biofilms
4. Nematodes & Rotifers
Large creatures to cause major disturbance and late-game challenges
5. Achievements & Saving
Steam Achievements
Ability to save your session and continue later
6. Early Access Release
Late 2026
Plan for Early Access
Once Cellscape is in early access I plan to expand the game horizontally, so adding more depth and variety in existing systems. I'll also be adding more game modes like relax and aquarium modes, QoL things like difficulty settings, etc. Once all that feels good I want to expand forward with eg. more complex soil structure development and new systems like interacting with plant roots before finally reaching the full release.
Demo Status
The demo is still available and will likely stay up for a while. However, since I'm a solo dev I need to choose priorities carefully, so I've decided to focus on the game itself and not try to keep the demo updated along the way. If at some point the demo feels too different and no longer effectively represents the game, I'll most likely take it down instead of building a new version of it. But if you're enjoying the demo don't worry, that probably won't happen until much closer to the early access release.
Playtesting Opportunities
Please join the Cellscape Discord If you'd like to help with playtesting.
Thanks for being part of the journey!
Kate