The release date for The Island of Doctor Morose has been revealed, and you all showed up to check it out! We can't thank you enough for that, and can't wait for May 15!
As noted before, the demo had more than it's fair share of bugs and issues, which is why we've decided to give the game a little more time in the oven before release. The game is now scheduled for release on Friday, May 15, 2026! We'll also soon be offering pre-purchase options for those of you who are interested in that. If you pre-purchase, you will also be able to pre-load the game before the official launch date. To ensure that isn't a risky investment for you, the pre-purchase option will only become available once we can guarantee pre-loading privileges, so stay tuned for info on that (My guess is that pre-purchasing will probably become available some time in March). That is an option, but it is not something you need to feel pressured to pay for, especially if you didn't enjoy the demo.
Speaking of the demo, as thanks for the reception our latest trailer received, we've decided to extend the demo's availability until February 1. We mean it this time, though. As soon as February hits, the demo will go away. It no longer represents the quality of the full game, and we don't want people's first impressions of the game to be a buggy mess. A new demo will probably happen some time after launch.
Some things to keep in mind for the demo, should you choose to play it before it is removed:
-The tutorial isn't great, and leaves out key information. This will be better in the full game, especially because you will have a lot more accessibility options for text speed, controls, and you'll be able to access tutorial notes at any time.
-There is a known issue with the save system. This has been fixed in the dev build, but because of how outdated the demo build actually is, and how much about the game has been updated since, it would take a lot of time to fix this issue in the demo. That's a big part of the reason we're removing the demo at all; it's simply outdated. For now, if you choose to play the demo, note that if you die with a key item in your inventory, such as the metal arm for example, you will effectively be softlocked. You will need to restart from the beginning if this happens to you. Again: This is only a problem in the demo. It will not be an issue in the full game. Thank you all for making sure we were aware of this so we could fix it.
-The intro cutscene in the demo build has an annoying flashing light problem. Those with photosensitivity issues should skip it entirely or look away and listen to the voice acting if they want to know the lore. We apologize for this, it will not be a problem in the full game either.
-There are a few other bugs and issues that might affect your immersion and enjoyment in the demo, so know that you are playing an old and outdated build.
That said, have fun lol.
As far as our roadmap goes, here's what to expect from us in terms of features post launch:
-Steam Deck and Linux Support will unfortunately not be offered at launch, but we plan on updating the game for those of you who want to play on the go or on Linux shortly after release, as soon as we have the time to devote all of our energy to getting that working. If for whatever reason we end up having the time and resources to get this aspect working before launch, we'll make a post about it. If they aren't available at launch, my guess is July at the latest.
For the next little bit, things will be a bit quieter on our socials and on Steam while we work hard to polish The Island of Doctor Morose and get it ready for launch.
Speaking personally, I (Caden "Octo" Rogers), have truly enjoyed making this game. It is a tremendous labor of love from myself as well as from our entire team, and there are so many secrets we can't wait to see you uncover on Greatmaw Island! From all five of us at Square Butterfly, thank you for making this game so special. We are honored that so many care so deeply about this project. Thank you so much for your patience while we work out the kinks and get it ready for you! Your support means the world to us all!