Hello again, Poopballz.

Since our first development update, BallSlop has rolled out of the toilet and into its first closed Steam Playtest.

We’re now testing actual Steam builds, multiplayer rooms, controller support, voice chat, and increasingly destructive eight-player matches while preparing to invite more outside testers.

Full Controller Support

BallSlop can now be played through its menus and matches using Xbox and PlayStation controllers.

Players can navigate the legal screens, lobbies, customizer, results, onscreen keyboard, and in-game menus without reaching for a mouse. Controls can also be remapped—including swapping Confirm and Back for the Nintendo-minded high rollers among us.

The sphere customizer has received its own controller-friendly setup, so players can paint, rotate, save, load, erase, and permanently disgrace their rolling abomination from the comfort of a gamepad.

Your Sphere Has a Mouth Now

BallSlop’s Steam voice-chat system is being tested in lobbies and matches.

Your customized sphere appears as a talking portrait along the edge of the screen, complete with an animated mouth that reacts to your voice. Push-to-talk remains the default, with an optional Open Mic mode for players who would prefer that everyone hear their dog, keyboard, smoke alarm, and regrettable household conversations.

Open Mic is always disabled when the game launches and must be intentionally enabled inside a multiplayer room as to hopefully not accidentially broadcast your poopy laundry.

More Ways to Ruin Your Friends

The physics and attack systems have also become considerably sloppier.

Successful aerial stomps can now bounce the attacker forward into another target, allowing chain-splat combos.

Puke Shots can be reflected by crystal effects—or swallowed entirely by a player charging directly toward them.

Fully charged BALLSLOP attacks now have a clearer buildup, stronger visual presentation, and a proper impact sequence for both the attacker and the unfortunate sphere being launched toward the nearest wall.

And yes, the arenas retain much more paint now. Making the game run better was important. Accidentally making it less disgusting was unacceptable.

What Happens Next?

Our next step is expanding the closed Playtest, testing real multiplayer voice and matchmaking with more outside players, and continuing work toward a public demo.

We’re also preparing BallSlop for the October Steam Next Fest, where we hope to let considerably more people get their spheres dirty.

If this looks like your kind of competitive disaster:

Wishlist BallSlop, follow the Steam page, and tell us which mode you would most want to try first: Baby Rescue, Baby Dash, or Baby Blasters. (Don't worry - these game mode names are likely to change very soon.)

Thanks for continuing to splat early.

Slop till you Drop,

— The Slopsmith