Future Update Notice

Hello, this is Finalblow!

We recently saw quite positive results from our internal testing, so it looks like we may be able to introduce the beta branch a little earlier than expected.

Development Progress

First of all, while there is currently no separate update being released, development on the large-scale new content we mentioned previously, including the new map and new character, is continuing.

Work on the new character's LD illustration is also progressing smoothly, and we are actively producing art assets for the new map and the Trial Room overhaul as well. We can't wait to show you the new content as soon as possible!

By the way, the new character's name is "Shuran."

However, a significant portion of our current development resources is focused on the system overhaul for the beta branch.

(Of course, we are also doing our best to respond as quickly as possible to bugs reported in the current version and any balance issues that require urgent adjustments.)

While preparing the beta branch, we have also decided to move forward some of the Trial Room overhaul work that was originally planned for a later update.

Personally, we would love to show you the new Trial Room in a fully polished state, but rather than delaying the beta branch until all of the art is complete, we believe it would be better to let you experience the redesigned game systems first, even if that means using temporary assets.

Most importantly, we're happy to say that the newly reworked build was quite fun during our internal tests!

Even with the art assets still unfinished, we were able to have a genuinely enjoyable time playing it, which also gave us confidence that the new game systems are ready to be shown to you in advance.

Of course, these are only the results of our internal testing, so we're very curious to see how actual players will feel about it.

There may be issues or areas for improvement that we were unable to notice from a developer's perspective. Through this beta branch, we want to hear your feedback directly and continue refining the game into a more polished experience.

Even if some parts are still rough, we hope you'll be understanding, try the new systems yourselves, and share your honest thoughts with us!

The screenshots shown from this point onward contain many unfinished temporary art assets.

The final visuals will be significantly improved later, so for this preview, we would appreciate it if you could focus more on the changed game systems and gameplay rather than the appearance.

Beta Branch Preview

As we mentioned previously, the beta branch is overhauling the game's core systems around the Time Dial.

First, the Time Dial allows you to check the silhouettes of players who were present at a specific point in the past, and take photos of them to use as evidence.

The locations of silhouettes visible through the Time Dial are also displayed on the map. We will absolutely improve the icons to make them much easier to see...!

You can think of the beta branch gameplay as combining this positional information with evidence collected at the scene to reconstruct the culprit's route and narrow down the suspects.

However, one major difference from the current version is that clue collection will be much more limited.

Previously, players could investigate and collect clues without any limit. In the beta branch, each player will be limited to three investigations.

Rather than simply collecting as many clues as possible, it will therefore become important to decide what information is needed in the current situation and carefully choose what to investigate.

Of course, before investigating, you will be able to get a general idea of what kind of information you can obtain. This is intended to ensure that choosing the clues you need does not simply come down to luck.

In addition, you will always be able to check your own activity records without using an investigation.

This means that even if you use all of your investigations or fail to obtain the clue you wanted, you will at least be able to defend yourself based on your own actions.

Of course, Shadows and the Mastermind will also have ways to interfere with the investigation and disrupt the investigation process.

First, when using Evidence Removal, you will now be able to preview the clues recorded on each object. This allows you to identify crucial clues that could have a decisive impact on the investigation and strategically remove them.

The Mastermind will also be able to use the Time Dial from the very beginning of the game, allowing them to view past silhouettes during the Escape phase and remove them directly.

Through these changes, Shadows and the Mastermind will also be able to actively respond to the state of the investigation and use a variety of strategies to interfere with the Whites' deductions.

And... prepare yourselves... because you're about to see some truly horrifying screenshots filled with horrifying unfinished placeholders...!

Once again, the screenshot you are looking at is absolutely NOT the final version...! However, please keep in mind that some temporary assets may remain when we release the beta branch early.

Next, we'd like to explain the direction in which the Trial phase will be changing.

First, a podium and screen have been added to the Trial Room!

Players can now step up to the podium to submit photos they collected or present Statements.

Anything presented at the podium will be displayed on a shared screen visible to every player.

This allows players to naturally share information they have collected with everyone else and make their arguments based on that material.

Instead of everyone individually checking their tablets and analyzing information on their own, Trials will now take the form of everyone focusing on the same piece of evidence and exchanging opinions about it together.

We have also changed the Trial so that players can move around freely during the Trial phase.

This does not fundamentally change the core rules of the game, but during internal testing, even this small change made the atmosphere and sense of presence in the Trial Room feel significantly different.

We also plan to add various interactive elements that can be used inside the Trial Room in the future, so please look forward to them!

After this overhaul, players will deduce the culprit by combining photos taken during the Investigation phase, silhouette locations identified through the Time Dial and map, and the limited clues they have collected.

Because no single player will be able to obtain perfect information, sharing what each person knows and comparing one another's testimony and reasoning becomes much more important. During our internal testing, this structure showed a better balance than we initially expected.

What stood out most was that the game moved away from the previous focus on static information analysis and naturally encouraged much more active discussion between players.

Of course, there are still areas that need adjustment, and issues we did not discover during internal testing may appear in actual play.

However, based on our testing so far, we plan to maintain the core direction of this overhaul while continuing to improve the finer details, overall polish, and balance.

Beta Branch Release Schedule

At the moment, we are aiming to release the beta branch with the new systems as early as sometime next week. Since the internal test results were positive, we would like to show you this new gameplay experience as soon as possible.

However, development and testing are still ongoing, so the exact release date has not yet been finalized. Please understand in advance that the schedule may change if unexpected issues are discovered.

Also, please keep in mind that this beta branch is ultimately a test version intended to validate the new game systems. Some art assets and visual sequences may still be unfinished, and detailed rules or features may change depending on issues identified during testing.

We believe this overhaul is an important opportunity to take Deadly Trick's gameplay to the next level.

We will continue actively listening to your feedback, quickly improving any frustrating aspects, and further developing the parts that prove to be fun.

Thank you sincerely to everyone who plays the game and sends us valuable reports and feedback!