Version 0.1.18 Rollback and Future Update Notice

Version 0.1.18 Rollback

Deadly Trick has been rolled back to version 0.1.18.

For smooth gameplay and proper matchmaking, please update the game before playing.

The Time Dial feature has been removed in the rolled-back version.

About the Direction of Future Updates

Following the recent Time Dial update, we would like to share the direction we are considering for future updates, as well as some of the changes we are currently preparing internally.

1. About the Time Dial Rollback

After reviewing both the internal data collected since the recent update and the feedback we received from players, we concluded that the current Time Dial feature requires adjustment.

However, we believe that properly balancing the Time Dial or developing additional systems to support it would be difficult to accomplish within a short period of time.

Therefore, as an immediate measure, we will roll back the Time Dial feature in order to preserve the existing gameplay experience as much as possible.

2. A New Direction for Deadly Trick

This update also led us to conclude that the overall gameplay experience of Deadly Trick itself needs substantial improvement.

The current structure of Deadly Trick revolves around gathering various pieces of information during the Investigation phase, then combining Statements and clues to gradually clear White players from suspicion.

While this structure is one of Deadly Trick's defining characteristics, it also has a limitation: players spend a long time individually analyzing information on their tablets, which can make the deduction process feel somewhat like solving a static puzzle.

While improving these aspects, we still want to preserve the game's existing focus on investigation and deduction as much as possible.

More specifically, rather than having every player independently gather precise information and work toward a definitive answer, we want to create a game where players discuss and exchange opinions based on clues that may be somewhat ambiguous, but are still intuitive and easy to understand, gradually working their way toward the truth together.

For example, instead of comparing large numbers of clues recorded separately on each player's tablet, everyone could look at the same screen together, discuss a particular clue, offer different interpretations, and continue the deduction from there.

Rather than displaying an overwhelming amount of information on the screen, we believe it is more important to present a small number of key clues that anyone can understand intuitively, and allow the players themselves to interpret what those clues mean.

Ironically, while exploring how to build this new deduction structure, we came to the conclusion that the Time Dial could play a very important role.

After creating and testing several internal prototypes, we found that using the Time Dial in a completely different way from its current implementation could bring the game much closer to the kind of experience we want to create.

※ The images above show an internal prototype and use temporary assets and placeholder artwork.

We are still experimenting with various approaches, but the new gameplay structure is taking shape faster than we expected. Discussions have already progressed well beyond the idea and concept stage, and we are now seriously considering how to implement it in the actual game.

3. About the Beta Branch

However, there is one major issue.

If these changes are implemented, they would involve redesigning the game's core mechanics, meaning that Deadly Trick could become a considerably different game from what it is today.

Of course, we believe these changes could make Deadly Trick more fun and intuitive, but we are also well aware that there are players who already enjoy the current game structure.

We do not believe it would be appropriate to unilaterally replace the game with something completely different without giving those players sufficient testing or a meaningful choice.

Therefore, we are planning to provide the new gameplay structure through a separate beta branch.

The current game will remain available on the main branch as it is today, while players who want to experience the new systems will be able to opt into a separate beta branch.

One thing we would particularly like to emphasize is that this beta will not simply be a version with a few features changed. The way the game itself is played will be significantly different.

For now, we plan to provide an environment where both versions can be experienced. If the beta produces sufficiently positive results and feedback, we may eventually consider bringing those systems to the main branch as well and restructuring the game on a broader level.

Of course, any such decision will be made carefully after thoroughly reviewing actual gameplay experiences and your feedback.

4. Beta Test Schedule and Future Plans

At the moment, it is difficult for us to give an exact date for when the beta branch will become available.

However, internal development is progressing quite quickly, and the structure of the new systems is steadily becoming more concrete.

Once the core gameplay is sufficiently complete and stable testing becomes possible, we would like to make it available to you as quickly as we can, even if some of the art assets are still unfinished, by using temporary resources and placeholders. (Though if the overall quality is truly too rough, we may spend a little more time polishing it first...)

Of course, we are also concerned that operating a separate beta branch while the current player population is still relatively small could split the player base and make matchmaking or running sessions more difficult.

Nevertheless, we believe that this process of experimentation and validation is necessary for Deadly Trick to become a better game in the long term.

We do not believe that the direction we are considering is necessarily the one correct answer. Features that felt positive during internal testing may behave very differently in a real multiplayer environment.

That is exactly why your experiences and opinions are so important.

When the beta version becomes available, we hope that even those of you who enjoy the current game will give the new systems a try at least once and share your honest feedback with us.

We will continue to quickly improve inconvenient aspects of the game based on your feedback.

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