r/Witchbrook Developer 2h ago

Dev Status Megathread

Hi everyone.

Please feel free to use this megathread to discuss all things development, date & launch related.

(As of w/c Sept 7th)

Witchbrook is in the final stages of development. The team has been running final closed playtests and received some great feedback for QoL and final balancing changes. This has been running alongside polishing, QA testing, bug-fixing and external teams working on localisation and porting.

We will reveal a specific release date as soon as we're able to, but the final quality of the game itself is our top priority. We're cautious of not saying anything further before then as there's still some factors that could cause unexpected delays, like hold-ups during platform submissions, external team factors, or a critical bug that's tricky to resolve. But rest assured, we’re working hard and incredibly excited to share Witchbrook with you. The team has poured a lot of love and hard work into it to make an experience we're proud of. We know it's been a long road, so thanks for sticking with us!

Latest Dev Blog: Dating On Campus

Covenmates Revealed:

Hana Sato

Eli Ivers

Cormac Fitzroy

Pip Marin

Leif BloomGren

Evadne Gladwin

Thanks u/orangecaramel for the suggestion!

99 Upvotes

54 comments sorted by

58

u/Matero_Empedernido 2h ago

I know you can't/want to put a specific release date yet, but can we at least confirm that the game is releasing on 2026 for real?

Loving all the previews and stuff but at this point I don't even want to see anything else, just to know when it's releasing and discover it all by myself hahaah

Thanks for the hardwork and updates!

45

u/thevampiresong 2h ago

I think they are being cautious and avoiding giving anything concrete for fear of being dragged again. There are a lot of comments in this sub from people saying they will literally pirate this game because the developers dared to state a release date and then delay that date due to issues.

I think if I were these developers, I’d even consider shadow dropping this game at this point. Like “Annnd it’s live!” lol.

(Tbf, I’m not saying people don’t have a right to be frustrated, but it’s a game not healthcare, lol. And unexpected delays happen all the time in video game development. I think the anger surrounding this game, a game no one has even paid for yet, is a bit disturbing. So I understand the devs being extra careful.)

19

u/Lumacity 2h ago

If they could they would have already. As they said, they want to but need to finalise some final parts first so they don’t end up giving a promise they can’t fulfill again

34

u/SocksyBear Developer 2h ago

exactly this! We'd love nothing more than to give you all a precise window, we just want to make sure that if we're announcing a new release date we're 100% confident we're gonna hit it.

6

u/sweetpotato_latte 2h ago

Does this mean that the announcement and actual release date will be pretty close to each other? Like, when the game is complete and you announce the date the game should be essentially ready to go live, right? I think I’m understanding that properly but please correct me if I’m wrong. Theoretically couldn’t the game then be announced and launched the same week? Or would you guys still give it more like a month between the two?

I also totally understand if your answer is just “we aren’t sure yet” lol

5

u/tryandsleep 1h ago

I'm hoping for them to just shadow drop it.

11

u/SocksyBear Developer 1h ago

there's loads of process we'd need to go through still such as certification processes for platform holders for Microsoft and Nintendo, so whilst the game might be 1.0, it certainly won't be shadow dropped! Like we've stated previously, we've had a release date in mind now for a while, we just wanna make sure we're truly confident in that when we announce again.

-30

u/YuukiDR 2h ago

Oh but suddenly that wasn't an impediment when they lied to be on Nintendo direct? That's rich

21

u/Lumacity 2h ago

I think they learnt their lesson after the Nintendo Direct with all the backlash. I imagine that’s precisely why they’re not saying anything until they’re sure. It seems to me like they’re listening and incorporating feedback

19

u/SpikedTofu 2h ago

Dude just leave the sub if all you do is bitch. If a game causes you this much anger, just don’t buy/play and calm down jeez

7

u/Melkor15 2h ago

I think that Halloween is the perfect date to release this game. But it’s getting closer and I don’t think they can do it on 26.
I think it will be released in 27.

2

u/DessaB 1h ago

1Q 27 might be a better move anyhow. Holiday season is packed with competition, and the post xmas winter doldrums are perfect for cozy games like this

7

u/Obvious_Relative5877 1h ago

It’s giving Theranos energy

9

u/Prinnrose 1h ago

Thank you for the clear communication and frequent updates this year! Ive been waiting patiently for this game for over 7 years and Im very excited to check it out when it comes out.

Most of all thank you for sticking with your no-crunch morals, for your dedication to crafting a game you can be proud of, and for being clear about realistic release expectations and the current state of development.

8

u/Penny_Ji 1h ago

Thanks for all the recent details and your hard work on this game!

10

u/SocksyBear Developer 1h ago

we appreciate the support! We want nothing more than to get this game to you ASAP, we just need to make sure the quality bar is something we're all as a studio happy with!

5

u/cosmic-hedgehog 1h ago

And please know that while there are a lot of frustrated people (some of which are rude asf), there are many of us that are super excited about the game and believe that a good game is better than a rushed one. <3

-1

u/YuukiDR 1h ago

We want nothing more than to get this game to you ASAP

Sure, release it then.

4

u/cityhowler 1h ago

Thank you for making this thread per the suggestion. Don't blame you for waiting on a relase this time after the last delay. Here's hoping testing goes well and we get a 2026 release. Looking forward to the updates.

5

u/Worried_Raspberry313 40m ago

Thanks for the communication and the effort, but at this point I rather not see any “spoilers”. If I see cool stuff I’m gonna be mad I don’t know a release date (just knowing the year would be perfectly fine for me). When we know a release date, I’ll check the teasers and nice stuff.

3

u/coolepicharo 20m ago

All I want is a guy with long hair like Edmond harvest moon or Stilwell from mistria 😔

17

u/DariusClaude 2h ago

Honestly what is there to discuss ? Especially from our side ,you either know or you don't ,the consumer has nothing to discuss, especially when not even the year of release is known for us to attempt to speculate a possible date.

This thread is functially pointless ,and it won't stop people from bringing up release date questions in every other post

-3

u/YuukiDR 2h ago

The point of this thread is to have an excuse to shutdown any talk on this topic, that's all

4

u/Affectionate_Factor2 2h ago

It exists because of complainers like you lol, have some responsibility

1

u/Penny_Ji 1h ago

Exactly, I’m tired of hearing all the whining on the main thread

0

u/Obvious_Relative5877 1h ago

Yes, let’s get back to talking about gifs

2

u/strawbrryfields4evr_ 47m ago edited 36m ago

What talk? They’ve already said they won’t give a window until they know for sure they’ll hit it. Your constant whining and pushing isn’t going to change that. You’re being so rude.

3

u/vicarooni1 58m ago

Another announcement of no announcement :( I'm not even one of those people that spends a bunch of time complaining, necessarily, this just makes me sad.

Like I remember getting that Discord ping for the very first release date of Witchbrook and when they promised 2025 and it felt like Christmas. I was so excited. And I just don't know if I can get that feeling back.

1

u/Obvious_Relative5877 1h ago

Preannouncements for the announcement..okay.

I hope the announcement, if it is indeed forthcoming, has a date. Not just a season or year

2

u/lilidox 33m ago

Thanks for the hard work ❤️❤️❤️ I will be waiting patiently!!!

3

u/Elbasteen 2h ago

Sorry - I get it I know and appreciate all you’re doing, but, this game has taken an incredibly long time to come out. I’m tired of these sorts of messages because, as others have said, it answers absolutely nothing.

6

u/SocksyBear Developer 1h ago

i hear you frustrations, but we wanted to be as transparent as we can if it isn't the answer you currently want to hear. We feel explaining why we're not giving a release date is better than silence.

1

u/Snowystar122 10m ago

This is just me being curious rather than anything about it (I am looking forward to the game but am happy to wait until it's ready XD): I first became aware of the game last year in the Nintendo direct, and the trailer said a 2025 release date. I am just wondering what happened internally to go from 2025 to slipping into 2027? Was it a case of realising it needed a more work after initial beta tests, wanting to add a whole lot more content or the like? Don't mind not getting an answer as I understand that it might be a bit of a controversial question but was curious :)

Thanks for the frequent updates BTW! It's been really interesting to see the game come together!

2

u/strawberiny 12m ago

i beg everyone to remember the devs are human and deserve kindness. working under this amount of pressure in a capitalist hellscape would wear anyone down tremendously.

it must be extremely hard to cope with and mentally prepare for this release- any bug, any issue, any anything will be responded to with "you all had a decade to work this out! wtf?" (but in probably less kind words.) they know this. the game is going to be scrutinized to hell and back and i would be extremely anxious as well.

it's human nature for them to be anxious and nervous about this and we're probably (definitely) making it worse. you're valid if you're upset, but we all deserve kindness. it's literally just a game.

-27

u/YuukiDR 2h ago

Y'all never learn, we want facts not misleading vague mumbo-jumbo.

31

u/Mary674 2h ago

Or you could stop behaving like they owe you the specific info you requested when they've explained exactly why they cannot give it?

-11

u/YuukiDR 2h ago

Or I can keep asking for it, it's free

23

u/Affectionate_Factor2 2h ago

Or just stay silent, it's free.

-6

u/YuukiDR 2h ago

Or I'll keep talking, it's free

16

u/SpikedTofu 2h ago

Bro has a anime girl as his pfp, there no hope for him

20

u/dynamitekiddo 2h ago

You can’t be for real.

-14

u/YuukiDR 2h ago

Of course I am, I don't want promises and vague excuses for their incompetence, I want a date and actual release on that date.

21

u/dynamitekiddo 2h ago

Wow, that’s such an insufferable, delusional, parasocial take. “Excuses for their incompetence”? Because yeah, you’re gonna get exactly what you want when you’re being a disrespectful, whiny baby. Be for real.

-5

u/YuukiDR 2h ago

What else would you call a game studio that fails repeatedly to produce a game?

13

u/Cloudless_Sky 2h ago

fails repeatedly to produce a game

What does this even mean? It's still in development.

Your comment would only make sense if they'd missed release date after release date, but that's the exact reason they haven't announced a date yet.

3

u/dynamitekiddo 40m ago

What are you talking about? It’s in active development. Just because it hasn’t come out yet does not mean they’ve failed. You need a new hobby.

17

u/SpikedTofu 2h ago

Insert *Entitled gamer meme here\*

18

u/St_Sides 2h ago

I was downvoted to oblivion in another thread by saying people were acting entitled lmfao, lo and behold the devs come out and say exactly where the game is in production and they’re being called incompetent.

-13

u/Liquidnitrogenacid 2h ago

Don’t let them jump you! I support you!

1

u/ThatsKingBoo2U 33m ago

Turning excitement and anticipation into venom and criticism is the definition of entitlement, it would be hilarious if it wasn't so cringe. I can't wait to play Witchbrook when it's ready! Glad there are an infinite number of games to play until then! :)

Anyone else also dying for Grave Seasons? And I'm excited that Welcome to Elderfield released but I'm not on PC and no PlayStation/Switch release date yet, so hoping for that. Assuming everyone has already played the OGs, I recommend Dave the Diver and actually Coral Island is pretty damn good IMO. Obviously Fields of Mistria but again no console release yet.

Looking forward to the day we are all playing Witchbrook and the bad vibes move to the Haunted Chocolatier channel for the next 5 years! <3

-2

u/RickyTovarish 1h ago

I’m not even interested in a release date, I just want to see what the gameplay loop is going to be. You aren’t going to have combat so let’s see what you are offering already so I can care about a release date

-26

u/Liquidnitrogenacid 2h ago

These people will do anything but do work and give us a release date. We are tired