Dinkum News

*2025.04.22 Update – Removed note stating pergolas can be placed overlapping


G'day, everyone!

Here are the patch notes for the long-awaited official launch update! Packed with new things to play with, this update makes the world of Dinkum more vibrant and enriching. It's the perfect time to invite your mates over to your island and enjoy all the new fun together! You can even take them on a scenic ride in your two-seater plane to show off your beautiful island from above.

Along with all this new content, the update brings tons of improvements for a smoother and more stable gameplay experience. Multiplayer permissions have been refined to easily manage what your visitors can and can't do. Several quality-of-life upgrades have also been added to make your time in Dinkum even more pleasant.

Oh! To celebrate the official launch, James, our dear creator of Dinkum, has sent us a special message. Let's all give him a warm round of applause and take a look!

[hr] [/hr]

G’day everyone!

It’s been nearly 3 years since I released Dinkum into early access, and nearly 8 years since I started work on developing Dinkum.

In that time Dinkum has gone from a little project on my computer, to being played by thousands of people. Players who’ve truly made the game their own.

It’s been my finest pleasure to watch people play Dinkum, to see all the creations players have made on their island and to hear the stories and memories people have made inside that little game that used to live only on my computer.

So, for that I say thank you so much for playing Dinkum.

In the 3 years of early access I’ve been adding to Dinkum, offering updates with new items, features and adventures to experience. These updates have been shaped by the excitement and passion I have received from Dinkum players, as well as the hundreds of suggestions left by the Dinkum community.

So for that I wanted to say thank you to the community that helped Dinkum make it to 1.0.

After all the updates and new content added over the years, I believe Dinkum now feels complete. So that is why I’ve decided to leave early access and officially launch Dinkum.

This doesn’t mean the end of Dinkum, and it certainly doesn’t mean the end of updates. All this means is: Dinkum is no longer in early access.

I hope you enjoy all the new features I’ve added in this update, a lot of these features are highly requested features. Some of them were hard to implement, but I believe they were worth the effort.

Thanks for taking your time to read this message.

And as always, thanks for playing Dinkum.



[hr] [/hr]

As always, there's nothing better than jumping straight in and trying them out for yourself. But if you want to study the details, check out the full patch notes below.


[h2]Update Schedule:[/h2]

• April 23, 2025 at 02:00 (UTC)
  
• No downtime maintenance required.
  
• If you are already in the game, you can continue playing. However, to access the update content, please exit the game, install the update, and then restart the game.
  

[h2]Patch Notes:[/h2]
[h3]New Features[/h3]


- Creative mode has been added.

• In Creative mode, players can open their inventory and access the creative toolbar.
  
  • Players can search and add items to their inventory.
    
  • Players can swap to the time / weather tab to adjust the in-game clock and weather.
    
  • Players can spawn Animals into their world.
• Once switched to Creative Mode, Steam achievements will be permanently disabled for that save file, so please choose carefully. (The Steam achievement system is currently in preparation. Further details will be provided at a later date.)
  
• When selecting a save for single-player mode, players can press the cog icon to switch to default or Creative mode.
  

- The Town Bell has been added.

• The Town Bell Deed is unlocked after completing the Town Hall.
  
• The Town Bell can be rung by interacting with it or hitting it with a weapon or tool
  
• Once the bell has been rung, all players currently on the island can see an icon for each villager on their map (these icons last for 30 seconds).
  
• Now, you don’t have to worry about Fletch getting lost and wandering off somewhere.

- A Bug Terrarium has been added.

• Terrariums will create cocoons when butterflies, moths, and spiders are placed into them.
  
• Players can place the cocoons into a spinning wheel to produce silk.
  
• The Bug Terrarium Recipe is unlocked when players reach level 30 in Bug Catching.

- New guest houses have been added.

• The number of guest houses (extra homes) that can be built has increased from 3 to 4.

- Guest houses can now be rented out.

• Players can buy a Rental Sign from John’s Goods and place it at the door of a guest house to rent it out.
  
• Interacting with the sign once it’s placed will allow players to check the current rent, and the rent is automatically calculated by scoring the house’s interior decoration.
  
• If the sign is placed there, one of the four new villagers will move in the next day.
  
• The rent will be left on the small counter by the door of each guest house every Wednesday morning.
  
• Players can take Guest Houses on and off the market whenever they wish.

- Four new villagers have been added.

• Players can meet new villagers after they move into a rented guest house.

- A new vehicle – Plane – has been added.

• The plane can carry up to two players (A Pilot License is required to pilot the plane, but passengers can ride in the co-pilot seat without a license).
  
• The plane flies faster than the helicopter but cannot hover in place.
  
• The plane can land and float on water.
  
• Franklyn can craft if he learns the recipe by giving him enough old discs and completing the berkonium mission (players who have met these requirements may need to offer Franklyn at least one shiny disc for him to discover the recipe).

- Gold Ore and Nuggets have been added.

• When the island is experiencing a heat wave, there is a chance to dig up this very valuable treasure.

- Villagers now have Inventories.

• Villagers have their own inventory that can be accessed through a dialogue option while hanging out with them.
  
• Players can give villagers helpful tools to use while hanging out.
  
• While hanging out, they will use items from their own inventory to assist the player depending on the situation.
  
• When hanging out with a villager, they will rush over and revive the player if they’re nearby when the player is passed out. How reliable!
  

- Villagers can now wear clothing.

• Villagers may change into clothing in their inventory. So be sure to think about what they would like to wear the next time they ask for some new clothing.
  

- Villagers now have a new type of request.

• New dialogues have been added to decrease repetition for most villager requests.
  
• They may ask players to collect specific items depending on the season.
  

- Villagers now have random behaviors.

• Villagers now behave more naturally – eating random items from their inventory, fishing in the river, or catching bugs.
  
• When villagers have conversations with each other, they may occasionally show speech bubbles or emotes. If the player is nearby, they can read the dialogue.
  

- 3 new outfits have been added.
- 19 new furniture and decoration items have been added.
- 2 new bridges have been added.
- 15 new cassettes have been added.


[h3]Changes[/h3]


- Island permission settings have been changed in multiplayer mode.

• In multiplayer mode, the host of the game can access Island Permissions via the Settings tab.
  
• The host can set their default permissions if it’s a visitor’s first time on the island.
  
  • If they have already visited the island, their permissions will be set to their last saved value.
• The host can change a current visitor’s permissions by clicking the cog icon in the visitor list.
  
  • Creative: Players have access to the creative toolbar. (Host must also be in creative to see this, otherwise all players will not have access)
    
  • Open containers: Players can open chests and interact with their content.
    
  • Item pick up/drop: Players can pick up or drop inventory items
    
  • Edit house: Players can decorate the interiors of both the host’s house and guest houses, and they can pick up tile objects. House customization kits can be used to customize the houses.
    
  • Terraform / pathing: Players can dig, plant grass seeds, and place and pick up pathing.
    
  • Edit island: Players can place down and pick up tile objects outside of houses.
    
  • Interactions with vehicles: Players can use vehicles.
    
  • Interactions with farm animals: Players can milk, shear, and sell animals.

- Farm animals can now get dirty or sick.

• Farm animals will be set to clean, dirty, or sick depending on their cleanliness.
  
• Dirty animals will have brown dust clouds around them while sick animals will have green sickness particles.
  
  • Sick animals do not produce drops.
• Use the Animal Brush sold at Irwin’s Barn or craft an Animal Shower at the workbench to manage your farm animals’ cleanliness.
  
• Take good care of your adorable and precious farm animals!

- Boomboxes can play new tracks by placing Cassette tapes in them.

• When players are close to the boombox, the existing music in the world will fade away.
  
• Cassette tapes can be found in various ways, including from NPC shops, mine chests, and the visiting trader Jimmy.
  
• Its volume can be adjusted through the Music Volume setting.

- Recycling Bin changes

• Instead of gifting the player a recycling bin, John now teaches the recipe for the recycling bin.
  
• More than one Recycling Bin can be placed on the island, but only one has a chance of having something in it on a new day.
  
• Items are cleared from ALL the Recycling Bins every Thursday.

- Host action changes

• Visitors can now see farm animals in the book.
  
• Any quests that give the players a recipe (nail and crate recipes) can now be completed by visiting players.
  
• Villagers relationship quests (such as John’s Recycling Bin or Rayne’s Plant Book) can also be completed by visiting players.
  
• However, quests that are town/building specific can still only be undertaken by the host player (Get John to move in, Unlock the Town Hall, etc.).

- Pergola and Festoon changes

• Other items / decorations can be placed under pergolas and festoons.
  
• The obstacle detection area for pergolas and festoons has been changed to the four corner tiles.
  
• Any tile under it (excluding the corners) can be decorated.

- Food can now be eaten while inside any building.


[h3]Bug Fixes[/h3]

- Fixed an issue where some content appeared awkwardly or incorrectly in certain language environments.
- Fixed an issue where item names and tooltips would appear outside the UI or overlap in certain language environments.
- Fixed an issue where the language settings window would automatically appear in certain situations, preventing other game settings from being changed.
- Fixed an issue where the icon color of some outfits did not match the item color when worn.
- Fixed an issue where chat input would not appear when using certain languages.
- Fixed an issue where riding the Mu mount did not increase progress for the 'Giddy-Up' achievement.
- Fixed an issue where standing on the wooden double bed made the character appear to be floating.
- Fixed an issue where the recipe box was misaligned in the to-do list after using the 'Check Ingredients Continuously' feature.
- Fixed an issue where some dragonfly models protruded outside the insect box when placed inside.

If you want to join our amazing Dinkum Discord community, click right HERE.


[h3]Enjoy your Dinkum life! Hooroo![/h3]

G'day, everyone!


It’s hard to believe, it's already been 2 years and 8 months since Dinkum first launched in Early Access back in 2022. Just like when you received your first tent from Fletch, Dinkum began its adventure in a humble and simple way. And just like when you welcome new villagers to the island, Dinkum was able to meet more and more players over time. By listening to the invaluable feedback from the players, Dinkum has continued to grow through a series of updates both big and small. Much like building John’s shop or Theodore's museum, the world of Dinkum has been expanding, one step at a time.

Once your town expands, everyone on the island throws a celebration, after spending a year at their new home. Now, we feel it's time for Dinkum to celebrate its own milestone as well. After collaborating with our players for 2 years in Early Access, we're thrilled to reveal that the time has come for Dinkum's official launch!

We're incredibly excited to announce that Dinkum will be finishing Early Access and officially launching on April 23, 2025, at 02:00 UTC! We truly believe we wouldn't have made it to this point without your constant support, feedback, and love for the game. So first and foremost, thank you to each and every one of you who has been part of the journey so far. As a part of this monumental announcement, we'd like to share some of the key content and a few changes related to game services that will be applied for the full and official release.



We understand that many of you have been yearning for the multiplayer environment to be improved. We're delighted to inform you that the hosts will have more control of what their guests can do on their island, and guest players have access to features that were once available to the host only.



We're also introducing Creative Mode, allowing you to build and shape your own Dinkum world with more freedom and imagination than ever before. We can't wait to see what you'll create!



Another exciting addition is the rental system for guest houses. Alongside it, 4 new villagers will be joining Dinkum! You'll be able to meet them by renting out the guest houses, and each one comes with their own unique charm and personality.



In the field of crafting, new recipes can be bought and discovered. Thought you'd done it all after crafting the helicopter? Try out the new two-seater airplane, perfect for exploring the skies with a friend. We're only getting started, as the 1.0 Update will also include new activities to be discovered, as well as improvements to convenience functions.



More details will be revealed in the patch notes as we draw closer to the official launch date, so please stay tuned!



In addition to the new content mentioned above, we'd like to share a few updates related to the game services for the official release. Throughout the 2 years of Early Access, Dinkum has followed Steam's recommended regional pricing guidelines. Although the pricing standards changed several times, we kept the game's price unchanged during the entire Early Access period.

The main reason behind maintaining the original pricing was to ensure that as many aspiring adventurers as possible could explore Dinkum and try out the game without too much pressure. Since launch, Dinkum has released 5 major content updates—including House Warming and Bloomin' Spring—all completely free and with no paid DLC. We intend to continue this approach moving forward as much as we can.

However, as Dinkum is now enjoyed by players in over 170 countries, we've noticed some inconsistencies in regional pricing. With the official launch, we'll be making slight adjustments to align prices more closely with current exchange rates and global economic conditions. We understand that due to these adjustments, some regions may see more noticeable price changes than others. We kindly ask for your understanding as we apply these necessary updates to prevent inconsistencies in regional pricing. Please note once again that this adjustment only concerns the price difference, and the base price in USD remains unchanged.

These pricing changes will go into effect with the official launch on April 23, 2025. Until then, players will still be able to purchase the game at its current price. For those who already own Dinkum, these changes will not affect your access to or experience with the game at all.

Also, Dinkum will be featured in an upcoming Steam Free Weekend. During this time, all players will be able to try the game for free and purchase the game at 20% off under the Weekend Deal. We sincerely hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to join the adventure if Dinkum has caught your interest. (The discount offer ends on April 10.)

Thanks to the growing number of players enjoying Dinkum, we've received many requests to bring the game to more platforms beyond PC. To live up to such expectations, we're thrilled to reveal that we've been working toward that goal. We hope to deliver some exciting news about releasing Dinkum for one of the popular gaming consoles later this year. We'll be sure to share more information as soon as everything is ready. We truly appreciate your interest, we are also looking forward to the console version as much as you do!



That brings us to the end of today's announcement where we have briefly talked about the game's official release and other accompanying changes. The official launch is now just around the corner and we are striving to make sure it's something special for everyone. We can't wait to reveal more information, so please stay tuned. We'll be posting detailed patch notes and update schedules in the near future.

The end of Early Access marks not just a conclusion, but the beginning of a brand new journey. We're incredibly excited for the future of Dinkum—a future we'll continue to build together with all of you! With a heartfelt promise to keep striving to bring you the best experience possible, we'd like to once again thank every one of you who has supported and enjoyed Dinkum.

See you at the official launch!

(Update on April 4, 2025: The end date for the Weekend Sale has been extended from April 7 to April 10.)

G'day, everyone!

If you haven't tried Dinkum yet, or if you've been on the fence about picking it up, now's the perfect time!
From Apr. 3, 5:00 PM to Apr. 7, 5:00 PM (UTC), Dinkum will be free to play, and from Apr. 3, 5:00 PM to Apr. 10, 5:00 PM (UTC) you can grab it at 20% off during this limited-time offer!

Check out the details below:

[h3]Free Weekend & 20% Off Special Offer[/h3]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mKReE-SMWg
◎ Event Details
- Play Dinkum for free during the event period.
- Purchase Dinkum with a special 20% discount during the event period.

◎ Event Period
- Free Dinkum play: Apr. 3, 5:00 PM to Apr. 7, 5:00 PM (UTC)
- 20% off special offer: Apr. 3, 5:00 PM to Apr. 10, 5:00 PM (UTC)

※ Notes ※

• Once the free event period is over, you'll need to purchase the game in order to continue playing.
  
• If you purchase the game after the free event period, your progress will carry over as long as your save data is still available.
  
• Save data may not be retained in the following cases:
  
• If 1) Steam Cloud was not enabled, or 2) the game was uninstalled from your PC and the save file was only stored locally.
  
• Your progress cannot be restored after purchase should there be no backup in Steam Cloud or on your local device.
  
• You can check if Steam Cloud is enabled by going to:
  
• Steam Library → Dinkum → Manage → Properties → General
  

Don't miss this chance to explore the world of Dinkum during the free weekend and grab the special offer!

We'll see you in Dinkum!

G'day, everyone!

You're invited to the Dinkum Spring Sale on Steam!
Dinkum Spring Sale will be held from Mar. 13, 5:00 PM to Mar. 20, 5:00 PM (UTC).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLVD6GPKbuM

■ Details
- Spring Sale Discount: 20% Off

■ Period
- Mar. 13 (Thu), 5:00 PM to Mar. 20 (Thu), 5:00 PM (UTC).

We hope this Spring Sale brings even more friends together in Dinkum!
For more updates and community fun, join us on the [Dinkum Discord].

Well then, we'll see you in Dinkum!

To the dearest fans of Dinkum,

Since KRAFTON joined Dinkum's passionate journey, many of you have shared various thoughts and questions.
We truly appreciate your engagement, and we will try our utmost to listen to the voices of our community.

To help clarify some of the most frequently asked questions following the publisher change, we have compiled a list of explanations below.
We will continue to openly communicate with you and share updates whenever there is new information.

[h3]1. Is KRAFTON now developing Dinkum?[/h3]

• No, Dinkum is still solely developed by James Bendon, while KRAFTON handles publishing activities.
  
• KRAFTON has partnered with James through a publishing agreement to introduce Dinkum to more players worldwide and make it available on multiple platforms so that new players can discover and enjoy the game.
  
• As part of this collaboration, KRAFTON now handles global operations, including marketing, promotional campaigns, localization, community management, and customer support. We will actively engage with players, gather feedback, and discuss potential improvements with James to enhance the game experience.
  
• Furthermore, KRAFTON provides legal support to protect the Dinkum IP and administers service and business operations, ensuring that James can focus entirely on development.
  

[h3]2. Will Dinkum's direction change due to this collaboration?[/h3]

• No, KRAFTON will not unilaterally change the direction of the game.
  
• We will listen to community feedback and work closely with James to support the development of even more attractive content.
  

[h3]3. There was an announcement regarding data administration. Does this mean my personal data is being accessed or used by KRAFTON?[/h3]

• Since KRAFTON has assumed the publishing role for Dinkum, we have published a notification to make sure that players recognize this change.
  
• However, The way personal data is handled remains unchanged, and access to such data is strictly limited.
  
• Furthermore, All data is securely managed with encryption and other protective measures to ensure user safety.
  
• You can find more details in the official announcement.
  

[h3]4. Why do I need to agree to the EULA again to play Dinkum?[/h3]

• Since KRAFTON has assumed the publishing role from James, the End User License Agreement (EULA) has to be reaccepted by players, following the publisher change on the Steam platform.
  
• This is a standard procedure that all game publishers must adhere to and an essential requirement that the platform provider must follow to administer the game service.
  
• The EULA update is an essential step to ensure stable service and protect player rights without impacting the ownership of the game or the individual's way of playing the game. Through these protection measures, players can safely enjoy Dinkum in the same environment as before without any disadvantages or restrictions.
  

[h3]5. Is Dinkum Together a completely separate game from the original Dinkum?[/h3]

• Dinkum Together is a new title inspired by the original Dinkum, designed to offer a fresh and delightful experience on various platforms.
  
• Since the game is still in its early stages of development, there isn't much detailed information to be shared yet. However, we will make sure to post regular updates through the Dinkum Together Discord channel, so please stay tuned for more news.
  

We sincerely apologize for the insufficient communication provided regarding the publisher change, as our focus was directed toward the language support update. Moving forward, we will strive to improve our way of interacting with the dearest fans of Dinkum by delivering more precise information. Thank you to everyone who shared their valuable feedback.

Once again, thank you for your continued support.