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Hotel Architect News

Hotel Architect's January Playtest is now on!

The Hotel Architect Playtest is Now Open!

The wait is over - Hotel Architect is officially in your hands for the weekend! 🏨🎉

It’s time to build, design, and manage the hotel of your dreams. We’re so excited for you to dive in and explore everything we’ve been working on. Whether you’re aiming for a luxurious five-star getaway or a quirky roadside motel, this is your moment to shine.



[h2]How to Get Started[/h2]
If you missed the mailing list sign up, don't worry - you can head to our steam page and request access with a few button clicks! Once you're in, you’re free to start building and managing right away!

[h2]What’s waiting for you in the playtest?[/h2]
If you haven't played Hotel Architect before in one of our other playtests, here’s a taste of what you’ll get to do:
Design Your Dream Hotel
Go wild with your layouts, choose your décor, and create the perfect vibe. From fancy lobbies to rooftop pools, you’re in charge of every detail.

Juggle Guests and Their Quirks
Some guests are easy to please… others? Not so much. Keep everyone happy while running the show, because a happy guest means more stars!

Experiment and Have Fun
Try new things, test bold ideas, and see what works. Want to build a hotel entirely out of suites or maybe you want a capsule room style hotel? Go for it.

[h2]Things added since your last opportunity to play: [/h2]
NEW FEATURES & CONTENT
  • Ghosts! A haunted hotel is not just a spooky dream anymore! How to trigger ghosts and at what cost? That's up to you to find out—if you dare!
  • Zone with multiple rooms: If you build two rooms with the same zone type and add a door between them, they’ll merge into a single unified zone.
  • Electric machines can now break in two ways: either "in need of repair" (sparks) or "in need of replacement" (explosion + burnt).
  • Toilets and basins can now get clogged.
  • Staff candidates' experience level now depends on your hotel stars (the higher your stars, the higher the experience levels of the candidates).
  • New wobbly placement effect on items.
  • New furniture items!
FIXES
  • Improved item rotation system.
  • Staff XP is now being saved.
  • Made important notifications more noticeable + added sound.
  • Added notifications when: a plant dies, a machine breaks, a character collapses, or ghosts appear.
  • Fixed visual bug in some plants.
  • Fixed bug in the vehicle system.
  • Crash report sender: If you experience a crash, a crash report window should now appear. Please click the send button—this way we will receive the report immediately and can help fix it faster. If not during the playtest, we’ll at least try to help with a workaround.
BALANCING
  • Each guest type now has their preferred items (displayed with icons in the Item list's tooltip) for the following activities: entertainment, refreshment, gym.
  • Critics will prioritize activities based on your current star level (e.g., they won’t look for a spa in a one-star hotel).
  • Staff experience level has a higher impact on guest scoring.
  • Reduced starting money in the Gothenburg scenario from 150,000 -> 100,000.

[h2]Now, Let’s Build Something Awesome![/h2]
We’re so grateful to have you with us on this journey. Watching you bring your creativity to life in Hotel Architect is going to be incredible, and we’re beyond excited to see the hotels you dream up.


Now, get out there, build something amazing, and don’t forget to enjoy the process (and maybe avoid angry guests).

See you in the lobby!
The Hotel Architect Team

Hotel Architect Opens It's Doors To The January Playtest!

Check in to the action and start building your dream hotel as Hotel Architect Opens It's Doors To The January Playtest!

We’re excited to announce that the 3rd Hotel Architect playtest is coming on January 24th (yes that’s next week!) and we’re inviting YOU to join in the fun! This is your chance to experience the game early, shape its development, and show off your dream hotel designs to the world. 

[h2]What to Expect [/h2]

As a play tester, you will get a chance to provide direct feedback to our developers, helping to shape changes and improvements before the game’s early access release! Your input could help define the game’s final features, balance, and overall experience but also the game is a whole lot of fun and you’ll get to play for free for a limited time before anybody else!

The playtest will run from 24th January to 28th January and will be only available on steam for windows players.

[h2]How to Join  [/h2]

If you haven’t joined us for a playtest before, you can sign up before 24th January by following this link: https://wired.gg/HAPlaytest

If you have signed up using the email, for a previous playtest, then you're all set already!

We will be in contact via email closer to the time with codes and instructions, so keep an eye on your inboxes! If you have any questions in the meantime, please join our Official Discord to ask any questions.

If you miss the deadline, not to worry, just head to the Hotel Architect page and start playing from January 24th!

[h2]Updates:[/h2]
If you played the last playtest, you might notice a few new features in this playtest and some important fixes since last time including:
  • We heard you, ghosts are now a functioning feature in game - just don't expect them to pay for their stay!
  • New wobbly placedown effect on items!
  • Rework of guest schedule & preferred items within activities such as refreshments, entertainment and the gym.
  • Removed screen edge panning.
  • Fixed a pesky bug in the vehicle system.
  • Fixed issues in item rotation/placement - this should now be much smoother.
  • Reworked durability functionality: Electric machines can break in two ways: either "in need of repair" (sparks) or "in need of replacement" (explosion + burnt).
  • Toilets and basins can get clogged making for a stinky situation!
  • Combine zone by door: If you build two rooms and zone them with same zone type, and then install a door inbetween, the area is now seen as one zone This opens up for building suites with multiple rooms in one hotel room!
  • Setup crash report sender: If you get a crash, a crash report window should now appear. Please click on the send button - this way we will receive the report immediately and can help fix it or if we can't during the playtest, at least try to help with a work around.


[h2]Can’t wait until next week? [/h2]

To celebrate the playtest announcement, we’ve got a brand new sparkly trailer looking at how your staff affect and function in your hotel!  
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

We’re excited to have you all play and give your feedback - Let us know what you think when you get to play!

Managing your Money: Build your dream hotel, or go broke trying!

From luxury resorts to budget accommodations, the possibilities are endless when playing Hotel Architect, but as with any business, financial management is critical... and running out of money can be a game-changing moment!

Here’s what you need to know about managing your finances in Hotel Architect and the consequences of letting your funds dwindle to zero, or worse!

You start out with a plot of land, a modest budget, and an ambitious dream. Your goal is to attract guests, manage staff, and expand your establishment, all while keeping an eye on the bottom line. The game allows you to design every aspect of your hotel, from the layout and room types to amenities like spas, gyms, casinos and restaurants.

But no matter how beautiful your hotel looks or how perfect your services are, a financial crisis can spell disaster!

[h2]What Happens When You Run Out of Money? [/h2]

Running out of money in Hotel Architect isn’t simply a minor inconvenience, it’s a potential game-over scenario. Here’s a breakdown of the consequences:
  • Operations Grind to a Halt - Without funds, essential operations like paying staff, maintaining facilities, or ordering supplies come to a standstill. Your employees might quit, and guests will leave scathing reviews if services deteriorate.

  • No Room for Expansion - Want to add new rooms or amenities to attract more guests? Forget about it. A lack of funds means you can’t invest in growth, locking you into a cycle of stagnation.

  • Emergency Loans and Their Risks - The game allows you to take out loans in desperate situations. However, loans come with interest rates and repayment deadlines. Mismanaging them can plunge you deeper into debt, creating a financial death spiral.

  • Reputation Takes a Hit - A poorly managed hotel earns bad reviews, which can deter future guests. Low occupancy rates mean even less income, exacerbating your financial woes.

  • The Ultimate Penalty: Bankruptcy - If you can’t recover financially, you may be forced to declare bankruptcy. This results in a game-over scenario, where you’ll have to start fresh with a new hotel or reload an earlier save.




[h2]Tips to Avoid Financial Ruin [/h2]

Start Small and resist the urge to build a sprawling hotel right out of the gate. Focus on essential facilities and expand gradually as your income grows!

Monitor Your Budget and keep a close eye on your income and expenses using the finance tabs. Use the in-game financial tools to track where your money is going and identify areas where you can cut costs or gain profit.

Cater to Your Guests and their needs! Understanding your guest types is key, so far in playtests only 2 guest types have been available, but there are more in the game to discover. Build facilities that cater to their needs and preferences to maximize satisfaction and your hotel will become more popular as ratings go up!

Take calculated risks - While loans can be a lifesaver, use them wisely. Only borrow money if you have a clear plan to earn and repay it with interest!



Hopefully that's gotten you up to speed on how you can prevent your hotels from falling into ruin!

We release these blogs to help you understand more of Hotel Architect before you jump in, if there is anything you would like to know more about, leave us a comment below and we'll see if we can cover it or at least answer your questions!

Zone Focus: Laundry Rooms!

Behind the polished (or disastrous) rooms and service of every hotel lies an often-overlooked but essential operation: the laundry room!

As a hotelier and Hotel Architect player, crafting a well-designed laundry system isn’t just about functionality - it’s about ensuring the seamless flow of operations that keeps guests satisfied and the hotel running like clockwork.

During the playtest the team found that a lot of feedback said that the cleaners were not cleaning the hotel efficiently. There are a few reasons for this - one balancing and we adjusted it slightly during the test!
And another management of the laundry rooms and cleaners, which is what we're going to cover in this blog. These tips will help you when Early Access comes round! (or potentially another playtest *hint hint*)

[h2]Where should the laundry room be located?[/h2]
If your cleaners have a really long commute between the laundry room and the hotel rooms. it'll take a long time to get each room's sheets and towels sorted. You might want to add another laundry room in or have the laundry room in the centre of your hotel complex!
Whatever your layout, consider how long it takes for cleaners to get to the rooms to clean and refresh the towels and bed linen.



[h2]Help - Cleaners aren't cleaning like they should be! [/h2]
If your cleaners are ignoring other areas of their responsibilities i.e. lots of rubbish on the floor or grubby surroundings in the hotel, it might be that they haven't got enough machines/storage to cope with demand of the hotel rooms. There's only 8 sheets on a shelf, so if you have more than 8 rooms, you will need more sheets!

This means they will only be focusing on their top priority, getting those sheets and towels to those rooms and they'll ignore emptying bins or mopping!

Adding in more sheet and towel shelves and more washing machines and driers can help with this.



We will be looking at the priorities of hotel staff shortly, however practicing good habits will help your hotel run smoother in the long run.







The Wired Steam Winter Sale 2024

This is the time of year where jack frost starts to nip at your toes, so stay inside and play some of the warmest indie games.

You may even find your new favourite Indie Game with the Wired Winter Steam Sale 2024!

Cozy up with our incredible discounts and expand your gaming library. Whether you're into intense single-player tales or exciting multiplayer action, Wired Productions has something special for you.

Know someone special that has had a new VR headset or Steam Deck? Check out our bundles and see those discounts stack!

have a wonderful holidays from everyone on the Wired Team and get playing!

Save up to 90% HERE!

[h2]Fan Favourites:[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/396900/GRIP_Combat_Racing/?curator_clanid=33134072

https://store.steampowered.com/app/428660/Deliver_Us_The_Moon/?curator_clanid=33134072

https://store.steampowered.com/app/515960/Martha_Is_Dead/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1299690/Gori_Cuddly_Carnage/?curator_clanid=33134072

[h2]New Adventures to wishlist:[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1376200/KARMA_The_Dark_World/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1602000/Hotel_Architect/

[h2]The Wired Steam Deck Verified Bundle:[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/37479/Wired_Steam_Deck_Verified_Bundle/

[h2]Classic Library:[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2676160/Arcade_Paradise_VR/?curator_clanid=33134072

https://store.steampowered.com/app/290100/Bulwark_Evolution_Falconeer_Chronicles/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1831700/Tin_Hearts/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1579280/The_Last_Worker/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1374350/Tiny_Troopers_Global_Ops/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2225750/Tiny_Troopers_Joint_Ops_XL/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1388870/Arcade_Paradise/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1135260/The_Falconeer/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/715380/Those_Who_Remain/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/791240/Lumote_The_Mastermote_Chronicles/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/688740/Fractured_Minds/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/428660/Deliver_Us_The_Moon/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/396900/GRIP_Combat_Racing/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/656460/Vostok_Inc/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/331980/Last_Inua/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/433100/The_Town_of_Light/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/306000/Super_Dungeon_Bros/