SunnySide News

[h3]Hey everyone,[/h3][p]We want to share an important update about the present and future of SunnySide.[/p][p]As of now, Aftabi Games is the official publisher of SunnySide!!! After a long and difficult process behind the scenes, full control of the game is finally back where it belongs: with the original development team.[/p][p]This also means we now have full access to the game’s data, metrics, pricing, and development pipeline for the first time in a very long time.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]A New Price, A Better Starting Point[/h2][p]You may have already noticed that SunnySide’s price has changed.[/p][p]Now that we’re able to review sales data and regional pricing properly, we believe $19.99 USD (with appropriate international conversions) is a much better price, not only for the game but for the community as well. This price reflects where SunnySide is today, and where we want to take it next.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]The Road to SunnySide 2.0[/h2][p]Over the coming months, we’ll be working on a series of substantial updates aimed at pushing SunnySide toward what we consider a true 2.0 version of the game.[/p][p]We want to be very clear about something upfront: We are not going to be overly cautious with changes.[/p][p]SunnySide has often been described as a game with a lot of potential. That word shows up again and again in reviews, and while we appreciate the sentiment, we also believe potential can become a trap if it’s never fully realized.[/p][p]Our goal now is simple: To turn potential into something deeper, more engaging, and more fun to play.[/p][p]That may mean:[/p]

• [p]reworking or replacing core systems[/p]
• [p]significantly deepening mechanics that currently feel surface-level[/p]
• [p]removing features that don’t fit the game or hold it back[/p]

[p]Some updates will be bigger than others, and some changes may be bold, but every decision will be made with the long-term health of the game in mind.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]We’re Involving You in the Big Decisions[/h2][p]Whenever we’re considering a major change to a core system, we’ll be asking for your input.[/p][p]We’re already doing that right now.[/p][p]👉 https://forms.gle/h2gaLxQE4Zftm4CHA[/p][p]This first survey focuses on a significant decision we’re currently evaluating: The potential removal of the caves, including mining, combat, and rewriting Sparky’s story so that it no longer relies on cave progression. This would also mean rewriting the entire main storyline of the game.[/p][p]All of the context is explained in the survey itself, and we genuinely want your voice to help guide this decision. So if you care about the future direction of SunnySide, please take a moment to check it out.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]First Technical Step: Upgrading the Engine[/h2][p]Our very first development task is a big one.[/p][p]SunnySide is currently running on Unreal Engine 4.27, which is now quite old. One of the major constraints in the past was that the game needed to stay on that version due to external console porting requirements.[/p][p]That limitation is now gone.[/p][p]We are beginning the process of upgrading SunnySide to the latest Unreal Engine (5.7). This will:[/p]

• [p]improve performance and stability[/p]
• [p]unlock modern engine features and tools[/p]
• [p]make future development faster and more flexible[/p]

[p]This is not a small or trivial task. SunnySide is a large game, and some older systems will need to be reworked to function properly on newer engine versions. We’re going to take our time and do this carefully because this upgrade is the foundation for everything that comes next.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]Legacy Version Support[/h2][p]Because the upcoming changes will significantly alter core parts of the game, we’ll be creating a “Legacy” SunnySide branch on Steam.[/p][p]This will allow existing players as well as anyone who purchases the game in the future to continue playing the current version of SunnySide exactly as it exists today (bugs, quirks, and all)[/p][p]If you prefer the original experience, you’ll always have access to it.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]Looking Forward[/h2][p]Now that SunnySide is fully under our control, and finally able to properly support itself, we have the freedom to make the changes the game truly needs.[/p][p]That means:[/p]

• [p]trimming systems that feel disconnected or frustrating[/p]
• [p]deeply expanding mechanics players genuinely enjoy[/p]
• [p]focusing the experience instead of bloating it[/p]

[p]If something needs to be removed, we’ll remove it.
If something deserves more depth, we’ll give it the time and care it needs.[/p][p]The game and community come first.
It has to be fun, engaging, and cohesive, and most importantly: you all deserve a game you'll love.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]Platform & Console FAQ[/h2][h3]What’s happening with PlayStation?[/h3][p]SunnySide has already been removed from the PlayStation Store.[/p][p]If you previously purchased the game on PlayStation, you should still be able to download and play it without issues. At the moment, however, we are unable to update or support the PlayStation version.[/p][p]This isn’t a decision we took lightly, but the reality is that our studio is currently very small, and we do not have access to console porting hardware or the resources required to maintain console builds properly.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]What about Xbox?[/h3][p]SunnySide will also be removed from the Xbox Store.[/p][p]To be completely transparent: the Xbox version is not in a state that we’re proud of, and we are not able to meaningfully update or improve it going forward. Leaving it available for purchase without the ability to support or fix it would not be fair to players.[/p][p]As with PlayStation, existing owners should still be able to access the game, but no further updates will be made to the Xbox version at this time.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]Does this mean SunnySide is gone from consoles forever?[/h3][p]No, but consoles are not our focus right now.[/p][p]Our immediate priority is to stabilize, improve, and evolve SunnySide on PC, where we have full control of development. Once the game reaches a strong, stable place, and if our studio reaches a healthier financial position, we absolutely want to explore console ports again in the future.[/p][p]If and when that happens, it will be:[/p]

• [p]done with our direct supervision[/p]
• [p]built on a solid, updated foundation[/p]
• [p]supported with ongoing updates[/p]

[p]We’re not closing the door, we’re making sure we don’t rush back through it unprepared.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]Join the Conversation[/h2][p]You’re always welcome to share feedback and questions here on the Steam forums, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on discussions.[/p][p]That said, we’re currently most active on Discord, where we can respond faster, chat more casually, and keep conversations flowing more naturally.[/p][p]👉 http://discord.gg/sunnyside[/p][p]If you have questions, concerns, ideas, or just want to hang out and talk SunnySide, we’d love to see you there!![/p][hr][/hr][p]On a personal note, this outcome wasn’t guaranteed, and we still can’t quite believe it happened. Massive thanks to our legal team for making this possible![/p][p]2026 marks a fresh start for SunnySide, and we’re incredibly excited (and honestly a little terrified) to finally build the game the way it deserves.[/p][p]Thank you all for your patience, your support, and for sticking with us.[/p][p]Please don’t forget to check out the survey if you want to help shape what comes next.[/p][h3]Here’s to busy, but exciting year(s) ahead! 💛[/h3][p] – The Aftabi Games Team[/p]

[h2]Hey everyone![/h2]

We just released a small update for SunnySide that addresses a few issues. Even though this isn't a big update, we wanted to share some details about what's included!



With the previous update, we reworked cooking in SunnySide to make it more approachable. However, this introduced some issues for a handful of recipes. Out of the 375 recipes available, around 8 became unattainable under certain circumstances.

These 8 "nuanced" recipes essentially share the same ingredients but differ in proportions. As you might guess, this caused logical conflicts when determining what the player intended to cook. To address this, these 8 recipes now require more precise attention, unlike other recipes after patch 10, their ingredient counts must now be exact. Bulk cooking will not work with these specific recipes.

We plan on developing a more permanent solution later on. But since some of these items, notably "Okayu," are vital for progressing through the skill tree, we felt an immediate patch was necessary.

Here are all of the "nuanced" recipes:

• Cooked Sticky Rice
  
• Okayu
  
• Flatbread Dough
  
• Pie Dough
  
• Bitter Mash
  
• Hoppy Mash
  
• Malty Mash
  
• Sweet Mash
  

We've also implemented more optimizations and performance improvements. While these adjustments might not be immediately visible, they've significantly enhanced game stability, resulting in fewer potential crashes and stutters during your gameplay experience.

If you want to make sure that you have the update, check the game version on the main menu or the pause menu, on the bottom right of your screen. It should read "1.20.3-Main".

Thanks for reading our patch notes, and we'll see you in the next update! 💚

[h2]Hey everyone,[/h2]

First off, a huge thank you to everyone who participated in our SunnySide Player Survey! We received over 1,000 responses, and the insight you shared is already shaping the way we move forward. Your feedback has been incredibly valuable in helping us decide where to focus our efforts, and we’re excited to share what we’ve been working on!


We’ve gone through all the responses and compiled the data, below, you'll find some charts breaking things down visually. Here’s a quick overview of what we learned:

Optimization and performance improvements were the top request, so we’ve started addressing this right away.
Many of you shared frustrations with certain mechanics, and we’ve made some key quality-of-life improvements based on those, some included in this patch. We also saw some really thoughtful feedback on gameplay balance, usability, and general experience improvements, we hear you, and we’ll continue working on these!

Let's also take a look behind the curtain at the results of the survey:




We know that a smooth experience is key to fully enjoying the game, and from the survey results, it’s clear that optimization is a top priority for many of you. While performance improvements have been an ongoing effort, we’ve made major strides in this update, focusing on areas that needed the most attention.

Our goal is to make SunnySide feel better to play across the board, whether you’re farming, exploring, or diving into the depths of the caves. This update lays the foundation for future optimizations, and we’ll continue refining performance over time.

• Cave Level Performance: We focused on improving performance in all cave areas, with Lush Caves receiving an extra aesthetic overhaul alongside optimizations.
  
• Overworld: General optimization pass across various areas to improve stability and performance.
  

We’re not done with optimizations yet, but this is a big step in making SunnySide run smoother!


Alongside performance fixes, we tackled some of the most requested QoL changes!

[h3]Summon & Dismiss Sparky Anytime![/h3]
You can summon or dismiss Sparky anytime from your inventory!

• We saw a lot of requests for this, many of you wanted a way to dismiss Sparky while exploring, and now you can! Just open your inventory and press the Dismiss Sparky button.
  
• Don’t worry, he’ll still appear when needed for cutscenes, cave navigation, and fights.
  

[h2]Animal Happiness & Needs Overhaul[/h2]
We saw a lot of feedback about animals not staying happy consistently, which was frustrating for many of you. Pets and farm animals are an important part of the game, so we’ve reworked how they manage their needs to make them more reliable, responsive, and overall happier.

• More reliable: They now handle their needs much more efficiently.
  
• Better optimized: This should reduce weird behaviors and glitches.
  
• Happier animals overall!: Works for both pets and farm animals.
  

[h2]Cooking System Rework[/h2]
We heard you, cooking has been a bit too difficult, so we made it more forgiving!

• Recipe detection is now more lenient: You don’t have to be as exact with ingredients and can put more than needed in the mixing circle.
  
• You can cook multiple servings at once: Just add multiple sets of ingredients!
  
• Be careful: If you use extra ingredients, they won’t be refunded if not used up!
  

We also want to take a moment to say something personal. Your messages in the survey truly meant the world to us.

SunnySide’s development has been a journey, filled with ups, downs, and some really tough moments. The kind, encouraging words so many of you shared in the survey were a huge boost to our spirits. We’ve been through a lot as a studio, and hearing your support, excitement, and even just kind words of appreciation reminded us why we do this in the first place.

Seriously, thank you. It means more than we can say.

If you want to make sure that you have the update, check the game version on the main menu or the pause menu, on the bottom right of your screen. It should read "1.20.2-Main".

We’ll be back with more soon! 💚

– Aftabi Games Team

We’ve put together a player survey to gather your thoughts on SunnySide’s future. Your feedback is incredibly important to us, and it will help guide what we focus on for our upcoming updates.

If you’ve been following our recent announcement about the current state of SunnySide, you’ll know we’re facing some tough decisions as a team. This survey will help us understand what matters most to you so we can prioritize the right areas.
[h2]What’s in the survey?[/h2]

• Your thoughts on SunnySide’s current features
  
• What you’d like to see improved or added
  
• How you feel about updates and localization
  
• General feedback to help us make SunnySide better
  

It should only take about 15 minutes to complete, and your responses are completely anonymous.





Thank you so much for your support. Every bit of feedback helps us grow and improve, and we truly appreciate you being part of this journey with us. 💚

We wanted to share some important news about the current state and future of SunnySide. Back in November, we held a livestream where we explained the situation in-depth. You can check it out below, but we wanted to provide you all with a written TL;DR as well.

Over the past few years, we’ve been as transparent as possible with you all. Now, with SunnySide in its current state, we need to share some hard truths. Due to our publishing deal, we as the dev team are not making any money from SunnySide to sustain ourselves. This means that, in order to ensure our studio’s survival, we have to move forward with production on new games.

Because of this, we’ve made the tough decision to temporarily pause work on major updates and new content for SunnySide while we focus on securing the future of our small studio. In the meantime, we will continue to release small patches, performance improvements, and bug fixes, but we’re taking a step back from larger updates to get to a better place as a team.

We plan to release an update of this type in Feb of 2025, but please note that, due to our publishing situation, no new content will be added to the game until we, as a studio, can afford to create it ourselves.

You can watch the livestream where we went into more detail and answered many of your questions here:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

We’ve also posted a personal message from Siavash and the team over on our subreddit over here.

You can also check out our official update we posted on our twitter back in Novemeber here.

SunnySide was our first game, and we’ve learned so much from it. We recognize (and admit) that we made mistakes, but we’re not giving up on our passion. We hope you can understand our position and continue to support us as we work through this. While it may seem like we’re moving on and leaving SunnySide behind, that’s not the case. We have so much love for SunnySide and truly hope to return to it and give it the polish it deserves, one way or another.

Additionally, In the coming days, you might notice our company name on Steam changing to Aftabi Games. This rebranding is unrelated to SunnySide or our publishing deals. We discussed this in more detail during our livestream, and we encourage you to watch it for the full story.

In short, the change is the result of both a lawsuit over our previous studio name, "RainyGames," and a desire to better align with our studio's identity. From Siavash:

"When I first started the studio, I was the only one working on almost everything, and my old nickname, 'Rainy,' felt fitting. But as our team has grown, I wanted to move away from a name tied to a single person and instead choose something that reflects the personality and vision of the studio as a whole."

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. As part of our plan to get back on our feet, we’re working on a new, smaller-scale game that we’re fully funding and planning to publish ourselves, at least for now. If you’re interested in following our journey with the next game or want to support us further, please check out our Discord server here.

We appreciate you all more than we can say.
– Siavash, Sydney and the Team