B.E.S.T — FINAL UPDATE + News about the game...

[h2]Hello B.E.S.T.I.E.S,[/h2][p]This “Final” update for B.E.S.T brings a complete overhaul of the UI (choice system, buttons, phone, icons…).[/p][p][/p][p]There are also summary screens and a clean progress export to carry over into the sequel.[/p][p][/p][p]But above all: we want to speak frankly about the road ahead—here on Steam.[/p][p][/p][h3]Steam has made decisions regarding the “adult” games market, and we have to comply with them.[/h3][p][/p][p]Here is what is changing on Steam—and what it implies:[/p][p][/p][h3]Steam has decided to no longer allow games categorized as “adult” to have access to Early Access.[/h3][p][/p][p]So: No Early Access (EA) for B.E.S.T 2 on Steam.[/p][p][/p][p]→ Concretely, this means no ongoing funding during development. We need to stay laser-focused, and every sign of support on Steam (wishlists, reviews, activity) becomes crucial to make the sequel viable here. We can only release the full season, not episode by episode as we go. On Steam, anyway.[/p][p][/p][h3]Steam has decided to no longer allow content updates (episode updates) that include NSFW content for games that are already released—only via DLC.[/h3][p]→ Adding episodes as DLC would fragment the experience and make things more complicated for players. That’s why B.E.S.T 1 is finalized, and the story will continue in B.E.S.T 2 rather than stacking DLCs that would muddy the structure and prevent us from moving forward smoothly given the player loss we’d face over these “fragments.”[/p][p]We know this isn’t ideal. These are not our decisions; we’re adapting to the platform’s rules. As of today, there are still areas of uncertainty regarding the exact format and timeline—we’ll keep you updated as we go.[/p][p][/p][h3]And Episode 6?[/h3][p][/p][p]Episode 6, originally planned for B.E.S.T 1, is moving to B.E.S.T 2 since we’re no longer allowed to release it as a simple game update. Our goal is simple: pick up the sequel as quickly as possible in a way that’s compatible with Steam, so you wait as little time as possible.[/p][p]To be absolutely clear, we will only be able to release B.E.S.T 2 as a “full season,” not in episodic drops like before. This isn’t our preference, but we’re now required to operate this way. I think you’ll see other games in the same situation over time (possibly fragmenting seasons so you can play earlier?)[/p][p][/p][p]We’re moving forward with you. Some constraints are out of our hands; our commitment is not: to continue B.E.S.T quickly and cleanly, without diluting the experience.[/p][p][/p][p]“What you’ve experienced was only a warm-up.” — Mr. Orushi[/p][p][/p][p]Thank you for your patience, your ideas, and your energy. You helped shape B.E.S.T 1 with your feedback; we’re building the sequel with you. — The Team[/p]