Dear Retailers #7 - What's New? What's Coming

It’s been a while since our last update post, and I have lots of things to share with you. Last month, we released our demo during Steam Next Fest, as well as the official King of Retail 2 trailer! I wanted to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has tried it out thus far and hit me with both their feedback and support.

Anywho, let’s dive into the packaged meat and pickles of this update. There’s a lot to cover here, so I’ve broken everything into sections for easier reading:

[h2]General
[/h2]
New HUD - None of the new HUD design or style was in the previous version, so the majority of the UI you see has been replaced. Please note that the game’s HUD will continue to be updated and improved as time goes on, to improve both readability and usability, with further revamps already in the works.

Here are some comparison snaps for you!

before
after

Build Mode - Alright, so, none of this was in the previous version—everything is new. This has been one of the most requested features from you all and is by far the biggest change. Build Mode now allows players to completely rebuild their stores, place walls, windows, decorations, and more.

You can also import your own images for logos and posters, truly making your store customizable; it’s been great to see all the unique designs cooked up so far.

You can access Build Mode during the evening when your store is closed by going to the Pause Menu and selecting Build Mode.

You can’t be knocking the walls down whilst customers are still buying their toilet roll.

Shapes - As an extension of Build Mode, I’ve also implemented the option to add a variety of shapes to your store for extra versatility. Think spheres, cubes, cylinders, and more; any shapes you may need to customise your store beyond the bespoke decorative items, allowing you to create your own props and stylistic flourishes.

These can also be customised further with materials and colours of your choosing!



The World - Previous versions were pretty underdeveloped, so with the new HUD, added features, visual updates, and overlays, the world now feels much more complete and polished.

Dynamic Weather - Before, every day looked the same. Now, we have weather that changes with the seasons (e.g., longer days during summer). This not only sets the mood but also impacts gameplay and store management, which we’ll get onto shortly.

Character Design Updates - I’ve made some additional updates to the character creator as you craft the perfect manager for your retail empire. This includes the addition of beards, brows, and glasses, with room for more later down the line.



[h2]Articles[/h2]

New Articles - There’s a lot of fresh stock coming in. We’ve expanded beyond the usual groceries, starting with the clothing category and, specifically, Men’s Fashion. Before, shelves were mostly filled with everyday essentials, but with the new selection of fruits, vegetables, and now clothing, your store’s atmosphere can feel entirely different depending on what you sell.

New articles will continue to be implemented over the course of development, so keep an eye out for shoes, pants, and more in the near future, just for starters.



New Article Handling - Managing your inventory isn’t a nightmare anymore. We cleaned up the article sorting in the UI and gave product photos a much-needed upgrade, so it’s way easier to keep track of everything.

This is something I will continue to tweak, as well, so please keep your feedback coming.

Trend System - With the new trend system, product popularity actually shifts throughout the year, which keeps things fresh and makes managing stock way more interesting. For example, certain clothing will be more popular during the Winter season where you’ll need to wrap up warm, but their demand will fall off during spicier climates.

Keep with the times!



[h2]Upcoming Tweaks[/h2]

Graphics Settings - This is a big one, and has been heavily requested since the release of the
demo! Soon, you’ll be able to tweak your graphics settings, including resolution, FPS cap, shadows, post processing, and more.

Optimisation is a complicated process, but, this is a strong step in the right direction to help get the game running smoothly on your machine!



Employee Management Overhaul - Currently, employees can feel a bit mindless as they go about their daily routines, so I’m working to improve the management UI to make it more intuitive, as well as giving them more to do during their “off-time.” There will also be upgrades to employee negotiations and you’ll be able to track your employees throughout the day with greater ease.

Display Management - I’ve heard your feedback regarding the display menu, and I want to action said feedback to make the system as intuitive as possible.

First up, you can now visualise articles within your display unit during customisation, so you won’t get any nasty surprises if a particular product ends up being taller or wider than anticipated; you can test these all out in the Display Designer.



Shelf management will now also be displayed within the Designer itself, giving you the information you need, when you need it, further reducing the need for any trial and error.

I want you to be able to know exactly what you’re designing and putting into your store, and this should help with that a great deal.

Of course, please keep your feedback coming!

That’s all for now!

That’s everything we’ve got to share so far, but of course, work is still very much ongoing. If you have any insights, ideas, or just want to share your experience with the game, head over to our Discord server or tag us over on Bluesky or X.

Your feedback is a huge part of shaping the future of the game, so please do not hesitate to share your thoughts and feelings on the latest changes.

As the month of April goes full steam ahead, I will shortly be unveiling the release date for Early Access (keep your eyes peeled!) as well as a more detailed Roadmap of what you can expect in King of Retail 2 for Early Access launch and beyond.

Until next time, my fellow entrepreneurs, have a great sale.


Daniel Fjordøj