Steps of Debauchery News

[p]Hi everyone![/p][p]
Just a short info post today. I did a Q&A recently, and some questions came up more than once, so I thought it’d be good to answer them here. I also want to say a few words about production, future plans, and give a small update about what’s coming in October/November. If you’re only here for the 5.0 update and pictures, scroll down to the last section. :D[/p][p]First, I’ve seen some strange posts lately accusing me of not keeping promises, not focusing on the project, and even lying about the full release being planned for 2026. Honestly, it feels weird to explain myself, but I think I should.[/p][p]Yes, two years ago after the first release I wrote that small updates would come every month and big ones every two months. Back then, a “small update” meant around 5 short scenes, 300–400 renders, and about 5k words. Now, a small update (like episode 4.2 for example) had over 1,400 renders, almost 20k words, better animations, and higher-quality visuals. So the scope of content has grown a lot.[/p][p]The plan hasn’t changed — we still aim for a full release in 2026. I can’t promise 100% we’ll make that deadline, but we’re not going to cut content just to rush things. Since the start, we’ve had a full vision of the game and we’re building it step by step. We even added some extra scenes for big supporters, which weren’t in the original plan but I feel like they fit nicely into the story.[/p][p]About the DLC coming in two months — it was planned a long time ago, even last year. So yes, it’s possible we won’t finish the full game by the end of 2026, but we’re working every single day to deliver the best content we can. A lot has changed in my personal life too (like my wedding), which caused some delays. Hard to estimate everything 3 years ahead, especially with so little experience I had, but nothing changed to my approach to the project and I still take it seriously.[/p][p]Now, the most common questions:[/p]

• [p]Recruitment: We tested many people, but it was more trouble than help. In the end, we hired one full-time artist (thanks, Alex!) who’s been a huge help. I hoped to hire 2–3 more, but so far no one matched our style. Recruitment is still open, but passively — I’m not spending more time searching right now, because instead of testing people I could create much more renders myself.[/p]
• [p]Future projects: We’re not planning a direct sequel to SoD. Maybe a DLC with a separate story, or maybe something new — but for now, SoD is the focus.[/p]
• [p]How I started: I first worked for other devs (can’t say much because of NDAs), but I learned a lot and then decided to make my own game. Comparing the early renders to now, I can say I’ve learned even more. I try to improve every day, fixing old mistakes and pushing quality forward.[/p]
• [p]Characters/assets: I can’t share assets or spoil content. About Riley — she isn’t based on anyone, I just created a character I personally liked.[/p]

[p]If you have more questions (or complaints about what I wrote earlier), feel free to leave comments on Patreon or Steam. I don’t reply to everything, but I do read all of them.[/p][p]About the next update: it’s coming in early November. You’ll get 9 large scenes and over 2,000 new renders. In mid-October, I’ll share the full changelog and detailed info about the DLC (coming one month after episode 5.0, in December). It’s been a long wait for episode 5.0, but the DLC will make up for it and prove we’ve been working hard.[/p][p]Finally, here are a few random renders. Feel free to ask more questions, and if you haven’t left a Steam review yet — please do it now![/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p]

[p]Hey everyone!
Time for the update you’ve all been waiting for – progress news and the release date for Episode 5.0![/p][p][/p][p]We’re almost there: only two more scenes left to finish on the art side, and we’re rendering the final animations. Scenes are already being added and coded into the game. Next week we’ll begin translations. On top of that, there will be new achievements, bonus content, wallpapers, and a small UI upgrade. The replay system will also get better – you’ll be able to see how to unlock them and easily check what content you might have missed.[/p][p][/p][p]And now, the dates you’ve been waiting for - Episode 5.0 will be available for:[/p]

• [p]Devoted+ tiers – November 5 (evening CET)[/p]
• [p]Inquisitive+ tiers + Steam & Itch – November 8 (evening CET)[/p]
• [p]Attentive tier – November 15 (evening CET)[/p][p][/p]

[p]We know this update took longer than usual. It’s a normal-sized release (bigger than previous ones, around 10 scenes and 60–90 minutes of gameplay, but won't call it big). But don’t worry – a big DLC is coming just a month later, with more details in early October. And yes, we’ve got a few more surprises planned too![/p][p]One more piece of news: Exploring the Big Apple – a game by SadPepper, published by us – will be available on Steam, October 17! It comes with a fresh UI, translations, sounds, and more. If you haven’t already, make sure to add it to your wishlist.[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p]And finally – here are some fresh renders from the update.
See you soon![/p][p][/p]

[p]Hi friends!
It’s been a while, and we’ve made some new renders, so here’s a little update on how things are going. Everything is on track – see you again next month, hehe.[/p][p][/p][p]But seriously, let’s start with a progress update:[/p][p][/p][p]The scripts are written, the text part is 100% done, coding and testing are going smoothly, and the graphics - the most time-consuming part – are about halfway finished. As I mentioned before, we’re not only working on Episode 5.0, but also on a new DLC that will be released later this year.[/p][p][/p][p]It’s still a bit too early to share details about the DLC – what it’s about, how far we are, or when exactly it’s coming – but you’ll find out soon. I often get questions about why we’re focusing on DLC when the main game isn’t finished yet. The answer is simple: it’s not about “grabbing money” (though extra funds always help), but about wanting to work on something fresh. After spending so much time on Steps of Debauchery and Riley’s main story, I started feeling a bit burned out. I almost took a long break, but instead I decided to work on a different Riley story. This DLC is fun, lighthearted, and very naughty – making it has been a joy for me, and I think you’ll enjoy it just as much. So no more burnout – I’m more motivated than ever.[/p][p][/p][p]Back to Episode 5.0 – it could be ready earlier than November, but since we’re focusing on the DLC now, we want to keep everything stress-free and smooth. So the official release date for Episode 5.0 is early November (exact day to be announced next month). If things go well, we’ll move straight to creating Episode 5.1, which should make the next updates come out faster.[/p][p][/p][p]Honestly, I’ve looked at the new renders so much that I sometimes feel like the episode is already released – but nope, it’s just the upcoming update :D
Before I go, please add Exploring the Big Apple to your wishlist – it’s coming next month![/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]And instead of the usual teasers, I’ve got a little game for you: here are 4 renders of Riley’s butt. One is from the new DLC, one is bonus content, and two are from the upcoming update. Can you guess which is which? Let me know in the comments![/p][p]Ain't that a great view?[/p]

[p]Hey there![/p][p]It's been a few days, so it's the perfect time to share a quick update on what we've been working on. As usual, let's start with some visuals:[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]As you can see, the scripts, meaning the written content, dialogues, and all that, are almost done. All scenes are already planned out. We might still add a few extra things like achievements, but overall, this part should be fully finished by next week.[/p][p][/p][p]On the programming and testing side, we’ve added a few new features and, more importantly, fixed all previously reported bugs. Some of you have issues launching the game on Steam, that’s because of a recent Ren’Py update (which is the engine most AVNs are made with). Luckily, there’s already a solution posted on the forum, so check it out if you're having problems![/p][p][/p][p]Now, for the biggest and most time-consuming part: renders. We’ve completed about 30% of the upcoming update, which will likely have the most animations we've ever done. At the same time, we're also working on the previously mentioned DLC, which should also come out this year. Things are going smoothly now. We’ve already created the biggest and most difficult scenes, so everything should move even faster from here.[/p][p][/p][p]Writing this made me realize how much we’ve actually accomplished - especially considering it’s only been a month since the last update! I’m not ready to give a release date for Episode 5.0 just yet /anything can happen/ but we’re aiming for October. Maybe sooner, maybe later. It’s still too early to say for sure. What I can say is that you’ll definitely enjoy what we have in store for you this year.[/p][p][/p][p]That’s all for now! If you haven’t already, please consider leaving a review on Steam and adding Exploring the Big Apple to your wishlist (you can find info about it in the last devlog).[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p]I’m leaving a few renders as always - talk to you soon and have a great weekend![/p][p][/p]

[p]Hey there![/p][p]
We've had a pretty busy time lately, and I'm really happy with how things are going. I also have some updates for you from different angles – but let’s start with Steps of Debauchery.[/p][p]We decided to expand the main story a bit with a new side plot and add more depth to some of the existing scenes. This means the game will be bigger – but in a good way! You’ll get more of Riley, without unnecessary filler. And don’t worry – all of this will be part of the base game. If you’re already supporting us or bought the game on Steam, you’ll get everything included.[/p][p]New scenes are coming along smoothly, and I’m really happy with our progress. They’re much larger than before – for example, early scenes had around 70–100 renders, but now some go over 300 renders and include lots of animations. So yes, they take longer to make, but they feel much more immersive and natural.[/p][p][/p][p]At the same time, we’re working on a cool DLC. It’s not just a short bonus – it will be a fully developed story. I can’t tell you when it’s coming or what it will include (it’s a surprise!), but trust me, it’s something special. Just thinking about it puts a smile on my face.[/p][p][/p][p]Last thing – we’re supporting a new project as a publisher! It’s a game called Exploring the Big Apple by SadPepper, where you’ll play as Emma, the main character. If you like Steps of Debauchery, you’ll probably enjoy this one too![/p][p]We helped with proofreading, translations into 7 languages, a new UI, achievements, and some extra features to improve the game. Like with Bright Lord, the original animations, renders, and story all stay true to the creator’s vision. Also, all the extra work was done by people we specifically hired for that project – so it hasn’t slowed down the development of SoD in any way.[/p][p]The game is already visible on Steam and will be available for purchase in early Q4 2025. Feel free to add it to your wishlist now – it’ll be worth it![/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]That’s all for today’s update. I’m heading back to work on Episode 5.0 – which is already shaping up to be one of my favorites :)[/p]