Most of the development work at the moment is going into delivering the long-awaited body modification update, which is currently in testing. However, we're still putting out new content and fixes in the meantime. Part of the push for background work at the moment is improving cards you see regularly (especially towards the beginning of the game) more interesting. This includes things such as implant and temperament cards and regular in-deck locations such as A coffee stall. Depending on the card, you might see more options, small semi-randomised cycles of content on the card and more random events (the last especially at specific locations).
As for the main body modification update, this is very close now. Probably next week.
Accessibility
We've also added some accessibility improvements, in terms of more keyboard shortcuts for navigating and playing open cards (you can see the full list of keyboard shortcuts in the main menu). The long term plan for accessibility is still to implement a console interface for typed commands, but in the short term we're planning on adding more smaller tweaks and shortcuts. Near future plans include:
Full shortcut-accessible descriptions of the requirements for playing each branch of an open card.
New interface for bundling items (this will be generally better anyway).
Better keyboard navigation for the main elements of the story tab.
Read the full changelog below
Two new physical quirks. Internal armour has had some work. - A bit more effective overall but with more consequences. A beggar has had a little work. A coffee stall has had a little work. One-shots clinics have had a little work.
Tweaked implant installation timings (mostly down). - Doesn't apply to implants currently being installed. Increased the temperature at which Heat upon heat kicks in. The Heat upon heat threshold now takes into account some quirks and a mutation. Adjusted the prices of some elective treatments. Some additional outfit stuff.
New artwork. Cards now open with the first playable action focused. New keyboard shortcut: c will focus the first playable action of the open card.. New keyboard shortcut: a will play the currently focused action. - These should make playing card with the keyboard much easier. New keyboard shortcut: s will open the supply packet interface (from any screen). Undocked panels that have disappeared off the edge of the screen will now be re-docks automatically.
Fixed being able to use the Discipline option on Self-improvement if you'd not made a self-improvement. Fixed a potential problem with Living with/Ann and Ann's digs. Fixed some typos and other small bugs. Thanks for the reports!
Three Years on Steam
Yes, cyberpunkdreams has now been on Steam for three years, with no signs of slowing down. If you've been here before, you know how this works. And if you haven't, it's pretty simple: for one week there will be a lot of unique content and previews in the game, plus access codes shared in our Discord and maybe elsewhere.
But before we get onto that, I'd like to give a big shout out to everyone who's supported the project over the years, in whatever form or whatever platform. This wouldn't be possible without all of you.
Third anniversary event content
We've got a few things for you over the coming week:
A new location in Gamble Street that will be previewed only on the first day of the event.
The much coveted Sinzil Crimson X phone will be back for less than 24 hours via an access code.
The Akizowear Zone One phone will also be back and available via an access code for the week.
Two unique stories.
Many unique or rare items to find by exploring in game.
Unique items and previews shared via access codes.
Unique stories
There are two storylines that you can only start during the anniversary event. The traitor you choose and Deep Stacks. You need to have various criteria to start the first; we won't spoil it. It'll auto-trigger when it's ready. For Deep Stacks, you need to be renting a place in Eastside Stacks in the Projects to start it, and to be hanging out there.
Both of these stories can have a lasting impact on your game, so make your decisions wisely. Note that simply playing during the event will unlock them and make them available any time. You don't have to finish them during the event (although it might be nice...)
In-game items
We've added a lot more findable items to the game compared to last year's event. These are mostly items of apparel, but not entirely. Some of them are previews and others you won't find outside of this or other events.
And also unlike previous years, these items will be hidden all over the place. Some you might simply be able to find in a shop, whilst others might require following a tip, or something else. They will also unlock over time during the event, so don't expect to find them all on the first day!
Access codes
We'll be sharing a few throughout the week on our Discord server, which you can join here:
Note that all the codes will require you to play during the event in order to activate them, and possibly for more than one day.
Once again, thanks again for all the fun and support over the years! And don't forget to look forward to some big releases in the weeks following the event.
rob & the cpd/ops team
Minor update
New outfit control: pulling your cap down over your ears. New items of apparel (including some previously previewed). Filled in some "scene coming soon" text.
New artwork.
Fixed drawing Late last night sometimes giving a blank screen. Fixed the crowbar not counting as a long weapon. Fixed some typos and smaller bugs. Thanks for the reports!
Announcing our new Patreon
cyberpunkdreams was always intended to be a project that existed across different media and spaces. Different platforms allow for different ways to tells stories and different stories to tell. Different experiences, both for the reader and the writer. So the next leap we're taking is Patreon, featuring new writing from the world of cyberpunkdreams every month. Check it out here:
The most important thing to note is that you will not have to engage with our Patreon in order to keep getting the most out of the game. There will be some crossover in terms of background material, the odd story link and NPC mentions -- much like the Cincinnati Stories DLC. So if you want to dive deeper into the world of cpd, this is the way to go, but it is absolutely not required.
Tiers and content
We're starting off with a couple of monthly subscription tiers, plus the odd bit of free content (there's a free story on there already). We'll have at least one update per month, and maybe more. These will take the form of standalone stories, serialised narratives, flash fiction, dossiers, background material and more. Expect a few thousand words per month.
In future we might add tiers for things such as unique artwork, merchandise and comic strips. We'll have to see how it does.
The game
It's also worth noting that work on the game will continue apace. Patreon will take some time out of the schedule for sure, but working on straightforward fiction is far faster that writing the non-linear content that the game requires. Overall, productivity might well increase, with the crosspollination of ideas and inspiration between the different aspects of the project. The roadmap is still on track, and there's a lot more content planned, especially when it comes to ticking things off the content wall.
On that note, look out for body modding and Zara in the near future. There's no specific in-game content for the Patreon launch, but there will be for our third anniversary event in just a few weeks. More on that soon.
And, as ever, if you want to stay involved, our Discord server is as buzzing as ever. Thanks for reading, and see you there!
Minor update
New clothing shop in Palisade with some exclusive items. Various new clothing items (including some previously previewed).
New artwork.
Fixed a problem with increasing stamina on Working on cardio. Fixed searching for the wrong ammo type on Your Kettec P50. Various other typos and small bugs corrected. Thanks for the reports!
Bugfix release
Fixed a couple of problems when new bruises are assigned. If you were stuck on this screen you should be unstuck now.
Day to day
State of play
Updates have been a little slow in the first quarter of 2024 (well, for this game...), but rest assured that things will pick up again in the next. The dearth has been due to a combination of me having a lot of personal stuff to deal with and a lot of new content going into testing rather than public release.
That said, whilst there's been no new major story content, there have been five reasonably big updates, bfore today's, that cleaned up the weapons and related systems (something that needed doing for the badlands), improved various locations and added new items and apparel to buy, amongst other things. So still not bad going.
What's next?
The next major update will probably be in the second half of April and will add body modification and tattoos to the game, along with a couple of new locations and a new NPC. The body modifications you'll have available will be smaller ones at first, but once the mechanics are in, more and more can be added over time (you know how this goes).
After that, dating Miriam and Zara's intro content are both in testing, and there's a lot of content written already for the badlands, the next step of Until the end of the world and the main missions, plus a wide variety of other bits and pieces. We're also working on a completely fresh soundtrack for the game, which will also be released as a DLC when the time comes. Future plans include an overwhelmingly huge amount of stuff.
Patreon
The other major piece of news is that we will be launching a Patreon around the beginning of May. This will be for short story and other written content set in the world of cyberpunkdreams. There will be more info closer to the time, but rest assured that this will be a standalone project, a bit like the Cincinnati Stories short story collection. You absolutely will not have to join the Patreon to keep enjoying the game, or vice versa.
This update
Another grab-bag of new content this time around, as we wait for the bigger updates later this month. Some of this is prepping the way for the body modification work to come. Some of it's part of an ongoing campaign to make existing, day to day cards more interesting. And some of it's Darlene.
Read the full changelog below
There's a little bit more Darlene content.
There are two new cards for newer characters. You can now get a new border pass from the smugglers if you meet with them. Your crime targets will now drop for a bit if you've had a recent known kill. There's a tiny bit more prison content.
Lucky bullet has had a little work. Harsh times has had a little work. Zero history has had a little work. Added six more quirks (five physical). Reworked facial injuries for a more nuanced system that takes apparel into account. - For example, wearing shades will now hide some of the effects of a Black eye. - Some quirks can now also have an impact. Removed Manly bruises and replaced it with a different effect (again, more nuanced). - Ones you already have will disappear in the usual way.
Added some new benefits for using Sens spikes in certain situations. Filled in some missing SensX content.
New artwork.
Fixed missing w/Range on the M9 Beretta. Fixed problems with Time to do another Sens?*. Fixed some typos and other minor bugs. Thanks for the reports!
Interface
Xara One has been a feature of the game's world and lore almost since the beginning, and you can now finally interact with her spikes. We've also done a lot of work on her obsession interactions, and sprinkled a little more content elsewhere. While we were at it, we've also spiced up the normal card for your neural interface, so it should be a little more interesting now.
Body modding and tattoos are now currently in testing as well. Tattoos will be released soon, with body modding to be released not long after.
Read the full changelog below
Revamped the Your neural interface card. You can now change your mind about not getting inked on Manage your life (credits required). You can now use Xara One spikes. Some additional Xara One content. One new physical quirk.
New artwork.
Fixed ammo slots for the SVD and Kridd Vector not appearing in the left hand area. Fixed missing Automatic stat on the Tec-9. Fixed a possible problem with not always being able to hide bone mutations. Fixed missing Masked up on the motorcycle helmet. Fixed a problem with treated vs untreated concussions. Fixed combat tests taking weapon scatter into account on non-scattering ammo. Fixed some typos and other minor bugs. Thanks for the reports!
Minor update
The backstreet clinic has been reorganised a little. Excessive visits and usage at the clinic might mean being asked to stay away for a short while. Put a harder cap on organ harvesting for the clinic. The clinic won't chase you for newly incurred debts for a few days now. Removed the debt cap at the clinic for emergency treatments. - There will be more stuff at the clinic soon, especially relating to body modification.
One-off improvement for Getting bigger, Getting smarter and Getting toned for characters will existing trait increases. - This is based on the character's stats but is very rough.
New artwork.
Fixed a problem with Looking out for Lisa. Fixed the T's Dream spike getting stuck. Fixed the incorrect gifts from lovers for Ann and Irene. - In Ann's case, you'll only get the fix if you got the same thing again as you did last year, otherwise this gift is valid even if the description is wrong. - In Irene's case, you'll get the gift automatically even if you've not swapped gifts (no way to debug it in more detail). You can request the content you missed. Fixed a missing Jettel 33-g rifle if you should have one but don't. Fixed some typos and other minor bugs.
Bugfix release
Fixed a rare case of the game failing to load on launch. Fixed some problems to do with switching equipped items and related hangs, Fixed some other minor problems.
Any and all hangs since yesterday's release should be fixed now, but contact support if you're still having problems.
