Fixed Steam achievement issue! Important note : If the game is failing to launch after the update, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. · Fixed autopsy not appearing properly in Chapter 28 · English typo fixes
News1.0 Launch — The Canada Files Is Complete!———Major update
Major update · published 6 Mar 2026, 03:11:09 UTC
1.0 Launch — The Canada Files Is Complete!
Note: If you're having issues, fully uninstall and reinstall the game to make sure all the game files are properly updated. Loading from old saves may result in bugs after this update. To celebrate the 1.0 release, I've put together this special presentation — enjoy! In this update... File 06 The final File, and the conclusion of the story awaits... the fateful events of Stage Six are revealed,…
NewsMethods: The Canada Files Full Game To Be Released on Mar. 5th!———Announcement
Announcement · published 26 Feb 2026, 10:14:04 UTC
Methods: The Canada Files Full Game To Be Released on Mar. 5th!
Sixth & Final case of the Detective Competition. Detective Larika Downs v.s. Mastermind Joane Tremblay. Long-buried secrets await their reckoning. Methods: The Canada Files – Full Release Launching Mar. 5, 22:00 (UTC-5)
File 06's development is nearing completion. What I worked on since the last update: · Finished all backgrounds · Finished all CGs · Composed 4 new music tracks · Completed writing revisions As of yesterday, I've completed work on all the CGs in File 06 — which ended up being around 60 in total. Now the work that remains is music, additional polish, and the translation. It feels great to be so…
File 06's development continues into the new year! What I worked on since the last update: · Blocked out all backgrounds, finished 15 · Rendered placeholders for CGs, unfinished backgrounds · Made another music track · Conducted playtests Last month my main goal was working on all those backgrounds — I'm pleased to say that I am very close to completing them, and that the remaining ones just ne…
Characters are finished! What I worked on since the last update: · Finished the designs and sprites for the characters · Coded the game to a "playable" state · Finished File 06 UI recoloring This month went by super quickly, and after designing the characters went so slowly, I've realized I really need to ramp up my productivity if I want File 06 to be released in early 2026. So I've been pushi…
NewsDevlog 62: And Now For Everything Else!———Community
Community · published 31 Oct 2025, 09:49:59 UTC
Devlog 62: And Now For Everything Else!
I have finished writing File 06! What I worked on since the last update: · Finished writing File 06 · Created 2 music tracks · Designed 3 characters Well, it took a little longer than I thought, but I finished writing File 06, which means that The Canada Files is now fully written. I can finally move on to the other parts of the process, which are still difficult but not nearly as much of a str…
Writing has begun on File 06! What I worked on since the last update: · Outlined the mystery for File 06 · Wrote Chapter 26 · Designed 1 character · Finished Part 2 of The Art of Methods I've begun writing File 06, after outlining the mystery. I'm trying to apply all the lessons I learned from creating all the previous Files to try to make it the most thrilling mystery yet. I also recently rele…
Major update · published 23 Aug 2025, 08:58:56 UTC
Hangouts Four & Five Released!
Both Hangout Four and Hangout Five have been released, which means that the Hangouts feature is now finished. Please note that the price of the game will increase soon now that the Hangouts are released, so now is a good time to get the game at a reduced price! With these Hangouts comes two new Outfit sets — Pirates and Suits. Whether you prefer to plunder other detective team's ships or make s…
Hangout Five has been written! What I worked on since the last update: · Wrote Hangout Five · Implemented 3 Outfits · Coded all Hangouts The biggest hurdle has finally been overcome — writing Hangout Five. The past few months, it was a bit of a struggle to write, but bit by bit, I hacked away at it and now, it's done! Here's a screenshot from the upcoming release! I still have another Outfit se…
Hangout Four has been written! Hangout Four has been written, and soon I can send it off for translation! As I was aiming for, it's about 5k words. However, my plan is to go ahead and create Hangout Five as well before the next release. I would like to be completely focused on File 06, so finishing up all the Hangouts first is my top priority, and creating both at once will allow me to save som…
The axe box originally had broken glass around the edges, however, the glass on the floor perfectly recreates the pane of glass, meaning no glass would've been left behind on the axe box. The broken glass edges on the box have now been removed to resolve this
Major update · published 27 May 2025, 12:28:59 UTC
File 05 is Here!
In this update... File 05 After last Stage's elimination, Team Tads is a bit shaken as they head into Stage Five — a lightning-paced Stage with an unexpected twist. How will Tads lead the team, and what is Esbekay's plan? Many surprises await in this exciting penultimate File! The price of the game will not increase until Hangout Four's release, so this is a great time to get the game at a lowe…
File 05 is already completed and we're finishing up translation! But how did I get it done so quickly?? During File 04's development, I was secretly developing File 05 simultaneously! Every time I reached a milestone, it was actually a milestone for both Files. After outlining File 04, I outlined File 05. After writing File 04, I wrote File 05. After making the sprites for File 04, I made them…
For some reason banner on Score section was displaying incorrectly, it's been fixed · In Chapter 17, Struess mentions a "laptop" (which is no longer in the game) and other items that the player may have not seen yet, this has been corrected
Some English typos/spelling errors in File 03 & 04 fixed · "Unlock Chapters" button in Options was not available if you had finished File 03 or started File 04, this has been fixed · "Evidence Needed" was not appearing in the Chinese translation of File 04
Major update · published 14 Mar 2025, 08:40:29 UTC
File 04 is Here!
Note: This update may break old saves as it contains improvements to previous Files! In this update... File 04 In the final round of Stage Four, Team Tads investigates a series of murders at the Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick. But the nature of the crime may not be as it first appeared... Will they solve the most complicated mystery yet? Please note that the price of the game will increase aft…
11 Mar 2025
NewsDevlog 56: Mad Rush———Community
Community · published 11 Mar 2025, 10:20:50 UTC
Devlog 56: Mad Rush
File 04's English version is done — now all that's left is the localization. Here's what I worked on since the last devlog! · Finished minigames · Coded all the expressions · Created titlecards · UI completed It will be a mad rush to get over the finish line, but File 04 will be released later this month! Hope you're looking forward to it! Until next time! — LockedOn.
NewsSteam Visual Novel Festival | The "Methods" Series Now on Sale!———Sale
Sale · published 4 Mar 2025, 02:02:58 UTC
Steam Visual Novel Festival | The "Methods" Series Now on Sale!
Attention, Detectives! The Steam Visual Novel Festival is here, and both games in the Methods series—Methods: The Detective Competition and Methods: The Canada Files—are available at their lowest-ever discounts! Dive into a world where mind-bending mysteries collide with hilarious storytelling! 📌 Limited-Time Discounts 1️⃣ Methods: The Detective Competition 60% OFF | 100 detectives vs. crimina…