5 Days to Launch: Demo Closing Soon & What’s New in the Full Release!
Shiba Sweet Demo · published
Hello, lovely players! I’m Ya Mao. The 5-day countdown to the official launch of Shiba Sweet is on! The game is confirmed to release on September 17. It'll cost $17.99 (USD) / £15.99 (GBP) / €18,25 (EUR) with a 15% launch discount for the first two weeks.
As the full release approaches, our Demo is ready to take its final bow and will be closed on launch day. Please note that due to Steam's save system, save data from the Demo will not automatically transfer to the full game, so keep this in mind as you prepare for launch!
Here is a breakdown of what's new and improved in the full release compared to the Demo.
1. Full Release vs. Demo Improvements
(1) No Time Limits
In the Demo, gameplay was capped at one in-game season or upon reaching 1-Star Chef rank. The full version completely removes these restrictions! You can now experience the full progression of all four seasons, unlock new recipes, ingredients, kitchenware, and decorations, and embark on your journey toward becoming a 5-Star Pastry Chef.
(2) Visual & Performance Optimizations
We listened to your feedback regarding dark kitchen lighting and lower customer graphic resolution during open hours. In the full release, kitchen lighting is brighter and customer visuals during store hours are much crispier. We originally lowered some visual fidelity to ensure the Demo ran smoothly on low-spec hardware, but through extensive testing, we found a sweet spot that maintains high visual quality while keeping performance rock-solid.
(3) Rebalanced Economy & Festive Event Days
Earnings and expenses now scale much more smoothly as you progress. Additionally, based on player suggestions to encourage baking more than just your latest unlocked dessert, we introduced special holiday events and themed days. These give you fun incentives to bake a wider variety of treats and earn Shiba Coins.
(4) Useful Quality-of-Life Features
Bookmark System: Place a bookmark on any recipe page so you don't have to flip through the book page-by-page. A quick tap of the bookmark button jumps you straight to your marked page.
Kitchenware Rotation: You can now rotate kitchen equipment (facing front or back) when placing items in your shop.
Mixer Ingredient Packs: To reduce late-game resource management strain, unlocking higher star ranks gives you the option to buy ingredient packs directly for your mixers.
Coffee Machine: A new appliance available for purchase as your shop ranks up. Buy coffee beans at the market, brew a fresh cup, and enjoy a speed boost after drinking it!
(5) In-Game Tips Page in the Pause Menu
We added a dedicated Tips page to the pause menu packed with helpful info to smooth out the learning curve. For instance, when unlocking a recipe that requires a new appliance, the tips page will point you directly to where you can purchase it.
(6) Expanded Settings Menu
In the Demo, settings could only be adjusted from the main menu and reset every time the game restarted. In the full version, you can tweak your settings anytime—either from the main menu or in the middle of gameplay. Once you complete the tutorial and save your game, settings like language, sound effects, and BGM volumes are permanently saved.
(7) Improved Gamepad Support
Many players requested thumbstick navigation for menus. Aside from primary kitchen actions (which still rely on the D-pad for precision), all other menu interfaces now support thumbstick navigation! Note: Due to technical constraints, custom button remapping is not supported at this time.
(8) The Chicky Donation Box
To prevent food waste, the old Chicky Bin has been officially upgraded to the Chicky Donation Box! If you ever end up with extra ingredients, half-finished items, or unwanted desserts, you can place them in the donation box to help elderly residents in need.
2. Wrapping up
Beyond my own roadmap, so many of these features were shaped directly by your survey feedback. I am deeply grateful to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts and playtest experience. You helped this game grow into what it is today, and your support sustained me through countless days and nights as a solo developer to bring Shiba Sweet to the finish line.
Realistically, no single game can satisfy every player's expectations, but I have done my absolute best to find the right balance so that as many of you as possible can fall in love with this cozy world.
When I founded Cat House Games two and a half years ago, my dream was simple: to create games that offer comfort, joy, and lasting memories through charming art and engaging gameplay.
Along the way, I realized that seeing players enjoy the game, reading your warm words of encouragement, and feeling your excitement for the release has shaped my life just as much. You have truly become an irreplaceable piece of my journey. Thank you for being here!
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