v0.2.6 is here with a new Hotbar system, the Megaphone, improved customer flow, a reworked Market Price system, plus several fixes and improvements.
While watching gameplay videos, I noticed that some players would throw the Baseball Bat somewhere in the store and then had to look for it again when a shoplifter appeared. With this update, I wanted to make important tools easier to access without forcing you to search around the store every time you need them.
A new Hotbar system has been added to the game.
The Hotbar now appears at the bottom of the screen and allows you to quickly access certain tools using the number keys on your keyboard.
The Baseball Bat can now be accessed from the Hotbar.
The Megaphone can now be accessed from the Hotbar.
Tools that need to be used quickly are now much easier to reach.
You no longer need to search around the store to find these items during gameplay.
This should make tool usage feel smoother and more practical, especially in moments where quick access matters.
The Megaphone has been added to the game.
You can now use your microphone to speak through the Megaphone in-game.
Since the Megaphone is now part of the Hotbar, you can quickly equip it whenever you want to use it.
Reduced customer spawn frequency.
Some players mentioned that customers were arriving too often, which could make the store feel too busy too quickly. With this update, customer flow has been adjusted to create a more comfortable and balanced gameplay experience.
The goal is to keep the store active, but make the pacing feel less overwhelming.
Reduced microwave and toaster prices.
Microwave and toaster prices were higher than they should be compared to real-life pricing, so they have been reduced to make them feel more realistic and better balanced.
The Market Price calculation logic has been reworked.
Previously, market prices were calculated using a fixed percentage. This could make prices feel too predictable and less natural.
Market prices now work in a more dynamic way. Instead of using the same fixed logic for every product, prices can now vary depending on the product and its price range, making the pricing system feel closer to real life.
Because of this change, I recommend reviewing your current product prices after updating the game. Some products may now have different market prices than before, so checking your prices again will help you keep your store balanced.
That said, your testing and feedback are still very important. Please try out the new Market Price system, experiment with different product prices, and let me know how it feels during gameplay. Your feedback will help me continue improving the pricing balance and make the system feel better for everyone.
Fixed various minor bugs and stability issues.
Right now, my main focus is on the Early Access version of Home Store Simulator, which is planned to release this summer.
I'm currently working heavily on the main version of the game, including the warehouse system, employee systems, and a reworked shoplifter system. These are important parts of the full gameplay experience, so I'm putting a lot of care and effort into making them feel right.
Because of this, most of my development time is currently focused on the Early Access version. However, I will continue to update and improve the demo as much as I can along the way.
I also want you to know that I'm closely following your feedback. I watch gameplay videos on YouTube, follow community discussions, read your comments, check the messages you send me, and take notes from everything you share.
Your feedback helps me understand what works, what needs improvement, and what should be added next. Thank you for playing, sharing your thoughts, and helping shape the future of Home Store Simulator!