July Update: Still Cooking (But Smells Real Good)

Hey everyone! It’s time for our July check-in, and we’ve got a lot to share! From Chapter 1’s polish to full-game milestones, this update is all about where TOUCHSTARVED stands now, what’s in motion, and what’s coming up next.

But first! Thank you all so much for the warmth, encouragement, and kindness you’ve shown us, especially in response to the delay. Your positivity means the world to our team. 😭

We’re still not ready to give a date for the full release, but rest assured, we’re making steady progress. Chapter 1 is on track for this year, and with each milestone, the full game gets closer.

We made the public delay announcement a couple days ago, and so this update will be shared in full on our Patreon for patrons to read as well! Whether you’ve been with us since the Kickstarter or have just joined us as patrons, we’re endlessly grateful to have you here.

🛠️ July 2025 Dev Snapshot

Narrative

• Chapter 1 – Writing | ⚒️ ~ Dialogue locked, VO prep underway

• Full Game – Writing | ⚒️ 87% Drafted, 68% through final passes

• Full Game – VO Prep | ⚒️ In Progress, scene + line selects underway

Voice Acting

• Full Game – VO Recording | 📅 Booking Talent for Sessions in Fall 2025

Art & Implementation

• Chapter 1 – CG & UI Art | ⚒️ 82% Complete, final polish in progress

• Chapter 1 – Implementation | ⚒️ 71% Complete, final art in progress

• Full Game – CGs & BGs | ⚒️ ~58% Complete

Systems & Testing

• Full Game – Systems/Code | ⚒️ 62% Complete, revamped UI in progress

• Chapter 1 – QA + Bug Fixes | 📅 Testing Phase Scheduled (Begins late summer)

• Localization Planning | ⚒️ In Progress, negotiating with translation partners

Release Plan

• Chapter 1 – Early Access | 🔓 Launching Fall 2025 for qualifying tiers

• Chapter 1 – General Access | 🔓 Launching Winter 2025 for all other backers

• Full Game – Public Release | ⏳ Targeting 2026 (exact quarter TBD)

📌 Reminder: VO and localization are end-of-pipeline tasks. These are progressing as planned, not behind schedule!

🛠️ Art Updates

Our art team has been working so, so hard on the massive library of assets planned for the full game, and we’re so excited to finally share a peek at one of the new backgrounds with you! 👀

i’m a mommy. …mommy? i’m a mom. mamacita?

Can you guess the team’s favorite detail in this background? Drop your guesses—we’re curious if you’ll catch it. 🙂

Also, we’ve seen your comments. We’ve seen your DMs. We know you’ve been asking about a certain character’s sprite. Let’s be honest: did you really think we’d leave the most iconic creature in the game without one??

would you accept Princess kisses y/n? who knows where that tongue has been …

Here’s a sneak peek of Princess’s concept art (who you will get to know better in Ais’s route)! And if you’ve been paying close attention to past updates… you might already have an idea of where Ais found her. 🤔

❓ July FAQ: Chapter 1, Early Access, Artbooks & More

As promised, here's a short FAQ of topics from the last update that we wanted to address!

1. Who gets to play the Chapter 1 preview, and when?

Currently, our KS backers will be able to access the Chapter 1 Preview by the end of the year.

Those who have backed us with the Early Access Tier or added an Early Access Key when completing their backer survey will be able to play the Chapter 1 preview a few weeks earlier to assist with testing.

While we don't have plans to release Chapter 1 to anyone outside of our backer list quite yet, we do plan to provide you with sneak peeks and snippets here on Patreon and on our socials!

2. Will Chapter 1 include voice acting? Who are the voice actors?

Due to scheduling, we won’t have VO ready by the planned Chapter 1 release date; however, we are aiming to have all voice acting completed by the end of the year. We're bound to the chains of secrecy for now, but we'll keep you posted when we can reveal more about our talented cast!

3. How many chapters are there in the full game? Is it being released in parts?

Each character’s story includes five full chapters, with several endings per route and an estimated 10+ hours of playtime per route. The game will be released as one complete experience with multiple routes, not as episodic chapters!

4. When will the physical artbook be released? And can I get one now?

We’re planning to ship the physical artbook shortly after the full game release, as it will include all artwork from the main game. The book is already in the works alongside game development!

If we have overstock after fulfilling backer quantities (which we're pretty certain about!), we’ll be sure to provide you with the opportunity to purchase them!

👀 Got MORE Questions?

You can reach us anytime at redspring.helpdesk@gmail.com

Thank you for being here and supporting our tiny team. More exciting updates to come!

With love (and a caffeine-fueled spreadsheet of feelings),
—Lulu @ Red Spring Studio