As I sit down to reflect on the state of Deltarune, the beloved episodic RPG from Toby Fox, the journey feels both immensely rewarding and incredibly demanding. It's 2026 now, and the anticipation for the next chapters hasn't dimmed; if anything, the community's passion has only grown more profound over the years. The episodic nature of the release, which began with the shadow-drop of Chapter 1 back in 2018 and continued with the praised launch of Chapter 2 in 2021, has created a unique, shared experience of waiting and discovery. Now, the focus has shifted entirely to the future—Chapters 3, 4, and 5. The most recent comprehensive update we shared with our dedicated fans came through our Spring Newsletter, and the progress since then has been nothing short of transformative.

The single most significant change in our development process has been the expansion of the team. For a long time, Deltarune was a project driven by a very small, tight-knit group. However, to meet the ambitious scope of the remaining chapters and to ensure we can deliver the quality you all deserve, we brought on new, incredibly talented members. 🧑‍💻 While they haven't been with us for an eternity, their impact has been immediate and monumental. Our producer framed our collective mission with a humorous yet poignant goal: "to finish the game before we become old and wrinkled." I couldn't agree more. This infusion of fresh energy and skill has fundamentally altered our workflow for Chapter 4, making development feel "better than ever." We are steadily marching toward our internal deadlines with a renewed sense of purpose and coordination.

Let me break down for you exactly where Chapter 4 stands as of our latest internal review. We've moved beyond the foundational planning and are deep in the phase of polishing and integration. The major components are all in place, and now it's about refining them to the high standard we hold for ourselves.

The Current State of Chapter 4:

• Cutscenes: The narrative backbone is nearly complete. We only have a few left to finish, and some existing ones require that final layer of polish to ensure the emotional beats land perfectly.

• Battles: This is a core pillar of the Deltarune experience. Technically, all the attacks and combat systems are implemented and functional. Where we are focusing now is on the bosses—tuning their patterns, refining their animations, and making sure each encounter feels unique, challenging, and full of personality.

• Overworld: The explorable spaces are taking shape. We have identified that approximately 10 key maps need to be created from scratch or significantly expanded. Some of the existing overworld areas also need that final artistic and interactive polish to make the world feel alive and cohesive.

• Gimmicks: Ah, the gimmicks—the special mechanics that define each area. We have one particularly complicated gimmick for Chapter 4 that has nearly all its iterations designed and programmed. The task now is to integrate these mechanics seamlessly into the maps, much like how the Teacup ride functioned in Chapter 2. It's a process of playtesting and iteration to ensure they are fun and intuitive.

Our target for the next phase is clear: we hope that by our next major update, Chapter 4 will be complete enough for a comprehensive "first pass." This means the entire chapter, from start to finish, will be playable in a rough state. This first pass is crucial. It allows the entire team—designers, artists, programmers, and myself—to experience the chapter as a whole, identify pacing issues, spot bugs, and see where the magic is or isn't clicking. Once we reach that milestone, we plan to strategically shift some of our team's focus to begin foundational work on Chapter 5, ensuring the pipeline keeps moving forward.

🚨 Despite this exciting and tangible progress, I must temper expectations on one critical point: a release date. I know the wait is long, and I see your passionate questions every day. However, game development, especially for a project as detailed and heart-driven as this one, is unpredictable. We cannot and will not discuss a release window yet because history has taught us that unexpected issues always arise. Announcing a date too early only leads to crunch, stress, and potential disappointment. Our priority is the health of the team and the quality of the game. We will share a date only when we are absolutely, definitively confident in it.

This extended development time isn't just about avoiding burnout for us—it's about you, the fans. We are "on fire" with ideas and execution, but we never want to burn out your excitement with endless, vague waiting. The things we are creating... I am so eager for you to see them. The worlds, the characters, the music, the secrets—we've been "cooking" for years, and the flavors are becoming complex and rich. The collaboration has extended beyond our core team, too. For instance, the chance to work with talents like Hololive VTuber Amane Kanata on a musical piece was a surreal and inspiring experience that reminds us of the vibrant community surrounding this project.

The road to completing Deltarune is a marathon, not a sprint. Every newsletter, every update, is a snapshot of that journey. We are building something sprawling and heartfelt, chapter by chapter. Your patience and unwavering support are the fuel that keeps our determination burning bright. The next time we speak officially, I hope to bring you even closer to the Dark World's next adventure. Until then, thank you for believing in this world and its characters as much as we do.