I still remember the night Deltarune Chapter 2 shadow-dropped in September 2021. I was scrolling through Twitter, saw the announcement, and immediately dropped everything. It felt like a miracle. Chapter 1 had been out since 2018, and we all assumed Toby Fox would take years to continue Kris and Susie's story. But he didn't. He gave us Chapter 2 for free, and then he dropped a bombshell: the next three chapters would launch simultaneously, and they wouldn't be free. That was the plan. Now, in 2026, we can look back and see how that plan actually played out. Spoiler: it changed again, but in a way that makes a lot of sense.

The Original 2021 Announcement

Back in 2021, Toby Fox wrote a message on the official Deltarune website. He explained that the world had been really tough for everybody, so he decided to release Chapter 2 for free. But he also revealed that this wasn't the original plan. Originally, he wanted to release chapters only when all of them were finished. That would have meant waiting until all seven chapters were done before we got anything new. He admitted that was hard both for creators and fans. So he shifted strategy.

His next goal, he said, was to complete Chapters 3, 4, and 5 for the next release. Then he would ask people to buy the game, at the price of the first five chapters (including 1 and 2). He didn't know the exact price yet, but he said it would cost more than Undertale, which was £6.99 on Steam. He also ended that update by saying he wanted to take a break for a while. That was understandable. The man had been working nonstop.

What Actually Happened by 2026

Fast forward to 2026. A lot has changed. Instead of waiting for Chapter 5, Toby Fox released Chapters 3 and 4 together on June 5, 2025. It was a paid release, but the first two chapters remained free. The paid version, often called the Deltarune package, includes Chapters 1 through 4. The price? Around $24.99 in the US, which is definitely more than Undertale. That matches his original statement. Chapter 5 is currently in development, and as of early 2026, there's no official release date. Chapters 6 and 7 are still planned, but they're a long way off.

Here's a quick table to keep it straight:

Why the Shift Makes Sense

I get why Toby Fox changed his mind again. Releasing Chapters 3, 4, and 5 together would have been amazing, but it also would have meant an even longer wait. We already waited four years between Chapter 2 and Chapters 3 & 4. If he had insisted on finishing Chapter 5 first, we might still be waiting in 2026. Instead, he gave us two new chapters, a paid bundle, and a clear path forward. That's a win.

Also, the paid model is fair. Chapter 1 and 2 are still free, so anyone can try the game. If you love it, you pay for the rest. That's a common indie game strategy, and it works. Toby Fox isn't a big corporation. He's one guy with a team, and he deserves to be paid for his work. The price is more than Undertale, but Deltarune is a much bigger project. Seven chapters, multiple routes, complex music, and years of development. $25 is reasonable.

My Personal Take in 2026

As a fan, I'm happy. The wait between 2021 and 2025 was brutal, but Chapters 3 and 4 were worth it. The story got weirder, the music got better, and the characters grew. Now I'm just waiting for Chapter 5. Toby Fox said he wanted to take a break back in 2021, and he definitely took one after the 2025 launch. But he's also been posting updates on his newsletter and social media. He's working on Chapter 5, but he's not rushing. That's fine. I'd rather wait and get something great than get something rushed.

If you're new to Deltarune, here's what I'd recommend: play Chapter 1 and 2 for free. If you like them, buy the bundle with Chapters 3 and 4. Then join the rest of us in the waiting room for Chapter 5. It's a good waiting room. We have theories, memes, and a lot of patience.

So that's where we are in 2026. The original plan was to release Chapters 3, 4, and 5 together and charge for them. The actual plan became Chapters 3 and 4 together, paid, with Chapter 5 coming later. Toby Fox adapted, and the game is better for it. I can't wait to see what happens next. But I can wait. I've gotten good at it. 😅