Deltarune Update: Chapter 4 Nears Completion, but Release Remains Distant
Undertale creator Toby Fox recently provided a development update on Deltarune in his latest newsletter, revealing significant progress on Chapter 4 while emphasizing the challenges of a multi-platform, multilingual release.
Chapter 4 is nearing completion. All maps are finished, battles are playable, and the chapter is deemed "basically playable minus some polish" by Fox. He's received positive feedback from playtesters. However, some refinements are still needed, including minor cutscene improvements, battle balancing, visual enhancements, background additions, and improved ending sequences for a couple of battles.
The simultaneous release of Chapters 3 and 4 on PC, Switch, and PS4, initially slated for a near-term release, is facing delays. Fox highlights the complexities of a paid release on multiple platforms and in various languages, stating that the extra time is crucial to ensure quality.
Before launch, the team must complete several key tasks: testing new functions, finalizing PC and console versions, Japanese localization, and thorough bug testing.
Chapter 3 development is finished, as previously announced. Interestingly, preliminary work on Chapter 5 has already begun, with map creation and battle design underway.
While a concrete release date remains unannounced, the newsletter offered a glimpse into the upcoming chapters, including dialogue snippets between Ralsei and Rouxls, a character description for Elnina, and a new item, GingerGuard. Fox confirmed that Chapters 3 and 4 combined will exceed the length of Chapters 1 and 2.
Although the wait continues, Fox expresses confidence that future chapter releases will be more streamlined once Chapters 3 and 4 are launched. The anticipation among fans remains high, despite the extended development time.