Devlog: It's a balancing act

There's no smooth way to say this, so I'll just say it: Droning On's release is moving back. Not by a couple of weeks, and likely not just a couple of months either. I sat with this one for a while before writing it up, because I knew it wasn't the update anyone was hoping for – especially me. Unfortunately, it's the right call, and I'd rather walk you through the why than dress it up or delay further.

Why

The more time I spend in the systems under the hood – the foundation the whole game sits on, not the parts you see – the more I've had to admit the game isn't in a state I'm comfortable putting in front of you. It's not broken, and I am extremely proud of what I have made, but it's just not the bar I want to clear before I ask anyone to play it, let alone pay for it.

So I'm making the call: take the time to refactor the core systems properly, get the foundation solid, and build on that.

The Part That Isn't Bad

A longer runway means this is no longer just a delay. A stack of features I'd cut for time is back on the table. The version you eventually get won't be the same game showing up late. It'll be a bigger, more finished one than I'd originally scoped. I'd rather use the extra time to make the game better, not just make it later.

Nothing changes on your end. A wishlist is still the single most useful thing you can do, and I'm not going quiet while I work – I'll continue posting about developments as I go. For the messier, close-up version of how it's going, Discord is still the place.

Thanks for reading, and as always, feedback is welcome. If you haven't already, wishlist on Steam and come hang out in Discord. It's the best place to share feedback, follow development, and engage.