Dev Diary #5 - May 2026

It almost sounds like a bad joke, but after putting all my energy into polishing the demo for a March release, I was hospitalized for health reasons during the second week of that month. What happened? Basically, I got some blood tests done and the results showed that something was wrong with my immune system. Long story short, I had practically no defenses and was highly vulnerable to any illness. Doctors recommended immediate hospitalization to prevent any complications while they figured out the underlying cause. After undergoing all sorts of tests to rule out various diseases, a biopsy finally gave us an answer: the cause was leukemia, and the treatment required chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This was an incredibly tough time for everyone around me, and of course, for me too. We were filled with doubts and fears about what this meant, what the treatment would be like, what would happen to me, and whether or not it would work. Finally, after 37 days in the hospital, the medical team cleared me to go home and continue treatment as an outpatient. Fortunately, today I can say that the treatment is working and, thankfully, I’m pulling through and getting back to my normal life.

Steam post imageTaking a break...

Given the circumstances, development on Zerra’s Adventure understandably took a hit. While there were days in the hospital where I felt in high spirits and managed to make progress on various parts of the project, it was hard to focus. To be completely honest, my favorite place to work on the game is my desk, not a hospital room. Besides, doctor's orders were to rest. Even though this project stems from a lifelong dream of creating my own game—a love letter to a hobby I deeply cherish—the reality is that indie dev is as demanding as a full-time job. So, instead of sticking to my planned milestones, I just worked on whatever I felt like doing in the moment.

Steam post image What are those hooded figures up to...?

In practice, this meant building maps for late-game areas, drawing random pixel-art NPCs just for the fun of it, and sketching out enemy designs with pen and paper. I even built a snowboarding minigame from scratch, and added a short playable intro to the beginning of the game—which will be included in the demo—to flesh out Nanoya's backstory a bit more. On top of that, a bunch of crazy ideas popped into my head that I jotted down and hope to implement if time permits. Looking back, I actually got a lot done, even if it was a bit chaotic.

The truth is, I just received some really good news regarding my treatment a few days ago. I feel like it was only then that I could finally relax and recharge my batteries. Now, I'm getting ready to dive back into a more structured development routine for Zerra’s Adventure.

Steam post image And those creatures...? Do they bite...?

Steam post image Beach day, anyone?

People say that when you go through experiences like this, you undergo a deep introspective process, reevaluating your life and reordering your priorities. I can confirm that I’m experiencing something similar. I want to take this opportunity to reassure you that Zerra’s Adventure remains a top priority for me; it’s a huge part of my personal growth. As long as I am able and capable, I will do everything in my power to get this game released so you can all enjoy it.

Before I wrap up, I want to thank everyone following this project from the bottom of my heart—whether you’ve been with me on this journey for years or you’re just hopping on board.. Every time you write to me, ask about development, offer help, give feedback, mention the game, or ask about the release date, it motivates me to keep going on this incredible journey.

The phrase "Without you, none of this would be possible" has never been more true.

I hope to have more news for you soon.

Thank you so much.