- July Update - 16 August 2026
New Demo OutHello! I just released the new demo on both the public Steam page and the beta branch of Paper Sky. If you encounter any bugs or glitches, please do let me know anywhere: here, on the Steam forums, or on Discord.I had to cut quite a lot of mechanics and features because I wanted to keep the demo as dense as the last one without spoiling too much of the story, challenges, etc...Also, the Mac version of the demo isn't out yet because the pipeline to port everything to the Mac API isn't fully complete and would require some additional dev time. So if you're a Mac user and you really want to play the new demo, please do let me know!There won't be an update next month, as I have quite a bit of administrative work and some health related concerns to take care of. But the next content update will showcase the progress toward the end of the game's production.All the new mechanics ar…
- June Update - 15 July 2026
Hello, I was supposed to release the new demo publicly this month, but unfortunately it got delayed again. I keep adding new features, more content, and letting the scope creep get completely out of control. While all of these additions are already available to the beta players, I still don't feel comfortable releasing the demo publicly just yet. Here are some of the things I worked on over the last month.Fast Travel (Finished)Fast travel is now fully implemented and accessible through the Book UI. Using it briefly shows a loading screen to make transitions smoother on lower-end hardware. If you're playing the game linearly without backtracking, you'll never see a loading screen. They only appear when fast traveling between already discovered locations.Flight Minigame (Work in Progress)I've been working on a new minigame that will be included in the demo. It's heavily inspired by the Fl…
- April & May Update - 3 June 2026
I'm going to cover both the April and May updates, as I've been hard at work on the new demo and have been pushing the updates back further and further.Preview (Beta Access) of the New Demo ReleasedThe preview of the new demo is now live on Steam for beta testers. It's still a rough build, with some audio issues and plenty of gaps in the level design. It's also incomplete, as I plan to expand it little by little until it's ready for a public release.If you have a Paper Sky beta key, simply download the latest patch on Steam and jump in. The current build offers about 10 minutes of gameplay showcasing the new movement mechanics, UI, and online features.Here are some of the new additions I haven't shared yet:Desert World (Moebius-Inspired)The visuals are almost final. I'll still be doing some optimization and cleanup on the post-processing, as it's a bit messy right now. Flora and fauna h…
- February Update - 3 June 2026
Quick update this month! Another update will follow in a few days to share details about a special eventPaper Sky is participating in. Let’s dive in:Slight delay for the new demoAs mentioned in last month’s update, I had some personal matters related to my dog that slowed development a bit. Because of this, the new demo originally planned for today will be slightly delayed. I may still be able to release it early to beta players for the upcoming event mentioned below.The core movement mechanics have evolved significantly, and even a short 5 minutes demo of the new content would be extremely valuable for the final stretch of development. Player feedback will help refine the mechanics and level design before I bring in professional paid testers later on. (this was an aspect I regretted not doing for my previous game)Refactoring leveling mechanicsA good amount of time went into refactoring…
- January Update - 3 June 2026
Let’s kick off the new year with some small Paper Sky updates.Asynchronous Multiplayer GameplayLast month I showed you the final backend solution to handle all online and offline messages. Since then, I’ve been finalizing how players see, read, and write messages for others.Quick reminder of how it works: players can leave letters in the world. When you open one you discover new words and can unlock any of them if you have available points. Each word has bonuses that complement the different paper plane models. You can think of words as difficulty sliders. If you’re struggling with a challenge, another player might have left a message like “Try Love”, pointing you toward the best power-up for that challenge.Words are unlocked and written at checkpoint towers, large landmarks that also permanently unlock fast travel to that area.Exploration is rewarded at every scale, and everything work…
- December Update - 12 January 2026
Happy new year everybody,Alright let's talk about the last progress and update from 2025:Save systemKinda funny that this is done so late in development. The save system is now implemented using an encrypted JSON file. This should deter most players from editing the save file, avoid corrupted saves, and allow data expansion if needed for future updates.Config files are separate and not encrypted, so if for whatever reason the game crashes on startup, you can still edit the settings file and launch the game that way.Saved in AppData\\LocalLowServer, built to lastAnother big task completed is rebuilding the server data communication. The online message system is relatively important to the gameplay, so I want to make sure it will last a long time and won't be obsolete after release.Messages will be uploaded offline into the game files from time to time. This means you will always be able…
- November Update - 12 January 2026
Hey everyone! I hope you’re all doing great. Thank you so much for your patience and all the continued support here and on Discord.Today’s update comes with an important note: the release will be delayed.Why the delay?Over the past month I’ve been integrating the last major systems, polishing world level design, and refining how the plane handles throughout the game. Things are going really well, but it became clear that rushing the final stretch would compromise the feel and quality that Paper Sky deserves.Instead of shipping something that feels almost there, I’m taking the extra time needed to deliver the smooth, atmospheric, joyful experience the game was always meant to be.There are also big marketing opportunities in 2026 that Paper Sky should not miss, including Steam Next Fest and several publisher events.What has been done?All final mechanics are implemented and working as inte…
- October Update - 10 November 2025
Hey folks,We’re reaching the end of the pre-planned schedule soon, so I want to use this month’s update to talk about what’s coming next; mainly the plans for the end of the year and the upcoming Demo Phase 2 release.Demo Phase 2 release planAs mentioned in previous updates, production has been delayed a bit, mostly due to player feedback and polishing the gameplay feel. Nothing unusual for indie development! I had a similar experience with my last game Crumble where internal playthroughs often led to major gameplay changes. It’s better to fix those things early.I won’t give a specific date yet, but the release will definitely be in 2026. Depending on other big releases, it might shift slightly, though not because of late production. I’ll share more details next month, possibly along with a public Trello (or similar) so you can follow progress transparently. I already use one privately…
- September Update - 13 October 2025
I swear months are getting shorter and shorter!SUMMERFALL game jamBefore diving into this month’s Paper Sky update, I wanted to share a small game I made over the weekend. It’s about collecting rocks on your last summer day. SUMMERFALL, Made in 72 hours, fueled by coffee and sleepless nights, it’s free if you want to try:https://anstabo.itch.io/summerfallBeta FeedbackA few weeks ago I sent beta keys to all Kickstarter pledgers and created the Steam Beta branch. And the result so far, from Steam, Discord, Kickstarter, and internal testing, all the new shaders and post-processing for the full game work perfectly. Optimization holds up on Steam Deck and likely on Nintendo Switch. The floating origin system works as intended, letting the game run from start to finish without loading screens (except for fast travel). I haven’t fully tested the new shadow baking system yet, but early tests lo…
- August Update - 13 October 2025
Back to School, Back to Paper PlanesWhat better time than back-to-school season to talk about paper planes? The 1 month challenge is over, and I’m happy to announce: Beta Access is here! well.. kind of..Beta Access is here2 Months behind, eh not too bad!If you pledged at the “Beta Plane” tier or higher, you’ll receive your Steam beta key tomorrow via Kickstarter message. This key gives you:Permanent access to the beta build on SteamFull access to the final release at launchThat means some of you are already unlocking all your pledge rewards.⚠️ Note: the Steam beta build is being uploaded as I write this, so it might take a few hours before you can play. I’ll post on Discord when it’s live. You will most likely receive the key once it is sorted out tomorrow!Benchmark & Dynamic LoadingThe first beta build is mainly for benchmark testing. It will teleport you across finished art-style scen…
- July Update - 4 August 2025
Hello people, This past month has been packed with work, and the one ahead is shaping up to be even more intense. Let’s start with some big news:1 Month ChallengeSince the March demo and the successful Mac port, I’ve been caught in a loop trying to improve the overall gamefeel and make the gameplay more accessible to casual players. It's been a real challenge to raise the casual experience without weakening the moderate and more demanding parts of the game.So I’m setting myself a clear goal: complete the final gameplay loop by the end of August. That means delivering a full world with all core features in place: world map travel, message powerups, open world challenges, and more. Because this milestone is focused on gameplay and design, it will only be available to beta testers, which is exactly what that tier was meant for. Some graphics-related settings also need testing, like the new…
- June Update - 8 July 2025
This month marks the end of the rework phase since the new demo release and post-mortem. I’ve watched around 50 playthrough videos from demo players to paid playtesters to really pin down the few elements that still weren’t clicking. I’ve implemented most of those fixes in the game, and some are still WIP but will be added as level design progresses. I reckon I’m about 2 months behind now overall, but I’m not too worried if it means delivering a better experience within the same scope I promised at the start.Let’s dive into the main changes for Paper Sky (June Edition):New Message SystemOne major issue with the demo’s message system was the freeform writing, which unfortunately opened the door for offensive content. I initially believed the number of people who’d abuse it would be negligible, spoiler: I was wrong. Nearly 5% of demo players wrote "bad" messages, even using alternate alph…
- May Update - 9 June 2025
We're in June already?? Alright here's what happened in May:New TrailerLike I said last week, Paper Sky was part of the AG French Direct show, a celebration of French devs. Lots of neat games in there, I highly recommend giving them a look!Here’s the Paper Sky trailer that was showcased: New Steam PageThe Steam page got a new look and better description of what to expect from the game If you want to see for yourself: New VisualsWith the new Steam page came new visuals that better reflect the work done on Paper Sky. Here are the major new ones:Beta Playtest RewardBeta keys should roll out very soon (planned for this month).The first round of testing will focus on GPU performance across each world and their respective unique art styles, giving testers a sneak peek at some worlds I haven’t shown yet!After that, testers will try out the “Boss fights” to help tune their difficulty.This is it…
- April Update - 5 May 2025
Alright, it's been a month since the new demo launched—time to share what I’ve learned and what’s changing in Paper Sky. ⚠️ Warning: Wall of Text Incoming ⚠️ Demo Post-Mortem Let's begin from the top, the release of the new demo was a success overall, over 40,000 players completed the demo, and I'm seeing 500–800 new players weekly, passively generating wishlists. That gave me some space to step back from content creation (as I mentioned last month) and focus on business and upcoming events. Still, I can’t get too comfortable. While the numbers exceeded my expectations, I want to stay true to the original vision for Paper Sky. The Positive Feedbacks Here’s what players liked most: Fun Gameplay Fluid experience Great sense of speed Delivers on the pitch Beautiful graphics Very well optimized for its content The Negative Feedbacks Confusing controls (keyboard/mouse) Too short Not enough i…
- March Update - 9 April 2025
Late again, but this time I’ve got a solid excuse: I spent 72 hours in a game jam and also released the new Paper Sky demo. Alright let's dive in: Demo Release Recap The new demo has been out for two weeks, and the feedback has been amazing. I’ve fine-tuned a lot of game mechanics, and I’m really proud of how the demo represents the final project better than the previous one. It’s reached over 15k players in that short time, which means I’ve been reading a ton of new messages from the Paper Sky world. There will be another demo update before the full release of Paper Sky, featuring all the mechanics I’ve mentioned in previous updates: more challenges, fauna, NPCs, a world map, and the complete gameplay loop of at least one world (the current demo only covers half of it). https://store.steampowered.com/app/1617230/Paper_Sky/ Mac Port Good news for Apple users! The Mac port is up and runn…
- Mac Demo Release + Optimization - 1 April 2025
This isn't an April fools joke I swear! Paper Sky demo is now available on Mac—plus, it's optimized enough to run on a baked potato on all platforms! This update brings 3 new quality settings. "High" is the intended experience, while the others are for extreme stuttering cases. The "Potato" setting ensures the game runs on virtually any low-end hardware from the past 15 years. Enjoy the demo! 🚀
- Paper Sky New Demo Release - 21 March 2025
Hey people! The new demo is here! Play it here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1617230/Paper_Sky/ Available for PC/Linux What's new? New Level Design New visual art style New flight controls Upgrade mechanics Boost mechanics Huge optimization pass New online messaging system Lots of good stuff and more. Feel free to let me know what you thought about the new demo either here, on the steam forums or on the discord! The mac version is coming in the coming days. I have so much to share, but I’m saving it for the March update—see you soon! Roadmap Hey would you look at that, right on time. Crushing the deadlines 💪
- February Update - 21 March 2025
Hey people! The new demo is almost here! Huge progress has been made, and exciting opportunities are ahead. Let’s dive in: New Gameplay Tease I couldn’t fit the full GIF here, so check out my Twitter for higher-quality videos and (almost) daily updates: https://x.com/BruteForceGame/status/1894064670505418967 Almost all planned features for the demo are in, except NPCs and a secret animal interaction mechanic that lets you blend into the world’s fauna and "evolve". The GIF shows a track challenge where you pass through gates to unlock rewards. These gates also provide a natural environmental boost for relaxed exploration. Paper Sky at the Future Game Show Paper Sky will be featured in a demo showcase at the Future Game Show on March 20, 2025—a great chance to introduce more players to the paper plane concept and gather fresh feedbacks! New Demo Release Date & Info The new demo update wil…
- January Update - 21 March 2025
Hey everyone! Let's dive in January's update Multi-Stepped Boost Mechanics After lots of testing, I’ve refined the boost mechanics. While last month’s version looked cool, it didn’t feel quite right and let players bypass too much of the game’s challenge. The new boost system is inspired by Abzû—if you time your inputs right, you can chain boosts for longer distances. I’m still deciding if missed inputs should have negative consequences, but for now (and in the upcoming demo), it won’t. I'll tweak this based on how it fits with level design. Speaking of level design; Cloth Simulation & Rewards I’ve added cloth simulations to help you glide across vast aerial sections and to highlight where other players' messages are hidden. These notes give you upgrade points when found. Look for the red drapings! And don’t worry if you miss any—they’ll be marked on your map, with progress tracking for…
- December Update - 21 March 2025
Here’s a quick look at what I’ve been working on for Paper Sky this December: New Grass Let's start with the coolest one, I’ve added another layer of detail to the grass in the demo, which looks amazing when flying over it at high speed. Skybox Rework The old skybox (that we all agreed wasn’t great) is gone! It’s been replaced with a new dynamic skybox that blends beautifully with the world. It aligns more closely with the concept art. Check out the before/after comparison and how it integrates into the game: Shadow improvements Shadows now look softer, reducing aliasing and improving overall stability. Plus, I’ve got some cool environmental color bleed effects for added style! The shadows will appear more soft which will prevent aliasing and streaming bitrate going down. New Gif Grass now reacts dynamically to the player’s wind displacement, and I’ve added patches of white flowers to g…
