Halfway Through 2024 Discussion/Updates (Patreon)

Hey, long time no chat, Burrowers! Before you ask- yes, we're still hard at work at the next Hiro update. It's slated to be live by mid-june.
It's a little embarrassing on my part, but we've only managed to squeeze out 1 full update in 2024. there have been a lot of factors contributing to this, but the main culprit has been 2 unplanned illnesses that lead to missing 1-2 weeks of production time, family visits, and general burnout. If you recall, there were 80 something CGs in the last Ken update, and that left me pretty much dead for all of december. I've been trying to be better about my work ethic and not pushing myself as much every day so I can rest and have the energy to keep going, but that does result in slower updates.
Also, as some of you may know, I (Nikko) am the primary artist, musician, writer, and programmer for the game. On top of that, I also run an art patreon where I post comics and pinups that all require time out of my schedule as well. I work as a full-time artist and game maker, and it leaves me with very little time to do anything else.
The obvious solution would be to make smaller updates, and that will be the plan going forward! When Hiro Chapter 3 is live, it will mark a rough turning point for each build's plotline. We're also dedicated to providing a high quality experience for players, and thus there is a certain pressure to break new ground with every update- be it from mechanics or guest contributions. Subsequent updates will shift their focus to telling each story as they ramp up in intensity.
I want to thank you for your patience, and how dedicated the community has been in the absence of frequent updates! The fanart, lore discussions, and youtube playthroughs have all made it feel like we've made an impact on the FVN community.
The next time you'll hear from me is when the build is ready! I'll see you all then,
-Nikko