Dev Blog #137 - Inventing Ava

Greetings everyone!

It's been a pretty busy year, but I think we've managed to pump out a pretty decent amount of content as well as paving the way for even more down the road. Today, I'd like to share some of what's to come in the immediate future!

Update 5.1 - What to Expect

The next content update for The Company is nigh, and with it comes the remaining MCSX endings for Ava. These include the "Mommy Bride", "Tightest Family" and "Maniacal Matriarch" endings, as well as some extra content for the non-futa Maid ending. This update focuses almost exclusively on this content, as well as a whole slew of bug fixes.

The "Mommy Bride" and "Tightest Family" endings will offer much more loving alternatives to the endings added in Update 5.0, while "Maniacal Matriarch" may arguably be the darkest of Ava's possible endpoints. Much of the new content is also contingent on Dakota, so while it doesn't directly center around her, expect to see a lot of new events featuring her!

Update 5.1 is expected to drop sometime around the end of the month, though due to personal circumstances this is something that's slightly in flux at the moment, and something I'll definitely be keeping everyone up to date on. Major delays are unlikely, but I wouldn't rule out a short one. To help counteract this, Update 5.1 will also act as something of a showcase for my writing partner, Elizabeth Violet. Whether you know it or not, you've all surely enjoyed a number of scenes she's contributed to The Company. This update in particular will feature an even larger wealth of her work, and I can't wait to share it all with you!

Moving Out

The 5.X development cycle is dedicated to updating and filling out the breadth of content in The Company, which means updating out of date characters like Diana and Tasha, completing unfinished serum routes like Penny and John, fleshing out major systems such as The Pit, and adding not-yet-implemented content such as interactions with the store clerks and interactions with Chris, all before finally capping off development with the implementation of Chapter 5 and the various epilogues. I'm sure I'm forgetting some things, but that's the idea.

As such, Update 5.1 marks the end of focused content development for Ava and Dakota, and home content in general. That's not to say that Ava and Dakota won't receive additional content through interactions with other characters in the future, however they themselves will be considered "Content Complete" with the release of this update. I plan on dedicating one last update to tying up any loose ends when it comes to dialogue and mechanical consistencies, but after that we're going back to the office!

After wrapping up home content, the next focus will either be on Diana or Tasha, and I would expect a community poll shortly after Update 5.1 drops to see what everyone would like to see come first. Beyond that, we'll look ahead a little farther once we've started in on the next update. Additionally, I'm expecting to drop the next artwork demo towards the end of next month, featuring the first pass on the MC as well as more content showcasing Ava and Dakota. Maybe even a few lewds?

That's it for this week. I'll continue to update the community concerning the Update 5.1 release date as well as all future content. As always, thank you all for your continued feedback and support!