Hey everyone! Can you believe it’s already the end of summer? I hope you all had an amazing season! It’s been quite a ride over here—I’ve been busy with new updates for the game and even had the chance to be part of some awesome Steam festivals like PixElated and Tiny Teams. It’s been a whirlwind, but I wanted to take a moment to fill you in on what’s been happening. I know it’s been a while since the last update, and I’m sorry for the radio silence. With beta development in full swing, it’s mostly been about keeping the wheels turning, so there hasn’t been a ton of new news to share. I really appreciate your patience and support as I continue to make progress. I have some really exciting news to share with you all about the development of the game and even an update about the release! Without further ado, we are planning on releasing Wanderlost into early access Q1 2025, so in about six months. I’m truly looking forward to getting the game into your hands after spending so long working on it. I also want to show you one of my favorite things I’ve been working on lately, and I hope you will all love it as much as I do! I’m so excited to introduce you to… [h1]Pets! [/h1] What’s better than defying hordes of zombies to forge a path through the wilderness? Doing it with a furry friend by your side! You will be able to bring either a lovable hound to guide your way or a feline friend to share your journey. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/39054522/b4559e63da4b02a954e4b456a9efe48409c7eb67.gif[/img] The Maine Coon cat was chosen by popular vote on Discord to be the feline companion so this handsome, pleasantly plump kitty can also be your comrade. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/39054522/4d6d14082112511eb29daa0bd0f1e1f9789adc18.gif[/img] The pets are not only cosmetic though; if you treat them well (with lots of affection and tasty snacks) you will gradually improve your relationship with your pet. At certain relationship thresholds, your pet will decide to take a more active role in shepherding your journey. For example, at ❤️️❤️️❤️️s your pet will gain the ability to alert you of nearby threats. Eventually your furry friend may even be willing to carry a small backpack for you, expanding your inventory size even further. [h1]Female Main Character[/h1] Some of you might remember that Bub, our poofy-haired protagonist, is not the only option for players. We’ve recently started working on the female playable character and I have several potential designs that I’d like to enlist the community’s help in choosing between. The characteristic orange hair is non-negotiable but please help us choose the styling. To vote: Head over to [url=https://discord.gg/wanderlost]Discord[/url] and view the #announcements channel where you’ll find a poll you can react to with your vote. You can see the options here as well but you can only vote on Discord. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/39054522/7077cfa4e1ab8a2ad54bea2d0b8e6bbec36c915f.png[/img] I can’t wait to see which main character design you all will choose! I’ll close the poll in about a week, so please make sure to go and cast your votes. I would also love to know your thoughts about the pets in the game, and if you have any suggestions about them, let me know. Thank you all so much for your patience and your support. I can’t wait to get this game into your hands early next year! Thanks, Eli ☺️