Hey guys! Judging by the "RIP dev" and "where DLC?" comments on both Steam and Discord, I can tell that a lot of you are upset, and I completely understand why. I originally intended for December to be a tentative release date (ie plus/minus a few weeks) but in retrospect, this was definitely a mistake on my part. [h2]So where is the DLC?[/h2] The DLC is in a complete and playable state right now, undergoing testing with a small group of 30 play-testers. Honestly, I'm just not 100% happy with it as it is now and I had to make the difficult decision to not release in December. With such an unexpectedly high number of people wishlisting/waiting for this DLC and many having very high expectations, I can't in good conscience release something which I'm not 100% comfortable with releasing. I hope you guys can understand. [h2]So when is the DLC actually releasing?[/h2] I'm going to learn from my mistakes on this project and not announce the exact date right now. I know a lot of you are excited and want to know an exact date or a rough estimate but I'd rather prioritize the quality of the game over releasing on a particular schedule. [h2]This is such a simple game, how could it possibly take so long to develop this DLC?[/h2] This game appears simple on the surface because of its 2D graphics, but underneath, it performs a lot of computation and features a very detailed physical simulation. Cutting corners on physical accuracy in order to achieve better gameplay is not a valid option for me and undermines the purpose of the game. This DLC had to be carefully designed to present an interesting and fun challenge without sacrificing the essence of the simulation or unbalancing the game's minimalistic aesthetic. [h2]How much will the DLC cost?[/h2] The DLC will cost between 1-5 dollars. So, why isn't it free? Steam Engine Simulator started mostly as a "meme" and I had put only a few weeks of effort into the project. At this point, I have over 350 hours of in-game time, just from testing during development. I have undoubtedly put over 1000 hours into developing this game. To remain sustainable (ie survive), I need some form of income. YouTube ads and sponsored segments are pretty unpopular for obvious reasons and while I greatly appreciate my Patreon supporters, I don't want to rely on crowdfunding forever. The traditional business model of selling a product feels simpler and more honest to me, compared to pushing ads or accepting crowdfunding donations. The base game will always remain free and I'll continue updating it into the future. Hopefully you guys understand why it just isn't feasible for this DLC to be free. I really appreciate everyone's patience and the numerous people testing the new beta release and providing feedback. I am taking all feedback into consideration to release the best possible product for you guys. Thanks everyone and happy New Year! - Ange