extra-complex

[extra-complex]

The Wait for Chapters 3 and 4: A Comprehensive Timeline

As we grow closer and closer to the release of Deltarune Chapters 3 and 4, I've decided to create a complete timeline of all Deltarune news and status updates from the beginning until now. Hopefully this serves as a cool archive of all the news Toby has given us over the years and serve as a valuable resource for anyone wanting to learn about the development process of Deltarune. I've included sources for every piece of information I could find. If I missed anything, let me know and I'll edit it in!

(This is just a copy of a reddit thread I made yesterday. I figured it'd be worth to post here, too.)

30 October 2018

In a series of cryptic tweets, the official Undertale/Deltarune (UT/DR) Twitter urges readers to return in 24 hours.

On his main account, Toby makes a tweet telling players of Undertale to check the UT/DR twitter in 24 hours.

31 October 2018

Deltarune Chapter 1 is released through the Survey Program on the UT/DR Twitter.

28 February 2019

Deltarune Chapter 1 is released for Playstation and Nintendo Switch

5 July 2019

Toby tweets saying Chapter 2 will release when all other chapters are complete.

15 September 2019

Toby tweets saying the design of the basic story beats throughout the game are going well.

We also get our first look at Welcome to the City and Lost Girl, with accompanied screenshots.

15 September 2020

Toby releases the first Deltarune Status Update. From this update we learn:

Chapter 2 began development in May of 2020 with a belief that it can be completed content-wise by the end of the year.

Chapters 3+ are basically only in the first phase (design) of development, with very little else being complete.

17 April 2021

In a Twitter thread, Toby reassures fans that development is going well, along with a picture of the giant toilet in the city.

He reveals a friend has played the beta version of Chapter 2, and her favorite character is Berdly.

20 July 2021

In the same thread, Toby reveals another friend was able to play through Chapter 2.

8 September 2021

Toby announces the 6th anniversary Undertale livestream.

15 September 2021

Deltarune Chapter 2 is announced for release on 17 September 2021 during the 6th anniversary livestream.

17 September 2021

Deltarune Chapter 2 is released, with a countdown in a similar style to the countdown prior to the release of Chapter 1.

Toby releases the second Deltarune Status Update. From this update we learn:

Chapter 2 is believed to be the largest chapter in the game.

The plan is no longer to release the game once all chapters are finished.

Chapters 3, 4, and 5 will be released together, and they will not be free.

The wait for the next chapters begins...

23 September 2021

Deltarune Chapter 2 releases on Playstation and Nintendo Switch.

16 May 2022

In a Twitter thread, Toby reveals some Deltarune concept art, as well as reassures fans that development is going well.

5 September 2022

Toby reveals that no new chapters will release in 2022, but teases a special event to celebrate the anniversary of Undertale and Deltarune Chapter 2.

15 September 2022

Toby releases the third Deltarune Status Update. From this, we learn:

Work has mostly been done on Chapters 3 and 4.

Reveal of the song "Hometown Day" with accompanying screenshots.

These screenshots are likely from Chapter 4 due to the presence of "ch4" in the filenames.

Reveal of the song "My Funky Town" with an accompanying screenshot.

Reveal of the song "Green Room" with an accompanying screenshot.

This screenshot is likely from Chapter 3 due to the presence of "ch3" in the filename.

Announcement of the $pamton $weepstakes.

The $pamton $weepstakes begin, teasing future chapters of the game. I will try to compile everything revealed/hinted at in a separate post in the future.

19 November 2022

The mailing list opens, with the first issue of the UT/DR Newsletter teased for next month.

19 December 2022

Issue 1 of the UT/DR Newsletter is released. From this we learn:

Chapter 3 was going to have 4 somethings and 3 (6?) other somethings. But I've reduced the 4 somethings to 3.5 and refactored how the 3rd other something to be shorter and less something-like, while still maintaining the parenthetical (something, something)... or something.

...whatever this means...

31 March 2023

Issue 2 of the UT/DR Newsletter is released. From this we learn:

The translation process for Chapter 3 is getting close to starting.

29 June 2023

Issue 3 of the UT/DR Newsletter is released. From this we learn:

Focus is still on Chapter 3, with a few people working on other chapters.

The team is finishing the final main overworld area of Chapter 3, and when it's complete, the chapter will be playable from beginning to end.

Chapter 3 is "shaping up to be a pretty strange one." Chapter 4 will be much more standard.

15 September 2023

Issue 4 of the UT/DR Newsletter is released. From this we learn:

Chapter 3 is playable from beginning to end.

A stealth focused section was cut from Chapter 3, including a cut song.

31 October 2023

A special Halloween Issue of the UT/DR Newsletter is released. From this we learn:

Chapter 3 is essentially content complete, and a friend was able to play through the entire chapter.

People are starting to transition into working on Chapter 4

Chapter 5 will no longer be released with Chapters 3 and 4.

13 February 2024

Issue 5 of the UT/DR Newsletter is released. From this we learn:

The team is working on the Chapter 3 localization.

An internal deadline has been set for Chapter 4 to be content complete, and Toby has hired a producer to speed up development.

A mysterious Valentine's Card is sent out to a small number of people subscribed to the newsletter.

16 May 2024

A Mini-Newsletter is released. From this we learn:

The team is on track to meet the internal deadline for Chapter 4. 

A somewhat complicated gimmick is nearly complete.

"The release is still quite far"

30 July 2024

Issue 6 of the UT/DR Newsletter released. From this we learn:

All maps are done and all battles are playable for Chapter 4, with some more polish needed in other areas.

Three of Toby's friends were able to play through the entirety of Chapter 4.

Toby is no longer sure if Chapter 2 is the longest chapter.

Chapters 3 and 4 combined are longer than Chapters 1 and 2 combined.

Chapter 5's development is progressing smoothly.

Toby will need readers to help test a new Gamemaker function in the near future.

The "Quest to Release Chapter 3&4!!" is released, detailing the process still needed for Chapters 3 and 4 to release. 

I won't cover everything detailed in this here, but I recommend giving it a read if you're curious about just how close we really are to the release of Chapters 3 and 4 because, well, if this is anything to go by, we're close.

14 September 2024

Issue 7 of the UT/DR Newsletter is released. From this we learn:

Chapter 3's localization is in the testing phase. This process should be completed by the end of October.

Chapter 3 will likely begin PC testing in mid-October.

The internal deadline of 1 September was met for completing the main content of Chapter 4. 

A preliminary pass of Chapter 4's translation is being worked on.

Chapter 5 will be the main focus of the team going forward.

11 October 2024

In a tweet, Toby mentions that Chapter 3's localization is almost complete, and PC testing of Chapter 3 begins the following Tuesday (15 October 2024).

31 October 2024

Toby announces that Chapters 3 and 4 will 100% release in 2025.

25 November 2024

LTS Testing begins.

8 December 2024

The final LTS patch is released.

18 December 2024

Issue 8 of the UT/DR Newsletter is released. From this we learn:

Testing for the new Gamemaker feature seems to have gone okay.

Professional testing for the PC version of Chapter 3 has been complete.

Chapter 3 features a long section without save points.

Only console related aspects of Chapter 3 remain.

The first Japanese translation pass of Chapter 4 has been placed into the game.

Chapter 4 will begin PC testing soon.

Many aspects of Chapter 5 are in development at once. There is a steady rate of creation.

Reaffirmation that Chapters 3 and 4 will release in 2025.

6 January 2025

Toby posts on Bluesky revealing that Chapter 4 is now being tested by a professional team on PC.

Because he is unsure when the next newsletter will be, updates will be posted on Bluesky until then.

20 January 2025

In a post, Toby mentions that text and implementation for the translation are done and the team is just working on some lasting issues.

He also reveals that save points have been added to the light world of Chapter 4 after testers complained about the lack of them.

2 February 2025

In a series of posts, Toby reveals that translation and PC testing for Chapter 4 is winding down.

Tomorrow (3 February 2025), console testing begins with the goal of testing Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4. 

Achievements will be added to the Playstation version of the game.

16 February 2025

In a post, Toby mentions PS5 testing has not yet begun. 

The team also just gained access to the technology that allows demo saves to be carried over to the main game, so that still needs to be implemented, too.

17 February 2025

Pluey

18 February 2025

Pluey is implemented.

25 February 2025

PS5 Testing begins.

3 March 2025

In a Bluesky post, Toby mentions that the team only reported one bug yesterday (2 March 2025), and that over 500 bugs have been reported since testing began on the PC version of Chapter 3 (15 October 2024).

...and that's everything so far. Please let me know if I missed anything, and I'll update this as we get more news and get closer to the release of Chapters 3 and 4!