When will Palia launch?
Updated Answer (9-08-2022)
ziE: We’re aware this has been a frequent question and something that’s on the minds of many! To give a short answer: no, we don’t have a release date yet—but allow us to share a bit more on why.
Here’s the long answer: rather than having a set schedule with fixed dates or even quarterly milestones, we’re taking a different approach here at S6, at least, for the stage of where Palia is at right now. The Alpha tests help us gauge where we are, so we can make better decisions after each test to see how we move forward. Without a promised deadline, it allows us to make the best game we can.
Of course, it’s only fair we still provide some updates for our fans, so this is what you can expect:Most of our updates have been heavily on Discord, which is sometimes not the best way to share info. We know not everyone uses or likes to use Discord. We plan to show more about Palia on our official website blog, making it easier to read and share for the wider community. This includes updates on what we're working on such as before & afters, concept art, and other highlights on the game's progress. Stay tuned! 🤞
We’re also still evaluating how our next test will be run. As of writing, we’ve just wrapped up our second Alpha test, and are still sorting lots of crucial feedback and data received from that. This will help us evaluate what the next step will be, and sometimes it might mean “Yeah, let’s get ready for the next test!” or “Oh, we should really take our time and hunker down.” I’m sure you can understand how there’s lots to factor when it comes to making a game like Palia, which is why we’re hesitant to really give a concrete date even for when or how our next test will be.
That being said, there will eventually be a time when Palia will no longer be under NDA, and it’ll likely be prior to launch. We know you’re eager to see more of the game, and can’t wait for the day when the floodgates open and all sorts of comments, screenshots, and videos come out. That’s still on the horizon, and you’ll definitely know when it happens!
Finally, we want to confirm that we are not releasing Palia this year. We’re still heavy in development, and will update more as we progress further. While it’s not the exact answer we know people are looking for, this gives a better perspective of where we’re at. And as always, to everyone still eagerly looking forward to Palia and waiting for as long as it takes, thank you.
Original Answer:
We’re not ready to announce that just yet, but make sure you follow us on social media and join our Discord to be the first to know. And don’t forget to sign up for future tests too!
How can I test Palia?
You can sign up for pre-launch-testing here on the game website. Make sure to fill out the additional survey for a greater chance to be selected!
When are future tests happening?
We don’t have a specific timeline for large scale tests, but may be running small scale tests and feedback sessions over the coming months. If you’re signed up, we’ll reach out through email to let you know if you’re selected for a test.
What is expected of testers during the experience?
It's important for testers to expect lots of bugs and unpolished features! Our Alphas are still very early looks at the game, and there’s a lot of work to do to get it to be the cozy experience dreams are made of.
We also want our testers to be very vocal with their feedback. There will be some exclusive Discord channels on this server they’ll get to join. Whether the testers liked or disliked something, we want to know as there are plenty of chances for us to make changes based on what the players express.
One of the best ways our playtesters can help us is playing our game and experiencing our content in an organic way! We’ve done tons of tests of the individual pieces, but it’s hard for us to get a good idea of how the holistic experience feels. Are things well paced? Do resource requirements feel fair? These are areas where our knowledge isn’t great, so the more honest and candid feedback our playtesters can give us, the better!
It’s worth calling out that we don’t need the testers to actively try to break the game. That’ll probably happen on its own at this point. But telling us WHERE and HOW it breaks will be super helpful for us to track down and fix those issues going forward.
Something to keep in mind is that all of our players, now and future, will get a say in shaping this game. Your feedback doesn't stop impacting our choices after the playtests!
Will future playtests be closed/invite only, or fully open?
We have a few playtests left to go before we open the doors. This is because we are still adding new systems with each phase, and we want to make sure they are working the way we want them to in smaller, controlled groups.
In the meantime, we are building up lots of plans for how to share more gameplay with the community members who aren’t able to participate in this upcoming test, so be sure to keep checking back in to stay "in the know"!
What are the main principles Singularity 6 looks for in someone that aspires to join them? Related to this, what is Singularity 6's policy regarding hiring people with no experience in the Video Game Industry?
It’s a great thing to ask because we’ve recently updated our company website! Our “About” page really highlights the characteristics and values we’re looking for in the kind of people we want to hire.
While it’s not necessary to have worked in the industry to apply, being able to pivot existing experience to match what the position is looking for will go a long way. Here at S6, we’re looking to find the best candidates to help us make Palia the best game it can be.😊
You can take a look at all our current job openings here.