Posted June 15, 2023 by RNGeusEX
Hi everyone, I hope you're all doing well. I trust you've been enjoying the latest update.
Today, I wish to share some news regarding the future of Goodbye Eternity. Due to a decline in sales revenue on Itch.io, the inability to launch the game on Steam due to a ban, and rampant piracy of the game, I find myself in a difficult situation.
In order to continue developing the game conscientiously, some tough decisions will need to be made. This is so that everyone can enjoy the game right through to the end of the story—which, I assure you, isn't coming any time soon.
In light of these developments, I would like to give you a glimpse behind the scenes and share some figures from the analytics we set up after the latest update, in case you missed them.
For instance, if I asked you what percentage of the 70,000 copies of the game were pirated, what would your guess be? 40%? 50%? The highest guess I received was 60%... All these numbers significantly underestimate the reality; the actual figure is around 93%.
Yes, you heard correctly: 93% of the copies of the game were obtained illegally. While I am glad the game is so popular, it deeply saddens me that the financial viability of the project rests on the shoulders of the remaining 7% who support the game on Patreon, Itch.io, SubscribeStar, and Boosty.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all of you who support this project.
It was also decided that version 0.7.9 would be the last one to be offered free of charge. The intention behind this move is to present a demo version of the game, allowing people to familiarize themselves with the content before deciding whether or not to purchase the full version. I believe that 0.7.9, which encompasses several hours of gameplay, should suffice for players to make an informed decision.
I understand that many of you might be deceived by this news, but it's an unfortunate but necessary step towards ensuring the sustainability of this project. It's crucial to remember that creating a game is not only a time-intensive process, but also requires a substantial financial investment. To ensure that we can continue developing and improving Goodbye Eternity, we must strike a balance between offering free content and securing the financial support necessary to keep the project alive.
Of course, our decision does not mean we will stop appreciating the goodwill and dedication of our player community. In fact, we are exploring ways to reward those of you who have shown continued support throughout this journey. We also commit to maintaining the quality and richness of content for future updates, ensuring that the game remains worth your time and investment.
Lastly, we want to remind you that your feedback remains invaluable to us. We invite you to continue sharing your thoughts and suggestions as we navigate this new phase in the game's evolution.
Another important point that arose from the data is that the Android version of the game is the most played. However, it also poses a challenge as it requires the most resources. For instance, not everyone living in Brazil owns a PC or the latest smartphone, which makes the game inaccessible to some potential players.
Therefore, Selenyhr and I are now considering the future of the game and the direction it will take. The goal is not to earn more money, but to sustain this project and all future ones.
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have, and I'll be glad to answer them.
P.S: The release of version 0.8 remains unaffected by these changes, and we're still on track to launch this update in the autumn, as planned.