Devlog: School Days – The Nightmare Expands

Posted by: Christine_890 Date: April 2, 2025

Hey everyone! It's finally here—School Days is officially released on PC! 🎉 I can’t even begin to describe the mix of excitement, exhaustion, and terror (the good kind) that’s been running through me as I hit that “Publish” button on itch.io. This game has been a long, dark journey, and now, it’s time for you to step into Blackridge High and experience the horror for yourself.

But the release is just the beginning. There’s still more to come, including upcoming updates, new content, and deeper lore to explore. In this devlog, I’ll be talking about the final development phase, the latest features added, and what’s next for the game—including post-launch updates for the Android version.

🎃 The Final Weeks of Development – Blood, Sweat, and Jumpscares

These last few weeks before release were some of the most intense in the entire development cycle. There were moments of triumph (finally nailing the Deadwalker AI behavior), moments of sheer panic (realizing a game-breaking bug literally an hour before uploading), and countless hours of playtesting, tweaking, and polishing.

Some of the biggest late-stage changes included:

🔊 Sound-Based AI – The Deadwalkers Just Got Smarter

Early versions of the game had Deadwalkers that roamed randomly, but that wasn’t scary enough. Now, they actively respond to sound. Walk too fast? They hear you. Close a door too hard? They hear you. Breathe too loudly? Well… you get the idea.

This new AI system makes them feel unpredictable, even though they follow rules. There’s nothing quite like holding your breath in-game as one passes by—knowing that one wrong move could send them charging straight at you.

🕰️ 60-Minute Survival Timer – A Ticking Time Bomb

Adding a real-time 60-minute countdown completely changed the way the game felt. Now, instead of aimlessly wandering the school, players feel the pressure of knowing something worse than the Deadwalkers is coming when the timer hits zero.

This also led to interesting trade-offs in gameplay:

• Do you search for more supplies, or do you make a run for the exit?
• Do you risk making noise by breaking a locked door, or do you find another way in?
• Can you uncover the truth behind the infection, or will you only care about surviving?

This feature added an incredible amount of tension, and I can’t wait to see how players handle it.

🔦 Flashlight, Gun, and Bat – Pick Your Poison

Originally, I debated whether to let players fight back at all, but after testing, I realized the best horror comes from limited options rather than none. So, players now have three tools to help them survive:

• The Flashlight: Essential for navigation, but the Deadwalkers can see its glow.
• The Gun: Powerful, but insanely loud. If you fire it, be ready to run.
• The Bat: Silent, but only stuns enemies—it won’t kill them.

Choosing the right tool at the right time is key to survival. Each has its risks, so no option feels truly safe.

📜 Expanded Lore – The Infection of ‘93

Throughout Blackridge High, I’ve scattered notes, posters, and diary entries that piece together the horrifying truth behind the Deadwalker outbreak. The deeper you explore, the more you’ll learn about what really happened that day in 1993—and why the school was never torn down.

Hint: It all started with lunch. ☠️

📱 Upcoming Mobile Updates – More Horror on the Go

While the PC version is fully released, I’m still working on post-launch updates for the Android version. Here’s what’s coming soon:

✔ More Notes & Posters – More hidden documents to deepen the lore. ✔ New Jumpscares – Because you thought you were safe? Think again. ✔ Additional Deadwalker Variants – Some will be faster, others will be quieter, all will be deadly.

Stay tuned for future patches!

🐞 Bug Fixes & Known Issues

Even though the game is out, I’m still working on ironing out some pesky bugs. If you encounter any issues, feel free to leave a comment on the itch.io page!

Fixed Issues:

✅ Deadwalkers sometimes getting stuck in walls (no more free hiding spots). ✅ Audio bugs where footsteps wouldn’t always trigger AI detection. ✅ Players clipping through desks when crouching at the wrong angle.

Known Issues (Fixes Coming Soon):

🚧 Some players report Deadwalkers spawning too close after loading a save. 🚧 Occasionally, doors will close too quickly, causing instant death if a Deadwalker is nearby. 🚧 Some posters and notes spawn in unreachable locations (working on a fix).

👀 What’s Next?

Even though School Days is out, I’m far from done. Here’s what’s on my roadmap:

🛠 New Game Modes – A hardcore survival mode where you start with zero weapons? Maybe. 📖 Expanded Lore Updates – More hidden messages and secret endings. 👻 New Enemy Types – Variations of Deadwalkers with unique behaviors. 📲 Android Version Enhancements – Optimizations for smoother mobile gameplay.

🔥 Thank You for the Support!

I just want to take a moment to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has supported School Days so far. Whether you’re playing, sharing your thoughts, reporting bugs, or just following along—it means the world to me. 💀💜

This has been a passion project from day one, and seeing it finally come to life is both surreal and terrifying (in a good way). I’m beyond excited to see how you all experience the horrors of Blackridge High.

So… are you ready to survive the final school bell?

🔗 Play School Days now on itch.io!

And as always—keep quiet. They’re listening. 👁️