itch.io

We are tooo!

The game wouldn't be complete without it.

Aaaahhh!! <3

That's so awesome to hear. <3

Thank you!!

Perfect timing!! <3

Just as a note in case anyone else runs into this issue, the NSFW-only version of the game has been added back to the downloadable files that come with purchase.

SPEAKEASY V1.2: Issue with SFW & NSFW Selection

A couple players have experienced an issue with Windows V1.2 where the game doesn't play the NSFW version when selected. To troubleshoot this, you can try to delete the game and .zip file, then download it again from your itch.io library to see if it runs normally.

If not, V1.1 has been added back to the downloadable files list included with your purchase. This is the launch version that only contains the NSFW content.

Nope! The Steam version should allow you to select between "NSFW Off" and "NSFW On" at the start of a new game.

Depending on the route, the NSFW content might happen later in the story than others, like Dahlia and Will. You'll know you're in NSFW mode once the 2nd CG pops up in every route after the first kiss. SFW mode will only have the kiss CGs.

Awesome :) Glad to help.

Sorry to hear you're having trouble with it. We haven't heard other reports of this yet, so I don't have a quick fix set up yet and will have to do a little digging to see if I can recreate it. If you start from a previous save file the SFW/NSFW choice is unchangeable, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're experiencing.

I would suggest uninstalling the game and reinstalling first, then choosing "NSFW On" to see if that solves it. If not, drop a support ticket on the website here with the best email address to reach you at and I can send you the version that just has the NSFW content: https://openlategames.com/contact/

Please include your itch.io username.

Edit: Please keep comments civil <3

First off, we'd like to thank you for supporting indie games and developers, even if Speakeasy didn't end up being a game you loved.

We didn't want to limit the creativity on the art and wanted to create something fun that leaned more toward fantasy than strict historical accuracy. It might not be for everyone, but it reflects our vision as the developers.

Regarding the critique on the skin tones, we're sorry to hear that the skin tone choices weren't appealing. This is a comment we've seen in another review, so we'd like to take this opportunity to talk a little more about it. (The following discussion isn't directed at OP of this comment, just some information for anyone who would like to learn more about the MC customization and how it was developed.)

Cora was originally written as her own well-defined character and wasn't intended to be a self-insert character (not even her name was changeable in the beginning!). After receiving many requests to have more MC options available, we put in a Kickstarter goal to create a customizable MC. That goal was never reached, but with the small amount of extra funds that were pledged, we tried our best to provide some options with the limited budget available to do this.

Unlike some indie studios, Open Late Games doesn't have an artist as part of the dedicated development team and we use paid outside artists, so making updates to the art is very much dependent on our budget. We would have loved to do completely redrawn character art with a wider options of looks to choose from, but there was only so much we were able to do at the time.

What we had to work with was the base art for the original Cora character. From there, we had to choose tone options that allowed us to use the original line work and would retain the same look of the shadows, highlights, blushes, and all the different coloring variations within the expressions without losing all of those details. Because again, we didn't have the budget to do completely redrawn art for multiple MC options. Going too dark with the tone wasn't the only issue that made the details in the art get lost, using tones that had too much yellow or too much red also produced the same effect. So we had to compromise and find some variations that would be general representations of different types of tones, but didn't make the MC's face lose all the detail that was shown in the base art.

A lot of care and effort was put into making the base art work without making the other skin tone options look flat or like caricatures because they lacked detail and definition. The absolute last thing we wanted to put forth was options that looked poorly executed or offensive.

With Speakeasy as our first game, it's definitely been a learning experience navigating player expectations. And the conclusion is that we won't be able to please everyone and the games we make won't be universally loved, for a variety of reasons. We aren't sure what the best course of action to take would have been, whether it was sticking with our original concept for the MC that was her own defined character without customization, or to choose the path that we did.

We hope that this provides some insight into the challenges faced during game development, especially the very real relationship between art and budget constraints.

Thank you and we're so happy you enjoyed it!!

Thank you so much!!

We don't have any plans at the moment to do mobile ports, but it might be something we'll do in the future and with new games we develop.

Us too... we love writing these characters. <3

Ahhh! Our hearts are melting over here. Thank you so much for the kind words and we're so happy you loved it.

Very curious. That is the correct loading screen, so it's definitely trying to work. If you're planning on just playing the NSFW version, we can send you a version where the game's total file size is smaller and it might run better for you. Send us a message through our contact form and we can make it happen: https://openlategames.com/contact/

The files are zipped, so you'll need to download then unzip them. 

If you're using Windows, you can go to your Downloads folder, right click the zipped folder and select "Extract all." You'll then see a pop-up window that asks where you want to save the extracted folder. Choose where you want to save it, then it'll take a little time to unzip the files. The folder will then be available to open and you select the file that says "Speakeasy" and has a little black and white S icon to play. Here are some instructions if you need more help: https://www.pcworld.com/article/394871/how-to-unzip-files-in-windows-10.html

We're so happy you loved it!! <3

We're so happy you loved it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts <3

Speakeasy Ends happen somewhere within each route and it's where things go completely off the rails. The MC ends up with the LI (in one form or another), but in the wrong way. These are written to be juicy little side endings with extra drama and they skew more toward bad than tragic--unlike the canon tragic end at the end of each route.

We do have a couple ideas in the early phases of development... Also, we write original stories on our Patreon each month if that's something that would be of any interest to fans out there. patreon.com/OpenLateMedia

Thank you <3 You've made our day!

3 CGs each for: Milo, Silas, Will, Dahlia
4 CGs each for: Vincent, Maxim+Nika

There's a free walkthrough PDF here on itch (it's listed with the demo downloads) or you can check it out here: https://openlategames.com/2024/01/12/speakeasy-route-walkthrough/

A couple CGs are hidden in the Speakeasy Ends and Tragic Ends...

Thanks so much for your kind words <3

If your version of the game was the original one released, it defaults to NSFW and there's no option to turn on SFW mode. If you have the version that was just released (V1.2), there will be a choice screen after you select New Game that asks if you'd like to turn NSFW on or off. So if you don't see that screen, then you have the original version with only NSFW content. :)

Dahlia's route takes a little while for the romance to build and the NSFW to come out :) It happens faster in the Vincent route and in the Maxim + Nika route, just in case you're curious...

The NSFW version features the first kiss CGs (these are all clothed), plus additional CGs that are fully R18. So as you play through the route, Dahlia's completely NSFW CGs will come up. There aren't any censored versions of these - these are simply removed when SFW mode is active. Sprites are the same in both versions, and you won't see completely nude sprites.

The version on Steam right now is 1.1, which only has the NSFW content. So if that's what you're looking to play, you've got the right version :)

There will be an update on Steam in the coming days with the 1.2 content that allows players to turn off the NSFW. Itch received this update today, but the process takes a little longer with Steam.

Just moved the file down to the free section with the demos. You should be able to download it now :)

The option to change the MC's name comes about in the common route as you're playing. When the MC decides to use their middle name as a pseudonym, you get a choice between "Cora" and "Something else." Choose "Something else." to do a custom input.

We'll check into it :) 
In the meantime, you can still place orders for the artbook and game guide on our BackerKit store! And there are a couple extra fun items in there as well: https://speakeasygame.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

And we have a release date!  January 11th at 9am PST Check out the Speakeasy Steam page!

And we have a release date! 
January 11th at 9am PST

Check out the Speakeasy Steam page!

The Speakeasy Walkthrough is a free PDF that is an itch.io exclusive and is just a simple text-only guide. The Digital Game Guide is a different item that was offered first through Kickstarter and is available for purchase through JAST. The Digital Game Guide contains full graphics and also features a walkthrough and recommended route order. And yes! There are lots of keyboard shortcuts and built-in defaults for controllers. You can check those out here: https://naninovel.com/guide/input-processing.html#default-listeners

No good news yet. We've been ready to go since December 24th, but unfortunately it all depends on Steam's internal review process. We'll be sure to post an update once we have a release date with them locked in.

Great question!

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Whew, this is a complicated relationship. Canonically, Maxim and Nika grew up together and were one another's firsts for every facet of their sexual and romantic lives. Their bond is extremely close and no matter who or what comes in and out of their lives, they will always love each other to an extreme degree.

Their polyamory came about long before Vincent. In fact, it's something that we're interested in exploring in a Speakeasy prequel with just BL romances... 

A lot of the anger and hurt about Maxim's relationship with Vincent in their route is about him feeling that he has to maintain it in order to provide for them, not because of the relationship itself. Cora's feelings are a little different since this dynamic is new to her. It leaves her confused, jealous, and second guessing herself because she isn't sure how to navigate sharing people that she's growing to love. While this is something that Nika and Maxim have already had to work through because of the expectations of the time (taking a wife). For them, it was just a reality that was neither good nor bad, because they knew that they would always have each other no matter what circumstances they found themselves in. I will say that they do enjoy having lovers outside their relationship, and have been known to even share them.

But Cora? She's a little different. She just happened to fall in love with these two men, and it likely would not have ever gone that way outside of this specific setting and with these specific men.

For the happy end, we wanted to give a sense of wholeness for the player to bring their story to a close. First with the marriage of Maxim and Cora, and then the marriage of Nika and Cora, it represents a full joining and that they've committed themselves to each other. Finding themselves happy, supported, and fulfilled, they won't seek outside relationships and instead enjoy what they've built together.

There is another ending in the game with a completely open polyamorous end...

We're hoping this week! It's currently in the review process with Steam and it's all up to their turnaround time. 💕

If you bought your game on itch.io, then the PDF walkthrough is included in your purchase (even if you bought it before it was uploaded). Just go to "Buy Now" and you should be able to download it through there. Jast won't have this pdf available, instead what's offered there is the Digital Game Guide, which is an extra item for sale featuring the walkthrough and character art.

The name change choice happens within the common route. You'll be asked what your middle name is and can either choose "Cora" or "Something else." Choose "Something else." and it will prompt you for a custom input.