Deltarune Chapter 4 Nearing Completion, But Release Still Far Off

Deltarune Chapter 4 is nearing completion, but the release date remains distant, according to a recent update from creator Toby Fox. This update, shared in his latest newsletter, offers insights into the game's development progress.

Fox confirmed that Chapters 3 and 4 will launch simultaneously on PC, Switch, and PS4, as announced in his Halloween 2023 newsletter. However, while Chapter 4 is largely playable, needing only final polish, the release is still some time away. The process involves extensive testing and localization efforts, especially given that this is the first major paid release since Undertale.

Chapter 4's maps and battles are complete, but Fox highlighted some remaining tasks: refining two cutscenes, balancing and visually enhancing a battle, improving a battle's background, and enhancing the ending sequences of two battles. Despite this, he reports positive feedback from testers who have played through the entire chapter.

The multi-platform release and localization present significant hurdles. Fox emphasized the importance of ensuring a polished final product for a paid release, explaining the need for additional time. The team's current priorities include testing new features, finalizing PC and console versions, Japanese localization, and comprehensive bug testing.

Chapter 3 development is finished (as stated in his February newsletter), and preliminary work on Chapter 5 has begun, with map drafting and bullet pattern design underway. While a specific release date remains unannounced, the newsletter offered a preview of Ralsei and Rouxls' dialogue, a character description for Elnina, and a new item, the GingerGuard.

The combined length of Chapters 3 and 4 will exceed that of Chapters 1 and 2, generating considerable anticipation among fans despite the extended wait. Fox anticipates a smoother release schedule for future chapters once Chapters 3 and 4 are launched.