Hi everyone!
First of all, a massive thank you to every single one of you who keeps this project alive, and a very warm welcome to all the new patrons who recently joined the journey. None of this happens without you.
I've got several things to share today, so let's get into it.
The Main News: Thorns Beneath the Wings WILL be COMPLETED
This is the announcement I've wanted to make for a while.
Thorns Beneath the Wings is getting its FINAL update — and it will close the entire story.
For those who've been asking me to finish it: I hear you, and I haven't forgotten. TbW was the very first game I created under the Aleks name, and it means a lot to me to give it a proper ending instead of leaving it unfinished. That's not who I am as a dev, when I start something, I finish it.
Here's how it's going to work:
One single update that ties everything together. Picking up exactly where v0.15 left off, this final release will wrap up the whole narrative with the 3 endings I have planned for Sereneth's arc, including the conclusion of Elara's route.
Cane and Able stays untouched. This is important: CnA continues at its usual two updates per month, no changes, no slowdowns. The TbW finale is being developed in the background so it never gets in the way of CnA's pace.
Target release: early September.
I'm giving a date because I want to hold myself accountable. I'd rather under-promise and deliver early than the other way around,especially on the game I'm using to prove I finish what I start.
Cane and Able v0.6 — End of June
The next CnA update, v0.6, is on track for the end of this month. I'm already working on it, and the two-updates-a-month rhythm continues as always. More on this one soon.
A Quick Note on How Early Access Works (please read!)
I want to clear something up because I've noticed it, and honestly, it bothers me to see people spend more than they need to.
My early access tier is Haunted Lust ($4.99). Here's the thing a lot of people don't realize:
Since I release two updates per month, a single subscription gives you access to both updates — sometimes even three, depending on the day you subscribe.
Your subscription lasts a full month. It is NOT "pay per update."
I've seen patrons subscribe for one update, cancel, and then re-subscribe for the next one — not realizing that next update was already included in the same monthly subscription they already paid for. You don't need to do that. One subscription = at least two updates. Please don't spend $5 twice for something you already have access to.
Why the Updates Are "Short" (and why that's on purpose)
This has come up before, so a quick reminder for newer patrons:
Each update is developed over 2 weeks, with roughly 250–350 brand new renders plus animations. They're intentionally on the shorter side but released frequently — and that's exactly what the community voted for when I asked whether you preferred shorter, frequent updates or larger, slower ones.
It's a workflow that keeps me healthy and stress-free, and one thing I'm proud of: I have never cut content just to hit a deadline. If something goes wrong, I'll tell you and the update gets delayed, but the content is never sacrificed.
For reference, each update takes around 25–30 minutes if you read the dialogue properly. If you skip straight to the main event, it'll naturally feel shorter — and that's totally fine, play however you like! I just want you to know what goes into each one.
From the heart: thank you to my $15 patrons
Finally, I want to take a moment to genuinely thank everyone supporting at the $15 tier. That extra support means more than you know, it's a huge part of what lets me keep doing this full-time and keep both projects moving. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
And to everyone reading this, at every tier: thank you for being part of this. Big things ahead.
See you in the next update!