Hey friend!🐈
[p align="-webkit-left"]We hope you’ve had a great month of September so far! We've been incredibly busy since the demo launch in August, which is why this newsletter has taken a bit more time to put together than usual. But trust us, it's for good reason. We're making great progress on the game!😻 We've got quite a few important development updates and announcements to share, so this update is a big one. But first things first...💗THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!!! 💗
[p align="-webkit-left"]Launching the first demo of Cat Cafe Manager 2 to the general public as part of the Wholesome Games Steam Celebration was a huge milestone for us, and we are endlessly grateful to everyone who downloaded it, played it, playtested it and shared feedback with us. We couldn’t be happier with the warm and excited reception we received!🥹[p align="-webkit-left"]A few days after launching the demo, we reached 50k wishlists!🫨 As you might already know, wishlists are a super important factor that helps games get more visibility on the Steam platform, so receiving so much support makes all the difference. A HUGE THANKS to you if you wishlisted the game🫶! And if you haven't gotten the chance yet, it would be amazing if you could.🥰
🖋️Leave a Review on the New Steam Page!
[p align="-webkit-left"]Speaking of Steam... we recently launched a brand new Steam page for our demo!😁 If you've played the demo already, we'd be super grateful if you left us a review while you're there. Just like wishlists, reviews help a ton with visibility - which is key for the reach of smaller indie studios like Roost Games.🪺[p align="-webkit-left"]💜Link to CCM2 Demo Steam page💜
✨Big Demo Update for the Steam Next Fest
[p align="-webkit-left"]And here's the thing… reviews and wishlists are about to matter even more very soon, since our next big milestone is on the horizon: Steam Next Fest! This is a weeklong event that focusses on promoting upcoming games with playable demos. It will run from October 19 until October 26 this year. To celebrate our participation, we're releasing a new, updated version of the Cat Cafe Manager 2 demo on the first day of the festival (October 19th)!🎉 We've got some other exciting news to reveal once Next Fest kicks off, but we can already spill three big surprises about the demo update right now…👀💗The updated demo will include:
[p align="-webkit-left"]⭐Character Customization (demo version) - Serve folks lookin' dashin'! 🐱Cat Customization (demo version) - Decide the name and looks of your starter cat! 🪝The character Bonner - Meet the belly-laughing fan favorite from the original Cat Cafe Manager!🎀Let's Create!
[p align="-webkit-left"]We're SUPER thrilled to launch the demo version of Character Customization!😍 Whereas in the first version of the demo you had to pick one of three pre-made characters to play, with the next demo update you will be able to click through several categories to create your own character! Givethestar of your story a name and design them the way you want by choosing from Skin Colors, Hair Styles, Headwear, Facial Features, Facial Hair, Accessories, Outfits & Shoes! Keep in mind that this demo does not represent the final version of the Character Customization tool.
And since it's not people but cats who steal the spotlight in Cat Cafe Manager 2, there was no way we could give you a character creator for your human but not for your first cat… Cue Cat Customization!😻 In the first version of the demo, you start with a cute grey kitty called Bingo. In the updated demo, you'll be able to name andcustomize your starter cat! Pick from Bodies, Paws, Tails, Heads, Ears,Facial Features & Accessories to create the cutest/toughest/weirdest/insert-any-other-adjective cat ever! Heck, maybe you can even recreate your own real life pet.🥺
Keep in mind that this demo does not represent the final version of the Cat Customization tool. 👉So… keep an eye out for October 19th when these things will all be available in the updated demo! We can't wait to hear what you think.🥰
And now, for perhaps the most exciting news of all…
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🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁...
[p align="-webkit-left"]🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁...🎉🎉🎉 CAT CAFE MANAGER 2 LAUNCHES IN EARLY ACCESS IN Q4 2026!! 🎉🎉🎉
[p align="-webkit-left"]Aaaaa! We are SO excited to finally share that we'll be releasing Cat Cafe Manager 2: Big City Bliss in Early Access before the end of this year, and we hope you're just as stoked as we are!😻😻 We can imagine you might have some (or many) questions, so we answered a bunch of them down below!🤷♀️What is Early Access?
[p align="-webkit-left"]Early Access means Cat Cafe Manager 2 will be purchasable and playable before the Full 1.0 Release (with ALL of the intended content yet to come, neatly wrapped in a bow) comes out. Playing in EA means you get to dive into the core gameplay early while we keep building upon it, adding more content based on ideas we have, Kickstarter promises we made, and community feedback along the way.💛 Through Early Access, we will work towards the Full 1.0 Release together, one update at a time.🤔Why Early Access?
[p align="-webkit-left"]Close community involvement has been very important to us ever since we launched Cat Cafe Manager 2 on Kickstarter. We want to give our community (and especially those who so kindly backed us🩷) the opportunity to give feedback as we build towards the full release of the game. This way, we can give you a more direct role in helping us shape the game as we go. Additionally, it's key to understand that Roost Games is an indie studio with a small development team.🙏 There's never more than 10 people working on the game at the same time. Releasing in Early Access instead of waiting for a Full 1.0 Release gives us some breathing room, as it provides us with the time and resources we need to fulfill the game's potential.👀What can I expect from the Early Access version?
[p align="-webkit-left"]At launch, Cat Cafe Manager 2’s Early Access version will include all its core systems and enough content to support around 10 hours of gameplay. You’ll be able to decorate, expand, and run your cafe, adopt and care for cats, and serve customers as they spend time with their new feline friends.[p align="-webkit-left"]Beyond the cafe, you can go out with your cats to explore Limeline Village, meet Covestadt's key characters, and complete community quests that raise your street rank, unlocking new ways to improve your business. You can also visit essential shops (such as Rusty’s hardware store and Kavya’s furniture store) to expand the size of your cafe and to make it feel authentically yours. In terms of narrative, you'll get to kick off the personal stories of all your city friends, getting to know them on a more personal level. Their stories and character arcs will expand with future game updates.🐱How does the Early Access version differ from the demo?
[p align="-webkit-left"]The demo of the game doesn't contain all of the features that are present in the Early Access version, like expanding your cafe's size. The content options in the demo are less extensive, and gameplay is capped at 90 minutes. Finally, Early Access will allow you to start uncovering the mysteries of Covestadt and building friendships with the other city inhabitants, learning more about their stories.🐯How is the Full 1.0 Release going to differ from Early Access?
[p align="-webkit-left"]All core features and systems will be ready and included in the EA launch, so you'll be able to run your cat cafe (and have a lot of fun doing so😁). The main difference between Early Access and the later 1.0 version will be in terms of scope. As we work towards the final Full 1.0 Release, we will be updating the game, expanding it with more and more content: more areas to discover, more different cats to adopt, more customer types to serve, more furniture sets to buy, more options to customize your cafe (and your character!), more friendly faces to meet, etc. The Full 1.0 Release version will also feature the fully fleshed out story from A to Z for every character you meet, along with the complete overarching narrative of the main story of Cat Cafe Manager 2. By this point, you will also be able to romance characters.💞✨When will we see the Kickstarter Rewards & Stretch Goals in the game?
[p align="-webkit-left"]All Kickstarter Rewards and Stretch Goals will be added in the form of updates after we've launched in Early Access. This also means that everything will be in the game by the time of the Full 1.0 Release. We will share a detailed roadmap with you soon so you'll know when to expect each Reward and Stretch Goal.🧑🤝🧑How will the community be involved after EA release?
[p align="-webkit-left"]We'd love for you to share your feedback both on the Steam forums and in our community Discord server, so we can keep the conversation going about what you think of the game and how you're experiencing it! That way, we can take good suggestions and flagged issues from the community and apply them as we're developing, implementing them with ongoing updates until we've made it to the Full 1.0 Release of the game.🐱🎮When will the game launch on Nintendo Switch?
[p align="-webkit-left"]As we communicated during the Kickstarter campaign, Nintendo does not support Early Access games, so we'll be launching Cat Cafe Manager 2 on Nintendo Switch when the Full 1.0 Release version of the game is out. This is also when we'll be sending a Switch key to every backer who ordered one. On our initial Kickstarter roadmap, we shared that the Switch version would release mid-2027, but unfortunately, that timeline is no longer realistic. We know this isn't the news you were hoping for, and we're truly sorry for the wait.❤️🩹 Our main goal for the 1.0 and Switch version of the game is to create the best possible experience at launch. We don't know yet exactly how long that will take, but we expect it will be a little over a year after the EA launch.🗝️I am a Kickstarter Backer who is entitled to a CCM2 Steam key. When will I get it?
[p align="-webkit-left"]You will receive your key the same day the game launches in Early Access, so you can open your cat cafe the second the game is out! [p align="-webkit-left"]If your question wasn't among these, please don't hesitate to leave a comment below or reach out to us through Discord!🫶🫶Games We Love & Support
👗Dressmaker by Cozy Lives
We want to congratulate Cozy Lives on their fabulous launch of Dressmaker! Choose your fabrics, cut out patterns, and stitch them all together to satisfy (or sabotage 👀) the townsfolk in this cozy crafting game inspired by real-life dressmaking. Whether you're going for the perfect outfit or want to intentionally mess with your customers' requests, there's a lot of charm (and chaos) to discover in this game. If you're into cozy games with a creative twist, this one's absolutely worth checking out!
🍰Nom Nom: Cozy Forest Café by Anaïs Salla
[p align="-webkit-left"]We also want to shout out another cozy cafe game: the adorable Nom Nom: Cozy Forest Café by our friend Anaïs Salla! This is a cozy and relaxing decoration and rhythm game where you manage your very own cafe, befriend cute animals, and vibe to the beat while doing it. If the combination of music mixing and management gameplay sounds like a perfect match to you, you're gonna love Nom Nom! 🎶
