Stay: Forever Home Valentines Update Out Now! 🐾✨

Hey, Stay Community!

Last year, we released Stay: Forever Home, a VR pet companion game built around calm bonding, routine, and small daily moments.

Since then, we’ve heard from many of you who wanted to experience it on PC and Steam Deck. So we’ve been working on adapting and expanding that experience for Steam.

Stay: Your Forever Pet builds on the original foundation, with enhancements and adjustments to feel natural on desktop while keeping that same cozy, relationship-first focus.

It’s less about rushing progression and more about presence. Checking in. Quiet interactions. Building familiarity over time.

Confirmed features at launch

• Lifelike behaviors and animation respond to the world as it's happening

• Explore a whimsical Otherlands together

• Interact with Mosslings, delightful critters sometimes mischievous, other times helpful

• Forage for resources while walking with your pet

• Trade resources to receive decorations, accessories, treats, toys, and more

• Dress up your companion to express your unique style

• Customize your shared virtual home and yard

Our Steam page just went live. If this sounds like your kind of cozy, a wishlist genuinely helps us as a small team.

👉 Wishlist on Steam

👉 Join Our Discord

💌 Thank You for Giving Ember a Forever Home
We’re so grateful you stepped through the portal with us. Your support, ideas, and patience help shape Ember’s world every day.

✨ Loving your time in the Otherlands? Leave us a review your feedback means the world, and every kind word makes Ember’s tail wag.

Stay cozy, stay curious we’ll see you in the Otherlands. 💛🐾

Stay: Forever Home Valentines Update Out Now! 🐾✨

Hey, Stay Community!

The Valentine’s Update has arrived, bringing sweet seasonal cosmetics, thoughtful polish, and stability improvements to Ember’s world.

💗 Seasonal Content

Love is in the air in the Otherlands.
Unlock Valentine’s-themed cosmetics designed to add extra charm and cozy flair to your forever home.

These seasonal items are available for a limited time, and once earned, they stay in your collection (as long as your save data remains).

Relax, unwind, and enjoy some extra cozy moments with Ember.

🔧 System Improvements

Quality of Life Updates:
This update includes a variety of small quality-of-life improvements across the game, making everyday play smoother and more intuitive.

Bug Fixes & Stability:
We’ve addressed bugs and made stability improvements to help everything run more smoothly behind the scenes.

💛 Join the Community

Your feedback shapes Ember’s world.
Join our Discord to vote on ideas, enter contests, share cozy setups, and get a sneak peek at what’s coming next:

👉 Join Our Discord

💌 Thank You for Giving Ember a Forever Home
We’re so grateful you stepped through the portal with us. Your support, ideas, and patience help shape Ember’s world every day.

✨ Loving your time in the Otherlands? Leave us a review your feedback means the world, and every kind word makes Ember’s tail wag.

Stay cozy, stay curious we’ll see you in the Otherlands. 💛🐾

Stay: Forever Home Winter Update Out Now! 🐾✨

Hey, Stay Community!

The Winter Update has arrived, bringing new seasonal outfits, fresh resources, smoother systems, and big improvements to Ember’s world.

❄️ Seasonal Content

Winter has settled into the Otherlands. Explore new winter scenes, discover seasonal trade resources, and unlock brand new winter-themed costumes for Ember.

These seasonal items are available for a limited time, and once earned, they stay in your collection (as long as your save data remains).

Bundle up and enjoy the snowy cozy vibes with Ember!

🔄 System Improvements

• Trade System:
  We refined and expanded the trade experience with a new way to submit items and a smoother flow for receiving your returned item. Trading is clearer, cleaner, and easier than ever.

• Quality of Life Updates:
  This update includes many small improvements across the game that make everyday play feel better and more intuitive.

• New Player Tutorial:
  The onboarding experience received further updates to help newcomers understand the basics and get started faster.

💛 Join the Community

Your feedback shapes Ember’s world.
Join the Discord to vote on ideas, enter contests, share cozy setups, and peek at what’s coming next.

👉 Join Our Discord

💌 Thank You for Giving Ember a Forever Home
We’re so grateful you stepped through the portal with us. Your support, ideas, and patience help shape Ember’s world every day.

✨ Loving your time in the Otherlands? Leave us a review your feedback means the world, and every kind word makes Ember’s tail wag.

Stay cozy, stay curious we’ll see you in the Otherlands. 💛🐾

🍂 Fall Update – Cozy Nights, Fresh Features, and Spooky Fun!

Stay: Forever Home – Fall Update Out Now! 🐾✨

Hey, Stay Community!
The Fall Update has arrived, bringing new outfits, smoother systems, and big improvements to Ember’s world.

Check the full update details here: https://oculus.com/experiences/quest/developer-post/788470580657233/

🎃 Seasonal Content

It’s costume season! Unlock Fall and Halloween outfits for Ember — cozy, spooky, and only available for a limited time.
Once earned, they’re yours to keep (as long as your save data remains). Come celebrate the Fall season with Ember!

🔄 System Improvements

• Trade Board: Simplified and smoother for easy trading.

• Spawn System: Faster, more stable, and ready for future expansions.

• Save Slots: Create multiple save files so everyone can enjoy their own Ember journey.

💛 Join the Community

Your feedback shapes Ember’s world!
Join the Discord to vote on ideas, enter contests, and share your cozy setups.

👉 Join Our Discord

💌 Thank You for Giving Ember a Forever Home
We’re so grateful you stepped through the portal with us. Your support, ideas, and patience help shape Ember’s world every day.

✨ Loving your time in the Otherlands? Leave us a review your feedback means the world, and every kind word makes Ember’s tail wag.

Stay cozy, stay curious we’ll see you in the Otherlands. 💛🐾

Hey, Stay Community,
We have exciting news: Update 3 is out now go grab the new seasonal outfits!

Join our Discord for the Giveaway! 🎉

🧡 What’s New in the Update:

🥳 New First-Time User Experience (FTUE)

We’ve completely overhauled the onboarding journey! New players will now be guided through a smoother, more intuitive introduction to Stay: Forever Home, making it easier than ever to meet Ember, learn the ropes, and settle into your cozy new world.

🆓 Free 30-Minute Trial rolling out to some users, currently in testing!

👗 Seasonal Style Begins
Ember’s wardrobe just got a sunny upgrade! Say hello to our first batch of seasonal summer outfits, with more styles coming as the seasons change.
These cosmetics are Time limited! So make sure to earn them asap!

🆓 Free 30-Minute Trial rolling out to some users, currently in testing!
New to Stay: Forever Home? You can now jump in and play for 30 minutes completely free! Meet Ember, explore, and see what makes this place so special.

🔁 Trade Board Usability Improvements
We’ve polished up the trade board for smoother, more intuitive interactions. Less friction, more fun.

Check out the full list of changes here: https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/developer-post/4251225965121649/

🔎 Where can you find more info, report bugs, and join contests? Our Discord! Click the link below!
🗳️ Join the conversation with our Discord: your input shapes Ember’s world.

🌿 What’s Coming Next?
We’re already gathering feedback and planning the next round of updates. Here’s what to look forward to:

• 👀 Sneak peeks in our new Show & Tell channel

• 🗳️ Opportunities to vote and share your ideas in the feedback threads

• 🏆 More contests to jump into

• Poop?……

Stay tuned — the adventure’s just getting started!

💌 Thank You for Giving Ember a Forever Home
We’re so grateful you stepped through the portal with us. Your support, ideas, and patience help shape Ember’s world every day.

✨ Loving your time in the Otherlands? Leave us a review your feedback means the world, and every kind word makes Ember’s tail wag.

Stay cozy, stay curious we’ll see you in the Otherlands. 💛🐾

Hey, Stay Community,
We have exciting news: Update 2 is out now!
Join our Discord for the Giveaway! 🎉

🧡 What’s New in the Update:

• Mist Pods (aka Smoke Bombs) – Send those pesky Thieves packing!

• New Present Boxes – Surprise! What’s inside?

• Even more mossling facial expressions!

• Mossling interaction polish + bug fixes

Your adventure begins now — filled with cuddles, trades, and magical moments. Ember’s ready. Are you? ✨

Check out the full list of changes here: https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/developer-post/4251225965121649/

🔎 Where can you find more info, report bugs, and join contests? Our Discord! Click the link below!
🗳️ Join the conversation with our Discord: your input shapes Ember’s world.

🌿 What’s Coming Next?
We’re already gathering feedback and planning the next round of updates. Here’s what to look forward to:

• 👀 Sneak peeks in our new Show & Tell channel

• 🗳️ Opportunities to vote and share your ideas in the feedback threads

• 🏆 More contests to jump into

• 🎥 Behind-the-scenes Developer Videos

Stay tuned — the adventure’s just getting started!

💌 Thank You for Giving Ember a Forever Home
Thank you for stepping through the portal with us. Your support, ideas, and patience mean the world as we continue to grow Ember’s story together.

✨ Enjoying your time in the Otherlands? Consider leaving us a review — we’re always listening, and every kind word makes Ember’s tail wag.

Stay cozy, stay curious, and we’ll see you in the Otherlands. 💛🐾

Hey Stay Community,

We’ve got a cozy bundle of updates to share – from sneak peeks at what’s next for the Mosslings, to detailed patch fixes, and even news about our Quest 2 launch (yes, it’s that close).

Let’s dig in!

In This Edition:

• Ah Young’s Designer Diary: Mosslings & Meaning

• Give Us Your Thoughts: Orbs, Trading, and Economy

• Update One: Fixes, Features, and More

• Quest 2 Playtesting: Sign-Ups Are Now OPEN

• Thank You, PAX East Attendees and Fans

Ah Young’s Designer Diary: Mosslings & Meaning

Game Designer Ah Young Joo is opening up in our newest Designer Diary Blog Series on the Stay Community Blog. She’ll be diving deep into the heart and hilarity of the Mosslings, how they evolved from playful pests into iconic companions, and what their future holds. You may even learn about an easter egg or two! 😄🥚

Peek behind the design curtain and read it now: ➡️ Read the Blog Post

Don’t be the last to find out– check out our updates in our build notes.

Give Us Your Thoughts: Orbs, Trading, and Economy

Join our Discord Server and participate in our latest poll- earn rewards, too!

Give us your thoughts on our Discord- those who participate get a special in game reward! ✨

Update One: Fixes, Features, and More!

We’ve been listening closely, and Update One is full of the fixes and improvements you’ve asked for– from smoother transitions in MR/VR, to more consistent room behavior and animation improvements. It’s all detailed, all transparent, and all ready for you:

See the full list of fixes here: ➡️ stay-forever-home.com/buildnotes

No matter the device, we want to make sure adventures with Ember is just right- sign up now!

Quest 2 Playtesting: Sign-Ups Are Now OPEN

It’s almost here– Stay: Forever Home is just about ready to roll out on Meta Quest 2. We’re putting the final touches on our cross-platform launch and are calling for early playtesters to help us polish the experience.

Looks like Ember got a little curious and decided to explore Boston 👀🐾

Running into RuffTalkVR on the Expo Floor!

Thank You, PAX East Attendees and Fans

To everyone who stopped by the Boston Indies Booth at PAX East, chatted with us, has bought the game, or tried the demo– thank you. Your curiosity, questions, and laughs mean the world to our tiny team. Your passion pushes us forward more each day!

More adventures are on the way– stay tuned for our next newsletter. ✨

Hey Stay Community 👋 We are LIVE! 🎉

We’re thrilled to announce that Stay: Forever Home is LIVE– and the door to the Otherlands is officially open… or at least it will be, once a few thorns are cleared with a blossom pop! 😉

[ Click to Adopt Ember Today ]

Ember’s ready. Your adventure awaits. And we couldn’t be more excited to welcome you into the magic.

As a small indie team, we’ve packed every corner with love, bark, and biscuits. But like any launch– especially in VR/MR– a few thorns snuck through. But fear not, because we’re already pruning! 🌸✨

🔎 Where can you find bug updates, fixes, and what’s next?
• https://stay-forever-home.com/info/updates

Stay up to date on known issues, updates, and how you can vote on features or even request your own!

You’ll find:
🐛 A categorized list of known issues (with workarounds where available)
🌱 A preview of what’s coming next (Update 1)
🗳️ Ways to submit feedback and vote on feature ideas

When will community feedback be taken into consideration?
Due to the predefined launch timeline set by Meta, we won’t be able to push out any updates for the first two weeks post-launch.

This timeline is part of every AR/VR launch process and is out of our hands. Updates must be finalized, tested, and submitted well in advance– meaning we’re unable to incorporate community feedback until at least Update 3. The good news? Many of the issues players are encountering are already on our radar. Our team sees them too– and we’re eager to address them. Our goal is to understand our player community like the back of our paw. With open communication and a transparent roadmap, we’re confident we’ll get there quickly post-launch.

💌 Thank You for Giving Ember a Forever Home
Thanks for stepping through the portal with us. Your support means the world– and so does your patience as we ramp up into the story of Ember.

Stay cozy, and stay curious!

Hey Stay Community!

We’ve got exciting launch date news to share with you– and a little heads-up as we get ready to say goodbye to our Alpha: Ruff Cut Play Testing Build and welcome special Guest Trainers who will be posting updates about Ember until launch!

We will have two well known creators meeting Ember soon!

Fetch the Highlights

• We’ve Unleashed Our Official Trailer

• Alpha Play Test Ends Tomorrow: 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET

• Who’s That Guest Trainer?!

We’ve Unleashed Our Official Trailer

We just dropped our Official Trailer for Stay: Forever Home as part of the Ruff Talk VR Games Showcase, and it’s full of magic, zoomies, and fresh looks at Ember’s world! You can watch it here:

Alpha Play Test Ends Tomorrow: 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET

As we prepare Ember for her full debut, the current play test build will come offline tomorrow at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET.

You've helped us shape a better, more heartwarming game with your feedback, and we’re so grateful for every bug you squashed, suggestion you shared, and moment you spent with Ember.

Be sure to Join Our Discord to keep the conversation going– share feature ideas for community voting, connect with other players, and get the fastest updates as we head toward launch, and beyond!

Who’s That Guest Trainer?!

We will have two well known creators meeting Ember over the next few days- don’t miss out!

Between now and launch day, we’ll be joined by special Guest Trainers who will be stopping by to hang out with Ember and show off what we’ve been working on. Follow along and stay connected so you don’t miss any of the fun on our socials below:

Thank you again to those who were a part of the Stay: Forever Home Alpha: Ruff Cut.

This is only the beginning of the journey– and we (Ember included) are so lucky to have you join us for the adventure.

Hey Stay Community!

Well Play Testers, the time has come- our final Play Test before the big launch! Read all the way to the bottom to see the team’s thanks to all our Play Testers from the beginning until now. 🥳

New Toys, New Memories, New Fun!

Table of Contents

• What’s New?

• Join our other socials!

• Known Issues

• Feedback Wanted!

• Sign up for the Playtest!

What’s New?

• Ember:

  • Is now more likely to stick with you while you explore.

  • Now grows tired and expresses a need to rest.

  • Is no longer obsessed with letters!

• Gameplay, Thorn Vines:

  • Have had a glow up with new flowers, better feedback. More JUICE.

  • A counter keeps track of how many vines are left in the level.

  • Clearing all the vines causes a change in the Heart Tree.

• Gameplay, Trade:

  • Huge catalogue of items to trade for! From framed art to doghouses to fake mustaches.

  • New shop tune plays around the trade board.

  • Trade board no longer needs to be upgraded to use. Just pay Ember the biscuit tax during the tutorial.

  • The full catalog can now be previewed (albeit silhouetted).

• Gameplay, Mosslings:

  • Thief Mosslings have new feedback when they’re on the prowl!

  • Get special rewards from rare gifting Mosslings and rare thief Mosslings.

• Letters:

  • Letters now de-spawn after you’ve read them. You can review them later in the pause menu.

  • Letters have a new narrative pass.

• Tutorial:

  • Ember’s performance in the portal is more polished.

  • New portal VFX.

  • You can now try planting a seed indoors.

  • Ember now reveals a thorn flower to clear vines on the door.

• Additional language support:

  • Incremental quality improvements to French, Italian, and German. (Note that all three are still undergoing full QA!)

  • Spanish, Korean and Japanese are all available, but haven’t undergone QA.

• Locomotion:

  • Expanded locomotion options, including Arm-swinger!

• Outdoor Level Improvements:

  • Loads of new art, set dressing, and audio. Check out the new heart tree and the waterfall!

  • Customize the fenced area around your yard with traded goods.

• Sticks:

  • They’re bigger than ever. And more useful!

• Distance grab:

  • Is now simplified to use the grip trigger. Visual feedback is aggressive at the moment. We’re still tuning.

  • Most interactive objects are now highlighted. Valuable items sparkle and sometimes play a sound to help find them.

• Other:

  • Audio is more accurately spatialized for even greater immersion.

Double the Sticks - Double the Speed!

Join our other socials!

• Did you know Ember is on Reddit?
  https://www.reddit.com/r/StayForeverHome/

Known Issues

• Ember only understands English commands at the moment. (Don’t worry; we’ll have options for other languages at launch!)

• Large Fruit can sometimes follow you back to your house from Ember’s world. It’s ok, you can just break them!

• Objects in MR can shift when the game loads

• Sometimes Ember’s wants can’t be met. She just really really really wants that ball, forever, it’s her precious.

• Magic Toadstool isn’t as magical as it’s supposed to be

• Gifting Mosslings are still a bit too greedy with their gifts

• Mosslings and some items have a bit TOO much magic and can be seen floating in the air

• Hands can occasionally get stuck on items.

• Objects in MR can sometimes spawn in walls or floor

We’d Love Your Feedback

• Do you find yourself spending more time with Ember in MR or VR? Why?

• What’s your favorite thing to do in each space– MR and VR?

• Are there any frustrating or unclear parts?

• What changes or improvements would you like– if any?

• What are your thoughts on communicating with Ember?

• How do you feel about the gameplay?

• What are your thoughts on the Mosslings and their interactions?

Pretty sure those ears get both AM and FM.

How to Playtest & Provide Feedback

Your feedback is crucial to shaping the game– so let us know your thoughts! If you’d like to participate:

• Sign up for the Alpha: Ruff Cut Playtester

• Make sure you have the Playtester Role in our Discord

• Join the Alpha: Ruff Cut Discord channels to share your thoughts with others

• Contact the Devs: Use our support portal channel to submit feedback, bug requests, and more!

Looking forward to hearing what you think. Enjoy the update and your time with Ember!

Hey Stay Community!

The latest update for Alpha: Ruff Cut of Stay: Forever Home is ready for testing! This update brings new content, stability improvements, and major bug fixes– all shaped by your feedback!

Dress up Ember with new accessories!

What’s New?

• Fresh content and gameplay improvements

• Stability and performance fixes

• Save Reset: Start fresh and build new memories with Ember!

Explore hills and valleys with Ember while finding Mosslings.

What’s Next?

• Accessibility improvements, including cleaning Ember

• Smoother MR → VR transitions

Known Issues

• Ember may get stuck eating– calling her should fix it.

• Blossoms on tutorial vines may not appear– call Ember over for help.

• Items may fall under terrain near the cabin.

• Letters can be tricky to grab.

• The tutorial may be blocked if the backpack spawns without fruit– clearing data will fix this.

Place plants, clocks, and more in your MR space!

How to Playtest & Provide Feedback

Your feedback is crucial to shaping the game– so let us know your thoughts! If you’d like to participate:

• Sign up for the Alpha: Ruff Cut Playtester

• Make sure you have the Playtester Role in our Discord

• Join the Alpha: Ruff Cut Discord channels to share your thoughts with others

• Contact the Devs: Use our support portal channel to submit feedback, bug requests, and more!

Looking forward to hearing what you think. Enjoy the update and your time with Ember!

Hey Windup Minds Community,

We are here with some big news: The Alpha: Ruff Cut Playtest for Stay: Forever Home is officially underway! This is your chance to step into Ember’s world and experience the next evolution of her interactions and the magical environment we’re building.

Spots are limited– sign up now for your invite!

What’s New in the Alpha: Ruff Cut Playtest?

This playtest focuses on Ember’s advanced behaviors and fine-tuned gameplay mechanics, designed to bring you even closer to your magical companion. Here’s what you’ll get to explore:

• Expanded Tools & Interactions: Use tools like the brush to help Ember thrive and explore her playful side.

• Dynamic AI Improvements: Ember’s reactions to your voice and gestures are sharper than ever. Try giving her commands like “sit” or “come” to see how she responds.

• New Environment Details: Immerse yourself in Ember’s cozy world, now enhanced with even more magical touches.

The same potato used to compress this gif might be the same one you find in game with Ember!

Testing Period

Make sure to spend as much time as you can exploring, playing, and sharing your thoughts with us! Join our Discord and share insights to earn the exclusive Playtester✨ role. If you’ve already signed up for the Alpha, check your email for download instructions. Still having trouble? Tag a moderator in our Discord Server or respond to this email. You might even be eligible to become part of The Keyholders, a group of exclusive testers and content creators who get the opportunity to work directly with the team– granting you faster communication and the chance to connect directly with our developers at Windup Minds!

We value our playtesters above all. 💪

Please share your videos, adventures, and experiences with the world, be it TikTok, your personal social pages- whether it's with your friends or with your family! If you want the devs to take note of your thoughts, make sure to post your feedback specifically in the Discord for logging.

We're building this game with you, and we can't wait to hear what you think!

Important Note: Once Alpha: Ruff Cut is live, the original– will be taken down and replaced. This means the first Preview will no longer be accessible. Be sure to sign up and join us in this new stage of development!

Feedback & Reporting

1. In-Game Feedback: Use the feedback tools accessible in the headset to report bugs or share thoughts directly.

2. Discord Channels: Join us on Discord to post your feedback in dedicated channels:

We’ll be monitoring closely and addressing your feedback and bug reports as we continue development.

Players have an option to submit bugs or feedback through the pause menu UI, or through Discord should it be preferred.

How to Participate

If you’ve already signed up for the Alpha, check your email for download instructions. Not signed up yet? It’s not too late! Use the email associated with your Meta account to sign up and then join our Discord.

Your feedback is critical to refining Ember’s world. Here’s how you can share your experience:

Known Issues

As this is an alpha playtest, here are a few quirks we’re aware of:

• Ember may occasionally freeze in place or become unresponsive. A quick app restart should resolve this.

• Some voice commands may require repetition before Ember responds.

• Gesture recognition can sometimes take a moment to register– look for the paw print indicator when pointing to an object or location.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Every moment you spend with Ember helps us create a game that’s not just magical but deeply personal. We’re so excited to hear about your experiences!

See you in the Alpha,

P.S. Join our Discord to share your stories, social posts, and to connect with other testers. Let’s make Stay: Forever Home unforgettable!

Hey friends,

We're beyond excited to finally share the name and trailer for our upcoming game: Stay: Forever Home! We've poured our hearts into creating this unique and magical game, and we can't wait for you to experience it.

In Stay: Forever Home, you'll go on a journey of companionship and discovery with Ember, a magical creature with a mysterious past. Explore a cozy world, engage in playful activities in your own home, and experience the joy of connection like never before.

Here's what you can do to celebrate with us:

• Watch the trailer and share it with your friends!

• Read the exclusive UploadVR article to learn more about the game. 

• Wishlist Stay: Forever Home on the Meta Quest Store.

• Join our Discord community and/or our Facebook Group to connect with other players and share your excitement.

Let’s GOOOOOOOOOO!

P.S. Don't miss out on the Alpha playtest! Limited spots are still available, so sign up now and join the fun! https://forms.gle/gkiYvVU7ioJBshRc6

Hey everyone,

It's TaSh, your friendly neighborhood Community Manager, here with some exciting news!

Get ready for Preview 2 of our upcoming game! We're so excited to share this expanded experience with you all. This time, we're going beyond just the Mixed Reality features and giving you a bigger taste of what's to come.

Think new environments, more activities with Ember, and a deeper dive into the heartwarming world we're creating.

Mark your calendars:

• Preview 2 starts on December 2nd! 🗓️

• Ember goes home for the holidays on December 20th. (Don't worry, she'll be back with even more fun in the new year!)

Important Reminders:

• Limited spots available! Sign up ASAP to secure your place in the playtest.

• Use the email linked to your Meta account when you sign up.

• Already joined the pre-alpha? No need to sign up again - you're automatically in!

Ready to join the adventure?

Head over to Preview 2 and fill out the form with the email linked to your Meta account.

We can't wait to hear your feedback and see you in the game!

Name That Species! Contest

Remember those curious little sprites we've been teasing? The ones with the mischievous smiles and the knack for teleporting? Well, they need a name!

We've narrowed it down to four fantastic options, and now it's YOUR turn to decide!

Cast your vote on Discord for your favorite:

• Tanuki

• Mosslings

• Emberlings

• Catashi

Head over to our Discord server and make your voice heard.

Game on,

TaSh

Head of Community, Windup Minds

P.S. Keep an eye on the #announcements channel on our Discord server for more updates and exciting news! Join the Community

Hey Windup Minds Community,

Things are getting magical around here! Not only is our pre-alpha test in full swing (more on that below), but we're also inviting you to help us name the mysterious creatures in our game!

Name That NPC! Contest

Remember those curious little sprites we've been teasing? The ones with the mischievous smiles and the knack for teleporting? Well, they need a name!

We're calling on all creative wordsmiths and lore enthusiasts to help us find the perfect moniker for these enigmatic beings.

Here's the deal:

• Head over to our Discord server: https://discord.gg/GjRYG6grN5 

• Submit your most creative and fitting names here: https://forms.gle/DwhvP3LMGEcJQW6B9

• The winning name will be chosen by our team and revealed on November 21st!

The winner will receive:

• The honor of naming a species in our game!

• A special role in our Discord server.

• Bragging rights for all eternity (or at least until the game launches 😉).

• A special gift!

Pre-Alpha Playtest Update

Speaking of exciting things, our pre-alpha playtest is well underway, and we're blown away by your enthusiasm and feedback!

For those who haven't joined the fun yet, there's still time to hop in and experience the magic of mixed reality with Ember. Just make sure you're part of our Discord crew and have a Quest 2 or 3 ready to go.

Here's the lowdown:

• Discord is the place to be: https://discord.gg/GjRYG6grN5

• Pre-alpha signup form: https://forms.gle/WxznALoYs469ACXb9

• MR madness: This playtest is all about those mind-blowing mixed reality interactions.

• Feedback fiesta: Share your thoughts, suggestions, and bug reports in the dedicated channels on Discord.

Behind the Scenes with Dren

Our Audio Designer & Composer, Dren McDonald, is hard at work creating the enchanting soundscape for our game. In this video, he shares his passion for music and the unique process of incorporating an antique autoharp into the game's soundtrack.

We're incredibly grateful for your support and can't wait to see what adventures you have with Ember!

Game on,

TaSh

Head of Community, Windup Minds

Hey there,

It's official! Our pre-alpha playtest launched on October 24th, and our Discord community is diving headfirst into the world of mixed reality! Seeing everyone's reactions to Ember in mixed reality has been pretty awesome. The screenshots, the videos, the feedback – you're all making this journey incredible.

Speaking of incredible, have you seen Jay's latest dev diary on YouTube? She walks us through that hilarious moment when she first met Ember in VR, and let me tell you, the excitement is contagious! Check it out here:

If you haven't joined the pre-alpha fun yet, there's still time to hop in and experience the magic for yourself. This experience is an open-ended sandbox. Just make sure you're part of our Discord crew and have your Quest ready to go.

NOTE: The experience is optimized for Quest 3. It runs on Quest 2, but will require more manual room setup. Depth occlusion also isn’t supported on Quest 2, and passthrough cannot be captured in screenshots or video.

Here's the lowdown:

• Discord is the place to be: https://discord.gg/GjRYG6grN5 

• Pre-alpha signup form: https://forms.gle/nLuCnYa6tiueZQd89

• MR madness: This playtest is all about those mind-blowing mixed reality interactions.

• Feedback fiesta: Share your thoughts, suggestions, and bug reports in the dedicated channels on Discord.

• Alliteration altercation:

Giphy

Ok, maybe I got a little carried away with the bullet points.

We're grateful for your support and can't wait to see what adventures you have with Ember!

Game on,

TaSh

Head of Community, Windup Minds

Did you hear the news? Our pre-alpha playtest is officially underway! But don't worry, it's not too late to join the fun.

We're inviting YOU to step into the world of mixed reality and experience the magic of our upcoming VR pet game. This is your chance to:

• Meet your virtual bestie: Get to know our adorable pet and explore those first heartwarming moments of connection.

• Experience the magic of MR: See your pet interact with YOUR real-world environment!

• Shape the future of the game: Your feedback is invaluable in helping us create the best possible experience.

Here's how to join the pack:

1. Hop onto our Discord server: https://discord.gg/GjRYG6grN5 

2. Sign up for the pre-alpha: https://forms.gle/rXmnV7dXQbq2ChjN6

3. Once you’re added to the list, you will receive an email so that you can download the build and start playing!

Pre-Alpha Rules:

• Discord Exclusive: This playtest is exclusively for our amazing Discord community.

• MR Focus: This build focuses on Mixed Reality interactions.

• Feedback is Key: Share your thoughts and suggestions in the #pre-alpha-feedback channel on Discord.

• Keep it Secret: Please keep all feedback, images, and videos restricted to our Discord server.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to be a VR pet pioneer!

Adopt Ember Day

Pre-Alpha Play Test

windupminds.beehiiv.com/p/adopt-ember-day

Welcome to the playtest! We’re excited to share a small part of what we’ve been building with you! This is an open-ended sandbox. Press the purple button to spawn new things for Ember to interact with.

NOTE: This experience is optimized for Quest 3. It runs on Quest 2, but will require more manual room setup. Depth occlusion also isn’t supported on Quest 2, and passthrough cannot be captured in screenshots or video.

If you need help troubleshooting, please reach out on our Discord.

Instructions:

• Sharing content:

  • ONLY share content to the Windup Minds Discord channel. Do not post elsewhere.

  • That said, share as much and as often as you like. We want to see what you’re excited about, and where we can improve!

• Feedback & Bug Reporting

  • Option 1: Send through the headset (Easiest)

    • Press the system menu button on the right controller.

    • Capture images or video with the buttons on the app menu screen.

      • TIP: Enable your mic to record your commentary.

    • Click on the feedback button (pencil and paper icon) to submit your feedback and any media you want us to see.

    • This will get deployed to a dashboard the team can review!

    • https://developers.meta.com/horizon/resources/playtest-feedback-best-practices/

  • Option 2: Discord - Better for direct feedback, troubleshooting and discussion!

    • Join the Windup Minds Discord channel.

    • Post your feedback, bugs, etc. in the appropriate channel:

      • #pre-alpha-questions - We can help you troubleshoot

      • #pre-alpha-bug-reports - File tickets for any bugs you might encounter

      • #pre-alpha-feedback - Suggestions and feedback

      • #pre-alpha-discussion - General playtest discussion and sharing

      • #mr-media - Share screenshots and videos

    • Feedback Form: Here is the link to our feedback form. Please keep these questions in mind as you explore with Ember. Play as often as you want, you are able to edit your feedback to reflect changes.

• Recommended Room setup:

  • Delete room data and start from a fresh scan.

  • Make sure the room is well-lit.

  • For optimal experience, the room should have a couch and a tagged table. IMPORTANT: Make sure the couch volume is adjusted so that the top of the rectangle volume aligns with the seat cushions.

  • The experience currently works in ONE room. Moving to another room and adjacent room setups may cause issues with Ember’s behavior and object anchoring.

• Audio

  • Make sure headset volume is set two bars away from maximum for best audio experience.

  • Play in a quiet room if possible. The experience uses mic input and may be triggered by background noise.

• Gameplay

  • Press the A-button to access your tool inventory. Your tools will return here after they’re dropped, so don’t worry about losing them. Press the A button again to dismiss. It will close by itself if you move away.

    • Spray can

      • Use this to collect magical floating orbs

      • Spray magic on seeds to grow plants

      • Spray magic on the dragonfly toy to charge it up

    • Brush

      • Clean off dirt that accumulates on Ember

  • Press the big purple button to spawn random new objects for Ember to enjoy. Reposition the button as you need by grabbing it and moving it around.

  • Voice response:

    • Ember responds to a few commands (currently English-only):

      • Sit

      • Come

      • “Ember”

  • Gesture response:

    • Lift your index finger from the trigger button to point

      • Point to an object or location and say “Go get it!” or “Go!” (Again, English only)

      • Known Issue: it might take a moment to register. You’ll hear a sound and see a paw print when Ember notices the point

  • Press the left menu button to pause, access these notes, or get info about how to give bugs and feedback.

Known Issues

• Ember sometimes jumps off of the couch, but remains at couch height. There’s also a possibility that she gets stuck seated on the couch and won’t move. Restart the app to resolve.

• When performing a fresh install, the game asks for spatial permissions but does not ask for mic permissions. Restart the app to see and provide mic permissions. Note: mic input is required to give Ember verbal commands.

• Ember may not help cultivate wilted flowers. This one’s on you — use your spray can to perk the flower back up!

• Rarely, the virtual hand gets stuck on the purple button. Restart the app to resolve this.

• The pointing gesture can be tricky to use. It takes a moment to register.

• Objects will auto-add themselves to Ember’s backpack. If you lose something, it might be there.

• Most issues can be resolved by restarting the app (using the system menu).

• Some issues may require clearing save data using the pause or setting menu's "Clear Data and Quit" button. Unfortunately, this will also clear your Ember.

If you have not received the pre-alpha in your headset, please reach out to us on the Discord Server. Your email address must be associated with your Meta/Oculus account.

Hey everyone,

Guess what?! Pre-alpha testing for our upcoming game kicks off on October 24th, and we want YOU to be a part of it!

This is your chance to dive headfirst into the world we've been building, get up close and personal with your virtual pet, and experience the mind-blowing MR features we've been working on.

Here's the deal:

• Exclusive Access: This pre-alpha is just for our awesome Discord community. Not there yet? Hop in! Windup Minds Community

• MR Focus: We're focusing on Mixed Reality this time around, so get ready to see your virtual pet hanging out in YOUR world!

• Your Feedback Matters: We want to hear ALL your thoughts – the good, the bad, the "wait, what?!" Head to the #pre-alpha-feedback channel on Discord to tell the devs what’s on your mind.

• Keep it Secret, Keep it Safe: What happens in pre-alpha stays in pre-alpha. Let's keep the surprises under wraps for now.

• Questions? Hit up the #pre-alpha-questions channel on Discord. We're here to help!

• Please note that this is a limited pre-alpha build showcasing specific MR interactions. We're eager to hear your feedback on these features as we continue to develop the full MR experience.

Ready to join the pack?

Grab your spot in the pre-alpha by filling out the form attached to this newsletter. But hurry, spots are limited!

We can't wait to see you in the game (and on Discord)!

Cheers,

The Windup Minds Team