Deadly Trick news & patch notes

Hello!

We are Finalblow.

As previously announced, Deadly Trick will launch at the following time!

Early Access Launch: July 31, 2026 at 2:00 AM PDT

We sincerely apologize for the delay.

As an apology, Deadly Trick will be 15% off for the first two weeks after launch, so don’t miss out!

For any questions, please reach out through our official Discord server or the Steam Community Hub.

We will do our best to respond!

Thank you for your continued support!

The Finalblow Team

Hello, this is Finalblow.

First and foremost, we sincerely apologize that the launch has been delayed due to our own oversight.

We are also deeply disappointed and sorry that we were unable to bring Deadly Trick to you as scheduled.

Although the launch has been delayed, all of the work we had prepared for the original release date is now complete. In this announcement, we would like to show you what has changed and improved since the previous build.

Improved Clue Display

After reviewing gameplay footage, we found that the previous Clues tab made it somewhat difficult to see all your clues at a glance.

To make clues easier and more intuitive to review, we have redesigned the interface to display them as individual cards.

Players who prefer the previous layout can still hover over a clue card to view its detailed information in the original format.

Shop and Free/Paid Currency

You can now unlock characters and emotes through the newly added shop.

Completing a game will reward you with Experimental Data, a free in-game currency that can be used to unlock characters and selected emotes.

The paid currency, Cosmic Coins, can be used to purchase emote bundles and Experimental Data.

We also plan to continue adding new characters and character skins in future updates.

Cosmic Coins will also be usable to purchase this content.

Rest assured that we will never add pay-to-win content or anything that directly affects gameplay.

Custom Game Settings

We have added new settings that allow hosts to customize various aspects of a match.

For first-time players or anyone who is still learning the game, we recommend starting with one of the default presets.

Throughout Early Access, we will continue expanding the available settings based on player feedback.

New Object: Communication Terminal

A new object called the Communication Terminal has been added, allowing players to exchange anonymous messages.

Messages must be sent and received directly through a Communication Terminal, and each message will show the location of the terminal it was sent from.

However, during the Investigation Phase, clues may reveal which player operated a terminal.

The Mastermind and Shadow can also use Communication Terminals to exchange secret messages, so make good use of them depending on the situation.

New Deadly Trick

A new Deadly Trick that can be used in the classroom has been added.

We also plan to add Deadly Tricks to the Black Hole and Pairing Device in future updates, so stay tuned.

Luna’s Special Ability Rework

Luna’s special ability has been reworked.

Grace Under Misfortune

Before Rework

Can only be killed by Deadly Trick.

After Rework

Cannot be killed by the Shadow. Power Disruption and Deadly Trick nullify this ability.

Match Prediction for Eliminated Players

We have added a match prediction feature for eliminated players to enjoy while spectating.

Before the Trial Phase begins, eliminated players can predict whether the White Team or Shadow Team will win.

Correctly predicting the winning team will award two additional Silver Stars. (The consolation reward granted upon elimination has instead been reduced to one Silver Star.)

Watch the remaining players closely, predict which team will win, and cheer them on until the end.

New Mastermind-Related Clues

The time and location where the Mastermind sabotaged the power system will now be recorded as clues.

The identity of the player who caused the disruption will not be shown directly, of course.

Report Feature

You can now press F10 on the main menu to send a report directly to the development team.

You can attach game logs to your report and use it not only to report bugs, but also to share any issues, suggestions, or feedback you may have.

Your reports are incredibly helpful in improving the game, so please feel free to use this feature whenever needed.

New Tutorial Story Content

A short story sequence has been added to the beginning of Tutorial Episode 1.

Additional Bug Fixes and Stability Improvements

We have fixed various bugs and made stability improvements to provide a smoother gameplay experience following the Early Access launch.

However, as the game is still in Early Access, unexpected issues may still occur.

If you encounter any bugs or inconveniences while playing, please let us know through the newly added report feature. We will investigate and address them as quickly as possible.

Thank you for all your support and excitement.

The Finalblow Team

Hello, this is Finalblow.

First and foremost, we sincerely apologize for having to share more disappointing news with everyone who has been waiting so patiently for the game.

Our recently submitted build was rejected during review, and additional time will be required for another review.

There were two main issues identified during this review process.

1. Controller-Related Review Requirement

Steam informed us that all features of the game must be fully operable with a controller.

However, this was not a previously communicated review requirement that we overlooked or knowingly failed to address.

Our build has already undergone review several times, but no controller-related issue was mentioned during any of the previous reviews.

As a result, we believed that the current implementation would not cause any issues during the release review.

Had this requirement been communicated during one of the previous rejections, we would have had sufficient time to address it in advance.

However, we were only informed of it during this latest review, leaving us in a position where we must implement additional changes immediately before release.

Because it would have been difficult for us to anticipate this issue based on the previous review results and guidance, we were also considerably taken aback by this reason for rejection.

Nevertheless, we will confirm the necessary requirements, make the required changes as quickly as possible, and resubmit the build for review.

> After checking, we found that this is not mandatory. Therefore, it was not a reason for the build’s rejection. We apologize for the incorrect information.

2. Early Access Configuration Issue

The new build included a message explaining that the game is currently in Early Access, along with the newly added reporting feature.

However, this message was also cited as a reason for rejection because our Steam store page was not configured for an Early Access release.

When we first created the store page approximately a year and a half ago, we understood that we had selected Early Access and submitted answers to the relevant questions. Since all of our announcements have consistently stated that the game would be released in Early Access, this review was the first time we became aware that the store page was currently configured for a full release.

At this time, we are unable to determine exactly how or when the configuration changed. However, we clearly bear responsibility for failing to thoroughly verify the final store page settings before release.

We sincerely apologize for the problems caused by our insufficient checks.

We have contacted Steam regarding both the Early Access configuration and the release date change. Our Early Access release procedure and future review schedule will need to be adjusted depending on Steam’s response and how they decide to handle these requests.

Estimated Release Schedule

Estimated release date: July 31, 2026, at 6:00 PM KST

We considered setting an earlier date. However, despite submitting the build with more than ten business days of leeway before the original release date, repeated review delays and rejections meant that we only received the latest review result today.

We determined that setting another overly tight schedule could result in yet another release date change. To avoid causing the same confusion again, we have reluctantly chosen a date that allows sufficient time for the process.

However, this schedule may change depending on how Steam handles our requests regarding the Early Access configuration and release date. We therefore ask for your understanding that we cannot confirm the July 31 release date with certainty at this time.

We will provide an update as quickly as possible as soon as we receive a response or if there are any changes to the schedule.

Once again, we sincerely apologize to everyone who has been disappointed or inconvenienced by this situation.

We understand that those who were waiting for the game and expecting it to launch on July 13 may feel frustrated and have lost confidence as the release of a game that should already have been available continues to be delayed.

We believe that we bear significant responsibility for failing to complete the final checks and release preparations properly.

We also fully understand that these problems cannot be dismissed simply because we are a small development team.

We will conduct our checks much more thoroughly to ensure that the same problems do not occur again.

We once again offer our deepest apologies to everyone who has been waiting.

Sincerely,

Finalblow

Hello, this is Finalblow.

We are truly sorry to have to share this news.

The Steam review of our build is currently taking longer than expected.

The build itself is complete, but we are unable to launch the game until the review is finished.

We expect the review to be completed within the next one or two days at the latest. However, if the build is rejected again, the launch may be delayed further.

(That said, we have already addressed all previously identified issues, so another rejection is highly unlikely.)

We sincerely apologize to everyone who has been waiting for the game.

We will launch the game as soon as we receive approval and post another announcement immediately afterward.

Should anything else affect the launch, we will make sure to let you know without delay.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

The Finalblow Team

Hello, this is Finalblow.

We apologize for any confusion regarding the launch time.

The release time currently displayed on the Steam store page is different from the actual scheduled launch time. At the moment, we are unable to adjust the exact release time displayed on the store page, so please refer to the previously announced time below rather than the time displayed on Steam.

Early Access Launch Time

July 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM (PDT) / 1:00 PM (EDT)

Deadly Trick will launch in conjunction with Steam’s Social Deduction Fest, and a special discount will also be available during the festival.

The launch build itself is fully ready.

However, the build was rejected several times during Steam’s review process, and the revised build is currently waiting to be reviewed again.

Unless any further issues arise, we expect the review to be completed today and the game to launch as scheduled.

However, if additional issues arise during the review process or the review is delayed further, the launch may unfortunately be postponed.

If the game has not launched after July 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM (PDT) / 1:00 PM (EDT),

we will post another announcement as soon as we have confirmed the situation.

Thank you to everyone who has been waiting for the game. We will do our best until the very end to ensure that the game launches at the scheduled time.

Thank you.

The Finalblow Team

Hello, this is Finalblow.

After approximately four months, the Deadly Trick demo is coming to an end.

Deadly Trick will return in Early Access on July 13 at 10:00 AM (PDT).

Please look forward to the new content and improvements coming in the Early Access version!

Thanks to your interest and feedback throughout the demo period, Deadly Trick has been able to grow and improve.

Thank you sincerely for playing the demo and sharing so much valuable feedback with us!

Finalblow

First of all, we would like to sincerely thank everyone who has played the Deadly Trick demo and shared so many valuable suggestions and pieces of feedback with us.\

Thanks to your interest and opinions, Deadly Trick was able to improve in a much better direction throughout the demo period!

Early Access Release Schedule

The Early Access release schedule for Deadly Trick is as follows.

Early Access Release: July 14, 2026, 2:00 (KST)

Until the Early Access release, we are working hard to improve the overall quality of the game, and we are currently developing the following elements so that they can be reflected at launch.

- Expanded Deadly Trick applicability

- Reworks for some character abilities

- Improved clue visibility during trials

- Additional detailed room option settings

- Additional detailed victory condition settings

- In-game shop page

- Other bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements

We are preparing to include these elements according to schedule as much as possible, but some details may be adjusted or their implementation schedule may change depending on development circumstances.

If there are any changes, we will notify you through an announcement as soon as possible.

Demo Service Closure Notice

In preparation for the Early Access release, we will unfortunately have to close the demo servers.

Demo Service End Time: July 6, 2026, 18:00 (KST)

After this time, the demo build will no longer be playable normally. Please note that all times are based on KST.

The feedback you sent us during the demo period has been a tremendous help to us.

Without you, we do not think Deadly Trick could have improved as much as it has. To everyone who played the game, shared your opinions, and sometimes pointed out issues with sharp and thoughtful feedback, we sincerely thank you. Thanks to you, we were able to gain a lot of strength to continue development.

Post-Release Update Direction

As mentioned in a previous announcement, Deadly Trick will continue to receive updates even after the Early Access release.

We are currently preparing the following content.

- New map

- Character skins

- New characters

- Features that make deduction during trials more enjoyable

In particular, we also plan to add features that allow players to draw while discussing during trials, or freely place clue and character blocks to visualize their deductions.

In addition, we will continue to review and reflect the suggestions you actively share with us, and Deadly Trick will strive to become a game we build together with our players, just as we did during the demo period.

Thank you so much for being with us so far.

We hope you will continue to support Deadly Trick.

From Finalblow

Hello, this is Finalblow.

June Next Fest has officially come to an end today!

It was a meaningful opportunity for us to present Deadly Trick to both our existing players and many new players who discovered the game during the event.

Although the demo still had many shortcomings, we sincerely appreciate all the interest and feedback you shared with us throughout the demo period.

The following update is scheduled to go live 2 hours after this post is written.

Bonus Awards Added

This is a new feature that grants additional incentives and penalties based on various in-game play elements, separate from simply winning or losing.

On top of that, the player who ranks 1st in the lobby will be able to gain a small amount of “power”!

Developer Note: We plan to expand this feature in the future so that it can apply up to 3rd place. Please look forward to future updates.

New Class Activity Added

Aquatic Creature Capture, also known as fishing, has been added to the lineup.

Deadly Trick Activation Range Expanded

You can now activate a Deadly Trick in the pond area.

Developer Note: We plan to add Deadly Tricks to several more areas through future updates.

Other Bug Fixes

The demo build will continue to remain available even after Next Fest has ended.

However, once release preparations begin in earnest, we plan to focus on release preparation while limiting updates mainly to essential feature implementation and bug fixes, rather than large-scale updates.

We are currently aiming to release the game around mid-July.

That said, the schedule is extremely tight, so if there are any changes, we will share them through a separate announcement.

The following improvements are planned to be included at release.

- Improved Statement visibility

- Detailed room settings

- Currency system and shop page

- UI overhaul

- Reworks for some character abilities

- Other quality-of-life improvements

We plan to add the following content and improvements shortly after release.

New Island-Themed Map

This is currently the content we are prioritizing the most.

With the addition of the new map, new Class Activities and map gimmicks will also be added.

Character Skins

Character skins will also be added gradually through post-release updates.

In particular, since the new map is something we are currently focusing heavily on, we will do our best to bring it to you not long after release.

We will return later with a more detailed roadmap announcement, along with actual work-in-progress images.

Although the demo build still had many shortcomings, we sincerely thank everyone who enjoyed playing it during the demo period.

If you find any translation errors, bugs, or have suggestions for improvement, please share them through our official Discord or the Steam Community Hub.

We will actively review your feedback and reflect it in future improvements to the game.

Thank you.

Finalblow

Hello, this is Finalblow.

Before we begin adding major new features, we have made several system changes and fixed bugs that were present in the build.

The patched build will be deployed one hour from now!

System Improvements

- The Mastermind can now see the weapon’s location from the beginning of the game. (Beta)

- If an incident has already occurred and the time limit ends before the Class Activity Gauge is filled, the game will now transition to the Trial Phase. (Beta)

Developer Note: We are experimentally applying these systems to increase the Mastermind’s gameplay options and allow more trials to occur. If any issues arise from these system changes, please share your feedback in the suggestions channel on Discord. We will actively take it into account.

- Cabinets no longer leave clues when used.

Developer Note: The role that can make the best use of cabinets is the Shadow, but ironically, using them left clues behind and restricted how freely the Shadow could use them. This change is intended to improve that situation.

Bug Fixes

- Fixed bugs related to Kaho’s ability.

- Fixed missing resources in the result sequence.

- Fixed an issue where characters could be selected before character selection had started.

- Fixed an issue where the UI and selectable areas were misaligned in 21:9 fullscreen mode.

- And... fixed several other bugs as well.

Around next Monday or Tuesday, we are planning a content-focused update, including new Class Activities and an expanded range of Deadly Trick interactions.

We will do our best to deliver the update as quickly as possible.

If you find any bugs, please report them in the bug report channel on our official Discord!

Thank you sincerely for your interest.

Finalblow

Hello, this is Finalblow.

We have fixed the bugs and incorrectly configured elements that have been reported so far.

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• Fixed an issue where investigation could not be performed in certain situations.

• Fixed an issue where a character’s special ability would carry over if another character was selected and then deselected on the character select screen.

• Fixed an issue where the game would force close in certain situations.

• Corrected the Statements presented by other characters in the tutorial.

We also plan to add new Class Activities that can be performed in the Garden, as well as more objects that can interact with Deadly Tricks.

In addition, we plan to update the game soon with a “Class Match Mode,” where the results of multiple games can be tallied together.

We also plan to add customization features and a new map when the game enters Early Access, so please look forward to future updates!

Hello, this is Finalblow.

Deadly Trick is participating in the June Edition of Steam Next Fest!

This time, it’s real...!

Event Period: June 15, 2026, 10:00 AM – June 22, 2026, 10:00 AM (PDT)

The Next Fest demo build will include a major update featuring

changes to the game completion conditions, a renewal of the Mastermind role, the removal of Corruption,

changes to the body discovery mechanism, and the addition of the new feature, "Deadly Trick."

Update Time: June 15, 2026, 8:00 AM (PDT)

To briefly summarize this update,

it is focused on improving hard-to-understand elements and lowering the entry barrier!

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Changes to Game Completion Conditions

From now on, regardless of the number of players, the game will end after a single trial.

If the culprit is not identified, the Shadow team wins.

If the culprit is identified, the Whites win and the session ends immediately.

Developer Note: This change is intended to make the game progress in a more intense and immediate way, reduce downtime,

and address the complicated post-trial situations caused by the presence of the Mastermind.

We still believe that having multiple trials is an appealing element, but we also felt that it was restricting the overall structure of the game.

Because of that, we decided to boldly remove this structure.

Mastermind and Shadow Renewal

The Mastermind is no longer an independent faction and will now be part of the Shadow team.

Therefore, even if the Mastermind is voted out or killed while not being the culprit, they will still win together if the Shadow team wins.

If the Whites lose due to the time limit, the entire Shadow team wins.

In other words, even if you do not pick up a weapon or cause an incident, you will win as long as you are a Shadow at that point.

Developer Note: The structure of the Mastermind acting as a third faction was interesting, but we also felt that it was very unintuitive and difficult to understand.

We want the Mastermind to feel like part of the Shadow team and be able to play alongside any Shadows that appear later as teammates.

This was an area that urgently needed improvement, so we were not able to add many new gameplay elements for the Mastermind yet. However, we will continue to add them step by step in future updates.

Removal of Corruption

With the removal of Corruption, all features related to Corruption will also be removed.

Developer Note: Since the time limit already serves as a sufficient restriction on players,

we decided that additional limitations were unnecessary.

Also, because this feature acted as an entry barrier, we decided to remove Corruption itself.

As a result, the positive effects that Corruption provided, such as naturally leaving behind clues, will also disappear.

We plan to compensate for this with a separate system in the future.

Deadly Trick

If you cause an incident while "Deadly Trick" is active, the body will be hidden automatically.

Currently, Deadly Trick can only be triggered near cabinets.

After this update, we plan to add more Deadly Trick locations, such as the black hole generator and the pond.

Changes to the Body Discovery Mechanism

If a body is not discovered for a certain amount of time, the time of death will now become an estimated value.

This change is intended to help Shadows win by causing incidents in hidden locations and, at times, using Deadly Trick to conceal bodies.

Other Changes

Various guidance features have been added to help players understand the current progress and objectives of the game.

Luna’s special ability has been reworked.

- Grace under misfortune

Can only be killed by Deadly Trick.

New Class Activities have been added.

- Secret Signal Transmission

- Mana Supply

A new cutscene has been added right before the transition to the voting phase.

Various unfinished UI elements and visual effects have been improved.

Several confirmed bugs have been fixed.

We sincerely apologize to all players who experienced various bugs...

We hope these new features will provide everyone with a better gameplay experience!

The release is slowly getting closer. If you notice anything that still feels lacking, please let us know in the suggestions channel on Discord.

We will do our best to improve the game as much as possible and complete it as a better experience!

Thank you for your interest and patience!

Finalblow

Hello, this is Finalblow!

We’d like to share the details of the update scheduled for May 29!

May 29, 2026, 18:00 (KST)

Ghost Mode Added

Along with Ghost Mode, the amount of information available to spectators has also been improved.

Even while in ghost state, you can continue investigating during the investigation phase!

Execution Presentation Changed

The execution presentation has been improved to make it easier to understand.

Developer Note:

The presentation before the execution itself has not been changed yet,

but we plan to add something beyond simple text presentation in a future update.

Class Activity Guidance Improved

For Class Activities that require you to carry a specific item, the destination where the item must be delivered will now be displayed.

Developer Note:

We will continue to gradually improve guidance, including adding Class Activity guide UI for first-time players in future updates.

Escape Phase UI Improved

The UI displaying multiple time limits has been improved.

Class Trial UI Improved

The UI showing the current player status has been changed. (Beta)

By directly clicking an icon on the map, you can now open a popup for the Clue associated with that icon.

Class Activities Added

3 new Class Activities have been added.

> Indoor Temperature Control, Mutation Data Collection, Pairing Test

Result Presentation Improved

The result presentation for Shadow, Mastermind, and White victories has been renewed.

Other Minor Improvements

- Opening the map no longer makes you drop the object you are carrying.

- During Class Trial, you can now change the direction you are looking using the arrow keys.

- A new presentation effect has been added for situations where there is very little time remaining.

Developer Note:

In addition to the Class Activities added in this update, we plan to add more new Class Activities going forward.

Concepts currently under consideration include fishing, treasure hunting, and a Morse code transmission-themed Class Activity.

Tutorial Updated for the New Systems

Whenever the game changes, we will continue updating the tutorial as promptly as possible.

Chat System Reworked (Beta)

The way chat is displayed has been revised.

Due to time constraints, we were not able to include a feature for checking chat logs, but we will update it as soon as it is implemented.

Other Bug Fixes

We have fixed technical issues identified internally or reported through Discord.

Deadly Trick Will Participate in the June Steam Next Fest!

Since the game is now in a more stable state, we do not expect to reverse this decision like last time.

We will make a proper announcement on the Community Hub at a later date.

New System “Artifact” Planned

We are planning to internally test a new “Artifact” system, which will allow players to gain powerful abilities when obtained during the escape phase.

At the earliest, this will likely be applied during or shortly after the June Next Fest.

Developer Note:

We are currently brainstorming and testing several features that could raise the game’s “peak fun” moments.

Through this research, we plan to prepare a build that can deliver an even more enjoyable gameplay experience by the time of release, so please look forward to it!

As always, thank you for your interest in our game.

We’ll be back with an even better game in the next update. Thank you!

Hello, this is Finalblow!

We would like to share the details of the update scheduled for May 15!

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May 15, 2026, 18:00 (KST)

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1. Time Limit System

The time limit system will be added!

Instead of starting with a 7 minute time limit, the game will now begin with a 1 minute time limit. This does not apply to Easy Mode. When a Class Activity is completed, the time limit will increase little by little.

Along with this system, the difficulty settings have also been adjusted. Please try changing the difficulty based on your session’s familiarity with the game!

2. Mastermind System Changes

If the Mastermind is stopped through the Voting Booth, the Whites will immediately win.

Because of this change, the Voting Booth’s activation condition will also be changed to after the Class Trial.

Developer Note: With the previous update, the Mastermind gained more ways to play and a greater influence over the Whites. We wanted to add a fitting risk to match that increased impact. We also hope this change helps reduce moments where players feel forced to keep completing Class Activities in a slow or drawn out situation.

3. Server Structure Changed

The game has been changed from the previous cloud based structure to a P2P structure.

Since the game has been rebuilt around P2P, we expect server related issues to be greatly reduced going forward.

Developer Note: This is also one of the reasons why recent updates have been slower. Now that this large scale project has been completed, we will do our best to make future updates proceed more quickly. If you experience connection issues or server errors related to this change, please let us know through the bug report board! We will fix them as quickly as possible...! Bug report guide: https://steamcommunity.com/app/3088400/discussions/0/761807530749878371/

4. Bug Fixes

We have fixed bugs reported through Discord, as well as various bugs that appeared during the rebuild of the game.

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With this week’s patch, the flow of the game has changed completely!

It may not look like a huge change at first glance, but the time limit update has had a very significant impact on how fun the game feels.

Please make sure to try the demo build after this update! And as always, sharp and honest feedback on the build is very welcome!

We would also appreciate it if you could follow our official social media accounts!!! Especially if you do not have enough people to play the demo build, you can recruit players in the Find Players channel on our Discord...!

Discord invite link: https://discord.gg/9j2QUZ58d2

Official X account: https://x.com/FinalBlowCorp

Hello, this is Finalblow!

An emergency update has been applied. Please see the details below.

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New Mastermind Ability: 'Infection' Added

A new ability has been added to allow the Mastermind to more actively hinder the White.

Press the Q key near an object with an active Class Activity to infect it.

When a Class Activity is completed through an infected object, the player's Erosion Gauge will increase significantly.

(The current visual effect for infection is temporary and will be improved soon.)

Blackout Range Expansion & Cooldown Increase

Before: Interact with one circuit breaker to cut power in that area (90s cooldown)

After: Interact with two circuit breakers to cut power in all areas (120s cooldown)

We hope these features allow the Mastermind to play more proactively than before.

This update will be applied immediately upon this announcement!

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Although still in internal testing, we are developing prototypes to address current game issues.

Issues:

Hello, this is Finalblow.

The multiplayer demo will open as scheduled starting this Friday at 6:00 PM (KST).

Multiplayer Mode Open Period

April 24, 2026, 18:00 (KST) ~ Until Official Release

While we haven't been able to keep the multiplayer mode open at all times for various reasons, we have decided to keep it open indefinitely starting this Friday!

Regarding the Permanent Demo

Keeping the demo open was a daunting decision for a multiplayer game. We were concerned that players might find it difficult to purchase the game at launch if they had already experienced it fully during the demo.

Nevertheless, we chose to go permanent for the following reasons:

Multiplayer Mode Preview

Hello, this is Finalblow.

We’re excited to share the key features of the multiplayer mode launching later today (KST)!

The Class Activity Fragmentation Patch has been applied.

With this update, all class activities have been reworked, and currently 90% of the existing activities are complete.

Once all existing activities are finished, we plan to add new class activities to the remaining spaces. Please look forward to the next update!

The Class Activity guidance system has also been revamped!

You can now press TAB to check the locations of class activities on the map, and simply follow along naturally to complete them.

For activities that require movement to specific locations, arrows will guide you to your destination.

There’s no longer a need to constantly check routes via TAB. Just follow the arrows!

We’ve also added changes in tone and facial expressions based on statements presented.

A large-scale update for the Trial Phase is planned once urgent updates are completed, so please stay tuned!

Multiplayer Demo Schedule

April 17, 2026 18:00 ~ April 19, 2026 23:59 (KST)

This demo will only be available during this period, so please keep the schedule in mind.

Starting next week, we will release updated builds every weekend, so we hope to see your continued participation!

Thank you always for your support and anticipation. We will continue to deliver a great game.

Thank you!

The Shadow tutorial episode is now open.

The Mastermind episode and multiplayer mode will be updated soon. Thank you!

Hello, this is Finalblow.

We apologize for the lack of updates.

As we approached the demo release, additional tasks kept coming up, which delayed this announcement.

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The demo will now be available on an ongoing basis.

We expect it to open on the evening of March 31 or early afternoon the following day (KST).

On weekdays (excluding weekends), only the tutorial will be available to play.

Starting from April 17 at 6:00 PM (KST),

multiplayer servers will be opened every weekend (Friday to Sunday).

We will also continue to apply improvements with each weekly opening and keep updating the game.

Since the previous demo period was short and many of you couldn’t participate,

we have significantly extended the availability this time. We appreciate your interest and support.

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After trying the tutorial, some of you might think,

“Did this really take that long just to add?”

However, the delay was not due to tutorial implementation alone.

We have been working on a fundamental redesign of the game’s core structure.

As mentioned before,

we are removing the previous structure where players had to “learn” class activities through detailed mission descriptions.

Instead, we have carried out a large-scale update that restructures the gameplay flow during the escape phase.

We are currently testing a newly introduced system called class activity fragmentation.

In simple terms, it allows players to follow arrows and markers to progress naturally,

without requiring prior knowledge, by breaking activities into smaller, more intuitive steps.

Since stabilizing this system is our top priority, we will focus on it for the time being,

while other improvements will be applied gradually afterward.

We plan to open the multiplayer demo with this system applied by April 17 at the latest,

and continue adding pending updates step by step.

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The current demo build will launch with only Tutorial Episode 1.

Additional episodes will be added gradually through updates (it shouldn’t take too long!),

and we will continue improving the overall quality of the tutorial.

We would love to add more content and fun elements to the tutorial,

but we believe focusing on core gameplay improvements is the right priority for now.

Once the fragmentation update is stabilized, we will deliver a more complete and enjoyable tutorial experience.

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We plan to showcase a near-release-quality multiplayer build at Steam Next Fest in June and the Social Deduction Fest in July.

After that, we are targeting Early Access release within approximately 2–3 months.

We understand many of you have been waiting while we worked on major structural improvements,

and we will do our best to ensure you won’t have to wait much longer.

We will return with more updates soon.

Thank you sincerely for your continued interest and support.

Finalblow

Hello, this is Finalblow.

The week-long demo test concluded on March 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM (PST).

While there is much to improve and we encountered occasional technical issues, we sincerely thank you for playing with such great interest!

In this announcement, we would like to explain how our team plans to improve Deadly Trick and how future demos will be conducted.

1. Simplifying Class Activities (Goal: Remove "View Class Activity Guide")

Currently, Deadly Trick has too much information. Victory conditions for each role, available actions, various complex rules... Having to carry out class activities while 'following a manual' to learn these things acts as a major barrier to entry for many users.

Although mini-popups and arrows are helping... Ultimately, we wanted to improve the game in a direction where players aren't forced to do things that require extra explanation.

Therefore, we plan to create internal prototypes focused on simplifying class activities and verify them in terms of fun.

If the prototype works well, we will apply it to the main build as soon as possible for public demo testing. Otherwise... we will explore other ways to lower the barrier to entry as much as possible.

2. Development of an Interactive Tutorial

This demo was conducted without a tutorial. Based on your feedback, we have determined that a tutorial explaining the basic systems is essential. Specifically, it is important to create an interactive experience rather than just delivering information through text and images.

The development of this tutorial will be our top priority, and we will release it as soon as it is completed.

3. Restructuring the Trial Phase

Until now, the Trial phase has been conducted in a way that 'leaves players to their own devices' for 4 minutes.

While this was designed for freedom of debate, we felt that providing a minimum framework could make discussions more enjoyable.

For example, setting aside a specific time for voting to allow full focus on the discussion, or providing opportunities to counter the opponent's arguments in the middle of a debate... In any case, we plan to add elements that make the Trial more enjoyable than it is now.

We will also verify the fun of these changes through internal testing and show them in the demo build as soon as possible.

Here are several other improvements. While these must also be completed before the official launch, we believe the improvements mentioned above have higher priority. (This does not mean the following items are less important...!)

Once the urgent improvements are applied, we plan to revamp the following areas as soon as possible.

1. Lobby Revamp

The current lobby is in a temporary state. (Especially the art resources...)

We plan to rework the lobby to fit the concept and add fun activities so you won't be bored while waiting.

2. Spectator Mode Revamp

Spectator mode has also been somewhat neglected. We plan to increase the amount of information available while spectating.

3. Other Presentation Improvements

There is also room for improvement in the presentation. Just as the "Statement Submission" presentation was changed, we plan to remaster existing presentations and add new ones throughout the game.

\ Regarding Future Demo Operations

The Steam demo will be temporarily closed until the interactive tutorial is completed.

Once the tutorial is developed, we will release a demo build where only the tutorial is playable. After that, we will experiment with various prototypes featuring new functions internally. Once a prototype is verified and reflected in the demo build, we will re-open the multiplayer mode with the new features!

However, we plan to operate the multiplayer mode only during specific periods rather than keeping it open at all times.

The periods when the mode is open will be announced via the Steam Community Hub and the Demo Build, so please Follow Deadly Trick to receive the latest news!

Regarding the frequency of opening, we are roughly thinking of once a month, for a duration of about 5-7 days. (This may change depending on future circumstances.)

We are always sincerely grateful for your interest and support. We will repay you with a great game!

We will announce any further news as soon as it arises.

Thank you.

Finalblow

Hello, this is Finalblow.

The demo build reflecting the improvements previously announced is scheduled to be released as planned!

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February 23, 2026 – March 2, 2026, 10:00 AM (PST)

The multiplayer demo will be open only during this period, and the server will be closed after this until the next demo.

Please check the server opening hours in advance and join us.

This demo will support Korean, English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese (Beta), and Traditional Chinese (Beta).

This build includes many art-related improvements.

In particular, we have overhauled the somewhat outdated UI and effects into a more stylish direction!

Furthermore, the guidance for class activities, which was previously a high barrier to entry, has been improved.

You can now track the progress of class activities through the Guide on the right without having to press the TAB key!

(We are continuously revamping the class activity guidance to make the experience even smoother for players.)

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Deadly Trick was originally aiming to participate in the February edition of Steam Next Fest this year.

However, during recent testing, we discovered minor technical issues and determined that there was insufficient time for debugging.

Even if debugging were possible, we would have had to apply various game improvements simultaneously, which put us in a very tight spot timewise.

To be honest, we may have underestimated Next Fest.

As it is a one-time opportunity for every game, we decided that consuming it without careful preparation would be a significant loss from a marketing perspective.

Therefore, we concluded that it is better to run several test demos first to strengthen the game's core and build up the wishlist, and then make a proper appearance at the June Next Fest.

However, since the demo launch was a promise we made to you, we will keep the original schedule.

Therefore, the demo will be open during the period of the February Steam Next Fest as previously planned!

(We won't be an official Next Fest participant, but the demo is still happening!)

We would appreciate it if you could access and experience the free demo during this period.

Our team is giving it our all for this demo release.

We will always strive to show you a great build.

Thank you!

Finalblow

Hello, this is Finalblow Co.!

As we mentioned before, Deadly Trick will be participating in Steam Next Fest (February 2026 Edition)!

Date & Time: February 23, 2026, 10:00 AM – March 2, 2026, 10:00 AM (PST)

This demo version will support 5–8 player multiplayer, and you’ll be able to play with no feature limitations!

We’d really appreciate your support, and we’ll do our best to deliver an even better build for the event.

Thank you!

Happy New Year, everyone! Though a bit late!

We sincerely apologize for the lack of updates over the past period. While there was little outward communication, our team has been relentlessly working behind the scenes to improve Deadly Trick.

The main focus of this update is improving overall polish and completeness.

Now that the game’s core structure has largely taken shape as originally intended, we are refining how the key systems are explained and addressing elements that felt overly rough or “too indie” in execution.

As UI and object-related work is currently in full progress, we ask for your understanding that it is difficult to share in-game screenshots at this stage.

1. Improved Mission Guidance

(Please note that the visuals shown are design documents rather than actual in-game screens.)

We are improving how Class Activities (missions) are guided.

Previously, players had to frequently press the Tab key and switch back and forth between screens, often interrupting the flow of gameplay. Our goal is to remove this friction so that Class Activities can be completed intuitively without overthinking.

During Class Activities, players can now continuously check the current progress through the minimap and popup UI, without needing to press the Tab key. There is no need to constantly learn complex steps or open additional windows. Simply follow the minimap and popup guidance to proceed.

2. Further Mission Simplification

Based on feedback from the previous alpha test and the Beaver Rocks exhibition, we are making further revisions to several problematic Class Activities.

Given that even Standard difficulty already makes White victories challenging, there is little justification for keeping unnecessarily complex mission procedures. Even if it means significantly simplifying certain missions, we believe this direction is necessary.

For example, instead of requiring players to press Space to manually search through pages, missions have been redesigned so that required books are indicated via speech bubbles, and players simply retrieve the correct book. Following this philosophy, we have minimized structures that demand additional mental overhead across all Class Activities.

3. Character-Specific Speech Implementation

This is a feature that has been postponed for some time.

Previously, submitted statements often lacked the natural feel of spoken dialogue. We felt that when characters present statements, their individual personalities and speech patterns should be reflected.

With this update, all 12 characters will now present statements that reflect their unique personalities and manner of speaking.

4. Additional UI Improvements & Main Page Work

We are revisiting areas that were previously neglected due to our focus on core functionality.

While most features themselves remain unchanged, these updates focus on visual refinement and overall user satisfaction.

Areas being improved include:

Overall in-game main UI

Tablet UI

Statement presentation effects

Character detail UI during trials (this one is particularly stylish)

Investigation completion effects

Improved map readability

Clearer clue indicators when multiple clues overlap on an object

Visual effects for previously unimplemented special abilities

As development is still ongoing, there are limits to what we can share at the moment. However, once this work is complete, it will be reflected in the demo build and shared with you as soon as possible.

5. Other Technical Improvements

A number of smaller but important technical updates are also being implemented.

These include:

Addition of new objects

Cabinet repositioning and added investigation functionality

Additional baseline abilities for the Mastermind

Improved game flow for matches with four or fewer players

Changes so that the murder weapon continues to move as the game progresses

1) Steam Next Fest – February Edition

Starting with Steam Next Fest at the end of February, we will officially open the build to the public.

This will expand access from limited alpha tests for Tumblbug and Kickstarter backers to a broader global audience. We aim to gather feedback from a wider range of players.

At the same time, we will continue developing improvements and new features needed for the Early Access build.

2) Public Steam Demo Releases

Whenever major new features are introduced, we plan to open time-limited public demos.

These demos will be available to all users, allowing us to continuously gather feedback through the Steam Community. They will also serve as stress tests to ensure server stability in preparation for future services.

Through this step-by-step process, we will steadily move toward Early Access. We hope you see this period as one dedicated to strengthening the game’s foundation through demos prior to release.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who continues to support and believe in this project.

If the earlier stages were about organizing ideas and implementing them, we now believe we have entered the phase of transforming those ideas into a true game.

We will continue refining Deadly Trick with greater precision and attention to detail.

Please feel free to ask any questions about the game or the team in the Discussion tab. We will do our best to respond as quickly as possible.

Thank you very much.

Team Finalblow

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Hello,

We are Team Finalblow, the developers of Deadly Trick.

We are a group of hardcore gamer otaku from Cheongju, South Korea.

With the simple desire to create a genuinely fun game, we brought together close friends from our hometown who shared strong insights and passion for game design to form this team.

As otaku ourselves, we wanted to create a game that a small group of players like us could truly enjoy playing together.

That idea became the starting point of Deadly Trick.

As some of you may already know from our Steam page, Deadly Trick is a anime-style social deduction game designed for 5–8 players.

One of its defining features is that players can become the culprit by their own choice, and uncover the truth through evidence-based reasoning using clues they personally collect throughout the game.

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From February 23, 2026 to March 2, 2026 (KST), the demo version of Deadly Trick will be available during Steam Next Fest.

During this period, you will be able to experience an alpha version of Deadly Trick for free.

The demo build supports Korean, English, and Japanese.

(Additional languages will be added as quickly as possible once our circumstances allow.)

After the demo release, we hope to communicate closely with players, gather feedback, and continue improving Deadly Trick through multiple updates to make it an even better game.

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After Steam Next Fest, the demo will continue to be available; however, due to server costs and related constraints, it will not be open at all times.

Instead, we plan to run the demo periodically during designated time windows.

These demo sessions will function as trial runs to evaluate role balance, identify technical issues, and test server stability.

After each demo period, we will carefully review community feedback and survey responses, and reflect them thoroughly to refine Deadly Trick into a more enjoyable experience.

Future demo schedules will be announced in the News section in a timely manner, and we sincerely hope for your continued participation.

Please consider adding Deadly Trick to your Wishlist and Following the game on Steam.

We will continue to share updates regularly through the News section.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Team Finalblow