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Achievements are now available — for escapes, failures, and questionable decisions.
Now available:
8 trading cards
6 badges
5 emoticons
3 profile backgrounds
What’s next?
We’ll keep that a secret for now 👀
Patients, we’ve officially left Early Access — S.E.M.I. is now available in its full release version on Steam.
During Early Access, we put a lot of work into expanding content, improving core mechanics, optimizing performance, and refining the game based on community feedback. The release version is the most complete, stable, and polished S.E.M.I. experience to date.
An expanded version of the diagnosis system has been introduced. Diagnoses can now be unlocked by progressing through Escape Mode, adding more depth to progression and replayability.
Stage 3 has been added to Story Mode, featuring:
12 unique new levels
2 new puzzle-focused levels
1 final Crazy Room
2 new elite enemy variants
2 brand-new mechanical enemies that add new combat and tactical challenges
The set of player emotions has been expanded, making interactions even more expressive and chaotic.
The in-game voice chat has been fully reworked. Communication is now stable, convenient, and free of technical issues.
The game has been optimized to run on lower-end systems, making the escape from the clinic accessible to more players.
Enemies and the in-game economy have been rebalanced for a smoother, fairer, and more enjoyable experience.
Environmental visuals and sound design have been upgraded to enhance atmosphere and moment-to-moment impact.
Numerous minor bugs have been fixed, improving overall stability.
Thank you to everyone who supported us during Early Access ❤️
S.E.M.I. — Side Effects May Include is now available in its full release version.
See you in the clinic.
Side effects guaranteed. 💊🏥
On January 23, Side Effects May Include is officially launching into FULL RELEASE!
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in Early Access and shared their feedback — you truly helped make the game better ❤️
And today, we’re releasing a patch that adds an exclusive Early Access skin.
Any player who has completed at least one level will be able to purchase it in the wardrobe.
You have 10 days to claim it — after the full release on January 23, this skin will no longer be available.
So if you’ve been keeping an eye on the game or putting off your purchase, this is your sign to grab it now and permanently unlock an exclusive reward for Early Access players!
Patients, attention! This is the first Early Access patch!
It's been just a moment since launch, so let's call these fixes "hot on the trail." We've been gathering your feedback all weekend and have prepared a small pack of fixes.
Improved character control responsiveness during jumps. Platforming sections feel much better now.
Made design changes to the fan and bridge level. We felt your pain...
Pills are now twice as effective at reducing insanity.
Taking a pill now always grants a new ability. The chance to "recharge" the current one has been removed.
Added a "Total Insanities" field to profile statistics.
Increased the range for helping stuck allies.
Added sound effects to some emotions.
Disabled the ability to run around the lobby in unpurchased skins.
Fixed an issue preventing some candies from being collected.
Added an interaction area in the ventilation shaft of the frost puzzle room.
Fixed laser eye sound persisting after switching abilities.
Fixed a display issue with other players' nicknames in diagnoses.
That's all for now.
And we continue, rolling up our sleeves, to work on other bugs. We still have a list of 30+ items left. And that's just the ones marked "important" 😁
We greatly appreciate your feedback because your reviews and suggestions are the best medicine for our game.
If you find a bug or have a cool idea for the game, share it in our Discord community. We read every message!
And if you enjoy the game and want to share your bright impressions, please leave a review on Steam. It helps us a lot.
Thank you to everyone who played the S.E.M.I. — Side Effects May Include demo 💊
We’ve taken it offline to make way for the Early Access launch — going live today at 4 PM GMT (just 6 hours to go!) ⏰
Over the past (almost) two months, more than 75,000 people played the demo — wow!
It was loud, chaotic, and a total blast.
To everyone who joined in: thanks for your feedback, memes, and all the love.
Now it’s time for the full dose 💥
The S.E.M.I. — Side Effects May Include playtest registration is now open, and we’re excited to invite you into the newest experimental build!
The doors of the clinic are open — for now.
It’s your turn to run, test abilities, break everything that can be broken, and tell us what kind of chaos you found inside.
The playtest is live from November 15, 16:00 GMT
and will remain open until November 17, 16:00 GMT.
Jump in at any moment during this window —
as long as you’re fast enough to escape.
Please share your impressions, bugs, issues, or moments of pure madness here:
Steam Discussions
Or join our Discord to chat with us directly
Your feedback will help shape the Early Access version — every comment counts!
Good luck, patients.
And remember: side effects are guaranteed. 💊
🗓️ BIG NEWS: EARLY ACCESS DATE!
Our medical staff has made a decision: on November 20th, we're officially opening the clinic doors to everyone in Early Access!
Also, something interesting happened: while you were running through the corridors, over 50,000 people have already tried the demo, and 25,000 of them have added the game to their Wishlist! Thank you for your interest in our humble establishment!
Now down to business. We've released the third major update for the S.E.M.I. - Side Effects May Include... demo. Inside you'll find new content, mechanics, and numerous improvements.
Weapon Throwing. Go crazy not just from the environment, but from new features! Pick up a weapon with the E key, hold LMB to charge your throw, and release to send your "argument" flying. You can hit both enemies and other patients - on your conscience.
Weapon Durability. No more endlessly whacking people with cucumbers. Weapons now can break from overuse. Take care of them!
Upgraded Guard. Our staff member has completed training courses. He's now much more dangerous and can send you flying with one hit. Don't provoke him!
Voice Chat (Push-to-talk). Finally coordinate your escape or just scream into the microphone by holding the assigned key.
Korean Language Support. Our clinic is reaching a new international level!
Fixed the most common network bugs (huge thanks for your bug reports!).
Added new skins for variety.
Improved game interface - going crazy has become more convenient.
Enhanced environments in some rooms.
Fixed an annoying bug that allowed escaping the map using one of the abilities.
Added new sounds and visual effects for complete immersion.
Running animations look more natural (as much as possible in our case).
Rebalanced weapon and ability damage.
Fixed other minor bugs that hindered therapy enjoyment.
The updated demo is waiting for you!Add the game to your Steam wishlist so you don't miss the launch!Found a bug, have a brilliant idea, or just want to share impressions? You're welcome to our Steam forums or Discord community! Your feedback is the best medicine for our project.Public: Anyone on Steam can join your game, not just your friends.
Private: Only those you invite via the in-game menu (ESC) using the "INVITE FRIENDS" option can join.
Take your sedatives and fasten your restraint straps – our general intensive care unit is ready for your visit. The doctors haven't slept for nights, mixing the maddest ideas with a pinch of chaos to make your escape even more... interesting. Ready for your next dose?
We've released the second major update for the S.E.M.I. – Side Effects May Include demo, packed with new content, mechanics, and improvements. Without further ado, let's get down to business.
We heard your feedback and added a single-player mode.
Here's how it works: if you're alone in the lobby and start a run, you'll be taken to a location designed for solo play. The game doesn't prevent other players from joining you during your escape on this map.
Added 4 new rooms to the group escape. Will you manage to complete this obstacle course without getting fried by the traps?
New Ability – 'Pyromaniac'. You can launch a fireball, just like a sorcerer... only with deviations. But be careful: the size of the fireball is not up to you! Your teammates will love this gift.
Vendor. That very one who stood in every hallway, annoying you by refusing to give you pills. You can now collect candies on the map and use them to buy even more pills.
Settings Interface. We've standardized the settings layout and added a new 'Controls' tab, allowing you to learn the game's main functions without memorizing hints on school boards in the lobby.
Simplified the object throwing system. When charging a throw, release any button (LMB or RMB, or both at once), and the object will fly where intended.
Ability – 'Meatball'. We've fundamentally reworked this ability's mechanics. Now you can:
Launch yourself like a mad projectile towards enemies or... your own teammates.
Your teammate can pick you up and aim your flight in the right direction.
Added a HUD icon that prompts you when you can pull a stuck teammate out of the floor or a wall. And yes, it's not a bug, it's a feature :)
Updated the visuals of several objects on the maps.
Reworked the visual design of the main menu.
Added a bunch of new sounds.
Fixed several bugs.
The updated demo is available for download now!Add the game to your wishlist and follow the updates – side effects are guaranteed!If you spot a bug, want to suggest an idea, or just share your feedback – visit our Steam forums or join our Discord.We’ve released an update for the demo version of S.E.M.I. – Side Effects May Include, which includes improvements to trial rooms, enemy behavior updates, interaction tweaks, and a whole bunch of bug fixes.
More than 11,000 people played the demo during the first week — and that’s incredibly encouraging. Huge thanks to everyone who took the time to play, experience the side effects, and share their feedback!
With so many players came a wave of suggestions, ideas, and thoughts.
This helped us better understand what you expect from the game — and more importantly, where we need to improve mechanics, clarity, and balance.
Levers are gone — replaced with four direction buttons
Buttons with weights replaced by vertical movement buttons (up/down)
Bridge movement before the next room is now faster
Minecarts now have indicator lights to show correct/incorrect inputs
Wall levers for glass gates also now have indicator lights
You can now join another session directly from the lobby (previously only possible via main menu)
If a player is on fire or electrified, touching teammates passes the effect
Tutorial boards moved closer to the lever that triggers escape
Russian language added for all tutorial boards
New alternative throw control: you can now throw items with SHIFT + LMB
Throwing power mechanics reworked — now more predictable
Increased speed of elevators in trial rooms
“Transformer” ability:
Enemies no longer deal damage while the ability is active
Charge time reduced
“Meatball” ability:
Damage increased
All interactive items and weapons now have highlight glow
New options in Settings:
Mouse sensitivity
Inverted camera toggle
Suitcase melee weapon no longer falls through the floor
Monster Flask trial: door grid now opens correctly
Minecart trial: fixed audio clipping issues
“Alice” ability: giant form now deals damage properly
Fixed multiple areas where players could get stuck
Fixed audio delays in Madness system
Fixed skin display issues for “Parkinson’s Revolver” ability
New visual effects for “Transformer”
Updated VFX for “Alice”
Some hats are now animated and look even more chaotic
Refreshed visuals for several room props
Added background music during escape events
Added new sound effects for items, states, and abilities
The updated demo is now live!
Add the game to your wishlist and stay tuned — side effects guaranteed.
If you find a bug, want to share feedback or just chat — hop into the Steam Discussions or join our Discord. We read everything!
Did someone order pills? We’ve already scattered them all over the floor!
The S.E.M.I. — Side Effects May Include demo is live on Steam, and now you have the chance to escape the clinic, tossing guards aside, popping pills, and tackling twisted puzzles.
Co-op for 1–4 players with a touch of madness
Pills with powers: useful, strange, and completely insane
A madness meter that decides when your character loses it
Rooms filled with enemies, traps, and lobotomy puzzles
Fights against orderlies and other “fellow inmates”
A personal diagnosis after every escape
We’ve put a lot of effort into making the demo as chaotic and fun as possible. We hope you’ll have just as much fun playing it as we did creating it.
Join our Discord - you can ask questions, report bugs, or just chat with other patients. Steam forums are always open too.
New rooms to escape from
Unique conditions in rooms
Even more pills, even more side effects
A vendor to trade lollipops for pills
More wild diagnoses
And, of course, more chaos and plenty of fresh meme material ːsteamhappyː
About
This page aggregates Steam news feeds, patch notes, and developer announcements for S.E.M.I. – Side Effects May Include..., sourced from official Steam community posts.
Major updates, balance changes, and seasonal events often correlate with player-count spikes — cross-reference announcements here with the live charts on the main S.E.M.I. – Side Effects May Include... statistics page.
Articles link back to Steam for full changelogs. SteamScope refreshes news entries as new posts are published to the game's Steam hub.