- Fixed issue where sorority scene replay was sometimes not selectable.

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Hi everyone,
You might remember back at the end of 2025 when I officially took over the development of This Time. When I stepped in to rescue this project, I made a promise to the community: I wanted to make Part One completely free for everybody.
Well, that time has officially come!
Starting June 15th, This Time - Part One will transition to be 100% Free to Own.
Honestly, it comes down to how much I absolutely love this story. It is the exact reason I took over this abandoned project late last year instead of letting it fade away. I believe in these characters, the mystery, and the dark, twisting world they inhabit.
As we look toward the future of the franchise, my biggest goal is to let as many players as possible experience the foundation of this saga. By completely removing the barrier to entry, new players can dive into the mystery with zero friction. I want more people to fall in love with the universe, discover the consequences of their choices, and join our growing community for the wild adventure that lies ahead.
To our veteran players: Thank you to everyone who supported the game early on, stuck with me through the transition of ownership, and helped keep this story alive.
I cannot wait to welcome a whole new wave of players into the city on June 15th.
If you want to see where the story goes next, be sure to wishlist chapter 4!
Thank you for playing,
ApocalypseToday
Hi everyone!
Development for Part Two is officially underway. While we are still quite a long way from the full launch, I want to offer our most dedicated supporters a chance to get involved early and help fuel the project's long-term growth.
For the next 30 days only, I am running a special Founder’s Pre-Order campaign over on Patreon. This is a one-time event and will be the ONLY pre-order window that includes early beta access (at least 2 weeks before the official Steam launch).
Key Details:
One-Time Purchase: No monthly subscription is required. This is a single digital product purchase.
Steam Key Delivery: You will receive a Steam key via email once the Beta is ready.
Exclusive Window: This is the only time "Early Access" keys will be made available.
Important Note on How to Order: To ensure you get the pre-order and not a monthly membership, please make sure you purchase the specific "Digital Product" in the Patreon Shop linked below. Subscribing to a monthly tier does NOT include the pre-order.
Note: Since Steam doesn’t currently support this type of time-limited "flash" pre-sale for indie titles, we are utilizing the Patreon Shop to manage this limited batch of 2,500 keys.
Thank you all for your incredible continued support. I can't wait to share more of Part Two with you as development progresses!
After almost three long years without updates, a vanishing developer, and plenty of uncertainty, I am thrilled to announce that This Time has a new update and it is LIVE right now!
I want to be completely transparent with you all: This is not a massive content expansion.
As the new developer, I only truly got the keys to the kingdom a few months ago. I have spent the majority of that time getting to grips with the code, understanding the characters, and performing extensive quality enhancements to ensure the game is stable.
Recommendation: Start a New Game While your old save files should work, I strongly recommend starting a fresh save. It has been three years, and this release serves as the bedrock for the game going forward. A fresh start ensures you see the rewritten flow, the visual upgrades, and the new systems working as intended. Plus, it’s the perfect way to refresh your memory before the next chapter begins!
(See the note on the Codex below for more reasons to restart!)
This update is about polishing the experience and setting the stage for the future.
Part One Complete: The story for Part One is now finalized.
New Codex System: Added a lore tracker to keep tabs on the story and world.
Visual Overhaul: Re-rendered many Chapter 1 scenes to match the visual quality of the later game.
Restored Content: Re-introduced several previously removed scenes.
New Story Content: Added a brand new flashback scene where Jess goes missing.
New Lewd Content: Added a new scene with Sophia.
Achievements: Added new achievements and removed broken/defunct ones.
Narrative Flow: Rewrote several sections to improve flow (without changing the core story).
Galleries Unlocked: All image galleries are now unlocked for free.
Cheats Added: Implemented a cheat system (unlocked via DLC).
UI Updates: Various visual menu changes and improvements.
If you decide to load a save from a previous version, the new Codex System will not work correctly.
If you start a new game: The Codex will function perfectly.
If you load an old save: The Codex may be buggy, however, once you transfer your save data to Part Two in the future, it will correct itself.
Minor Note: I didn't want to delay the release any longer, so some Codex entries are currently missing images. These will be patched in very soon!
This release marks the final content update for This Time: Part One. Development on Part Two will begin shortly! This will be released as a separate game on the store, but don't worry—your save data and choices will carry over.
Going forward, I want to focus 99% of my energy on developing the game rather than managing social media across multiple platforms. Because of this, Development Blogs, Progress Updates, and Sneak Peeks will be posted primarily on Patreon.
To be clear: Game updates and patches will always be released publicly on Steam! Patreon is just for the communication.
Found a bug? Please report it on our Discord: https://discord.gg/qsDDhUfjVq
Want to cheat? You can unlock the new Cheat Menu by purchasing ANY of the "Donation Pack" DLCs now available in the Steam store.
Lastly, while This Time - Part One will transition to a free-to-own model in the future, I deeply appreciate every purchase and donation right now. Your support at this stage is what allows us to hit the ground running on Part Two!
Thank you for your patience and support. It’s time to dive back in.
ApocalypseToday
Hi everyone,
I’ve officially re-activated and dusted off the old Discord server!
I’ll be hanging out in there periodically to share random thoughts, early ideas, and behind-the-scenes screenshots during the development cycle. It’s also where I’ll be chatting whenever I get a bit bored between renders!
Come hang out, see what I’m working on, and join the conversation.
Join us here:
Hi everyone,
I hope you all had a wonderful festive season!I’m keeping this post brief as I’m currently juggling several tasks simultaneously. I’ve decided to put my head down and focus on development so I can make some solid progress before giving you a more detailed rundown.However, I wanted to check in because I’ve just finished implementing a highly requested feature: Cheats!I know many of you enjoy a more laid-back experience with visual novels, so I’ve incorporated a few optional cheats to help you tailor your playthrough.How to unlock them:These will be a premium feature unlocked by purchasing any "Support the Developer" DLC pack (starting as low as $2) closer to launch.
Patreon paid subscribers can request a free steam code by messaging me (after launch).
Legacy Bonus: Anyone who previously purchased the VIP pack (now unlisted) will receive these cheats for free!
I want your input: I’ve already implemented a few basics, but what else would you like to see? I’m open to suggestions—big or small. Just keep in mind that overly complex mechanics might not be viable, but I’ll do my best to include the most popular ideas!
Drop your suggestions in the comments below. Thanks again for the support, and I’ll see you all soon!Hi again,
It’s been a busy and productive stretch. When Steam abruptly un-retired the game before I was ready, I threw myself into development to refocus and keep moving forward. The support from everyone during that time has been genuinely appreciated—thank you.Since then, I’ve been working on four big things…1 - Writing, Reading and Tweaking to Chapter 2As expected, Chapter 2 is in a much better overall state. A lot of groundwork was clearly done during the rewrite, which is great to see. That said, Chapter 2 is significantly longer than Chapter 1, so it’s naturally going to take more time to work through.Progress is being made, but it’s been temporarily paused while I focus on…2 - New Lewd sceneAfter playing through the “Walk Sophia home from the nightclub” section of Chapter 2, I realized it was the perfect place to introduce the first interest point check. This is where the game evaluates whether the player has Sophia in the “sweet spot” for her interest level.If the player succeeds, Sophia invites them inside instead of the two parting ways. Narratively, this moment is driven by Sophia reflecting on Ashley’s conversation at the nightclub—where she talks about always waiting for the perfect moment that never comes. That reflection pushes Sophia to act impulsively, leading to her inviting you in for sex.Alongside this, I’ve added a visible indicator when an interest point check occurs, so players are clearly aware when they’ve either met—or missed—one of these opportunities.I’ll be sharing screenshots and videos from the new lewd Sophia scene on Patreon for paid subscribers in the coming days, so keep an eye out for that 👀This also marks the my first real opportunity to introduce new animations. While animations themselves aren’t new to me, every project presents its own challenges. I’ve spent the past few days refining and optimizing my workflow so I can add richer, more detailed animations without turning them into a massive time sink. Investing that time now should save me a lot of time down the line.For me, animations are a key element of adult visual novels—nothing kills immersion faster than a janky or awkward animation.These new animations will include:Clothing physics
Breast, thigh, and buttock “meat” physics (natural bouncing and movement)
Hair physics (realistic secondary motion)
I awoke this morning to an email from the Steam support team to say they have now unretired the game...WHAT!
I specifically asked for this to NOT be done yet...it's not ready!
This undoes weeks of careful planning about how and when this will all happen and negates everything I have already said previously.
What's worse, It can't be easily undone.
Frustrated doesn't begin to describe how I'm feeling right now.
All I can recommend is that everybody just holds on tight and waits for the updated game release. Urgh.
Hi again,
Work on the game has been progressing well, with Chapter 1 now officially signed and sealed.
Two scenes in Chapter 1 have been completely re-rendered to bring them up to the same quality as the rest of the game. I’ve shared a sneak peek of these updated scenes on Patreon for anyone interested.
I'm currently working on an additional scene being added to Chapter 2 in the form of a flashback to the moment Jess disappears. Oh also...
Minigames and free roam are now officially removed. I know this was always a “take it or leave it” feature for most players, and in the most recent update the original ApocalypseToday even added the option to choose between a visual novel or minigame style at the start. After a lot of consideration, I’ve decided to scrap the minigames and free-roam elements entirely.
Why? Simply put, I’ve done it before—and it takes ages to create systems that end up being a very small part of the overall experience. I would much rather spend a month crafting a handful of immersive, high-quality scenes than weeks on a few minutes of gameplay that only a small percentage of players actually want. On top of that, I don’t enjoy that side of development, and forcing yourself through a part of the process you dislike is one of the fastest ways to burn out as a developer.
I’ve also been in ongoing dialogue with Steam regarding how we bring the game back to life — and ultimately transition it to a free release.
They’ve now officially confirmed that the game can be brought out of retirement, which isn’t standard practice on their platform and was a major hurdle I wasn’t sure we’d be able to overcome. The good news is that this also means anyone who previously purchased the game will continue to own it once it relaunches — no one loses access.
Releasing the game as a free product, however, is a bit more complicated. Steam has a very strict and detailed set of rules around pricing, and when and how changes can be made. For a large studio with a multi-million-dollar budget, navigating this is relatively straightforward. For an indie developer operating on a “hole-in-my-pocket” budget, it’s a bit of a minefield.
That said, I’ve now received clarification that making the game free is possible — just not immediately. At the moment, it looks like there may need to be a 3–6 month window after release before the product can transition from a paid release to a free one. This isn’t set in stone yet, so please don’t hold me to exact timelines — but I promise that the moment I can make a risk-free decision to switch the game to free, I will.
As a workaround for anyone who’s willing, I can offer the following:
Anyone who becomes (or remains) a Patron on Patreon between now and the official release date announcement will be eligible for a free Steam key. This applies to any PAID tier, for any length of time. Once you’ve become a Patron, simply send me a direct message on Patreon and I’ll add you to a waiting list for product keys.
Additional support or higher tiers are, of course, hugely appreciated — but absolutely not required. Every Patron during this window will qualify for a free key.
Once the game launches, I’ll distribute the Steam keys directly to everyone on the list.
Important: To stay fully compliant with Steam’s pricing policies, this offer will end immediately upon EITHER announcement of the official release date OR the release date, whichever happens first.
I'm hopeful that this approach feels fair for everybody.
Thanks again and see you all soon.
Hi,
I know many of you have been eager for more details since my teaser post, so here’s something to quench your curiosity. I’ll continue sharing fresh info throughout the journey.
Over the years, I’ve gone by many pseudonyms — most recently PleasureOnly. I’ve worked on numerous visual novels in just about every role you can think of: writing, rendering, programming—you name it. One of those projects was a game called This Time. I assisted ApocalypseToday with several Chapter 2 renders many moons ago and fully intended to continue, but scheduling conflicts with other contracted projects prevented me from doing so.
I had already fallen in love with the game, so I continued supporting it as both a player and a Patron. That is, of course, until ApocalypseToday vanished without a trace. Like many of you, I was confused and deeply saddened—both by the uncertainty of what might have happened and by the thought that the story might never be completed.
As some of my contracted work wrapped up, I found myself thinking about this story more and more. I reached out through every avenue I could and contacted several mutual connections until, one day, I finally got the green light. I was given the two things I needed: first, the rights to the game and its branding, and second, access to all accounts and assets.
I know many of you are asking, ‘So what happened to ApocalypseToday?’ The honest answer is that I don’t know. The person I spoke with during this process was not ApocalypseToday, but everything was handled professionally and respectfully. Since my goal was to complete the transition of the project properly, I chose to focus on ensuring the handover was done safely and securely.
So what does this mean moving forwards?
Since none of my previous pseudonyms were player-facing, I’ve decided to continue under the name ApocalypseToday to keep things simple and consistent. From this point on, I’ll refer to the previous developer as ‘the original ApocalypseToday.’
Get to the point, what's happening with the game!
I already had plenty of ideas for the story, but among the treasure trove of assets I now have are the complete notes and conversations between the original ApocalypseToday and the most recent writer. I won’t spoil anything by going into details, but there’s more than enough material for me to faithfully honor the direction the story and its characters were headed.
As you know, the game was in the middle of a rewrite before the story could continue. Because of that, things are a bit messy—some scenes are missing entirely, and there’s a lot of work needed to get everything back on track. I’ve already begun tackling this. Some fixes only require small dialogue tweaks for better flow, while others need full scene re-renders. This means it’s going to take some time. I’m not setting any dates or timelines just yet, as I want to stay focused on the work itself. There may be stretches where you don’t hear much from me, but rest assured—progress is steadily being made.
The last thing I want to share is important. My plan—assuming Steam allows it and everything aligns—is to finish the rewrite and bring the story back up to the end of Chapter 3. This will then be packaged and released as This Time – Part One.
As a thank-you to all of you who have stood by the game, my intention is to make This Time – Part One completely free of charge. This includes all 'image packs'. Though remember, this is if Steam allow me to do so.
After that, I’ll be able to focus on Chapter 4 and beyond, which will be released as a standalone, paid product on Steam. The story will naturally continue from where Part One ends, and you’ll be able to carry your save data forward.
This approach lets players (hopefully) fall in love with the story at no cost before deciding whether it’s worth investing their hard-earned money. We’re still a good distance away from Part Two, but once we reach that stage, it will be released in small updates as an early-access title until Part Two is complete.
I’m aware that I’ve already put a lot of my own money into this project, and I’ll likely need to keep doing so for a while. I’m okay with that—it’s a commitment I chose to make. But if anyone feels inclined to lend a bit of support and maybe help move things along, I would be genuinely grateful. Donations are welcome on my Patreon page:
For now, I’m going to disappear back into the depths of Ren’Py. Speak soon.
About
This page aggregates Steam news feeds, patch notes, and developer announcements for This Time - Part One, 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 This Time - Part One 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.
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