Today's update adds some new quality of life features, with the biggest being new support for custom soundtracks. Thanks for your continued feedback and support!

Update: There were a couple bugs and unexpected corner cases with the custom soundtrack feature, but I think these are all fixed with the hotfixes. Sorry about the flurry of small patches!

Changes

• Custom soundtrack support: The game now has support for custom music! To add your own music to the game follow these steps:
  
  1. Right click the game from your Steam library, click Manage, then click Browse Local Files.
     
  2. Double click to open the Custom folder, and then open the Music folder contained within the "Custom" folder.
     
  3. Place your music here! The game supports ".mp3", ".flac", and ".ogg" format files.
  This directory also contains a README.txt containing information on how to setup custom title and game over screen music.
  
• Mute when window inactive: The audio options screen now has an option, 'Mute when window inactive' that mutes all audio when the window does not have keyboard focus. This option is off by default. This option is useful if you occasionally need to tab out of the game.
  
• Options reset buttons: The audio options, controls handling, gameplay preferences, graphics options, and visuals options screens now have 'Reset' buttons to set options to their default values.
  
• Credits cleanup: Moved the 'Scroll Paintings' credits list to the 'Chaos Mode' section.
  
• Hotfix: Going back and forth between the options and title menu no longer cycles custom music.
  
• Hotfix 1.2.4: Fixed an issue with using custom music with only a single song.
  
• Hotfix 1.2.4: When using custom music with custom title, game over, completion, credits, or tutorial music, this music is excluded from the gameplay music pool.
  
• Hotfix 1.2.5: Fixed an issue where the custom music would only play from the alternate save folder location.

Hello!

This is a small balance patch and a fix to a challenge that was broken.

We're about ready to start playtests on the next area of the game. If you're interested in giving feedback and participating, we will share the details on our [url]discord[/url] in the near future.

Fixed:
Challenge "Beggars CAN be choosers" fixed

Items:
Redwood Cloak restore 1 health -> restore 2 health
Armor Regrowth, regain 2x armor -> regain 1x armor

Bosses:
Ironshell beetle, 8 atk -> 7 atk
Blazing Hothead 1 base atk -> 2 base atk
swiftstrike stag 2 base atk -> 3 base atk

This time next week we should be pressing Steam’s big green button to ship Iron Roads out to Early Access!

To that end we have been pushing bug fixes quite rapidly these last few weeks, and we’ve been a little slow posting patch notes

• We’ve reworked the chooser screen. All three play modes for a scenario are grouped in the same place
  
• Speaking of which, the third mode is Free play mode. You get infinite resources, no contracts or goals, so you can build whatever you wish
  
• Technology unlocks are permanent now, so once you’ve researched power once you never need do it again!

And of course we’ve fixed a lot of bugs

• The cargo screen no longer shows the count of all types of cargo waiting at a stop, just the selected cargo
  
• Trains too long for a station, that magic flip while their tail end is on a corner, no longer leave the station in a bad state that blocks other trains
  
• Dragging purchase land no longer draws whatever the last selected construction mode was
  
• It no longer crashes when you try to click purchase countryside tiles
  
• The required tools are no longer locked in the tutorial
  
• When the collected reward is zero, the collect button now displays as Dismiss rather than Collect 0
  
• The jump to button jumps to the correct stop when there are multiple notifications shown at once
  
• Click delete now deletes the entire bridge or tunnel and no longer leaves it in a bad state
  
• We’ve fixed a number of bugs with the Chinese translation, and waypoints now change language immediately the language is changed
  
• The Mole Miner’s rest contracts are not shown in the tutorial before power is researched
  
• The edit train window now returns to the correct service after clicking confirm
  
• We’ve fixed the zoom scale change for hi dpi screens

Thanks to everyone for all your feedback! Now that we are so close to release we’ll be shutting down the Playtest build in the next few days. We have aligned the demo build with the playtest build, so you can swap to that and continue playing, it’ll load your save games with no issue!

Rice Games Inc is ecstatic to start 2025 with a huge announcement—Pre-orders for Shujinkou, a brand new JRPG IP and the first title in the Shujinkou Trilogy, start today on the PlayStation® Store (PS5) 13:00 PST / 16:00 EST / 21:00 UTC. Shujinkou comes in three different editions:

• Base Edition - $59.99 (Americas) / €59.99 (Europe)
  
• Deluxe Edition - $69.99 (Americas / €69.99 (Europe)
  
• Super Deluxe Edition - $79.99 (Americas) / €79.99 (Europe)

The new launch trailer, which was released on PlayStation's official YouTube channel, introduces Shujinkou's three main characters (Shu, Jin, and Kou) and the game's core mechanics—the first half covers collecting Kanakae Orbs for usage in the turn-based combat system, enemy negotiations (Koushou), equipment forging, skills in battle (Arawasu), Kakusei, and general labyrinth exploration. Afterwards, an introduction to the 200 side-quests (Youkyuu), the six partners of the Fuu Lobby, and the Akagi Decoration functionality is featured. The last portion of the trailer covers exclusive content pre-ordering customers will be able to receive, as well as a brief introduction to the extra products included in the Shujinkou Deluxe Edition and Shujinkou Super Deluxe Edition.

• Important: Near the end of the trailer, an * is applied to the line: "Become the main protagonist, and learn* one of the hardest languages in the world (Japanese) while you're at it": *Learning functionalities are implemented through a series of optional gameplay mechanics and systems. Shujinkou™ is not specifically a language-learning tool, and can be fully enjoyed as a traditional JRPG.
  
• Shujinkou (主人公) means "main protagonist" or "hero" in Japanese.

Rice Games Inc is also excited to announce that Shujinkou is digitally releasing on PS5, PS4, and PC (Steam) on February 13th, 2025. All three editions are being released on all three platforms.
A port for Nintendo Switch is currently in development and more news is expected later in 2025.
Physical copies are under consideration and more news regarding that is expected later in 2025.

Brief summary of each of the products included in Shujinkou's different editions
Shujinkou ($59.99 / €59.99): This is the base game. Experience the first title in the Shujinkou Trilogy—an 80-hour story campaign with over 150 hours of gameplay content, featuring dozens of new friends and foes in the brand new IP.

• Shujinkou Digital Artbook: 35 wide-pages filled with hundreds of sketches and designs featuring characters, enemies, UI, typography, labyrinth maps, and more.
  
• Shujinkou Select Soundtrack: 22 selected songs (75 minutes) from the 158-track Shujinkou Original Soundtrack consolidated into its own unique music player.
  
• Akuma Quests DLC (standalone: $8.99 / €8.99): Six brand new demon-inspired costumes and storylines with the Fuu Lobby partners! Enjoy new scenarios, enemies, illustrations, decorations, trophies, and more for 10-15 hours of gameplay. NOTE: Purchasing the Super Deluxe Edition allows you to obtain this DLC for 44% off.
  
• Swimsuit Quests DLC (standalone: $8.99 / €8.99): Six brand new swimsuits and storylines with the Fuu Lobby partners! Enjoy new scenarios, enemies, illustrations, decorations, trophies, and more for 10-15 hours of gameplay. NOTE: Purchasing the Super Deluxe Edition allows you to obtain this DLC for 44% off.

Select Soundtrack - 11 minute preview trailer on YouTube

• Experience an 80-hour story—the campaign is primarily split into two major arcs.
  
• Explore 16 handcrafted labyrinths, each filled with dozens of challenges.
  
• Learn all hiragana, katakana, and hundreds of kanji through the Kanakae system.
  
• Learn over 100 types of grammar corresponding from JLPT's N5 to N3 standards and listen to over 700 vocal lines each from native Japanese
  
• Fight over 300 enemies with unique names using hiragana, katakana, and kanji.
  
• Learn over 180 Arawasu skills for usage in battle, the field, and as bonuses.
  
• Bond with six passionate partners and experience 42 story quests & 120 short events.
  
• View over 80 special 4K illustrations throughout the main story and partner content.
  
• Play six minigames that review various aspects of Japanese—there's fishing too!
  
• Enjoy a seven-hour, 158-track soundtrack featuring over a dozen musical genres.

Rice Games Inc is looking into sending game review copies later this month in time for Shujinkou's full release on February 13th 2025. If you would like to directly receive a review copy (we will be providing copies of the Super Deluxe Edition), please send an email to Rice Games Inc with the topic "Shujinkou Review Key Request for <Platform>" where <Platform> is set as PS5, PS4, or PC (Steam) to contact@ricegames.net - and a code will be supplied.

A demo is also currently available on Steam and PlayStation 5, featuring 15-20 hours of gameplay. Save data can be transfered to the full game only on the Steam version.

• ESRB Teen: Blood, Crude Humor, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Use of Drugs and Alcohol, Violence
  
• PEGI 18: Use of Alcohol/Tobacco
  
• USK 16: Alkohol, Drogen, Fantasy-Gewalt, Schreckmomente, Sexuelle Andeutungen
  
• ACB M: Drug References, Mature Themes, Nudity, Sexual References, Violence

• Shujinkou on PlayStation: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10003429
  
• Shujinkou on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1386630
  
• Shujinkou (Wikipedia)

Number input was a tad bit broken, especially in certain regions where "," and "." is mixed from mine.
Fixed now and there are two buttons to also change it.

Are you tired of playing the same bleeps and bloops while breaking world records? With version 2.3.2, you can now choose which song you want to listen to.

There are currently 4 Boxel songs to choose from:

• Boxel 1 (2013)
  
• Boxel Rebound (2017)
  
• Boxel 3D Classic (2020)
  
• Boxel 3D Pro (2025)

You can continue to play and receive cards every 3 hours, server dependency is disabled, you can no longer receive FCoins, view the gallery and buy new packs.

- Polished textures and overall appearance of the game, now following the color palette more closely.
- The Scanner has been updated with a more intuitive and readable display.
- The game's resolution has been increased to improve readability. If you previously had no issues reading in the game and want to maintain the same performance as before, I recommend reducing the Resolution Scale in the video settings.
- Added a Run button.
- You now have only 2 minutes to prepare the house.
- And more things I can't even remember. It’s been a hectic month.

I sincerely thank the first 100 people who added the game to their Wishlist, and especially those who played the demo as soon as it was released and sent me personal feedback. I listened to the feedback and did my best this past month to make the demo experience even better.

If you tried the game, found it confusing, and quit, I kindly ask you to give it a second chance. A subtle tutorial has been added at the beginning of the game.

Ready to shred like Rene Rinnekangas? Share your most out-of-the-box line in Shredders and WIN his brand-new Rome Rene-Gade snowboard! How to enter? Check our website.

Hello everyone,
New episode is out,
Anne's story is progresses in this episode,

also been working on Live2d and added those animations in this episode.
I'll soon add and replace the old animations in whole game. as I learn and get better at it.

and also wishing everyone the happy new year!

changelog:

• Added P2E2
  
• Fixed Ui
  
• New H-Scene Added
  
• Live2d Animations added.

thank you,