Shadows of Doubt DevBlog #41: 1.0!
Shadows of Doubt is a detective stealth game set in a fully-simulated sci-fi metropolis! There’s been a murder and it’s up to you to solve it by any means necessary, with the condition that you keep a low profile. A unique mix of procedural generation and hand-crafted design enables every room of every building to be explored. Be sure to wishlist on Steam, join our Discord or read previous dev blog entries here!
It’s launch day detectives! Today marks our official transition out of early access and into, 1.0. I’m immensely pleased with what the team has put together over the last 8 years (!) Or so. You can view our 1.0 changelog here, which arrives as by far our biggest one yet. We can now also welcome console players to the fray on Xbox and PS5.
What does this mean practically? We’ve finished making the content we wanted to include in the final game. I’m very pleased with the amount of content we’ve been able to include, and this release version features the latest additions of kidnapping cases, cover-up side missions and even a much-requested umbrella to keep your busy heads dry in the rain. It’s not the ‘end’ of the project though, we will continue patching and polishing, just as we have done in the past with the 30+ patches throughout early access. It’s such a massive project for any team, let alone a small one, so we’ll continue working hard behind the scenes to sort out any issues we didn’t manage to solve before launch. To aid this, as well as improve the communication on the status of issues, we’re also launching a new bug report system.
We’re also putting out a standalone Soundtrack, so if you want to listen to the awesome music Monomoon has created outside the game, you can. In addition to that we’re also releasing an 80-page digital Art Book written by myself and Miles (the voxel artist on the project). This features both a look back through the development history of the game (featuring my various blog posts but with new commentary added from the present), as well as a detailed look at the process Miles used to create a lot of the awesome voxel props you see in the game.
In the future, you can still expect small bits of content to arrive in patches, as we just love adding details. A couple of things we have in mind are new pre-made cities, some more in-game assets (eg. more cruncher apps), and we’re also looking at putting in support for Steam Workshop. We’re not going to have a roadmap for these, as we’re going to be employing a ‘when it’s done’ approach; our main priority will be on solving any remaining issues reported.
Thank you so much to all the detectives who took on the investigation throughout Early Access. Your feedback has been so important to the development of the game, and we’re so excited for you to check out the 1.0 version today along with new players joining the case. I hope you enjoy the world we’ve created! Shadows of Doubt is out now on Steam, GoG, Epic, Xbox and Playstation.
32 thoughts on “Shadows of Doubt DevBlog #41: 1.0!”
Thank you for releasing the game on GoG too, instabuy 🙂
The funny thing is, the devs don’t even apologize for the buggy mess they’ve made.
Calling this 1.0 is absolutely ridiculous. It’s just a cop-out to not develop this game any further.
Yet another example for why one should not buy into early access titles.
Don’t buy this. It’s half-done chicken tenders and the cook can’t be arsed to finish cooking them.
Shadows of Doubt launched in 1.0 as a massive disappointment, riddled with bugs and performance issues even on high-end systems. The game’s core is shallow, with repetitive cases that lack any real challenge or depth. NPCs are lifeless, recycling the same dull dialogue in a world that feels robotic and empty.
Instead of addressing these glaring issues, the developers seem more focused on adding superficial features like pronouns, completely missing the point of what the community wanted. Worse yet, real polish and meaningful content have been left to the modding community, essentially outsourcing their job to fans.
The Discord is full of trivial suggestions upvoted by teenagers, while the publishers seem more interested in running quizzes than fixing the game. Shadows of Doubt could have been something special, but now it’s just a wasted opportunity left for modders to salvage.
it sucks to agree with you on this. would much rather come up with a list of points that make yours invalid. but you hit the nail 🙁
I think your review is incredibly pessimistic for no viable reason. In fact, I don’t think any of your points about the overall structure and core loop of the game were even remotely correct. The bugs are the only thing true about your argument. It’s clearly in a very rough state , but underneath of that is actually a fantastic game.
Mr. BromanLegion, it’s great that you’re content, though it seems like you’re fully immersed in the matrix and completely influenced by it. I wish I could understand and share in your happiness.
How easily a illusion can take hold of your mind, pulling it away from reality and keeping you bound to its empty allure.
I think it’s important to differentiate between optimism and reality here. While I can respect someone enjoying the concept of Shadows of Doubt, the experience I outlined reflects the issues that can’t be glossed over by simply labeling the game as “fantastic underneath.” It’s not about being “pessimistic”; it’s about being realistic about a product that asks for our time and money while delivering subpar results.
Let’s break down the specifics:
Shallow Core Mechanics and Structure: You claim my points on the core loop are incorrect, but the reality is the game is repetitive. The cases follow an almost identical structure, with slight name changes or cosmetic differences. How does that provide long-term challenge or depth? A great detective game thrives on variety, nuance, and the need for critical thinking—none of which are delivered here. Instead, we’re left with templates that repeat over and over again. There’s little evolution in gameplay, and this isn’t just a minor oversight—it’s a fundamental flaw.
Lifeless NPCs: The NPCs in Shadows of Doubt are robotic, with dialogue loops that feel like they’ve been copy-pasted across the entire population. They don’t interact with the world in a meaningful way, and their personal stories are shallow at best, often completely irrelevant to the cases you’re solving. For a game that promises immersion, this lack of dynamic NPC behavior and storytelling is a huge missed opportunity. If the world doesn’t feel alive, then what’s the point?
Superficial Updates: The focus on adding superficial features like pronouns is a valid critique, not a dig at inclusivity but at the game’s priorities. Instead of fixing performance issues or deepening gameplay mechanics, the developers are choosing to focus on things that don’t address the core problems or enhance the experience. It’s an example of being out of touch with what the community actually wants, which is a polished, playable game with more depth, not cosmetic additions.
Modding Outsourced as a Solution: Suggesting that “underneath” is a fantastic game, while ignoring that many of the game’s potential strengths are being left to the modding community to fix, is wishful thinking at best. When you rely on mods to make a game playable or fun, that’s a sign of an unfinished product. Modders can add flavor and expand on a solid foundation, but here they’re being asked to do the developers’ job and rescue a product from mediocrity.
Community and Developer Focus: Let’s talk about the developers and community interaction. While the game suffers from severe technical and content issues, the Discord is flooded with suggestions that are more trivial than practical, often lacking any meaningful focus on what’s truly broken in the game. The publishers are more interested in running community engagement activities like quizzes, rather than addressing bugs, optimization, or providing the content depth that was promised. This isn’t just my opinion—this is something many players have noted and criticized.
Olaf you made good points, it looks this people must be moderators on discord or something. how blind you must be to not see how game is so bad.
legit redpill from matrix some people ;D
Shut the actual fuck up you incel. Lmao
This “Concerned Citizen” is a great example of why you should stay away from the matrix red pill.
He is just a simple fella who will endlessly consume, bend over, and never ask questions—what a cute little sheep.
bad bad game, shame!
This game was not ready for 1.0 release. Your own website says “We prioritize intricacy, depth of gameplay, visual flare and personality”, and if Shadows of Doubt says anything about your game development studio it’s the opposite of those things. You’ve disappointed me and others with the decisions you’ve made. Scam artist.
First of all congratulations to the 1.0 release. I haven’t played SoD yet and maybe the full release has problems, but some of the comments here are way too harsh!
I really liked MegaCity so many years ago in the wild Xbox Live Indie Games days. Unfortunately, I didn’t really get into Concrete Jungle – I had problems to “read” it.
When SoD was announced, I found the concept fascinating, but also a bit megalomaniacal. 🙂 I still have DOUBTS if this is a game for me, but I will definitely buy and try it in the end.
lol, the only not totally negative comment on the games v1.0 is from somebody that didn’t play the game. man this sucks so hard 🙁
There is a difference between valid criticism (even the positive reviews are criticizing bugs which could mean “not ready for 1.0 release”) and calling someone “Scam artist”.
They aren’t mutually exclusive either.
While some might see the criticisms as harsh, they reflect the expectations of paying customers who invested time and money into the product. A game reaching its 1.0 release sets a standard—it implies a certain level of polish and completeness. Unfortunately, Shadows of Doubt simply doesn’t meet that standard. People aren’t being harsh for the sake of it; they’re frustrated because they were promised a fully realized detective experience, and what they got is a buggy, shallow game lacking in both content and depth. If the game is broken or incomplete, voicing strong opinions is the right of the consumer.
Like you, many people were drawn in by the fascinating concept of Shadows of Doubt. But a great idea only goes so far when the execution is lacking. The game’s procedural generation, which could have been groundbreaking, instead feels repetitive and dull after a few hours. Cases lack complexity, and the world feels robotic, with lifeless NPCs and a lack of meaningful interaction. No matter how great the idea is, if the core gameplay doesn’t hold up, it’s not worth investing time and money in until the issues are addressed.
The game has an incredible core gameplay loop. When everything works as intended, it’s easily one of the best detective/investigation games I’ve ever played. Hands down. There’s no competition. You’ve got a truly exceptional game here. However, the PS5 version is plagued with bugs that significantly affect the experience. I can’t delete individual saves or overwrite existing ones. Using the surveillance cameras to spot suspects often glitches and sends me out of bounds visually, though I remain at the computer, which causes all NPCs to become invisible once I stand up. I find myself restarting the game every hour and a half just to get the sound back. Sometimes, while crouched, my movement is limited to a straight line, despite no obstacles. Inputting passcodes is unnecessarily tricky, with inputs randomly disappearing unless I use the D-pad. And the menu interfaces? They simply don’t work well on a controller—inputs don’t respond as they should, making basic navigation inconsistent, frustrating, and buggy. Despite all these issues, beneath the surface lies a truly unique and incredibly enjoyable detective game. One last note—the FOV definitely needs adjustment. I can’t read the entire newspaper page on the default PS5 FOV setting.
While the game may have an enjoyable core gameplay loop, it’s hard to praise a “truly exceptional” detective experience when the PS5 version is riddled with game-breaking bugs. Constant technical issues make it impossible to enjoy what the game is supposed to offer. Restarting every 90 minutes to restore sound? That’s not a minor inconvenience; it’s a complete disruption to the experience.
Bugs like invisible NPCs and camera glitches completely undermine the investigative gameplay, and basic functionalities like saving or overwriting files being broken is unacceptable for a modern release. The movement issues, clunky passcode inputs, and unusable menu interfaces make even basic actions an ordeal. The FOV problem is just the cherry on top. At this point, no matter how great the core game might be, it’s buried under so many problems that it barely functions as a proper PS5 game.
What’s the point of having a “truly exceptional” game if you can’t even play it properly?
Ricks i have this game on PS5 and SteamDeck and my steamdeck is cooking on 30fps and PS5 is same with FPS
it is really really bad.
Same on the xbox. But for me it’s when I take a picture of an npc… Did email the dev, almost sure they are working on a patch to fix… This game will be one of the best games ever to come out on console if they iron out the game breaking bugs and could easily sell well enough to prompt a sequel… It could be the next minecraft (but with a much deeper minded audience) obviously.
Facts hits hard lol
First off, I want to say that I love the concept of Shadows of Doubt, but I think there’s a huge opportunity to improve the game by refining the difficulty and logic of the NPCs. Right now, it feels like both of these areas could be more challenging and fun, without requiring a major overhaul.
NPC behaviors need more logical decision-making to avoid frustrating or nonsensical interactions. Simple tweaks, like adjusting their awareness, reaction time, and routines, could create a much deeper, more immersive experience.
As for difficulty scaling, it’s important to make sure the challenge remains engaging throughout. You don’t need to make it punishing, but finding the sweet spot where players are pushed to think harder, without it feeling unfair, would enhance the gameplay tremendously. I understand game development takes time, but improving these aspects wouldn’t take too much effort and could drastically improve player satisfaction.
Please don’t let laziness or time constraints become an excuse—this game has a ton of potential, and addressing these issues could take it to the next level.
I was trying for 5 hours to finish the tutorial and no luck :/
I mean maybe it’s not that deep?. It could be just that Shadows of Doubt uses Unity. Maybe since the policy they announced they just want to wrap up a project that has Unity as a base.
Even knowing the answer already … but sure I’ll ask anyway out of foolish hope: what odds on a Switch version?
Its flop game, there is 99% they gonna try make money from switch to. they dont care if game is polished or finished
Colepowered games a small indie game developer with 1 other game. They say they are still working on the game and fixing bugs. This doesn’t sound like a cash grab. The bug report is very easy to use. Games should launch in better condition but they just don’t these days, it’s a bad industry trend. As for gameplay loop that’s personal opinion. I’ve got a lot of hope that all these problems will be fixed.
they got whole year before 1.0 went out.
second chances are in negative reviews.
I tried playing this game in Linux. It works! 🙂
But the game is so riddled with bugs that I wouldn’t pay a dollar for the experience it delivers. IMHO, the game should stay as EA for much longer, maybe forever, if it’s not even possible to finish the tutorial.
As I’m also a game developer, I wonder what happened.
Was Jeff forced to release the beta as the final product?! We also delivered an unfinished product, but that was the publisher’s decision.
They hire bunch of woke people who bearly know coding – thats the main theory ( highly untalented brainrot people ) who want just be developers by anymean even when they deliver bad products.