Already praised in Early Access, Asbury Pines plans to overhaul gameplay systems, deepen its narrative immersion, and continue with quality enhancements.
With a strong Early Access Steam launch in November 2025, and after receiving notable critical reception and becoming Steam Deck verified, unique narrative-driven idler Asbury Pines is set for big updates on its way to 1.0.
The Early Access version of Asbury Pines has already been called “the best-written idle game in nearly a decade” by AV Club, was spotlighted among the top detective games of 2025 by PC Gamer, and received a strong nod of approval from Rock Paper Shotgun, in addition to notable streamer coverage on YouTube.
In two months since the title’s Early Access release, duo developer team Chaystar Unlimited has released eight game patches focused on quality improvements and features that help to optimize the current gameplay experience and customize it to different playstyles (especially those that want to sidestep the idler elements). These updates have led Asbury Pines to be Steam Deck verified. The next order of business for Chaystar? Reimagining the game systems and the grand narrative ending for 1.0. Returning players will get a significantly refreshed experience and updated story, while new players benefit from playing a more perfect title.
While elements in the following Early Access roadmap may change from community testing and feedback, Chaystar has targeted a number of areas for improvement.
Gameplay Upgrades
The overall goal of the gameplay updates is to refocus strategy from managing characters between tasks to creating key efficiencies in their constant work. The plan includes:
- Guided tutorial mode
- Expanded character capabilities to enable simultaneous actions (like resource production and perk research)
- Deeper character skill leveling system
- New economic production elements, including homes for increasing town populations and warehouses for resource storage
- Various new tabs that directly contribute to resource production strategy: Friendships, Learning, Conflicts, Tomes
- Researched artifacts can be equipped by characters for various boosts to work and skills
- Up to four new soundtracks, including album purchase as DLC
- Animation and notification upgrades
Story Updates
Asbury Pines’ core narrative will not change, but key updates will be made to the ending and new content will deepen areas of story that drew notable feedback.
- An edited ending in conjunction with time-flow details
- Four new characters (including more bugs!)
- 17 new stories from existing and new characters
- 15 edited stories that deepen details
Localization
There is no guarantee that all languages below will be covered by localization efforts, but Chaystar has targeted:
- Simplified Chinese
- Japanese
- German
- Korean
- Hungarian
To be part of the Asbury Pines Early Access roadmap, including community feedback and testing opportunities, please be sure join developer discord or follow the title’s Steam page for announcements.
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