Hiya Fuzzies.

Let's talk about what has transpired from September 2024 to May 2025.
There'll be a TL:DR at the end.

1.  Merch store launched!
   It was pretty cool :3, we had a bunch of artists join who I helped with, creating templates and mockups for the artists.
   We collaborated with DiiPoo who created the high-quality products, and provided the backend store Furola (similar to Shopify, etc).
   Sold FuzzBoob's products such as body pillows, keychains, stickers, and acrylic standees.
   We achieved our goal of providing a service where the artists took 100% of the profit, where the factory bills get paid.
   :D
   
2. Merch store closed!
   ....um
   ......
   Okay, so, there's a few factors why it's gone now. (Or at least, gone ~5th february 2025)
   I. Shipping issues - Sometimes the backend would have shipping issues, where I'd have to chase up with the factory to ship the products to the items.
   II. Out-of-pocket expenses - I didn't profit from the store, I personally only sold a sticker for a non-profit (factory costs only). It was my intention to sell my own merch to keep the store up, but there was a push to get the store up and running asap. I still paid for when there was extreme shipping issues, like *months* of delays, which left me mostly bleeding.
   III. Time - it took time to manage the store, help artists with creating merch, and solving merch issues.
   IV. Donald Trump - It's funny how despite me being british, living in the UK, being affected by the current US president. His surprise tariffs was so out-of-nowhere that I had to immediately close the store to prevent future store payments. We had a lot of orders, that I then had to pay out-of-pocket because the goods can't immediately be shipped. 
   
   I then helped the artists move to a different store. While they won't be getting 100% of the profit from their new store, they at least get to continue to sell. 
   
   It's why the most recent "devlog" was also removed, since the store doesn't exist anymore.
   
   
3. Life lol
   thing is, i don't actually have much money. So I returned to my previous job as 0 hour contract, if they have an employee sick I take over (since the previous position got taken).
   I'm also in and out of hospital due to a growing list of health conditions, this year has been miserable lol. I don't really like talking about it.
   There's another product that'll come out under Pud's Café later this year, a more original 3D game featuring ponies

Why is this the last devlog before the update?

well, simply because there just isn't much to report on. The update is being worked on, albiet now just whenever there is time and motivation to keep putting into it. I do personally have to prioritise earning money however, since I am currently broke. This is a free game, that'll continue to be free and will receive a free update.

There is also a place to go if you want updates, or want to ask more questions about this project or other projects. People see the previous date and believe the project is dead, but it isn't. For example, in the Pud's Café discord, I'm active and answer questions directed towards me.
Like, for example, extra transparency on what is being worked on, like a Kanban to show progress (Link in the discord)

Release date?

It's not possible to say when Five Nights at FuzzBoob's: Definitive Edition Remixed will release due to the current working cycle.
It will be worked on until it's done, then a release date will be predicted once the game enters playtesting, I do not know how long this will take. Project isn't dead.

"Use (generative) AI to help."

I've received kinda funny DMS over the past few months on discord from individuals telling me to use AI lol

And to that I say that I will not use generative AIs like ChatGPT to make any of my games. From the unethicalities on the data scraping it was trained on to predict text, to the fact that it lacks human touch. These games I make are a part of me, they are from me as I am from them. Sure, they won't be perfect this way but no-one can reach perfection.

TLDR:
1. merch store was cool
2. merch store is kill - thanks trump very cool
3. im broke and unwell, so i'm focussing on work that pays (not asking for donations)
4. I'm not going to make more "devlogs" because I make smaller, more frequent, updates in the discord.
5. Idk when the game will release because the work schedule makes it unpredictable, but it is indeed being worked on.
6. "use (generative) AI to help" - no.

Want to ask questions, hear about updates, or know more?

Join my Discord and feel free to ask me questions.
Links: https://puds.cafe/links