Oh my circuits–

We’re happy to introduce an update for the ancillary detective story! Embody Chrome’s circuitry into an energized version of Santa’s Secret – never looked this sharp before.

Introducing the brand-new intro movie! Get a big perspective on the case and learn details from the crucial past. Chrome has never looked so dramatic sleeping on his chair.

To accompany our flashy new animatics, we have improved the narrative, including new options for investigation and extra stories during that clue-seeking part of the story. This comes next to story adjustments left and right–our editors have kept busy! 

To compensate for the new stuff to see, completionists will be able to check their progress with a glitch scorecard at the end of the game! Quality of life for the secret seekers! Also, thanks to extensive testing, we’ve adjusted the overall feel of the game, including but not limited to UI and audio moments. Trust a P.I.—Goodness is beauty in the best estate.

And those were just the highlights! Check the many, many more below.

Patch notes

New Features:

• Implemented an intro movie in place of scene 1. Seriously, look at that drama unfurl! 
• Add branching choice to the Fowler crime scene to make the investigation more dynamic for the player. This was part of the original design, folks.
• Added a glitch scorecard before the credits and altered the glitch number for the good ending. Find those secrets already! Oh, and we fixed some pesky text cut-offs there.
• Added knocking/doorslam sound effects in scene 2. When in doubt, follow your ears.
• Added a bell ringing sound effect in the first Mariah scene.
• Updated credits to acknowledge playtesters of the new patch. heart QA heart
• Included a police light effect. wiiu-wiiu
• Introduced a fade-in/fade-out effect to the jazz track. Jazz flows.
• Adjusted the quick menu button placement.
• Mapped the ESC button to the quit menu. The emergency exit? Sorry, Health and Safety!
• Added a load option to the quick menu. Going back through time is such a gaming thing.
• Updated the window icon. Hello you!

Enhancements:

• Reworded skip options for clarity and revised the last scene to stop skipping before the last line/credits. We didn’t want you to miss out the real names of the devs.
• Adjusted heights of all Larry sprites and fixed an issue with the game returning after credits. It’s always you, Harry! No, Barry. Wait, what was his name again?
• Corrected or added expressions. Including Chrome’s Hardboiled expression. Is that intimidating enough?
• Updated scenes to cross out selected choices. *looking respectfully at completionists*
• Made the dialogue box consistent across scenes, improved character transitions, and fixed text cutoff issues. Chef’s kiss!
• Introduced minor tweaks to text. We even managed to reference another Small Loan game.
• Fixed typos in various scenes. There were like, 10. How embarrassing.
• Added a tagline to the title. It’s A Chrome Steele Mystery, importantly!
• Added a computer in Mariah’s office. She could clearly afford one.

Bug Fixes:

• Fixed errors in code for Fowler's new nonlinear scene. Things were getting procedural.
• Addressed text issues based on patch QA feedback. You know the difference between boxing days and boxer days?
• Corrected inconsistencies in endings for better transition to the epilogue scene. Now you have no excuse to find all those endings!

Our Santa’s Secret team has worked hard to convene and get the much deserved remix of our shadowy and emotional tale. Can’t wait for you to catch the polished scent! 

And meanwhile, we’re working to bring you w̴̡̛h̴̩͗a̵̩͋t̴̛̮ ̶̝͐c̷̛͇o̴̬̎m̸̭͐e̵̺̔s̷͙͛ ̶̤̑n̶̺̒ȇ̸͙x̶̬̏t̶̞̾.̵̞͆

Always striving to feed you more,

The one and only Small Loan Studio