- Update Notes for Apr 13 - 13 April 2026
Changed Larika's "month of Sundays" line in Chinese translation Fixed a color error and size inconsistency in File 05 CG
- Update Notes for Mar 30 - 30 March 2026
Fixed Viu saying Larika's line in Chapter 16
- Update Notes on Mar 16 - 16 March 2026
Fixed error in evidence in File 06
- Update Notes for Mar 14 - 14 March 2026
Added additional explanation to Chapter 29 about mystery Cynthia apartment number fix Chinese translation typo fix
- Update Notes for Mar 12 - 12 March 2026
Fixed incorrect apartment number in File 06 Fixed suspect statement issue in File 06 Chinese translation typo fixed
- Update Notes for Mar 9 - 9 March 2026
Missing/corrupted Chinese translations fixed Other small improvements
- Update Notes for Mar 8 - 8 March 2026
Another patch to address achievement unlocking
- Update Notes Mar 7 - 7 March 2026
Fixed Steam achievement issue! Important note: If the game is failing to launch after the update, try uninstalling and reinstalling it.Fixed autopsy not appearing properly in Chapter 28English typo fixes
- 1.0 Launch — The Canada Files Is Complete! - 6 March 2026
Note: If you're having issues, fully uninstall and reinstall the game to make sure all the game files are properly updated. Loading from old saves may result in bugs after this update.To celebrate the 1.0 release, I've put together this special presentation — enjoy!In this update...File 06The final File, and the conclusion of the story awaits... the fateful events of Stage Six are revealed, as well as the horrible truth that Larika discovers... a dramatic showdown that you won't want to miss!VignettesThat secret item in the Extras menu all this time was in fact... Vignettes! This 1.0 launch includes two Vignettes — I'll let you see what they are for yourself!Extra ContentAll extra content has now been added to the game — you can now view sprites in the Sprite Gallery, backgrounds in the Backgrounds Gallery, titlecards, behind the scenes articles — and more!Soundtrack Now AvailableThe fu…
- Methods: The Canada Files Full Game To Be Released on Mar. 5th! - 26 February 2026
Sixth & Final case of the Detective Competition.Detective Larika Downs v.s. Mastermind Joane Tremblay.Long-buried secrets await their reckoning. Methods: The Canada Files – Full ReleaseLaunching Mar. 5, 22:00 (UTC-5)
- Devlog 65: Nearing the End - 4 February 2026
File 06's development is nearing completion.What I worked on since the last update:Finished all backgroundsFinished all CGsComposed 4 new music tracksCompleted writing revisionsAs of yesterday, I've completed work on all the CGs in File 06 — which ended up being around 60 in total. Now the work that remains is music, additional polish, and the translation. It feels great to be so close to completing this multi-year project at last. I hope you're looking forward to File 06.Until next time!— LockedOn.
- Devlog 64: Locking In - 3 February 2026
File 06's development continues into the new year!What I worked on since the last update:Blocked out all backgrounds, finished 15Rendered placeholders for CGs, unfinished backgroundsMade another music trackConducted playtestsLast month my main goal was working on all those backgrounds — I'm pleased to say that I am very close to completing them, and that the remaining ones just need a few additional props and lighting. My new workflow of doing multiple passes of every background, rather then finishing them completely one by one, has really paid off and made the entire process go faster. In addition, the amount of CGs in the File has increased to 50. The work I did in the past of going to the trouble of making custom 3D models of the characters is helping me a lot with that. My biggest challenge now is the sheer volume of remaining assets to create, and a few writing revisions that I'm d…
- Devlog 63: Architecture - 27 November 2025
Characters are finished!What I worked on since the last update:Finished the designs and sprites for the charactersCoded the game to a "playable" stateFinished File 06 UI recoloringThis month went by super quickly, and after designing the characters went so slowly, I've realized I really need to ramp up my productivity if I want File 06 to be released in early 2026. So I've been pushing myself to work more, and have just finished make the File fully "playable" — I'm now able to play the entire File through, though obviously its missing all the art and music and looks super rough. It's as though I've laid down a "blueprint", and now I can begin actually building the house. The next big goal will be blocking out all those backgrounds and then modeling all the props and everything for them.Until next time!— LockedOn.
- Devlog 62: And Now For Everything Else! - 31 October 2025
I have finished writing File 06!What I worked on since the last update:Finished writing File 06Created 2 music tracksDesigned 3 charactersWell, it took a little longer than I thought, but I finished writing File 06, which means that The Canada Files is now fully written. I can finally move on to the other parts of the process, which are still difficult but not nearly as much of a struggle to get myself to do. I'm pretty excited about it— it's a dark and dramatic finale. I hope it won't take too long to complete, since there are a ton of backgrounds, CGs, music... but at the same time, knowing it's the final File is very motivating.Until next time!— LockedOn.
- Devlog 61: Writing Six - 16 September 2025
Writing has begun on File 06!What I worked on since the last update:Outlined the mystery for File 06Wrote Chapter 26Designed 1 characterFinished Part 2 of The Art of MethodsI've begun writing File 06, after outlining the mystery. I'm trying to apply all the lessons I learned from creating all the previous Files to try to make it the most thrilling mystery yet. I also recently released Part 2 of The Art of Methods on my Patreon and Afdian pages. It takes some time, but it's definitely worth it to fill in all those details about the Methods universe. I will make sure it's finished before I begin production on Motives.Until next time!— LockedOn.
- Update Notes for Sep 14 - 14 September 2025
Fixed "Wrong Room" evidence number count
- Hangouts Four & Five Released! - 23 August 2025
Both Hangout Four and Hangout Five have been released, which means that the Hangouts feature is now finished. Please note that the price of the game will increase soon now that the Hangouts are released, so now is a good time to get the game at a reduced price!With these Hangouts comes two new Outfit sets — Pirates and Suits. Whether you prefer to plunder other detective team's ships or make sure Team Tads looks spiffy for a night out on the town, you will now have the option!Changes to Hangouts SystemVote choices no longer impact MoraleOutfits now unlock when you get a good ending instead of requiring both good and bad endingsThe votes in each File used to impact Hangout Morale — for example, the character who you voted for as "Most Useless" would have a lower Morale when you began the Hangout. This wasn't very intuitive or clearly communicated, and led to some edge cases of players no…
- Devlog 60: Crashing Wave - 28 July 2025
Hangout Five has been written!What I worked on since the last update:Wrote Hangout FiveImplemented 3 OutfitsCoded all HangoutsThe biggest hurdle has finally been overcome — writing Hangout Five. The past few months, it was a bit of a struggle to write, but bit by bit, I hacked away at it and now, it's done!Here's a screenshot from the upcoming release! I still have another Outfit set to draw, Hangout Five's background to create, and of course, the Chinese translation needs to be finished, but it's getting close!Until next time!— LockedOn.
- Devlog 59: Two In One - 26 June 2025
Hangout Four has been written!Hangout Four has been written, and soon I can send it off for translation! As I was aiming for, it's about 5k words. However, my plan is to go ahead and create Hangout Five as well before the next release. I would like to be completely focused on File 06, so finishing up all the Hangouts first is my top priority, and creating both at once will allow me to save some time I think. It's fitting, since I also created File 04 & 05 at the same time. This will mean that the Hangouts feature will be complete with the next update — there was never going to be a Hangout Six. However, there will be something better, and it has to do with that unknown feature in the Extras menu that is currently labeled with a question mark. ;)What I worked on since the last update:Wrote Hangout FourDesigned 5 New OutfitsImplemented 2 OutfitsUntil next time!— LockedOn.
- Update Notes for Jun 8 - 8 June 2025
Typo fixes in Chinese localization
