- New Performance & Stability Update [1.3.0] - 22 January 2026
In our quest to bring the offline LLM to as many machines as possible, we have just released a new update (1.3.0) that dramatically increases the range of compatible hardware the game can run on.In particular, we focused on systems that struggled the most after the previous update: Steam Deck and other handheld devices, some non-CUDA-compatible GPUs, and integrated graphics cards. Our tests show that the game’s performance and stability has improved significantly across all the hardware we tested. We would like to remind you that the online version will remain available for a while. It can be activated from the Beta panel in the game’s Properties on Steam. The online version uses a remote server to process dialogue, allowing the game to run smoothly even on slower machines.We will discontinue the online version once we have verified that the offline version functions correctly on the wi…
- Vaudeville Priced at 7.99 While Featured in Steam Detective Fest - 11 January 2026
Starting today and for the rest of this week, Steam will celebrate the crime genre with the Steam Detective Fest. What more fitting chance to highlight a game that has brought ground-breaking features to this kind of game?Throughout the week, the game will get a monster discount of 60% and will also be available, as usual, as part of the bundle containing all Bumblebee Studios’ games. Vaudeville left Early Access in December after two and a half years of hard work. In January, Bumblebee Studios launched the biggest update ever: a completely reworked game flow that allows for modular world-building, scalability, countless future feature additions, and gives users control over content creation.The Vaudeville Story Vault (VSV) will be home to many new adventures, including official stories from the developers and partners, as well as user-generated content. Vaudeville on Steam:Bumble Bundl…
- Vaudeville Story Vault on Steam Workshop - 21 December 2025
Today we launch our biggest update ever: a completely reworked game flow that allows for modular world-building, scalability, countless future feature additions, and gives users control over content creation.The Vaudeville Story Vault (VSV) will be home to many new adventures, including official stories from the developers and partners, as well as user-generated content.Included with the latest release of Vaudeville, you’ll find the brand-new Editor (VSVE), accessible by clicking the Workshop button in the main menu. From there, you can access different functionalities, ranging from creating your own stories and submitting them to the Steam Workshop, to running adventures locally or sharing them privately with friends through our .vsv file format.We look forward to seeing the Vaudeville community’s contributions, whether they’re new and engaging stories, casual character interactions, o…
- Vaudeville leaves Early Access - 28 November 2025
The time has come!Vaudeville is leaving Early Access and gets its official release today, with a 35% launch discount.It has been two and a half years since Vaudeville first arrived as an Early Access title. Back then it was an overambitious solo project, and none of us expected the reaction it got. Seeing some of the biggest content creators in the world play it took us completely by surprise.Since then we have worked hard on it and gone through a real rollercoaster. All of that eventually pushed us to build our own offline version of the AI tech at the core of the game. Conversational AI, speech recognition and text-to-speech now run locally. No internet needed.We have also put a lot of effort into removing AI-generated art from the game. We believe that AI as a game mechanic can improve the experience, but it cannot replace real artists when it comes to visuals, music or storytelling.…
- Eye of the Summoner Launches on Steam May 16th - 21 April 2025
We are happy to announce that Eye of the Summoner, a unique dark fantasy tower defense game, will launch on Steam for Windows, Linux, and Steam Deck on May 16, 2025. Originally created by Bumblebee Studios during Ludum Dare 55, Eye of the Summoner has grown into a full-featured game thanks to strong community support. Players take on the role of the Eye, a mysterious force bound to a cursed tower, summoning dark minions to fend off waves of heroic human invaders. The game blends strategy and action as players rotate the tower to direct their summons, select upgrade cards between waves, and adapt to an ever-growing onslaught of enemies. Eye of the Summoner offers: Endless wave-based survival with increasing difficulty Six summonable minion types with upgradeable stats and abilities Steam achievements, cloud saves, global leaderboards, and full controller support Full compatibility with W…
- Vaudeville Offline Beta - 3 October 2024
Hi Vaudevillans! We’ve been silent for a while, which led some to speculate that Vaudeville was dead. But we’re happy to tell you that is not the case at all. As you know, we are a small team, and when we’re hard at work, we don’t have much time for chit-chat. We prefer to focus on delivering results rather than making promises. So, finally, we’re back with an announcement, and what an announcement it is! As you may remember, about 15 months ago, we at Bumblebee Studios created a sensation by launching Vaudeville, the first detective game with AI-driven characters. To achieve this, we used a third-party online service called Inworld, which has been great. We’ve had a good collaboration with them and are satisfied with the results so far. However, there are downsides to relying on a third-party tool: high service costs, the need for an internet connection, the risk of outages or sudden d…
- Prepare for Battle: 'Eye of the Summoner' Early Alpha at Steam Next Fest 2024 - 10 June 2024
Today, we are happy to introduce Eye of the Summoner as our contribution to Steam Next Fest: June 2024. If you played this game during Ludum Dare 55 Game Jam, you will see how far we have come with this new milestone. If you did not, you now have the chance to start following us on this exciting adventure. What we are showcasing today is an early alpha version of this auto-battler tower defense game, where YOU are the tower. The game is far from complete, but we wanted to offer a sneak peek of what is to come. In the final version of Eye of the Summoner, there will be more units with different skills, permanent skill unlocks as in every respectable roguelike, improved sound and video effects, full support for game controllers and the Steam Deck, and, later, local and online multiplayer. We are also continuously working on testing and balancing to make the experience as rewarding and fun…
- Vaudeville Enhancements - 19 April 2024
Hey Vaudeville Community! We’ve got some thrilling news and updates to share with you all today. Vaudeville Enhancements! We’re always looking to improve your experience, and in our latest update, we’ve made two major changes: Improved Voice Acting: We’ve upgraded the voices of our beloved characters with the latest generation voice tech, making them sound more realistic and engaging! Relaxed Content Filters: We’ve loosened the content restrictions, allowing for more detailed discussions about the game's darker themes. No more awkward "I don’t feel comfortable talking about this" moments! We are committed to delivering a fantastic final version of the story, ending the early access period with a bang. This means taking a bit more time to perfect it, but we promise it will be worth the wait!
- Steam Spring Sales 2024: 60% Off On Vaudeville - 14 March 2024
'Sell the kids for food, weather changes moods, Spring is here again' Fear not, you don't have to part with your offspring to snag a copy of Vaudeville because now it's available at an incredibly low price! Prepare to dive into the immersive world of Vaudeville, crafted by Bumblebee Studios, with an unprecedented 60% discount during the Steam Spring Sales. You can now unravel mysteries and engage with AI-driven characters without breaking the bank. Picture yourself as a cunning detective, navigating a world filled with suspense and intrigue while enjoying advanced storytelling and interactions. With this offer, adventure is within reach without sacrificing your future generations. So, as Kurt Cobain used to sing, "Spring is here again." And with it comes the perfect opportunity to experience the thrill of Vaudeville without having to resort to extreme measures. Join us in the excitement…
- A Pre-Mortem for Vaudeville - 31 January 2024
To mark the 7-month anniversary of Vaudeville's release, we decided to write a retrospective of what has happened so far. Not really a post-mortem, one of those essays you write after the game's development has been completed and wrapped up, because Vaudeville is alive and kicking, still in Early Access and still evolving with daily efforts from us and the community. We won't be done with the project until we have achieved our vision. HISTORY Vaudeville started as a prototype when we read about a company, Inworld AI, on the Unity Asset Store that offered a service to create AI-driven NPCs. The prototype worked well, so we decided to turn it into a full game. The goal was to get to market as quickly as possible and be the first to release a game based on conversational AI, and we did that. And when I say "we" I mean the company, but actually Bumblebee was a one-man team at the time. Anyw…
- Story Mode is Live! - 14 January 2024
These changes have been simmering in the Beta Channel for a few weeks and are now ready for an official release: New Game Mode: Story Mode The player starts with only the Police Station available. Detective Martini must unlock other destinations through conversations with characters. Improved Characters The characters have been enhanced with more detailed information and will respond more consistently, with a reduced chance of hallucinating or going off-topic. Three Save Slots Players can now run three different instances of the game, each with its own game mode, notes, unlocks progression, conversation history and relationships with the characters. Achievements There are now 12 different achievements to earn. Besides the original two for starting and winning the game, there is now one for each time a new location is visited in Story Mode. New Voices More realistic AI voices provided by…
- Story Mode. A new way of playing Vaudeville! - 8 December 2023
Greetings, Vaudeville Enthusiasts! We're excited to announce a transformative update to your Vaudeville experience – the introduction of a new gameplay style, Story Mode - Developer's Cut! This innovation marks a significant leap in how you interact with the world of Vaudeville, bringing a fresh twist to our narrative-driven adventure. What's New in Story Mode - Developer's Cut? Story Mode revolutionizes your journey through Vaudeville. Starting at the Police Station, you'll unlock new characters and locations, unraveling the story bit by bit. This mode fosters a thrilling sense of progression and discovery, laying the foundation for all future Vaudeville adventures. And that's not all! Post Early Access, we'll be unveiling the Writer's Cut, featuring an even more intricate storyline, new events, culprits, and additional gameplay mechanics. For Our Classic Mode Fans Fear not, traditiona…
- Is Vaudeville the most innovative game in years? We think so - 21 November 2023
If you've had a chance to experience "Vaudeville" and its unique approach to NPCs and narrative, you might share the feeling that there's something special going on there. The way these AI characters respond and adapt genuinely stirs something that feels a bit like the future peeking through. That's why considering "Vaudeville" for the "Innovative Gameplay" category of the Steam Awards feels right. If this resonates with what you’ve felt playing Vaudeville, maybe drop it a vote. Here's to appreciating innovation that enhances our gaming experiences. More about Vaudeville: https://inworld.ai/case-study/ai-npcs-helped-an-indie-studio-get-300000-in-free-publicity
- Vaudeville Now "Steam Deck Verified"! - 31 October 2023
Today, Bumblebee Studios is thrilled to announce that its innovative noir detective game, Vaudeville, has officially been verified as suitable for Steam Deck. This accolade confirms that players can now enjoy an optimised experience of Vaudeville on the go with Steam Deck's portability. The verification ensures that Vaudeville will not just function but will excel on Steam Deck. Players will benefit from full compatibility with the system's built-in controls, display and microphone.. Additionally, all in-game features will be fully accessible using Steam Deck's default controller configuration. For those familiar with Steam Deck's user interface, Vaudeville will display the coveted "Verified" badge, indicating its compatibility and performance credentials. This status is a testament to Bumblebee Studios' commitment to ensuring that players get the best possible experience, regardless of…
- LONG-TERM MEMORY & RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHARACTERS - 12 October 2023
The long-term memory capability ensures characters uphold consistent and prolonged interactions, retaining important details over successive conversation sessions with users. This is a feature that has been eagerly anticipated and widely requested. It's designed to heighten immersion and provide continuity in the experience. Characters will also establish and maintain relationships based on past interactions, which will carry forward into future sessions. As we continue refining this feature, we deeply value your feedback. Please join our discord server https://discord.gg/2scPgBMkaq to help us improve this and other aspects of the game. Your collaboration is invaluable to us. Thank you! PS. You did not miss that Vaudeville has received two NYX Gold Awards for Best Innovation and PC Indie Game and reached 2nd place at GDWC Gcore Cloud Award for best usage of cloud technology, right?
- SteamOS and Linux version / New Backgrounds (1.12.4) - 28 September 2023
Native Linux and SteamOS support Improved controller compatibility Performance & usability improvements Three reworked environments: Police Station Morgue Country Club
- Vaudeville is a finalist at the Game Development World Championship - 21 September 2023
Vaudeville is a finalist at the GDWC (Game Development World Championship) for a Gcore Cloud Award for the best use of Cloud Services in game operation or mechanics. The award ceremony will take place in about 5 hours (8 AM PDT / 11 AM EDT / 16:00 GMT / 17:00 CEST / 18:00 EEST) and will be broadcast on Youtube. Join the streaming at https://www.youtube.com/@thegdwc and cheer on Bumblebee Studios and Vaudeville!
- The best is yet to come! - 15 September 2023
Hey Vaudevillans! It's been an intense few months since this game went from being an interesting niche Early Access title to an internet sensation overnight. It happened on the 15th of July when I was travelling with my daughter on a train from Germany to Italy very early in the morning. I opened the Steam stats page and there was a huge spike in sales and dozens of new people on the Discord channel. They explained to me that a very famous streamer was playing our game right then and had been doing it for hours and loved it. And then another big streamer followed, and another... After a few hours, the game was so popular that the servers that host the generative dialogue service were overloaded and stopped working. At that point, Bumblebee Studios was basically me, Simone. There were people who helped me with various tasks from time to time, but it was still a one-man team. I spent the…
- Update 0.11.3 (INTERRUPT SPEECH) - 21 August 2023
Added function to interrupt NPC's speech Changed conflicting key bindings Added new help texts Fixed minor bugs KEY BINDINGS Leave Location: KEYBOARD ESC / GAMEPAD START Toggle Notebook: KEYBOARD F1 or CTRL+N / MOUSE MIDDLE BTN / GAMEPAD LB Toggle Mic Mute: KEYBOARD F2 or CTRL+M / GAMEPAD SELECT Interrupt NPC: KEYBOARD F3 / GAMEPAD RB Look Around: HOLD RIGHT MOUSE BTN or GAMEPAD RIGHT STICK
- 0.11.2 Timeout fix - 18 August 2023
The game will no longer exit the current location when the connection is lost but will try to reconnect instead.
