Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts News

[h2]Hello Scribes![/h2][p]Two weeks have flown by in the blink of an eye, and that means it's time for another Steam Update from Scriptorium development! Today we've got some exciting topics to cover including  some more details of the demo version, your first-ever listen to Scriptorium's original soundtrack, and more details on a very special 𓆙 basement resident![/p][h3]Demo Version Update[/h3][p]The highly anticipated demo is still in active development and the team is making great progress, we'll share more details in the next update. We wanted to answer some questions you've asked after our last post right away![/p][p]Here's what you can expect from the demo:[/p]

• [p]Both Story Mode and Sandbox Mode - We really want to show you the two main pillars Scriptorium is built on. We know some of you love a good story and that sense of progression that comes from improving your workshop and completing commissions - so there'll be a snippet of Story Mode where you'll create your character and get a taste of the campaign mode. And for those who just want to jump straight into creating without restrictions, Sandbox Mode will be there too and let you experiment with the selection of assets we carefully chose for the demo.[/p]
• [p]Export your artworks - Just like in the playtest, you'll be able to export your creations and share them on social media (once the demo is out remember to tag our social channels so we can admire and hype your work!)[/p]
• [p]Fresh start for launch - progress from the demo won't transfer to the full game, so whatever you create in the demo stays in the demo, and you'll start the full version with a clean slate![/p]
• [p]And since some of you have asked - the demo will of course be free to download and play (we can't think of a different scenario, but since you’ve asked - we answer!)[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Meet Scriptorium Composer - Jake Gaule![/h3][p]Don't know about you, but we here at Yaza Games are huge fans of cozy creative sims and the music is absolutely crucial for feeling immersed in such a relaxing game. That's why we wanted the music to be tailored to such gameplay. The day has come when we can show you more, so we want to introduce you to the composer preparing the soundtrack for Scriptorium, meet Jake Gaule! Jake is also known under the name Submerged Tapes and is an incredibly talented game music composer, whose work you might know from the soundtracks of games like Bladesong, Automatoys and Little Corners.[/p][p]You can expect us to do a deep dive into the topic of music in one of our future Steam Updates, but for now we have two short snippets for you - one is a fragment of the main musical theme in the game and the other you'll hear during... sleep! [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]The musical world of Scriptorium is special because the soundtrack consists of many layers that dynamically adjust to what you're currently doing and where you are in the game. We wanted it to be a subtle enough companion that it won't disturb your creative work, but also won't get boring when you're decorating your workshop or shopping for new stuff. You can expect us to explore the topic of music in Scriptorium in the next updates![/p][h3]Gameplay deep dive - Challenge Screen![/h3][p]Continuing the new tradition we started in our previous Steam Update, today we're introducing you to another screen in the game! Here's the Challenge Screen, also known as the Basilisk Grotto! Yes, your Scriptorium has a Basilisk living in the basement. Isn't that wonderful? Fortunately, this one doesn't turn you to stone because deep down it's just an oversized chicken.[/p][p](Work in progress)[/p][p][/p][p]The Challenge Screen is a place we recommend checking regularly. Here you'll find information about what's worth doing during your adventures in the world of Scriptorium to unlock unique items. As you can see in the mock-up above, if you complete enough challenges, the Basilisk will exchange them for this rather tasteful throne. Is it worth it for him? Probably not really, but he's a very generous basilisk.[/p][h3]What's next?[/h3][p]In the next update, we'll answer the question: what exactly are dreams in Scriptorium, and why should you make sure your scribe gets enough sleep? 👀[/p][p][/p][p]That's all for today, thank you for reading and see you in 2 weeks - stay safe & warm out there![/p][p]Your Yaza Games and Mythwright Teams[/p][p][/p][p]PS. We also want to continue using Steam Updates to show you cool, lesser known indie games created by wonderful, talented developers we've met along our journey! Here's Leafy Corner, a game created by a duo of Polish developers where you run a cozy shop with... potted plants. An absolute banger of a game concept, we recommend it for all lovers of houseplants and cozy sims! [/p][p]Don't forget to add it to your wishlist and today they launched Leafy Corner playtest session, so you can check the game out for yourself![/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p] [/p]

[h2]Hello Scribes![/h2][p][/p][p]Welcome to our first Steam update in 2026! The holiday break gave our team exactly what we desperately needed, some rest and a chance to recharge our batteries, because the upcoming weeks and months are going to be veeeery demanding for us. As you know, 2026 is the year Scriptorium will launch, and the final stretch of production is always the most challenging. We're so happy that so many of you are here with us, and some great news - we are almost at 80,000 wishlist mark![/p][p]Let's start with the most important thing - you've been asking us about when the next playtest will be. The answer is - never! That's right, there will be no more playtests. Don't worry though: there's something much better coming - a demo version! Our team is currently actively working on it as the last summer playtest gave us a ton of feedback, which we used in the second half of last year to refine the key elements of the game. [/p][p]This feedback has been super helpful for us to make the game the best it can be for you all, so you can expect the demo version to be (hopefully!) tailored to you. Importantly the demo will be a proper slice of the final version, so unlike the playtest, it'll have even more gameplay elements and better reflect the final game. And we’ll announce more soon - just a bit more patience! [/p][p] [/p][h3]Generative AI in Scriptorium? NEVER. [/h3][p]As you know, at Yaza Games we're all gamers ourselves, and we're well aware of the current situation in the market with AI. Through our social media channels we've received quite a few questions from you all, like, do we use tools for generating assets (like graphics, sounds, code) when working on Scriptorium? The answer is absolutely not, and we want to assure you that as a studio, from the very beginning we've had a firm policy that every asset that makes it into the game is the result of work by our team, trusted partners, and friends we've been working with for years. See for yourself: [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]We just want you to know that when you buy Scriptorium, or our previous game Inkulinati, you're getting a game that's free from these kinds of practices. We’re not here to judge other studios - this is simply our position. As a studio literally drawing from cultural heritage like medieval manuscripts, we feel we need to emphasize our position on this.[/p][p][/p][h3]Steam Trading Cards & Backgrounds[/h3][p]A bunch of you have been asking us about Trading Cards and Steam backgrounds from Scriptorium. We're happy to say that they're coming! We have this planned for the upcoming weeks, and of course we hope you'll love them. We'll show you what they look like in one of our next updates, which we'll be posting for you every 2 weeks. Also expect a completely new version of our Steam Page, which will appear very soon.[/p][p][/p][h3]Gameplay deep dive - Resource Screen![/h3][p]Starting with this Steam Update, we're planning to introduce you to different screens and features of our game in future devlogs, so you'll be true masters of the scriptorium by launch! First up, something concrete, the dye production screen, also called the Pigment Workshop. [/p][p]When playing the Story Mode campaign, this is where you'll create different ink colors, and even liquid gold, which you'll use to color and refine assets in composition mode. So, welcome to your little pigment workshop, where with the help of a real dragon, a turtle and a boat with rats, you'll create the ingredients needed to make true masterpieces! [/p][p]Okay, let's dive into this with a video teaser![/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]As you may remember, one of the key challenges for our team was making Scriptorium a real game and  by that we mean it won't be "just" a graphics editor, it will have progression and gameplay features you're probably used to from other cozy creative games. Features that will require you to plan and make decisions about how to spend your earned resources, and so on. The Pigment Workshop is exactly that kind of place.[/p][p]We didn't want you to unlock colors by just getting a pop-up saying "Hey, you now have gold color!", so we decided to wrap it in a tiny minigame with a few medieval references (even if scribes didn't necessarily use dragon help to melt gold 👀). You'll also be growing flowers of different colors here, whose petals will be used to produce the color of a given pigment. [/p][p]And remember, Scriptorium encourages experimentation, so mix colors, mix ingredients, and unlock dozens of different hues and shades so your artworks shine with a lot of beautiful colors! Top Tip: the shop's offerings change daily, so check this screen regularly so you don't miss any element needed to complete your collection.[/p][p] [/p][h3]Discord Integration[/h3][p]A final little thing to wrap up. We know that many of you use Discord daily to stay in touch with friends, so we decided to integrate Discord into Scriptorium. When the game launches, your friends will see that you're a manuscript lover and playing our game. We're not sure yet how much information will be shared in the mode itself, but even in the demo version, you'll be able to show what you’re playing and maybe even stream your creative process.[/p][p][/p][h3]What's next?[/h3][p]In the next update, we’ll answer a question no one has ever asked:[/p][p]what’s happening in the hen’s basement beneath your scriptorium table?[/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]Thanks for taking the time to read this update! We hope you enjoyed it and if you have any questions or comments, the comment section awaits![/p][p]
[/p][p]Your Yaza Games and Mythwright Teams[/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]PS. Yesterday our friends from Sun and Serpent Games and Mythwright released their game Bladesong on Steam in early access! A creative sword-making simulator where you can have a great time as a blacksmith, even if you've never been in a real forge. We're letting you know because we're sure you'll love it! [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p]Hello everyone![/p][p][/p][p]We know you’re probably deep in the Holiday chilling with your loved ones, so this update will be a short one - but we couldn’t end 2025 without talking to you here and wishing you the best! We want to wish you a wonderful holiday season - full of creativity (medieval, preferably!), warm moments, and quality time with your loved ones.[/p][p][/p][p]We also prepared a small gift for you - a holiday greeting card template featuring your favorite medieval (egg)horse! Our mascot agreed to make a special appearance and decorate it for you. Feel free to send it to your friends and family who have a soft spot for all things medieval![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]In just a week, we’ll begin 2026 a.d. - the year you’ll finally get to play Scriptorium in all its glory! We’re excited (and yes, a little nervous too) to see how you’ll feel about the full version, after how awesome the playtest was earlier this year. Development is going really well - with each week the game becomes more complete, more polished, and simply better, bringing us closer to a (strong, hopefully!) release. So don’t worry: we’re working at full speed, and we honestly believe we’ll have something special to deliver you soon.[/p][p][/p][p]We also keep seeing your questions about the next playtest - and we completely understand that waiting is hard. While we can’t share a date just yet, we can promise that in the coming weeks you can expect some exciting news about opportunities to play Scriptorium before the full release.[/p][p][/p][p]And one more thing - we want to stay closer to you on Steam and keep you in the loop, so starting in January you’ll be seeing us here more frequently - we're thinking about bi-weekly updates. So we’re going to try shorter, more regular posting schedule here - imagine quick snapshots from the most recent exciting things of development. Let us know what you think of that plan![/p][p][/p][p]Once again - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, folks! 2026 is surely going to be packed with a lot of fun for medieval fans![/p][p][/p][p]Your Yaza Games and Mythwright Teams[/p]

[p]Hey everyone,[/p][p]Uff... it’s been a while since the Playtest ended, but we’re finally back with something you’ve been asking us for quite a bit - answers to your most common playtest survey questions! We went through thousands of your responses, and these were by far the ones that showed up the most.[/p][p]Since the Playtest, we have been working very hard on development and taking a bunch of your feedback onboard. With each passing day, the game is becoming more complete and closer to what we envisioned for it, and a lot of that is thanks to your incredible playtest feedback. So, let’s dive right in and tackle the questions you care about most![/p][p][/p][p]When will the game be released?
No release date yet! The reason is simple - we’re currently working hard on the game after the Playtest and want to first update our plans based on all the great feedback you gave us. We take it seriously![/p][p]What we can already say is that we’ll need a bit more time than we initially thought, and we are aiming for the release in 2026. Don’t worry though - it’s not a big delay by any means, and the game doesn’t have any major problems that would significantly push the release date back. Just after the Playtest, we decided that Scriptorium deserves a few more features you asked for to make both Story Mode and Sandbox Mode more engaging and replayable. [/p][p]As you know, we’re a small team, supported by a great publisher, but we do everything ourselves, and as many of you ask, with no AI-generated content. So making these changes takes time, and we don’t want to overwork our team in the process. We believe you’d make the same call in our shoes - this extra time will really make Scriptorium a better game, and a more complete experience that’s truly worth your purchase at launch. And just to clarify - right now, we don’t plan another Playtest session as we’re still implementing your amazing feedback from the last one. We treat Playtests as a development tool, not a demo, so that plan might change in the future if we need to test something with you all.[/p][p][/p][p]What is the estimated price?
No decision on the pricing yet, but our goal is to keep it reasonable. We know there are so many great games out there, and we want Scriptorium to be accessible to as many players as possible. You can expect more details on that closer to release.[/p][p][/p][p]I missed Summer Playtests - will there be more playtest opportunities? Yes! We are happy to announce thata you will be able to play Scriptorium during Poznań Game Arena in Poznan, Poland between October 24 to October 26! Yaza Games booth will be in Hall 5 Booth no. 10![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We’re also looking into other future opportunities to let you experience the game again before release. For now, our focus is on the full version and the upcoming demo, which we plan to share closer to launch - most likely during one of the future Steam Next Fests. Stay tuned for updates![/p][p][/p][p]Will the game be available in other languages besides English?
Yes! While it’s too early to confirm the full list of supported languages, we definitely want to localize Scriptorium into as many as we can. We’ll share the confirmed list later on our social channels. [/p][p][/p][p]What platforms will the game be on?
PC (Steam) is confirmed as it’s our main development platform! Interestingly, during recent playtests we’ve heard from a few of you that the game runs quite well on Linux, even though we haven’t prepared a native port for that system and we can’t guarantee that all distributions are fine now or will be fine closer to the release date. We’ve also received a lot of questions about MacOS support - unfortunately, it’s not an easy system to port to, so we can’t promise anything yet. If anything changes regarding new platforms or stores, we’ll let you know here and on our social media channels.[/p][p][/p][p]Will the game have regional pricing for countries like Brazil?
Of course! We know very well that Steam’s default regional pricing tables can be a bit outdated - as developers from Poland, a country where our currency is affected by this quite heavily, we’ve seen how that can make prices uncompetitive. So rest assured, regional pricing will be carefully adjusted to make the game fairly priced in every region, especially in countries with lower purchasing power.[/p][p][/p][p]Will there be an Early Access period or a full release?
No plans for Early Access. You can, however, expect a demo and at least one chance to play the game live at upcoming gaming events. The game will be showcased in our home country Poland at Poznań Game Arena! We’ll be there next week with a build quite similar to the playtest between 24-26 October.[/p][p][/p][p]Can creations made in the game be used for personal or commercial purposes (e.g. D&D campaigns, posters, etc.)?[/p][p]We get this question all the time! Here’s the rule:[/p]

• [p]You can freely create, export, and share your manuscripts on social media or use them for non-commercial purposes (for example, illustrate your hobby writing project, use as your profile picture on social media, etc.).[/p]
• [p]However, if your project is commercial - like a published book or monetized material - you can’t use Scriptorium-generated works in it. We want to treat everyone fairly, so this rule applies equally to all players with no exceptions - Scriptorium is a tool designed to provide you with fun experiences. [/p]

[p]Tl;dr - the easiest way to be sure if you can use Scriptorium’s export images: ask yourself, “Am I using this work directly or indirectly to earn money?” If the answer is no - go for it! [/p][p][/p][p]Is it possible to use the sandbox for educational or cultural projects, with proper credit?
Absolutely! All educational and cultural institutions are welcome to use works made in Scriptorium for non-profit purposes and use Scriptorium as a game that helps bridge medieval times with contemporary experiences. Cultural institutions are especially welcome to get in touch with us, as we have a lot of experience in working with such entities and we love to get involved as a studio too for collabs, cross promos, etc.![/p][p][/p][p]Will there be more assets and illustrations (animals, mythical creatures, different eras, etc.)?
Definitely! We’re adding lots of new content - more animals, more decorations, more characters, and more everything. Honestly, we’re only a little worried there might be too much to choose from! As for different eras - no plans for that, as medieval times are our one and only source of inspiration.[/p][p][/p][p]Will there be a Story Mode? How long and replayable will it be?
Yes, of course! Story Mode is at the very heart of Scriptorium. You’ll create your own scribe, take commissions from various quirky clients, and grow your medieval workshop (including filling it with various items to make it truly yours!) to become the best illuminator in the land. It’s hard to say exactly how long it’ll take to complete the game - it’s tough to estimate for creative-based games as a lot depends on how much time you want to spend crafting each manuscript. Some players will move fast, focusing on progression, while others will lose themselves in every little detail for hours.[/p][p][/p][p]Will there be a text option to write full sentences instead of placing individual letters? Yes! The system in the Playtest build was temporary - we’ve already implemented a proper text editor that lets you choose fonts, sizes, and move text fields freely around the manuscript page. (please keep in mind the the art design of this feature that you see below is still a work in progress and not final by any means! but it's only going to get better.)[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Will players be able to customize their character/avatar?
Yes! In Story Mode, you’ll create your own scribe, choosing from various appearance options, choose your own name and other details to make your experience personal to some degree.[/p][p][/p][p]Will there be more music or a longer soundtrack? Will the OST be available on Spotify?
We’re working on it! Based on your survey answers, we know you loved the medieval and lo-fi chill vibes, so we’ll keep expanding the soundtrack in that direction. We’ll share more soon, but rest assured - we want the music to make you feel truly immersed in the experience.[/p][p][/p][p]Will there be modding or Steam Workshop support?
Not planned at the moment - but that may change in the future![/p][p][/p][p]Will there be more stories and lore about the characters and the world?
Yes! Characters will have their own motivations, quirks, and personalities - some will appear only once, others will return with follow-up commissions. Expect interesting stories and even more interesting manuscript requests![/p][p][/p][p]Will there be an option to save images in formats like PNG or PDF for printing? [/p][p]Yes! You can print your artworks and use them however you like - for example as a bookmark. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Will there be the option to write entire books with multiple pages?
Not directly in-game, as it’s not in our plans for launch as of today, but you’ll easily be able to create multiple pages (i.e. each page as a separate image file), export them, and combine them into one PDF with multiple pages using any free tool online.[/p][p][/p][p]Can players keep playing the Playtest version or access a limited demo?
The Playtest build was (and will remain in case of future playtest sessions, if they happen) a tool for testing the game together with you - not a demo or early access version, so expect a time-limited experience.[/p][p][/p][p]How did the developers get the idea for the game?
Scriptorium has been with us since the days of Inkulinati. We thought: maybe instead of fighting on the pages of manuscripts with medieval marginalia creatures, why not let players create them themselves? We already had the assets to start with, and your early feedback was so encouraging that we knew this was the perfect next step for our little medieval universe.[/p][p][/p][p]Will there be paid DLCs?
No plans for that as of now! If we ever do DLC, it’ll be because we have something truly meaningful to add - like a whole new setting or major content expansion. Cutting content to sell as DLC isn’t something we want to do with Scriptorium, so no worries there![/p][p][/p][p]Phew... that was quite a list!
Thank you once again to everyone who played the Playtest, filled out the surveys, and shared your thoughts. Your passion and feedback continue to shape Scriptorium every single day. If you have more questions, feel free to drop them in the comments or join our Discord community - our team is there and happy to chat anytime![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]See you soon (in person - next week in Poznań at Poznan Game Arena 2025!), and thank you for helping us illuminate the world of Scriptorium together.[/p][p]Your Yaza Games and Mythwright teams[/p][p]
[/p]

[p]Hi everyone![/p][p]Ufff... after two long weeks, hundreds of your incredible manuscripts and thousands of messages exchanged on our Discord and social media channels, the first Scriptorium playtest has officially come to an end. We want to thank every one of you who joined us over the past days - whether you played for hours, submitted detailed feedback, or just popped in to see what this illuminated manuscripts world was all about. This was our very first opportunity to let you experience Scriptorium, and your response has been incredible, and we are beyond grateful for each one of you![/p][h3]Summary[/h3][p]Let's tackle some number! Almost 14,000 players joined the playtest on Steam with vast majority of them actively played the game. We received a whooping 2000 completed feedback surveys - and the results speak for themselves![/p]

• [p]96.5% of you said they would recommend Scriptorium to a friend[/p]
• [p]97.9% (!) said they’d leave a positive Steam review[/p]

[p]These are exceptional numbers - and if they hold through to launch, Scriptorium would be among the highest-rated games on the platform, with "overwhelmingly postiive" rating![/p][p]Your feedback, both positive and critical, has been invaluable. That was the primary goal of this playtest: to find out what works, what needs improvement, and where we should focus our efforts before release. Some of the issues raised are already on our roadmap - like save system, proper tools for placing text, or expanding the number of available assets for you to use in the editor. We now have a much clearer picture of what Scriptorium needs, and we’re already putting that feedback into action.[/p][h3]So... will the playtest return?[/h3][p]It’s a possibility - but we don’t want to make any promises just yet. As we mentioned every time the playtest was designed as a development support tool, not a marketing event, not a demo version, and whether we run another one will depend on where the project is a little further down the road. We may want to test another build later in development - and for example focus on different aspects of the game for you to test - but for now, we need to take what we’ve learned and make the most of it.[/p][p]What we can conifrm is that the demo version will of course be released closer to the 1.0 launch - most likely during a future Steam Fest. We’ll share more when we have a confirmed date. So it's certain you'll have at least one more chance to play Scriptorium before the full release![/p][h3]What’s next?[/h3][p]Over the coming weeks, our team will be reviewing every single survey, bug report, and suggestion. This is the moment where your feedback directly shapes the next phase of development. Please give us some time to evaluate the feedback and focus a bit more on the development of the game now, as we would love to show you that your feedback really mattered and will actually be implemented into the game.[/p][h3]Your creations[/h3][p]One of the most exciting parts of this playtest has been seeing what you made with the tools we gave you. From faithful medieval scenes to completely surreal experiments, your manuscripts have surprised, inspired, and made us laugh.[/p][p]We’ll be sharing a selection of soooo many our favourite works from the playtest below - we hope they’ll inspire you as much as they inspired us![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Author: veneny[/p][p]Author: Minimaks[/p][p]Author: Minimaks[/p][p]Author: Minimaks[/p][p]Author: longleggedgoth[/p][p][/p][p]Author: Zeer[/p][p][/p][p]Author: The Walrus[/p][p]Author: Liv[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Author: Toltomeja[/p][p][/p][p]Author: Eskilinha[/p][p][/p][p]If you haven’t shared yours yet, don’t worry - you can always drop your work on Discord or tag us on social media.[/p][p][/p][p]Once again: thank you for being part of this Playtest!. You’ve helped us learn more in two weeks than we could’ve in months on our own. Now it’s our turn - to dig in, refine the systems, and get Scriptorium ready for its next chapter. We're 100% honest when we're saying that we believe that we have something special here, of course with you all involved! [/p][p][/p][p]Hope to see you in the Scriptorium really soon - until next time,
Your Yaza Games and Mythwright teams[/p][p][/p][p]Author: Eskilinha[/p]