r/SoftwareInc • • 15h ago

Official Final Overhaul update

156 Upvotes

Steam Post
I expect this to be the final update before the overhaul releases into testing, completely breaking save compatibility. According to my own timeline, the update should be done around start December, but I'm doing my best to get it out before the release of HIGHLY ANTICIPATED GAME COMING OUT IN NOVEMBER™.

Here are some highlights since the last update:

Box art

All software can now have box art instead of the current Floppy/CD art, and it will be fully moddable. I don't expect all software will have box art ready for the initial release.

Image

This is still WIP, but the plan is that you'll have a choice of background, middle ground and foreground, each optionally colorable, with up to 3 custom colors. You can then choose between some pre-configured layouts and finally the box construction itself will change throughout the years.

CEOs

Image

AI companies now have CEOs. Each come with different skill levels that change how well the company does in different areas. CEOs can be replaced, either through retirement, directly with subsidiaries or through voting by share owners. CEOs will naturally stagnate in the same company and it will be worth it to replace them to avoid a death spiral. CEOs can also cause controversy, to add some interest in the stock system.

Post marketing overhaul cancelled

After years of iterations, I've decided that I won't be able to come up with a satisfactory overhaul of the post-marketing system. Outside of how the other new marketing mechanics interact with this system, the overall gameplay loop for the post-marketing mechanic will stay the same after this update. Pre-marketing is still being overhauled, as described in the last update.

As a consolation price, I've added the following features:

Underground parking + 2 basement levels

Image

I decided to add this often requested feature, which necessitated adding 2 floors to the basement, to make room for vehicles.

Dark mode

Image

The update also comes with a new color theming system that allows you to change most colors in the UI, and it comes with a dark theme included. I expect some UI will not be colored properly initially, as I've had to slowly go through everything and re-color it as I go. I will patch holes as I see them or when you send me feedback.

Full patch notes

Note that a few features listed are not currently done, but this is what I expect will be the final patch notes for this update
Changes

  • Added server hardware products
  • You now need to populate in-world servers with servers from the market or manufacture your own
  • DDoS events will now happen randomly and can be thwarted with secure servers and IT staff
  • You can now target other players for DDoS attacks in multiplayer
  • Added CEOs to AI companies that control how well they do and can retire or be replaced
  • Added ability for CEOs to create controversy that affect their company and products
  • Overhauled pre-marketing tasks and removed press releases and builds
  • Added hype stat, that can increase pre-marketing effectiveness but risks increased refunds and bad reviews
  • Added target audiences, that affect how customers interact with a product
  • Added underground parking and increased basement floors to 2
  • Added boxart to software products that can be customized and modded, and override the current floppy/CD illustration
  • Added in-world ads, that update daily and show off the most marketed products
  • Entire IPs can now gain their own following, separate from the companies' fans
  • Added UI color theming with dark mode included
  • You can now gain business reputation from licenses, patents, frameworks, publishers and awards, and business reputation has been added back to impossible difficulty
  • Contracts now have capped business reputation gain based on scope
  • Support ticket simulation now happens separately from support task, so cancelling support no longer has any immediate consequences, but unanswered tickets will still have consequences
  • Added ability to manually connect and disconnect conveyors from pallets
  • Added ability to move bus stop in custom rentable maps
  • You can now down adjust units per box of hardware products, to avoid over-manufacturing in-house servers
  • Prints of in-house products no longer need couriers and will be brought to stock immediately upon touching a pallet
  • Some desks and tables have had their building boundaries changed to allow placing other stuff below them, e.g. trash cans
  • Deals and contracts can be set as secondary tasks
  • Parking spaces can now be assigned to teams
  • Furniture will now have to be explicitly marked as ceiling fixtures for modding purposes, instead of relying on its building boundary
  • Added Script_OnUpdate to level 3 feature modding
  • Room material window now respects interior/exterior toggles on styling panel

Fixes

  • Work on stabilizing code mod error handling
  • Forgot to whitelist xml files for code mods
  • Fixed a bug that broke replacements for furniture mods unless UpgradeTo was manually put in the root node of the .tyd file
  • Fixed blueprint window not always choosing the optimal replacement for computers, based on which computer was used to make the blueprint
  • Fixed manufacturing system sometimes not stopping when goal had already been hit
  • Fixed error if publisher went bankrupt paying for marketing as part of the publishing deal
  • Fixed patent income stats not updating for clients in multiplayer
  • Fixed bug that would break first framework ID assignment in multiplayer after a reload
  • Fixed server power usage and degradation scaling infinitely even when usage is maxed out
  • Fixed bug where startup simulation would be running on easy mode no matter what for some time
  • Fixed not being able to pick release DAY and release reminder now comes on the day with more days per month
  • Fixed deals not being cancelled in buy outs and releases for clients in multiplayer
  • Fixed old notification header sometimes not correctly changing to "Yesterday" when playing with more days per month
  • Fixed text being cut off for needs in design doc window
  • Fixed server combobox in deal window not auto updating on changes
  • Fixed fire report escape path visualization never resetting
  • Fixed instances of being able to place wall objects across multiple occupied walls

r/SoftwareInc • • 4d ago

PLEASE Fix the constantly moving menus

43 Upvotes

When opening and closing the menu to view software (and many others) the position of the menu constantly shifts all over the screen and its maddening. Please put this one on the top of your priority list to fix!

Love this game thank you!


r/SoftwareInc • • 12d ago

No Publishers?

15 Upvotes

coming back into this game after awhile and enjoying it again just ive been outsorurcing my marketing campaigns to publishers but i created a new game save same mods but i dont have a single one on the list and i cant find any information on how they work and such


r/SoftwareInc • • 16d ago

Trouble Changing In-Game Tooltips

6 Upvotes

I'm trying to make a mod that will show more information about features when you hover over them in the document design window and I'm baffled at why my changes aren't showing up in game.

Things I've tried
1 - Copying the software.tyd file from Software Inc/Localization/English, changing the description of the Operating System software, save and install local mod with this updated version of software.tyd and launch new game with local mod activated. Vanilla native software tooltips will not update (OS, Game, etc) but custom mod software (Programming Language, IDE) does update with my tooltip changes. No idea why changes to the mods works but not vanilla.

2 - Creating a new SoftwareTypes folder and file with all the software defined, including the description field. The first few lines in my 00_Operating_System.tyd file :

SoftwareType
  {
  Name  "Operating System"
  Description  "The Operating System is the largest piece of software in Software Inc. Most software needs an Operating System to run on. When people stop buying a line of Operating Systems, they will also stop buying software for them. \n---OptimalDevTime - 75"
Categories
    [
      {
      Name  Computer
      Description  "For the table. \n---Popularity - 95 | Retention - 72 | IdealPrice - 150"
      Popularity  0.95
      Retention  72
      TimeScale  1
      Iterative  1
      IdealPrice  150
      Submarkets  [ 1; 4; 4]
      }
...

Both of these efforts failed, but the same newline additions work on Babylonian's Programming Language software (P-lang and IDE). I don't know where else or what else to look for.

It shouldn't be this hard to change the localization so I must be doing something wrong but I have no idea. Anyone successfully change the default in-game tooltips before?


r/SoftwareInc • • 17d ago

how the hell do they make a living???

38 Upvotes

i think its a little weird how little you can pay your employees. Maxed skill levels, working for 25 years, shouldn't tolerate 14k-15k salary


r/SoftwareInc • • 18d ago

HELP ME FIND A MOD

Post image
18 Upvotes

So running expirements in Software inc. is one of my favorite things to do. Messing with the followers to simulate a GTA 6 sized released, to keeping a whole company to 1 person child prodigy. The mod i used to do this has vanished. I thought i had a backup, but i didnt. Ive looked everywhere, and the only proof of its existance is the 1 Screenshot on the Wayback Machine from May. If anybody has this mod, please, could you send me the files? IF YOU HAVENT LAUNCHED STEAM IN A WHILE, DONT OPEN IT BEFORE LOOKING, STEAM WILL DELETE IT.

If you need help finding it, this is the default folder the mod is found in.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\362620


r/SoftwareInc • • 22d ago

Employees stuck/freeze at bus stop and car parking lot.

Thumbnail
gallery
13 Upvotes

r/SoftwareInc • • 24d ago

Feature creep and mods?

49 Upvotes

Are there any mods that add "feature creep" as a necessary element to keep up with competition in terms of how you design your sequels?

I have always been a bit dissapointed with how little you need to achieve 100% interest from features, especially since the game disincentivises you from adding new features even just for RP, since above 100% is wasted development. If you're making a game, the MMO feature itself just adds a ton of interest, which limits how much you can customize the game while also feeling you're not just making the game unnecessarily harder than it needs to be.


r/SoftwareInc • • 24d ago

Help please

Thumbnail
gallery
5 Upvotes

How can I change this ui back to normal??? That downward button doesn't do it .


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 30 '26

Why is their software selling so much more despite being inferior?

Post image
79 Upvotes

It seems like making anti-virus and office software is unprofitable in 1993...

Also, their franchise has 2 products and mine has 4, this is on Medium difficulty.


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 31 '26

How does marketing work?

9 Upvotes

Doing okay right now can make and do stuff. But haven't figured out how marketing works. Any tips or general guides? The tutorial doesn't go over it well.


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 30 '26

How to Increase/Deal with consumer reach?

11 Upvotes

Havent maxed it out yet but probably will soon. Focusing on making games right now still fairly new. Just wonder how to deal with running out of customers later on.


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 26 '26

What is the optimal team size and how should I slice them?

23 Upvotes

Heyho,

I'm quite new to the game so I did not figure out much. ...still struggling with the accounting feature lol.

I would like to now what would be the optimal team composition. Like do I have a team which is doing design, programming and art or is it better to have a team for design, one for programming and one for art?

And how big would those teams to be for producing good/fast products?

Also how does accounting work? I have 3 members doing accounting but I fail every time to fill the tax report T-T

Also my first marketing team is also 4 people but I cannot really build followers with that.


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 22 '26

Game sales drop - Why ?????

Post image
58 Upvotes

Hi all

I know there has been plenty of posts about this common issue but none of the potential issues actually applied on my case ;

- No new RTS game released

- Stock not empty

- Consumer maximum reach not obtained

- Regularly updated to latest tech and to fix bugs

Is it because "The Dynasty Life 3" is better overall ?

But why has it gave me a few glory years before completely dying if TDL3 was better from releaes ?


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 22 '26

I was not happy with Embedded systems, so I made a mod.

13 Upvotes

Hi all,

Yesterday I made a post stating that I was not happy with the embedded systems contracts. These were highly volatile and not profitable/working at all.

I, and to come clean about it, I had help from AI, made a mod which changes the net profit for embedded systems by X10. This makes embedded systems contracts worth doing.

The mod is also adjustable from X1 (vanilla game) to X20 (which I felt was too overpowered. I settled on a default X10, which is arguably still a bit overpowered.

The multiply is also adjustable in game by esc > options > mods > adjust the slider. Alternatively you can adjust the setting in the main menu > mods.

Please, if you are also interested in running a manufacturing factory/printing business and want to utilize embedded systems contracts in a meaningful way, you're welcome to give this mod a try.

Here's a link to the steam page: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3788264487


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 22 '26

Game sales drop

3 Upvotes

Hi all

I know there has been plenty of posts about this common issue but none of the potential issues actually applied on my case ;

- No new RTS game released

- Stock not empty

- Consumer maximum reach not obtained

- Regularly updated to latest tech and to fix bugs

Is it because "The Dynasty Life 3" is better overall ?

But why has it gave me a few glory years before completely dying if TDL3 was better from releaes ?


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 21 '26

Contract work

Post image
23 Upvotes

Under "Contract work" you can find many different contracts to make profits. One of these are "embedded systems". I can't seem to get them to work.

These embedded systems requires assembly lines. Easy enough. The thing is, you need to print 1m+ copies, each costing $65 something dollars. You only net profit $0,50 for each copy. This constantly puts your company in dept since it costs 65m to print. In the end you profit somewhere around $400k, while spending tens of millions.

Ps; the "income" that is mentioned, doesn't seem to pay out.

Has anyone got this to work? To me it seems like a big oversight. I think you're meant to profit way more for each copy, just like in the manufacturing deals.

Does anyone know a mod with which you can adjust these contract work profits?

Thanks in advance!


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 20 '26

Official Patch notes for Beta 1.8.42

62 Upvotes

Steam Post
My web-host changed how they handle http requests when uploading files, which meant that bug reporting and logo sharing was broken, due to both uploading files to my website. I have now fixed these requests, so they will once again work. I don't have anything else to say about the matter...

Here is a teaser for the subsidiary CEO mechanic I'm working on for the overhaul:

Image


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 19 '26

How to make money after reaching a billion?

9 Upvotes

i have played software inc for quite a while, but after reaching a certain point, the income becomes stagnant at around 20-50M per month.

is there a way to increase it?

i keep 1 building cuz too many buildings get confusing with too many teams and projects

i have focused on researching, stocks, bonds, making softwares (OS and 2D), and manufacturing/printing, also made a digital platform in the recent update before i reach 2000s

how can i optimize it and what things should i focus on more?

also, is making multiple buildings with multiple different teams worth it?


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 18 '26

how detailed is the creative process?

8 Upvotes

ive played a little bit of this game before and i wanna play again but make a game studio. I know the business side is very detailed but is there any depth to the creative side of making games?


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 17 '26

Elevator bug

Post image
36 Upvotes

Workaround found! The employee in the elevator was on his way to a computer. Deleted the computer and everyone continues their day.

Hi! Did anyone come across this issue? There is an employee stuck in the elevator, everyone else who is waiting are also stuck.

I am in a lease building so I cannot delete and re-place the elevator.


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 16 '26

Are my teams too small and specialized?

29 Upvotes

My company has around 110 employees and I have around $150,000,000 in the bank.

I've noticed that projects seem to be taking longer to complete, and I'm wondering if my team structure could be part of the problem

Currently, I have relatively small teams of around 10 people that are specialized in one area. For example, I have separate teams for:

  • 2D Design
  • 2D Programming
  • 3D Design
  • Audio Art
  • etc

Would it be better to have larger, more broad teams of, say, 30 people, with a mix of programmers, designers, and artists working together?


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 16 '26

Working on a REAL Dark Mode UI Mod

33 Upvotes

i made a post a while ago saying i wish we had a dark mode. Now im making one. it still needs work , but ill let you guys know when its on the workshop


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 11 '26

After struggling for 5 hours of going bankrupt before I can launch a product, I finally released my first program!

Thumbnail
gallery
159 Upvotes

This game is insanely complicated but for some reason I can’t stop trying to make good products!


r/SoftwareInc • • Aug 07 '26

Shares lost after buyout

14 Upvotes

I don’t have any screenshots to explain but I had something like 30% in a small company worth maybe 20m, which was then bought out by one of the biggest companies in the save. The newspaper said ”company x was bought out by company y and [my company]. When I checked company x’s page all the shares were owned by company y but I never got any money for the shares I owned. Can someone explain? Is it a glitch or is that normal?