POLYCAST LABS says David Ho's retro-inspired platformer has passed 12,000 Steam wishlists. A demo arrives at October's Steam Next Fest before the 30 October PC launch, while console editions move to Q1 2027.
For David Ho, the console release now hinges on clearing platform certification before the game can ship. POLYCAST LABS has placed those versions in Q1 2027, while the Steam edition remains set for 30 October 2026.
Console versions move back
Ho says the revised window gives him time to handle console certification and deliver a polished 1.0 release. He also plans to use feedback from PC players after launch to shape the console versions. That puts the October PC release first in line.
Each console version brings its own quality assurance and certification process. The announcement does not name the consoles or give an exact launch date. It also does not say whether the versions will arrive together. Q1 2027 is the confirmed release window.
Certification is a platform approval process that must be completed before a game can ship on a console. It runs alongside quality assurance, which checks a build for issues, and can affect release timing even when development is complete. Ho has tied the later console window to those requirements and to the chance to incorporate feedback from the PC launch.
Demo arrives at Next Fest
Before the PC release, Bobo and the Chest of Nightmares will have a playable demo during October's Steam Next Fest. The October 2026 festival is scheduled for 19-26 October. Its press preview begins on 8 October at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
Steam Next Fest participation requires a publicly available demo, and the full game must launch after the festival ends. Players can try the demo ahead of release, but no exact demo dates or details about its contents have been announced.
The game has passed 12,000 Steam wishlists. That figure does not represent sales or revenue. It also does not count active players. The next confirmed PC milestone is 30 October 2026.
A solo-built platformer
Ho has spent the past 11 months developing the retro-inspired 3D platformer. POLYCAST LABS says it draws on spooky-fun platformers from the late 1990s and early 2000s. The supplied information includes no hands-on impressions or independent gameplay testing, so it confirms the game's genre and influences without establishing how its levels or controls perform.
The developer says the base game is complete from start to finish for the October PC release. He plans further updates after launch to refine mechanics and polish the experience. New levels are also planned, shaped by feedback from players after release. Their timing and scope have not been specified.
On the indie PC calendar, NGB has reported that Siege of Akanor is scheduled for Windows PC via Steam on 6 November 2026. It is a separate release from a different developer.
Launch window bonus
Anyone who buys Bobo and the Chest of Nightmares during its launch window, which runs through the end of 2026, will receive an in-game "goodies pack". POLYCAST LABS says the pack will not be offered again.
The announcement does not state the game's price or what the pack contains.
