Deltarune Chapter 5 Development Update: Toby Fox Shares New Timeline and Progress Details

Toby Fox, creator of the acclaimed indie hit Undertale and its successor Deltarune, has provided fans with a significant update regarding the ongoing development of Deltarune Chapter 5.

The latest edition of the official Undertale newsletter offers new insight into the chapter’s current status, overall progress, and an updated timeline, reaffirming Fox’s dedication to maintaining quality and transparency with the RPG's devoted fanbase.

Released in episodic fashion, Deltarune has quickly become a beloved title in the indie scene and on platforms like Nintendo Switch and PC.

Since the launch of Deltarune Chapter 4, fans have eagerly awaited news on the highly anticipated Chapter 5.

In his recent newsletter, Toby Fox revealed that while some key sections of the early chapter are complete, development remains in its initial stages.

According to Fox, the project is unlikely to see release in the first half of 2026, signaling a longer wait as compared to previous updates. Fox’s progress breakdown is notably detailed.

He confirms that the opening segments of Chapter 5 are mostly finished but require further polish in optional areas.

Around 40% of the remaining content sits at a 'rough first pass' status, with the final 10% classified as currently being in a 'prototyping' phase.

Cutscene development has reached a first-draft stage for approximately 85% of scenes, though Fox emphasized that at least 20% of these will need substantial refinement before completion. Combat features, a hallmark of the series, are advancing steadily.

Fox shared that work on regular enemy encounters is largely done, with a dedicated programmer already focusing on bullet patterns for future chapters.

Boss battles are also seeing progress, with most attacks completed and in the process of being fine-tuned for proper pacing and atmosphere. Reflecting on previous development hurdles encountered in Chapters 3 and 4—such as designing specific gameplay sequences—Fox noted that expanding the development team has streamlined Chapter 5’s creation.

While challenges persist, most major obstacles have already been resolved.

"We just need to keep making the game," Fox states, underlining the team's commitment to finishing Deltarune at a steady pace. Fox provided a clear roadmap for the remainder of development: after completing the core game, the team will focus on localization and platform porting (including Nintendo Switch), followed by final testing and bug fixing.

His main internal goal is to begin translation by the end of 2025, at which point major story and text changes will be minimized to ensure localization consistency.

Considering these factors, Fox reiterated that a release before mid-2026 is improbable. In summary, fans of Undertale and Deltarune can look forward to continued progress reports as the team meticulously crafts Chapter 5.

While patience is required, Fox’s transparent communication reflects a strong dedication to delivering another memorable RPG experience, whether you’re playing on PC, Nintendo Switch, or other supported platforms.

For those eager to track Deltarune’s ongoing journey, Fox assures that periodic updates will be provided as development continues towards its long-awaited release.

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