Bug Cleaners updates and roadmap
dicehit took over the project in May 2026, rebuilt the demo over the summer (new inventory, lighting, tool reset) and launched Early Access on September 28, 2026 with 5 maps — 10 maps are planned by full release.
Bug Cleaners changed a lot between its first public demo and the Early Access launch on September 28, 2026 — new owners, a new inventory system, a new lighting pass and a stack of workarounds for early physics bugs. This page is the timeline of what changed, when, and what it means for players.
Update timeline
| Date | Update | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2026 | New developers | dicehit took over the project from Lymo Games and confirmed the June Next Fest demo |
| June 7, 2026 | Demo live | The Next Fest demo released with one full house map |
| June 15, 2026 | Next Fest patch | The H key was added to highlight remaining tasks; assorted quality-of-life fixes |
| July 10, 2026 | Hint and sound patch | Hint highlights made clearer; bug sounds fixed to respect master volume; 5,000 unique demo players reported |
| August 8, 2026 | Tool reset patch | J key teleports tools to the truck; unstuck now returns you to the start; save bloat fixed; two-item carrying temporarily cut for multiplayer stability |
| September 8, 2026 | Huge demo update | New inventory system with five slots and a bottom HUD; new lighting system previewed; per-player hazmat suit colours in multiplayer; the disappearing-cat system rebuilt from scratch |
| September 24, 2026 | Launch announcement | Early Access confirmed for September 28 with five maps, ten planned; 20,000+ wishlists |
| September 28, 2026 | Early Access launch | Game released with five maps: Small House, Big House, Convenience Store and Laundromat, Parking Lot, Greenhouse |
What the September inventory update actually changed
The biggest mechanical shift in the demo's lifetime: the old build let you carry one item (a temporary limit from the August multiplayer fix), and the September update replaced it with a five-slot inventory shown on the bottom of the HUD. That single change removed most of the running back and forth that early demo players complained about, and it is the system the current build ships with.
The same update brought a new lighting pass — visibly warmer and more realistic interiors — and different hazmat suit colours per player in multiplayer.
What comes next
dicehit's stated plan for Early Access: five maps now, ten by full release, filled in gradually while the game is developed in public. Their launch post put player feedback at the centre of the Early Access plan, and both the August and September patches were written directly from Steam and Discord reports.
What that means for this site: patch notes get tracked here, and pages get re-verified against new builds rather than left to rot. The fixes guide is the fastest page to check after any update that changes tool or cat behaviour.
FAQ
When did Bug Cleaners leave demo and launch?
The game launched into Early Access on September 28, 2026. The Next Fest demo that preceded it was retired before launch and is no longer downloadable.
How many maps will Bug Cleaners have?
Five at Early Access launch and ten by the full release, added gradually during Early Access.
Was Bug Cleaners made by a different studio originally?
Yes. The project began at Lymo Games and was taken over by dicehit in May 2026, who rebuilt the demo across the summer before launching Early Access.
