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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Happy end of the month. This month's Ren'Py developer update is up, covering the self-voicing updates, the new renpy.get_user_age_function (and why it usually doesn't work), and more.

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Ren'Py Developer Update - July 2026 | Renpytom on Patreon

Ren'Py Developer Update - July 2026 by Renpytom on Patreon. Join Renpytom's community for exclusive content and updates.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Ren'Py has gained a self-voicing speed slider as part of the accessibility menu. It lets you set the speed of self voicing from about 1.0x to 3.0x normal. (On some platforms, the adjustment works a bit differently, but that's the intended range.) 1/2

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Ren'Py 8.6 will have a new option to select the voice used for self-voicing from the voices that are available on the user's device or web browser. (Depending on the platform.) It's going to be one more setting available on the shift+A accessibility menu. 1/2

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

I use language models to develop Ren'Py, and have since Github copilot came out in beta in 2021. Before that I've used other tools (code completion, etc.) I don't vibe code Ren'Py, though - that's not something you do if you want a project you can maintain. 1/2

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Just got to see SDL3 Ren'Py run on Android for the first time, only to immediately realize that there was no way to stop it from running.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

I'd like to announce Ren'Py 8.5.3, a fix release of Ren'Py 8.5. This release fixes multiple issues, adds small features, and improves documentation. It also adds and updates translations of the tutorial game. Ren'Py now supports and requires Live2D 5.3 when Live2D is in use. 1/2

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

I've updated the Ren'Py 8.5.3 prerelease to version 8.5.3.26051007. It's very close to being finished, I think. Check it out at: www.renpy.org/releas...

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

I've made a prerelease of Ren'Py 8.5.3, a fix release for Ren'Py 8.5. This largely consists of fixes, but this release also includes a few minor features. Downloads of 8.5.3 can be found at: www.renpy.org/releas... 1/2

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Just dealt with an issue that's been irking me (and Ren'Py) since it was reported in February. The sort where you know something is going wrong, but have no idea what to change to fix it... until you do. Hell of a feeling to see the fix after all this time. 1/2

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Artemis II just splashed down, safely. This has, for me, been amazing. For my entire life, Apollo was something done by a generation (the lost generation, mostly) that we couldn't equal. But now my generation and the younger generation sent people to the moon.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

www.youtube.com/watc... Earth is about to set behind the moon from Artemis II's perspective.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

There needs to be a medal for the person who realized you could put a camera at the end of the Orion solar panels, and wave the panels around to see the astronauts looking out the window.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

This morning, I added a progress bar to Ren'Py Sync, so you can gain confidence your upload or download is in progress.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

And since I forgot to post it, here's the usual cropped postcard image.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

It's the last day of the month, and that means the Patreon article is up. Apart from the status update, I talk about language models and how I think they should and shouldn't be used. www.patreon.com/post...

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

It's not much, but it's the first visual output from the port of renpy.pygame (and eventually, all of Ren'Py) to SDL3.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Had dehydration brain fog me for a bit, cause by an interaction between medicines. It's good to have gotten that taken care of and be back to developing on all cylinders.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

I'd like to announce Ren'Py 8.5.2, a fix release of 8.5.1. This release fixes a single issue in Ren'Py 8.5.1. For a complete list of changes, please see the changelog. Downloads of Ren'Py 8.5.2 can be found at: www.renpy.org/releas... 1/2

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

I'm happy to ring in the new year with the release of Ren'Py 8.5.1, a fix release of Ren'Py 8.5. This release addresses multiple reported issues. I'd suggest everyone upgrade to it. Downloads of 8.5.1 can be found at: www.renpy.org/releas... 1/2

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

This month's Ren'Py developer update is out on Patreon. You can learn all about the bug that nearly kicked my butt - which was fixed just before Christmas. www.patreon.com/post...

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

This month's Ren'Py article is up, covering releases of Ren'Py and the VS Code extension, future plans, and expanding speech bubbles. www.patreon.com/post...

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

I'm pleased to announce the release of Ren'Py 8.5, a major release of Ren'Py. Major releases include new features, major improvements, and fixes. Some of the major changes in Ren'Py 8.5 are: * Live2D models are now supported on the Web platform. 1/5

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Just bumped the Ren'Py 8.5 prerelase up to 8.5.0.25110906, with several more fixes in it.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

I've posted the first prerelease of Ren'Py 8.5.0. If you'd like to help test the next version of Ren'Py, check it out at: www.renpy.org/releas...

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

I haven't verified it myself, but it looks like there is a report of malware being distributed inside pirated versions of games made using Ren'Py. All downloadable games are only secure if you trust the creators and the sites you get them from. 1/3

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Just posted the new article to the Ren'Py Patreon, talking what's coming in Ren'Py 8.5. www.patreon.com/post...

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

Visited a nearby federal courthouse to see a museum there, and had the lovely experience of helping a family of new Americans take a group photo together. (Public pic zoomed in to protect their privacy.)

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

My project for the last week has been integrating Live2D Cubism SDK for Web with Ren'Py's web platform support. I've had some success, you can see the first working version at: share.renpy.org/l2dw... 1/2

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

A quick question - is anyone playing Ren'Py games on a gsync-enabled monitor? If so, are you having any problems?

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

The name visual novel is a clue that literary and artistic merit is an aspiration of the medium. It's pretty rare to get both in one package - part of what drew me to VNs in the first place.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

First new feature of Ren'Py 8.5 is config.image_directories, which lets you have multiple image directories. For example: define config.image_directories = [ "dlcimages", "images" ] would let you have dlc images that have priority over non-dlc images. 1/2

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

The new Patreon article is up. It goes over July's work - including the two big releases. It also has a new displayable that lets you display taps on the screen. www.patreon.com/post...

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

Had a great conversation with the University of Dayton Game Dev club, about Ren'Py and balancing life with engine development. I appreciate them having me.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

I'm happy to announce the release of Ren'Py 8.4.1. This release addresses multiple issues, including a problem that prevented creators on Windows from creating new games in non-English languages. Downloads of Ren'Py 8.4.1 can be found at: www.renpy.org/releas...

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

I will say - thinking about this after a night's sleep - that I don't think the steam/itch teams had much of a choice in how they acted. It was losing some games, or lose every game. So please, be kind to them when expressing your frustration.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Steam and Itch taking down games they host is a problem for game preservation - and of course, I'm not a fan of people trying to censor what creators can express. This is one of the many reasons Ren'Py is free, and why its license means I can't censor what is made with it. 1/2

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

I've made the first prerelease of the Ren'Py 8.4.1. You can find it at: www.renpy.org/releas... with the list of changes at: www.renpy.org/dev-do... You can update using the update button in the launcher.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

I'm looking at making a prerelease of Ren'Py 8.4.1 later today. Should have some important fixes, especially one for an issue that's been preventing the creation of new non-English-language projects.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

I've just released Ren'Py 8.4, a feature release that includes many new features, improvements, and fixes. www.renpy.org/latest.html

renpy.org

Ren'Py 8.4.0

was released on July 12, 2025. The main downloads of Ren'Py 8.4.0 are:

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Just put up the new Patreon article, talking about the ongoing Ren'Py 8.4 release campaign. You can find it at: www.patreon.com/posts/renpy-...

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

It's a touch grass day today - or perhaps a touch the ionisphere today. I'll be working ARRL Field Day at the 2pm-2pm Dix Hills Fire Department, here on Long Island. We have a get-on-the air station for anyone who wants to try it out. www.larkfield.org 73, and catch you later.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

The 8.4 prerelease marks the beginning of the end of Ren'Py's warring states period.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

I've made the first prerelease of Ren'Py 8.4. Ren'Py 8.4 brings Python 3.12, improved performance, better shaders, GLTF models, and more. Downloads can be found at: www.renpy.org/release/8.4.0

renpy.org

Ren'Py 8.4.0

is a prerelease, last updated on June 22, 2025. The main downloads of Ren'Py 8.4.0 are:

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Ren'Py's new in-place Matrix transpose operation was so good, it would transpose the matrix twice in a row. (Fixed that one.)

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

I'll just make a screenshot for the release. I say. It'll be easy, I say. Three fixed bugs later...

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Back down to one issue open, and as I work on it, I'm working on some of the things I do before a Ren'Py prerelease, like writing the changelog. I think a lot of developers, especially of larger games, are going to be happy with this one - Ren'Py 8.4 should make developing faster.

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

After a bug that took 3 days to solve, I managed to drop the list of issues blocking the Ren'Py 8.4 prerelease down to zero yesterday - for a few minutes. Then someone posted a new one I'd really like to solve. (Should be much faster.)

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

The new Ren'Py developer update is out on Patreon, covering new features, like Traceback Saves. www.patreon.com/posts/130302...

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Ren'Py Developer Update: May 2025 | Renpytom

Get more from Renpytom on Patreon

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Ren'Py Tom 🇺🇸 @renpytom.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Added the same automatic oversampling feature to movies, so playing "test.webm" will look for "test@2.webm", and play that if the game is scaled up. (Both will play at the same relative width, but test@2.webm will have more data, letting it be shown sharper.)

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