“There was simply no way we could launch alongside an absolute titan of our own genre,” Schumacher admits. “Every streamer we contact will be playing it, and every roguelike enthusiast will have their eyes glued to it. Honestly, even I’ll be playing it so much that I might not have finished our own game!”
Shifting the launch wasn’t just about internal deadlines; it required renegotiating with Steam. Schumacher and co-developer Hjalte Tagmose had to pivot their strategy after previously securing a high-profile Steam Daily Deal. “That slot was perfect—it gave us ample time for final playtesting, fell between major sales, and coincided with a festival we’d applied for,” Schumacher recalls.
Finding a new window in February presented its own hurdles, including the Steam Next Fest and the highly anticipated launch of Mewgenics. However, the team coordinated with their music and localization partners to ensure the game—which tasks players with serving omelets to eccentric customers under high pressure—would be ready for the new, earlier 1.0 deadline.
“It has essentially meant saying ‘no’ to social plans and working seven days a week for an entire month to ensure we can stick the landing,” Schumacher notes.
Schumacher draws a parallel between this situation and the long-awaited arrival of Silksong. The Hollow Knight sequel has become a benchmark for games that indie developers actively avoid competing with. Interestingly, Schumacher suggests that Slay the Spire 2 may have also adjusted its own timing to avoid certain heavy hitters. A similar “evasive dance” is currently happening across the industry regarding GTA 6, with major publishers watching Rockstar’s every move to ensure their own games aren’t caught in the wake of its release.
For a niche title like Omelet You Cook, finding breathing room is essential, particularly as the developers transition from the safety of Early Access to a full 1.0 version.
“By moving to 1.0, we’re dropping the ‘Early Access’ shield that often encourages players to be more lenient in their reviews,” Schumacher adds. “But we’re trading that safety net for the opportunity to reach a much larger audience. We are incredibly proud of how far this game has evolved.”
Omelet You Cook officially launches version 1.0 on Steam on February 8.
