Prerelease:A Hat in Time (Windows, Mac OS X)/2016

This is a sub-page of Prerelease:A Hat in Time (Windows, Mac OS X).

Development Streams Hat Kid plays Super Hat Maker

January 2016

On January 4 2016, A brief video was posted on the game's Facebook page, explaining that all Acts in the game now have a loading screen title card. The final version of this title card is identical except that Oldster was swapped out for Goofy Mafia. Additionally, no title cards are known to have been made for Sand 'n Sails.

Four new screenshots, dated no later than January 7 2016. The first one depicts Hat Kid walking on a rope in Lava Mafia Town. The level appears much like it did in the September 2015 trailer for the Chapter; solar panels and tall grass still exist in the level. The second picture depicts Hat Kid running in Train Rush, now with a Science Owl band playing on the rock. The final game has a band here too, but it's Express Owls instead. The third screenshot shows Hat Kid balancing on a telephone wire on the Moon. Far more detail is present in the level now, complete with Moon Penguins driving cars, telephone wire sparks, and better lighting. On the right, the crashed Science Express can still be seen. The "Grooves" sign is all one color instead of being multi-color. The last screenshot shows Hat Kid performing a new idle animation in the Spaceship Hub. The doors are still using their Beta build design, but the icon for Pons on the monitor has been updated and finalized at this point. All of the screenshots, except for the one with the Science Band, would be used on the Steam Store page for the game, and still are.

On January 16 2016, a brand new trailer for the game's 2nd Chapter (at the time), Subcon Forest, was uploaded onto their YouTube channel alongside a Kickstarter update post, showing off many differences and changes the level has seen over the past two years of development.

• The first shot depicts Contractual Obligations' mission intro. Hanging lanterns have been added to the brown roots near where Hat Kid starts and on some tree branches in the background, and additional Pons have been added leading over to the paintings near the starting area. Mustache Girl has been replaced by the Snatcher Minion. The sign text textures have been updated to all say "Beware" and "Keep out" on each sign, instead of just only "Beware" or "Keep out". Behind the three signs on the right, a scrapped Subcon Map Sign can be seen, indicating that the level had its (ultimately unused) map system implemented by this point.

• The next shot shows a Mafia getting sucked into painting near the starting area of the level, something that only happens in Subcon Village in the final game.

• Third shot shows Hat Kid getting trapped in the bag along the main path, like in the final. The tree branch platforms in the background on the right are all completely different to the final.

• Fourth shot shows Hat Kid carrying the aforementioned Mafia painting in the "fiery" area of Subcon Forest.

• Fifth shot is Hat Kid meeting Snatcher in the "Snatcher Realm" after stepping into a Snatcher Trap or after the bag sequence.

• Sixth shot is of Subcon Village, zooming in on the ice wall in the back of the village. There's a bright purple fog surrounding the village now, all of the houses are still brown instead of purple, and there's no bonfire in the village. Two Snatcher Minions can be seen standing to the left of the ice wall, and a Dweller Fruit is placed in front of said wall.

• Seventh shot is a clear view of the first contract the player signs in the level, which is a completely different objective to the final's: breaking the ice. The contract is the same as it appeared back in September of 2015.

• Eighth shot is of Hat Kid carrying a Dweller Fruit near the entrance to the village, which she uses to blow up some ice covering a nearby mushroom. This breakable ice does not exist in the final, and the painting inside of some ice in the final is missing here. The water in the lake of the village is still purple.

• Ninth shot is of Snatcher wearing the postman hat, which was shown back in December of 2015.

• Tenth shot is of Hat Kid driving around on the Subcon Mail Scooter, showing that the mail delivery Act was made by this point. Hat Kid is driving the unused vehicle version of the mail scooter, given the unused mail particle on the back of it being present. Shrombs can still be seen in the level at this point. Eye blockades have also been added, although the one seen in this shot doesn't appear to be guarding anything.

• Eleventh shot is of a bonfire being completed, showing the sequence is the same as the final. The bonfire this is taking place at does not exist in the final.

• Twelfth shot is of Subcon Caves (Well). The grave dweller seen in the Beta has been replaced by a proper Dweller at this point. The flames seen inside the lanterns in the Beta have also broke by this point, and no longer swing with the lantern. The visual bug where the hookshot chain does not properly attach to a rotated hookshot lantern is also present now, as it currently is in the final.

• Fourteenth shot is of Hat Kid sprinting towards the path that leads to Vanessa's Manor.

• The rest of the shots show Vanessa's Manor, which appear to have no differences. However, at the very end, an early version of the title card for Contractual Obligations is shown, which has a few minor changes compared to the final.

Early	Final

All of the changes were done to Hat Kid. Hat Kid's eyebrows are beneath her hair, the lighting on her was made a little more intense, her neck and outfit collar were fixed up to look less like a giraffe's, and some lighting was applied to her right ear. Some small adjustments were also made to her hair.

By January 20 2016, a couple new screenshots had been added to the game's website. Both of these screenshots would be used on the game's Steam Store page, and still are:

A screenshot of Hat Kid landing down on the Science Express. There is no bench present, unlike the final game.

A screenshot of Hat Kid walking around covered in mud in Rainy Mafia Town.

Several new screenshots were also added to the website's presskit by January 22 2016:

A screenshot of Hat Kid examining a Burger Relic at a Relic Stand, still using its older design. Note that there are two Relic Stands in the same locations that they're in the final.

A screenshot of Hat Kid sprinting on the beach of Mafia Town. The Balloon Race balloon is still present.

A screenshot of Hat Kid holding a Fire Spirit Painting in Subcon Forest, standing next to another painting. A Fire Spirit bonfire can be seen behind her that was replaced in the final game with a burning house.

A screenshot of Hat Kid platforming on some dweller tree branches, with them still using their solid-color green design that would be seen again in the development stream a month later. A Pink Plant can be seen on the left, planted next to a Fire Spirit Painting. Both of these were removed in the final, and in the case of the Pink Plant, completely scrapped.

A screenshot of Hat Kid with Snatcher, with three contracts available. In the final game, a max of two contracts per Snatcher Trap appear... but not at first. In the initial release of the final game, a Snatcher Trap very close to Subcon Village would bring up three contracts to choose from, if possible. This was later patched to be reduced to two.

A screenshot of Hat Kid running along the icy path to Vanessa's manor. The trees are using the solid-blue anti-dweller material seen in the development stream from next month and the trailer from earlier this month. No destroyed houses can be seen, and a Dweller Fruit can be seen beyond the trees.

A screenshot of Hat Kid hiding under the piano bench chair in Vanessa's Manor.

A screenshot of Hat Kid being chased by Vanessa.

A screenshot of Hat Kid bouncing on a cannonball in Train Rush. Science Owls and science crates can still be seen in the level.

And the last new screenshot is Hat Kid being chased by a Moon Penguin driving a car.

All of these screenshots from the presskit shown above are still used on the Steam Store page.

However, one new screenshot from the presskit that wasn't used on the store page is this one:

A screenshot of Hat Kid approaching Vanessa's manor.

On January 23 2016, a lost video was tweeted out of Hat Kid standing in front of the tunnel on the Spaceship Hub that would lead to the gallery. The image above is only the thumbnail to the video. A new basic red carpet has been added in front of the door, and the hallway, along with the door, is colored red. In the final, this hallway would be colored green overall.

February 2016

On February 12 2016, another brief video was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page, which is the first known showcase of the sitting mechanic seen in the final game. Sadly, the original video was not archived....directly. Someone made a camera recording of the video, as seen in the video on the right. The thumbnail of the video from Facebook was also preserved:

In the video itself, it's shown that the design for the umbrellas in Mafia Town have been changed to their final designs.

Sometime shortly before the first development stream was held, these two screenshots were posted on the game's Facebook page. The first screenshot shows the new style of grass added to the game, demonstrated in Mafia Town. Note that the palm trees are still using their Alpha/Beta textures. The second screenshot is the first known public appearance of DJ Grooves in-game.

On February 27 2016, the first development stream for A Hat in Time was held, and took place in Subcon Forest.

Screenshot that was taken live on the first Subcon Forest development stream, and was posted on the game's Facebook page.

March 2016

On March 5 2016, a new Kickstarter update was posted called "Introducing: LARGEST MUSIC UPDATE to date!". The post explains that remixes have been composed by some guest composers, and gives a preview of some of the music that will appear in the final game. The tracks that were available to preview were: "Mafia Town - Who Turned Up the Heat?", "Mafia Town - Electro Remix", "FOOOOoooooolllll.... Oh, It's You.", "Your Contract Has Expired", and "Why Should A Lil' Murder Get In The Way Of A Good Trainride". Of all of these tracks, only Your Contract Has Expired has any differences to the final, albeit mild ones.

This (cropped) screenshot of the Time Rift Roulette was also shown on the post's page, which is the first known appearance of the roulette minigame. It was also shown on the game's Facebook page.

On March 8 2016, the game's Steam Store page was put up, with it at first, mistakenly, stating that the game was due for a February 2017 release:

This would be corrected almost immediately after it was pointed out by a fan.

Sometime after the first development stream, these two screenshots would be posted on the game's Facebook page. The first screenshot shows Hat Kid battling the Toilet of Doom, now appearing to match the final game in every way except that the Dweller cages in the background are the same early ones that managed to make it into the final game's titlecard for the boss. The second screenshot shows Hat Kid in the Spaceship Hub with the unused chocolate egg/chicken models that were made for the Sand 'n Sails version of the Birdhouse. It's unknown why they're appearing in the hub in this screenshot.

On March 19 2016, a video was posted on the game's Facebook page that shows Hat Kid messing around with some Relics at one of the Relic Stands on the Spaceship. Of note, there seems to only be one Relic Stand in the main room of the Spaceship at this point, instead of two. It's also centered compared to where the two Relic Stands in the final are located, and a bit closer to the front window. The scrapped Snake Basket Relic for Sand 'n Sails can be seen in the list of Relics Hat Kid has.

April 2016

On April 2 2016, this screenshot was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page. This is the first known public showing of The Big Parade. There are no parade floats, and the Moon Penguin drawing on the wall has markings on it, which is a leftover from a planned feature from the sketching minigame from Trainwreck of Science/Battle of the Birds, where the player's sketch would show in levels in the game on top of certain wall decals.

On April 10 2016, this concept art for The Big Parade was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page.

On April 16 2016, a video was posted on the game's Facebook page that shows Hat Kid using the "Queen Time" Badge, formally known as the "Queen's Love" Badge. Hat Kid is in the Raccoon Rift in the video, originally intended to be a second Purple Rift for Mafia Town before being overhauled aesthetically and repurposed for Subcon Forest's Purple Rift. Shown in the video is an early UI design for the Rift Pon Icon, which was updated in the final game to be far more detailed. Also by this point, the Energy Meter mechanic for the Badges seems to be gone, as it's completely absent from the HUD at the bottom right. Cooldowns for Badges appear to have been implemented in its place. This same cooldown system would be used in the final game for Hat Abilities. As for the Badge itself, the clocks that appear around the player when using it are different from the ones that appeared in early versions of the final game when using the Time Stop Hat and the heart that appears inside Hat Kid is pink instead of green.

A screenshot of this level was shown off earlier in the year, prior to the first Subcon Forest development stream, but its exact date isn't known:

On April 23 2016, a screenshot was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page, showing Hat Kid sprinting in a Blue Rift with a new design for the main level geometry. The blocks appear with a water-y look, rather than the shiny crystalized look of the final version. It would be this design of the Blue Rift blocks that would make it into the game's official loading splash art and the physical release's box art.

On April 26 2016, a lost video was tweeted out, and posted on the game's Facebook page a few days later. Only two thumbnails for it survived. Presumably, the video would demonstrate a newly-added feature for Time Pieces: the sphere that sometimes generates around them, as they do in the final game. The thumbnails also show that the signs for the market stores haven't been changed yet, and that the Mafia Robo enemies weren't scrapped yet, either.

On April 28 2016, Jonas tweeted out an image of some Mafia player poker in space. This is an element of the final game's titlescreen, indicating that the titlescreen had been implemented or was being worked on by this point in time.

On April 30 2016, a screenshot of Hat Kid bouncing on an umbrella was tweeted out, showing the updated skybox from 2015. Notably, the palm trees have received a new leaf texture by this point, which is similar to the final's but is less detailed. This version of the texture never appeared in any known public build of the game.

May 2016

On May 7 2016, a screenshot of Hat Kid leading the owl band in The Big Parade was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page, showing that the owl band was still Science Owls at this point, and that Hat Kid did not yet have a parade outfit, either. Parade floats have been added, as one can be seen in the background.

On May 15 2016, a screenshot of Hat Kid was tweeted out, showing Hat Kid wearing a flair for the Helper Hat that appears in the final game. It's unknown how the flair would've worked at this point in development, however.

On May 16 2016, Jonas tweeted out a video showing Hat Kid in the bedroom in the Spaceship Hub. The video is sadly not known to be archived; only its thumbnail survived. Given the vague thumbnail and description of the video, it's unknown what the video would've showcased.

(Click to play)
On May 21 2016, a video was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page showing off the new theme for Chapter 3 (at the time), Trainwreck of Science. The Chapter's name had not yet changed, but the theme was already beginning to shift at this point. Train Rush is Act 2 instead of Act 4, and Act 1 is called "Dead Bird Station", as the early design for Dead Bird Studio was an outdoor recording station in the desert.

The video's Facebook thumbnail, which is higher resolution than the Twitter version.

Additionally, on January 1 2018, early concept art for this Act Select screen was tweeted out, and appears to be much earlier than the above version, as it shows numerous differences:

Conductor and DJ Grooves are on opposite sides of the screen compared to the final, and Conductor is in a completely different pose. The Acts for the Chapter are different, and are arranged oddly. Dead Bird Studio/Station doesn't even exist yet, Train Rush is still the first Act, and there are two completely scrapped Acts called "Ruining Cameras" and "Moon Stars". Remnants of Moon Stars can be found leftover in the initial release of the final game, while Ruining Cameras might've been an early name for the Act 'Deadbird Studio'. The names of the directors are also absent from the screen.

(To find this concept art on the referenced webpage, while the page is loading, stop loading the page once all of the small images on the left at the top are done loading. Then, enable the web page inspector tool and inspect the small images. There should be some out of view below the other small images. One of them contains the twitter link to the original post and the image.)

On May 23 2016, Jonas tweeted out a lost video that is described as showcasing the upgrades in lighting in the Spaceship Hub compared to the Beta builds. Only the thumbnail for the video survived. An orange carpet is now present in front of the door that would lead to Sand 'n Sails, there's pillows in front of the TV, the ladder leading to the attic has been replaced by the final's elevator shaft, and for some reason the tube next to the kitchen is wide open. According to incomplete, leftover Kismet programming in the initial release of the final game, this tube was going to lead to the Lab at this point. Also, the amount of Time Pieces needed to access Sand 'n Sails was reduced from thirty to twelve. The finale notably still needs fifty, however.

Jonas tweeted out another video on May 23 as well, with it again only surviving by its thumbnail. By this point in development, Mafia Town had been given its final grass design, with the tall grass being completely removed from the level. The palm trees are also using a new trunk texture, one that can still be found in the final game's Modding Tools, but is also used in certain other areas of the game.

On May 27 2016, a video of Hat Kid leading the Science Owl parade was tweeted out. The music for the parade seems to have been finalized at this point.

June 2016

Sometime in June of 2016, Aruki uploaded another playtesting video that he, again, would only share shortly after the game released in October of 2017. It depicts him finding a bug with Dweller Fruits that allows one to launch up to the skybox and get out of bounds. This video would be taken down/privated on his Youtube channel, but was re-posted on his Twitter for the game's first anniversary.

In terms of differences, the level appears the same as it did earlier this year. Oddly, there appears to be only one tower in the background: Vanessa's. It's unknown if the other towers are present and were just off-screen.

On June 3 2016, a screenshot of Hat Kid standing in the mail room was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page. The description of the tweet confirms that the mail room was going to be used for accessing mods even at this point in development.

On June 10 2016, a video of Hat Kid sitting on a bench at the start of Train Rush was posted on the game's Facebook page. The level doesn't appear to show any differences from the Beta builds, other than the presence of the bench. The music also does slow down while sitting, like in the final game.

On June 17 2016, a screenshot of Hat Kid wearing shades in Mafia Town was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page. Hat Kid can only wear shades in Dead Bird Studio in the final game.

On June 23 2016, Jonas tweeted out a very short video of Hat Kid face-planting the ground in Dead Bird Station, the early version of Dead Bird Studio. This is the only known public appearance of Dead Bird Station. Blockout models can be seen on the right, and a floating train track can be seen on the left.

On June 24 2016, a lost video was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page that showed Hat Kid sitting in a chair in her bedroom while the camera panned around the room. Only two thumbnails for the video survived. There are still some drawings on Hat Kid's wall above the chest that are missing. Notably, by this point, the Spaceship Hub had gained its finalized door designs.

On June 27 2016, Jonas tweeted out this screenshot, showing the hallway tunnel in the Spaceship Hub that leads to the Sand 'n Sails version of the basement. The floor appears to have actual sand on it, as footprints can be seen on it. The door icon for Sand 'n Sails can be made out: it's a cactus. Not all that surprising.

On June 28 2016, Jonas tweeted out a picture of Hat Kid sitting in a chair in Mafia Town next to the water slide. The three Mafia cutouts have not been removed yet, and the platform has not yet been decorated with paint buckets, tools, and dweller boxes.

July 2016

On July 1 2016, a screenshot of Hat Kid and Timmy was tweeted and posted on the game's Facebook page, showing Timmy's model in-game with Hat Kid for the first time. It was also stated in the tweet that the game would release with Coop, although this turned out not to be the case, and would be instead pushed back to the release of DLC 1 as a free update to the game.

Also on July 1, Jonas tweeted out this picture of Hat Kid sitting in a chair in Murder on the Owl Express. Compared to the final, the tables gained cloths, the window was removed, the chairs were all changed, a light was added next to the window on the left, some of the objects on top of the tables were changed or removed, and the stairs leading up here have a different, seemingly simpler design. The walls are also using a different, more metal texture. The ledge above the tables in the corner has flags hanging from it that were removed in the final game.

On July 5 2016, Jonas tweeted out yet another picture of Hat Kid sitting somewhere, this time in Mafia HQ. Hat Kid is wearing the Detective Hat for some reason. It's unknown if the conversation that the player can trigger in the final by sitting here existed yet.

On July 8 2016, this comparison screenshot was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page, showing the progress the Spaceship Hub has made since its initial blockout. All of the Chapter doors have received their own carpet designs by this point, and the finale's Time Piece requirement has finally been lowered to twenty-five. The pillow arrangement in front of the TV, which is now using its finalized design, also now matches the final game. The earlier design for the mail room launch pad can barely be seen at the bottom of the image. This design for the launch pad was shown off very early in 2016 before the first Subcon Forest development stream on the game's Facebook page, but its exact date is not known:

On July 15 2016, a brief video of Hat Kid sneaking around in the finalized version of Murder on the Owl Express was tweeted out, showing that the stealth section in the cafeteria did not change prior to the final game. The lights used to visualize the Crow Agents' sight are yellow instead of blue, however, and the agents did not yet have a sitting animation. The window on the wall against the back wall of the room was removed in the final version. There are no Pons leading up to the ice panel above the door. The stairs here are still using their simpler design. The layout of chairs and tables on the left is quite different from the final game, as well.

On July 22 2016, a video of Hat Kid standing in the mail room with the fan spinning around was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page. Only the Twitter version of the video was archived, alongside the thumbnail for the Facebook version, which was higher resolution and can be seen below:

Compared to the final, the machine in the back of the room was not yet animated.

On July 24 2016, a new Kickstarter update was posted, acting as another update round-up. First and foremost, it was confirmed in the update that A Hat in Time would release in 2017. And this ultimately came to pass. The update also showed off the box and boxart for the physical version of the game, although this would ultimately be changed when the physical version eventually released in 2019. The rest of the content featured in the update has been covered previously on this page.

On July 29 2016, this screenshot of Hat Kid sneaking around Dead Bird Studio was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page. Compared to the final version, the lighting is less yellow and more white, the metal boxes behind Hat Kid were removed, and there are missing decal signs on the walls. The glowing rings inside the speakers received some extra detail, the light that is facing the camera in the screenshot was rotated to face left, and there's no wire running along the floor.

August 2016

On August 5 2016, a lost video was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page that presumably showed Hat Kid playing patty-cake with a mafia, only to get socked right in the face. All that is known to have survived of the video is the thumbnail. Hat Kid is shown wearing the Cat Beanie hat for the first known time.

On August 12 2016, a lost video was tweeted out and uploaded to the game's Facebook page, which presumably showed the Finale Act Book animation seen in the final game.

On August 19 2016, a video was tweeted out, showing a preview of the Raccoon Rift. The video shows the first and second floors. The particle effect around Rift Pons is completely different from the final, being just a simple thin gold ring around the collectible.

On August 24 2016, Jonas tweeted out a lost video showing Hat Kid driving her scooter around Mafia Town. The racing line for Cheating the Race can be seen activated.

On August 26 2016, a brief video was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page that showed a very early version of the 'murderer select scene' in Murder on the Owl Express. The scene plays out the same as the final, except that the HUD looks completely different. Instead of case files with stylized graphics of each of the suspects, model renders (except for Conductor, who uses art from the game's virtual manual) inside solid-color circles serve as the options the player can pick from. The Owls appear in their groovy attire instead of their normal Express Owl clothes.

Habboi tweet on August 31 2016, showing a close-up of a Mafia's face with a dark camera filter.

Habboi tweet on August 31 2016, showing a Mafia raising his fist.

September 2016

On September 1 2016, Habboi tweeted out a picture of a Mafia standing in the market area of Mafia Town:

The screenshot is very important, as it shows the older layout for She Came From Outer Space. It originally went left of Thor's workshop and up and over the market area.

On September 2 2016, a lost video was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page that showed Hat Kid's newly-implemented ability to run up walls a little bit. This isn't featured in either of the two surviving thumbnails. Interestingly, one of the screenshots shows an interaction cursor for the juice bar. In the initial console releases of the game, the player could interact with the Mafia there to purchase a Relic, something that was removed for the final PC release.

Habboi tweet on September 2 2016, showing Hat Kid riding the scooter at Mafia Town's docks.

Habboi tweet on September 3 2016, showing Hat Kid getting socked off the piers by a Mafia.

Habboi tweet on September 4 2016, showing Hat Kid on Mafia Town's beach with two Mafia.

Habboi tweet on September 5 2016, which shows two Mafia bullying the Coffee Clerk.

Habboi tweet on September 6 2016, which shows a Mafia sitting on a rocky ledge near the beach in Mafia Town with a sunset filter applied. The balloon the player could hookshot in the Alpha and Beta builds to reach off-shore islands is still present.

Habboi tweet on September 7 2016, showing Hat Kid and a Mafia staring at each other.

On September 9 2016, a lost video was tweeted out and posted on Facebook that showed an updated Act Select screen for the Chapter, now called "Last Bird Standing". All of the Acts for the Chapter are now present at this point, although Train Rush and Murder have still yet to swap places on the Conductor's side.

Habboi tweet on September 11 2016, showing a Mafia with a construction hat on with a sunset filter applied.

On September 16 2016, a lost video was tweeted out and posted on Facebook that supposedly showed Hat Kid blowing up crates on the docks in Mafia Town. The Badge in the HUD is using the updated design for it that can still be found leftover in the final game's Modding Tools.

On September 21 2016, a screenshot showing the 'murder' scene in Murder on the Owl Express was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page.

On September 22 2016, Jonas tweeted out a brief video demonstrating fake indoor scenes using projected cubemaps. The video was taken in-editor.

On September 23 2016, a lost video was tweeted out and posted on Facebook showing an updated version of The Big Parade. Only two thumbnails are known to have survived. Hat Kid is now dressed in her parade attire, like in the final game, and the owls are now in their groovy clothes. Additional details and effects have been added around the level, and the giant party ball that contains the Time Piece is visible.

On September 25 2016, Jonas tweeted out a lost video that showed a shader for Mafia Town's windows that went unused, likely due to the previously-shown cubemap interiors trick. This material shader can indeed still be found inside the final game's Modding Tools.

On September 30 2016, a screenshot of a new skybox for Mafia Town was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page. The red planet in the skybox is less faded than it is in the final game. This screenshot was taken in-editor, given the t-posing characters at the bottom of the image. This screenshot also shows that Janitors hadn't been scrapped yet, and that Seaside Spaghetti had received its sign overhaul by now.

October 2016

On October 7 2016, this screenshot of Hat Kid driving the sandmobile around the Starting Village was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page. The Sunburnt appear to be suffering the texturing issue that can be seen within in Habboi's developer video on Pumping Pumpkin Factory.

On October 15 2016, the second development stream for A Hat in Time was held, and took place in Subcon Forest once again.

The screenshot with information on it that was used to advertise the stream.

On October 21 2016, a screenshot showing Mustache Girl on top of a pile of Mafia was tweeted out and posted on Facebook. This marks the first known public appearance of this cutscene. Mustache Girl's facial expression appears to not change to be surprised when she notices Hat Kid yet.

On October 29 2016, the third development stream for A Hat in Time was held, and took place in Subcon Forest one more time.

The screenshot with information on it that was used to advertise the stream the day it was taking place.

November 2016

On November 1 2016, this screenshot of Mafia Town was tweeted out, giving an excellent view of Mafia Town's docks area at this point in development. The bridge's floor texture has been updated to its final design by now.

On November 4 2016, this screenshot of Hat Kid sitting in Subcon Swamp was tweeted out and posted on Facebook. Note that there are no benches in Subcon Swamp in the final game.

Also on November 4, Jonas posted this image on his Tumblr:

Aside from outlining 2D videogame artist skill levels, it also shares three more screenshots of the game. The first one is of Mafia Town. The second one is of Subcon Forest, showing it with the same kind of grass that Mafia Town has. In the final, all of this grass would be removed, and the ground texture would be updated to compensate. The trees are all still using their brown designs from previous prerelease media. The third and final screenshot shows three Express Owls standing next to each other in Murder on the Owl Express. It's unknown what the owls are doing here, as they don't appear in this location in the final game.

On November 11 2016, this screenshot of Hat Kid sitting at a desk in the Spaceship Hub was tweeted out and posted on Facebook. The screen on the desk Hat Kid is sitting at is blue-screened, which was changed in the final game.

On November 12 2016, the fourth development stream for A Hat in Time was held, and took place in an early blockout of Deadbird Basement.

On November 18 2016, a lost video was tweeted out that is said to show Hat Kid sliding down a slope on her belly. Only the thumbnail for it survived, which shows that the milkman Mafia was not scrapped yet.

Habboi tweet on November 18 2016, showing a Mafia standing near butterflies with a sunset filter applied.

Habboi tweet on November 22 2016, showing Hat Kid, two Mad Crows, and a Mafia on Mafia Town's beach.

On November 25 2016, a screenshot of Hat Kid in Murder on the Owl Express was tweeted out and posted on Facebook. Hat Kid does still not have her full detective outfit yet.

December 2016

On December 2 2016, this screenshot of Dead Bird Studio's lobby was tweeted out and posted on Facebook. The lobby's design appears to match that of the final, except that there's no NPCs visible in the level.

On December 9 2016, a short video was tweeted out and posted on the game's Facebook page showing an intro camera in the Spaceship Hub focusing on Battle of the Birds's door. The early design for the mail room launch pad can be seen again, as well as an older door icon for the Chapter: a train. The icon was likely designed with the Chapter's old name in mind, 'Trainwreck of Science'. Additionally, the Chapter requires 7 Time Pieces to unlock, which is Subcon Forest's requirement in the final game. This is likely due to the Chapter order not being changed yet.

On December 17 2016, a new Kickstarter Update was posted alongside a brand new trailer for Last Bird Standing. This is the first major showcasing for the revised version of the Chapter, and has numerous differences to the final.

• The first shot is a portion of the mission intro for Dead Bird Studio. A third penguin guard was added for the alternate path in the first pan, and the pink star above the area was removed and a few other smaller stars were added. Over on the Conductor's side, all of the Express Owls in the shot are wearing the same outfit, and two of the owl guards on the path were moved slightly. None of the lights attached to the ceiling have a visible light model coming out of it, either. The crate on the far left also had its icon changed in the final: it went from a chemical flask to a martini glass. In the pan of the lobby, there are no Pons visible, the computer at the reception does not have a mouse, and a Moon Penguin was added on the right side of the desk.

• In the second shot, Hat Kid dons a pair of sunglasses from the dispenser. The "Hi!" she speaks isn't in the final game and isn't known to be in the Modding Tools.

• The third shot shows Hat Kid sneaking around the second DJ Grooves set area of the level. There are no Pons in-between the main path platforms. There is no wire running across the second platform.

• Fourth shot shows Hat Kid playing with her dolls in the first Conductor set area. The warning signs on the floor swapped places in the final. A few props are missing compared to the final.

• Seventh shot shows Hat Kid platforming in Train Rush. The level has gained a lot more detail compared to its Beta incarnation, but still visually resembles the Beta version more than the final.

• Eighth shot has Hat Kid in the first outdoors segment of the level. The Science Band has been replaced by the 'Wowl' Band at this point, and the 'bombguy' balls are still used in the level, still using UDK native physics.

• Tenth shot shows the murder discovery scene in Murder on the Owl Express. The window next to the door that leads outside the caboose was removed in the final.

• Eleventh shot shows Hat Kid collecting evidence. No Health Pons are visible on the upper ledge in the room. The character portraits are still using model renders, now including Conductor.

• Twelfth shot shows DJ Grooves in his boss arena in Deadbird Basement. He had no set voice actor yet, so unfiltered versions of the voices for the Subcon Nooses are used instead.

• Thirteenth shot uses Picture Perfect's mission intro camera, showing the crashed Science Express still present in the level at point, front and center. Several Express Owls can be seen gathered around the crash, as well as the Conductor on the left. The unused 'moon debt' sign that can be found in the final game's Modding Tools is also present next to the crash. The lamppost next to the crash is tilted a little bit.

• Fourteenth shot shows Hat Kid playing Picture Perfect, and getting her picture taken. The picture graphic shown is different from the final, and is drawn by Koidrake instead of Jenna. The original photos drawn by Koidrake can still be found in the final game as a collage in the Spaceship Hub that appears once Picture Perfect is cleared. The Moon Penguin that takes the picture is also not present in this location in the final game.

• Fifteenth shot shows Hat Kid platforming above a building with three Moon Penguins on it. The building just beyond this one has a photo Moon Penguin on it that, again, does not exist in this location in the final. Badge Seller does not seem to be in the level yet. The drawing of a Moon Penguin on a building has a mustache, showing that the player sketch was still intended to appear around the game at this point.

• Sixteenth shot, Hat Kid is down on the surface of the moon dodging a car. At the very start of the shot, a couple Pons are magnetized to the player, even though there's no other Pons in this area aside from the three in front of her, which have not been magnetized yet. There are no cameras set up around the level yet, as it seems DJ Grooves endorsements weren't implemented yet. The Tourist is not present on the second floor of the orange building on the left yet.

• Twentieth shot shows the Act Select Screen for the Chapter, showing that all levels in the final are present and accounted for by now, with Deadbird Studio now in its 'uncanny' mode. The Act information for Train Rush and Picture Perfect cuts off at the bottom, for some reason.

• In the very last shot in the video, after all the game information, Hat Kid is shown doing the idle taunt that was bugged and did not play in the final version until DLC 2 released. The voice ("Hahaha") Hat Kid speaks is not in the final game and not known to be in the Modding Tools.

On December 23 2016, this Christmas screenshot was tweeted. Oddly, Hat Kid is still wearing the Explorer's Badge, a Badge designed to work with the Energy Meter mechanic, which had been scrapped by this point.

On December 24 2016, Habboi tweeted out a picture of Hat Kid playing with her dolls in Murder on the Owl Express:

The windows in the background are in different locations/removed in the final.