Hi kittens, the Steam Awards nominations are open. It would mean the world to us if you could nominate our little game for the 'outstanding story-rich game' award! ❤️

Thanks again for all your continued support.


Did you know 30,000 people have played Copycat? Here's what some people have been saying:


What is Copycat about?
Copycat is a poignant narrative-driven game about rejection and belonging. It is about a pet who learns to deal with abandonment, and a human forced to surrender. Together, two souls go on a journey to discover the meaning of family and home. The game's colourful visuals delight the senses while exploring dark thematic depths. Journey on an emotional rollercoaster that pulls at the heartstrings and reminds you how it feels to be left behind. 

Copycat uses the medium of a narrative-led video game to make a sincere comment on pet abandonment and animal surrender. It's fully voice-acted, featuring hours of dialogue and a talented voice cast. Celebrate the moments of bringing a pet home for the first time, and learn how cats can improve the mental health of their owners. Copycat has an accessible surface story while delivering profound philosophical lessons to catch audiences off-guard. 


Big Smiles,
Sam & Kostia

Hi kittens,
It's the big day we have been waiting for! Bring Copycat home to your PC today!

After three years, across three festivals, and 22 digital showcases, our little indie game 'Copycat' is launching today. Eeeep. We are so proud. It's filled with so much love! The biggest THANK YOU to our players. Those who have joined us from the very beginning. Thanks for cheering on this little indie game. Watch our new traIler here:

Get the full soundtrack on Steam for US$3.99, composed by Daniel Bunting, with 29 original tracks. Copycat has a non-verbal protagonist that relies heavily on music to convey the emotional beats of the story. Through three hours of gameplay, experience a stylistically diverse score spanning jazz, lullaby and tribal music.

(Photo of Sam, Dan and Kostia at the audio record session June 2023)
The biggest thank you to Kostia who picked up coding from scratch to make Copycat. Here are a few amazing quotes dedicated to Kostia that we received from early reviewers.

🧡 "There are some outstanding scenes that deserve to be studied in game dev school from a graphical design standpoint." - GameOrNought

💚 "The design of CopyCat is absolutely breathtaking." - The Indie Brew

💙 "A real triumph of a passion project" - Finger Guns

💛 "This is a charming experience that will stay with you for years to come." - Next Game

Wow what a journey. A little look down memory lane. In the first photo, we are at PAX (2023). In the second photo, we are a SXSW Sydney (2023). In the last photo, we are at Level Up Play Malaysia (2024).

Thanks for being there every step of the way. Hope you enjoy Copycat.

Love,
Sam, Kostia & Dan

Hello kittens,
Copycat is coming out in almost a week's time! We are so awfully excited. You can adopt Copycat on September 19th (US/EU) and September 20th (AUS/NZ). Who's jumping in to experience Copycat's 3-hour long emotionally moving story on Day 1?

💛 Today we are excited to reveal our official launch price! Copycat will be available on PC for USD $14.99 (regional prices will vary) with a 10% Steam launch discount.

Copycat’s delightful soundtrack is also available for USD $3.99. Our composer Daniel Bunting had this to say about the music:

"The expansive and lushly cinematic score of "Copycat" gives voice to our non-verbal (but profusely meowing) protagonist. It sings cuddly lullabies, vulnerable kalimbas, and fiercely independent jazz escapades, yet its raw and primal energy speaks loudest of all.

Initially, the score is comedic and stylized, with thunderous tribal percussion accompanying battles against butterflies and pan-fried steak. However, as the stakes escalate and the conflict turns real and existential, the score continues to reflect the philosophical narrative on a primal and emotional level.

It's rare to juxtapose a philosophical narrative with a primal score—just as rare as delving into the mind of a cat."


Here is what early reviewers had to say about Copycat:

“I didn't know real heartbreak until I played Copycat.”
Kara Phillips / TechRadar

“A deeply personal exploration of the human experience of belonging, shown through the eyes of a cat.”
Christie McQualter / Gameshub

“Do you want a story that will stick in your brain the way a novel would? Do you want a game that will make you feel both heartbroken but also emphatically happy? Do you want a short experience that you’ll want to talk to others about? If yes to any of those, then I cannot recommend Copycat enough.”
- Alan Jones / Gameornought

“With a narrative that explores themes such as loneliness, the sense of belonging, and the fragile beauty of the bond between humans and animals, Copycat promises to deliver a story that is as simple as it is profound.”
- Lorenzo Agonigi / Kotaworld.it

“Perfect for cuddling on the couch with your pet while you play.”
David Smith / Kotaku Australia


Team Copycat has landed in Malaysia! ✈ This week, we will be showcasing at LEVEL UP PLAY 2024 in Kuala Lumpur from September 13th - 15th! We are very humbled to take part in this games festival. Thank you for having us! If anyone has any food or event recommendations in KL, let us know.

Cheers to our fellow Aussie devs making the trip:
🧡 @twicedifferentgames
💛 @2bitstudios
💚 @azoicthegame
💙 @oppolyonstudios

Speak soon, kittens!

Big Smiles,
Sam & Kostia

Hi kittens,
Help Copycat find a new home on your PC this September 19 (US/EU) and 20 (AUS/NZ). Experience love, loneliness and letting go in our narrative-driven adventure game. Share the news with your animal-loving friends.


Check out our brand-new release date trailer:
Copycat Key Features

💛 Story from the heart: Copycat disguises itself as a simple story about a cat trying to discover where she truly belongs, but underneath lies a philosophical narrative layer that will make you pause and feel. It asks questions about our own existence and place in the world.

🌻 Animal expert as your conscience: Play as a domestic housecat while a nature documentary narrates your every move. 

🐈 See the world through cat eyes: Climb trees, fight dogs, and explore the neighbourhood with intuitive, smooth cat-like controls. Make mischief, knock things on the ground, hide in boxes, run through the long grass, and meow at everything that moves.

🎮 Guided by your moral compass: Reflect on themes of home, loneliness and belonging through a complex, three-act story told effortlessly through three hours of video game narrative.

🎤 Voiced with passion: Copycat is fully voice-acted featuring hours of dialogue with a talented cast.

🎹 Music to your ears: Experience a diverse score spanning jazz, lullaby music and tribal music. Heartwarming original score composed by Daniel Bunting. 

🪴 Enjoy atmospheric locations: Including the cozy family house, sunkissed backyard, creepy alleyways, and lush national parks.

🇦🇺 A touch of Australia: Made with local voices and locations under the Australian sun.


What people have been saying

“Tears will flow the further you sink your claws in.”
- TechRadar

“A complex, moving narrative experience.”
- Gameshub

“It leaves you with a lump in your throat.”
- Indie Games Devel

"Copycat is more than a game; it’s a story of love, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds that make us feel at home, anywhere."
- Overage Gaming


Also a big hello to our South Korean friends. Copycat enjoyed out time at Busan Indie Connect Festival.

Big Smiles,
Sam and Kostia

Dear kittens,
We are deep into testing at the moment. We're almost there! Thank you to all our friends and family who have put their hands up to test the full game of Copycat. Some of the feedback we have received so far.

💛 "Absolutely loved the game! Amazing story, cinematics, music, and the voice acting was incredible! Best of luck guys."

💛 "It's such an emotional journey. Thank you for letting me playtest it!"

💛 "Thank you for allowing me to be part of this project and help with playtesting! I had a wonderful time with my first complete playthrough, and I'm looking forward to the final release!"

A big thank you to all our round 4 testers. We couldn't have done it without you: Christie, Freddy, Tony, Jerry, Jay, Bob, David, Samara, Lumi, Soph, Taiga, Maddy, Rohan, Lee, Sab and Mary.

Last week, Hardcore Gamer interviewed the Copycat team. Big thank you to Callista Mayberry. Here's one of our favourite questions she asked: Fur the Record, What Inspired Copycat?

[Kostia] "In terms of gameplay, Life is Strange is probably our favourite game ever and we're looking forward to the new one. It's been a big inspiration in gameplay and atmosphere-wise as well, which is ironic because I grew up playing Counter-Strike. (laughs) It's as far away as it gets from this! And Sam grew up playing Pokémon."

[Sam] "I think that the lightness that comes from Pixar, Disney and Dreamworks; it's a story that's going to entertain kids but also move adults. It honestly is going to be a really powerful mode to layer in metaphor and tell a really wholesome, meaningful story to the end."

👉 👉 Read the full article here:
https://hardcoregamer.com/having-fun-and-talking-about-some-pawsome-stuff-with-the-developers-of-copycat/


For all our Japanese fans, Copycat made it to Bit Summit Japan. IGN did an exclusive playthrough of Copycat with our regional Publisher, Neverland Entertainment. Thank you, Simon, Rick and Alex for bringing this to life.

Shout out to our São Paulo friends! What a treat to watch Maethe (@mmaethe) play the Copycat demo ❤️🐾 Follow @copycat_brasil for more Portuguese content.

Alright - back to test, eat, sleep Copycat! 🐾

Big Smiles,
Sam & Kostia

Dear kittens, if you missed the news... Copycat is coming out in September! (Finally - I hear some of you say!). It has been a big learning curve for us. So thank you for your patience. It's our first game and we are so proud of the journey we have been on.

We are excited to share with you our new trailer! Let us know what you think.

🔥 Did you know the Copycat game has been localised into 10 languages? Portuguese, Spanish (Latin America), French, German, Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Simplified Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

Thanks to our friends who helped us translate:
Yeva Dolzhenko
Emilia Salinas Tapia
Olga Niedziela
Elise Bertrand
Phoebe Valent

Plus, thank you for the kind people at Neverland Entertainment and Nuuvem who helped us with the translations.

Last week, the lovely people at indiegamesdevel.com published an interview with the Copycat team. Kostia and I were so keen to take part. We answered some of the following questions.

• What was your main source of inspiration in creating the game?
• How does one craft and write the storytelling for a video game?
• Why did you choose the name “Copycat” for the game?
• How did you tackle the challenges in making your game unique compared to other titles dedicated to felines?


Thank you Francesco Mastrodicasa and Laura Rosada for the great interview and article! Here is a sneaky peek. You can read the full interview here: https://indiegamesdevel.com/interview-with-samantha-cable-and-kostia-liakhov-of-spoonful-of-wonder-creators-of-copycat/



Big Smiles,
Sam & Kostia

Hello kittens,
We have a busy few weeks ahead! We have a Copycat trailer coming out with BRAND NEW footage and an announcement month. We have been working hard over the first half of 2024 on act two and three of the game, and now can reveal some of the footage to you all!

Tune into the following showcases to see new footage in action:

Pillow Fort's Celebration of Games: Spring Showcase
May 28th @ 11am ET
youtube.com/@thepillowfortgaming


OTK Games Expo Pre-Show
June 4th @ 2pm CT
youtube.com/@OTKchannel


Future of Play Direct 2024
June 8 at 11am ET
youtube.com/@heyglitch


Plus, our Copycat demo will be featured in two Steam events. Keep your eyes peeled. There will be some fantastic cozy demos for you to play and enjoy.

Cozy & Family Friendly Games Celebration 2024
May 30th to June 4th
Location: Steam

Women-Led Games Summer Game Fest Edition 2024
June 8th
Location: Steam

Have you played the Copycat demo yet? Here are some quotes from our reviewers.

Article from Francesco Mastrodicasa and Laura Rosada at Indie Games Devel.

"We found ourselves literally overwhelmed by a surge of conflicting emotions, within a story that is sweet and melancholic, leaving a strong bittersweet aftertaste. You know that feeling when a story is well-told and directed, featuring excellent storytelling and beautiful nuances, but leaves you with a lump in your throat—that temporary sense of sorrow that makes us a bit concerned, sad, and even mournful? That’s how we could sum up our first hour with Copycat."

Welcome to read the full article here:
https://indiegamesdevel.com/copycat-hands-on-preview-you-are-not-prepared-for-what-awaits-you/


Article from Kara Phillip, Evergreen writer at TechRadar Gaming.

"[Copycat is] a poignant story that anyone who has a pet or feels connected to animals in any way will find equal parts emotional and entertaining."

Welcome to read the full article here: 
https://www.techradar.com/gaming/i-didnt-know-real-heartbreak-until-i-played-the-demo-of-copycat


Big Smiles,
Sam & Kostia

Dear kittens,
If we haven't met already, our names are Sam & Kostia. We've been working on this game since 2021. In 2022, we onboarded our composer, Dan. Since then, the three of us have been stretching our creative muscles to bring Copycat to life. (Here's a snap of us in the sound studio recording our voice talent last May).

We thought it would be fun to share our roles and responsibilities for the game. Perhaps you are interested in game development yourself. Or perhaps you are keen to get to know us better. Either way, we hope you enjoy these short videos we made.

If you have artistic flair and are interested in what makes a game beautiful ➡️ watch Kostia's video.

If you prefer the keys, strings, and melodies behind a game ➡️ watch Dan's video.

If you love dialogue and structuring narrative plot points ➡️ watch Sam's video.

Here's a snap of Dan's cat Valeria, watching the demo of Copycat. Look at that concentration.

Big Smiles,
Sam & Kostia

Hi Kittens,
With International Women's Day happening this week, we wanted to celebrate the incredible talent of women and gender-marginalised creatives who have helped bring Copycat to life.

A big thanks to our voice talent:
Emily Pollard
Stephanie Begg
Hayley Noble
Madi Chan

And our wonderful translators:
Yeva Dolzhenko
Emilia Salinas Tapia
Olga Niedziela
Phoebe Valent
Elise Bertrand

And our trailer editor:
Suzanne Wallace

This year, Copycat is involved in two festivals for International Women's Day:
• Wings 'games by women-led studios' from March 1-10th!
• Dames 4 Games on March 6!

Jump on Steam to check out all the amazing games created by women developers.

Finally, a big thanks to Sam Cable, our Co-Founder and Chief Cat Cuddler. Curious about what Sam gets up to every day? Check out this short video as Sam discusses her journey as Narrative Director on Copycat.

"My role as head of narrative and co-director means I try to champion the story through every stage of development. I help describe the world for the art director, plan out movement cues for the animator, and suggest vocal cues for the actors. One of my favourite parts of the creative process was seeing our dialogue come to life. We had a three-day studio record, where we were able to work directly with our actors to sculpt the emotions and intensity of the scene. We averaged about 200 lines a day between our lead actors. At the same time, focusing on intonation, clarity and vibrancy of the dialogue."

Thanks to our two female studio kitties - Books and Valeria. Here's a sneaky photo of Books trying to help.

Big Smiles,
Sam & Kostia