Like its odd simulation game predecessors Goat Simulator and Surgeon Simulator, Pigeon Simulator owes much of its viral popularity due to social media. That's why, even with the excitement surrounding its low-key Xbox Game Pass confirmation during The Game Awards 2021, Pigeon Simulator's developer HakJak drops frequent development updates for the game's growing fanbase. The latest video describes what the team's been up to through 2021, as well as what's coming up for Pigeon Simulator in 2022.
The bulk of the nearly 5-minute development update breaks down many of the core systems that will go into making Pigeon Simulator the sandbox game something special. Most prominently, HakJak showed off how Pigeon Simulator's island setting will be procedurally generated. That may fly in the face of games like Goat Simulator's design, but there's a good explanation for the decision -- destruction. Pigeon Simulator's buildings will be fully destructible.
HakJak breaks down some of the features, which it calls toys, it's added to Pigeon Simulator's backend. For example, the pigeon will be able to eat hot sauce and breathe fire, grow into a giant pigeon and wreak havoc, and drop excessive amounts of bird poop in creative ways. HakJak has also created a pigeon transformation that turns the player into a pigeon-Hulk, with giant muscled arms that can destroy everything in its path. Odds are, there are more toys left for players to discover.
Looking toward 2022, Pigeon Simulator still has a lot of work left. HakJak says it's planning to shift from making tools to focusing on story and scenario creation. That includes the creation of quests and dialogue, as well as unique and named characters. This system will also handle what HakJak describes as "sweet sweet pigeon loot." It's safe to assume then that Pigeon Simulator will have a story and progression even with its procedurally generated cities.
One thing that HakJak doesn't talk about, however, is a release window or the plans to bring Pigeon Simulator to Xbox Game Pass. For the time being, HakJak's focus remains on development. Hopefully, release details will come in 2022, but if they don't then fans can assume the team at HakJak is still working hard.
What isn't clear at the moment is whether Pigeon Simulator still plans to launch in Early Access on Steam. This might not work out with its Xbox Game Pass plans, since Early Access titles aren't typically included on Game Pass. Yet Pigeon Simulator's Steam page still lists plans to launch the game in Early Access where it'll linger for around 12 months. Perhaps publisher TinyBuild can clarify the matter to avoid confusion.
Pigeon Simulator is in development for PC.