Patch 1.0.4 is live — and the itch has plans beyond the prison walls.

The Jail brings the next free chapter of Ball Scratch Simulator's story. But there's another announcement I've been itching to share: The Scratch Dreams Collection.

Five upcoming DLC experiences. Five different genres. One deeply inconvenient itch.

Scratch Dreams takes Ball Scratch Simulator's ridiculous premise into entirely new styles of play. These are additional experiences with their own game modes, built around the same questionable talent you've been developing all this time.

Here's where the itch is heading:

• Love at First Itch - Romance has enough awkward moments already. Now try getting through a date while keeping your scratching under control.

• Scratch Fishing - Cast a line, take in the scenery and enjoy a peaceful fishing trip. Your balls have other ideas.

• Scratch & Slay - A shooter that takes the itch into a nightmare. Apparently this situation needed more firepower.

• Scratch & Climb - Scratching charges your jumps. Take that information and reach heights that should probably require a different qualification.

• Scratch & Keep - Build a dungeon, manage the chaos and discover that going underground does nothing to escape the itch.

The DLCs will release separately. This is the collection reveal; more gameplay and release details will follow. Explore the new Extra Content area to see these experiences and where the itch is heading next.

The main game's story updates continue to be free. Scratch Dreams brings additional adventures alongside them, starting with a very different answer to the question: what else can we do with scratching?

Back in the main story, your brush with the law didn't end with a warning.

The Jail is the eighth stage and the next free story update. You're held in a cell with frequent visits and plenty of people keeping an eye on your hands. Privacy was apparently not included in the sentence.

The stage progresses the story and reveals more about the itch, with new waifu models, new in-game cards and a new Chibi themed to your stay behind bars. Listen closely: translating what the waifus say might even give you a clue about the next planned stage.

Your questionable decisions now have a place on your Steam profile.
15 Steam Trading Cards are available to collect, trade and use to craft the game's badge. The community collection also includes emoticons, profile backgrounds, animated avatars, stickers, an avatar frame and a Steam Deck startup movie.

Browse the Ball Scratch Simulator collection in the Steam Points Shop

These Steam Trading Cards are separate from the in-game cards you collect in the Shame Deck. This is a big milestone for the game — thank you for helping make it possible.

We're preparing Steam Deck support in 1.0.4. Work is continuing on the handheld experience, with Steam's compatibility review still to follow. I'll share the official compatibility status when it's confirmed.

• Added the free Jail stage, continuing the story.

• Added new waifu models, in-game cards and a Chibi themed to the Jail.

• Introduced the Extra Content area for new DLC experiences.

• Continued work on Steam Deck support.

• Fixed animation reset issues that could leave Courtroom character models malformed after repeated resets.

Two more free content patches are planned after 1.0.4 to close out the story, with the possibility of further skirmish missions afterwards.

Thank you to everyone who's played, shared feedback and kept encouraging this situation. I can't wait to show you more of Scratch Dreams.

For now, enjoy your stay. Keep your hands where the guard can see them. Preferably doing something defensible.

Happy Scratching!
Tim

Steam Trading Cards and community items are now available for Ball Scratch Simulator!

Apparently playing the world's premier public ball-scratching experience wasn't enough. You can now leave evidence on your Steam profile, too.

There are 15 Steam Trading Cards to collect, featuring familiar faces from across the game - from Class Glance and Between Sets to On the Record and Professional Composure.

Earn card drops while playing, trade to complete your set, and craft the Ball Scratch Simulator badge. Card drops are limited, so you'll need to trade or use the Steam Community Market to finish a full set.

Crafting badges can also reward you with the game's emoticons and profile backgrounds. Pick a suitably suspicious expression from 10 emoticons, or give your profile a new look with After Hours, One Quiet Scoop or Under Suspicion.

The collection also includes Points Shop items:

• Four animated waifu avatars

• Five animated stickers, including Completely Fine, Close Call and Tiny Victory

• The Under Observation animated avatar frame

• The After Hours in Motion animated profile background

• The Quiet Scoop animated mini-profile background

• The Act Natural Steam Deck startup movie

Browse the Ball Scratch Simulator collection in the Steam Points Shop

These Steam Trading Cards are separate from the in-game cards you collect in the Shame Deck. Your in-game collection stays in the game; these belong to Steam's card and profile system.

This is a big milestone for a game about trying to scratch without getting caught. Thank you to everyone who's played, shared feedback, left a review or introduced a friend to the itch.

I hope you enjoy collecting the new cards and finding something suitably embarrassing for your profile.

Happy Scratching!
Tim