Bumblebee Studios

30/11/2025

The time has come!
Vaudeville is leaving Early Access and gets its official release this weekend, with a 35% launch discount.

It has been two and a half years since Vaudeville first arrived as an Early Access title. Back then it was an overambitious solo project, and none of us expected the reaction it got. Seeing some of the biggest content creators in the world play it took us completely by surprise.
Since then we have worked hard on it and gone through a real rollercoaster. All of that eventually pushed us to build our own offline version of the AI tech at the core of the game. Conversational AI, speech recognition and text-to-speech now run locally. No internet needed.

We have also put a lot of effort into removing AI-generated art from the game. We believe that AI as a game mechanic can improve the experience, but it cannot replace real artists when it comes to visuals, music or storytelling. When we began this project, generative AI was still new and its dream-like images felt perfect for the mood of Vaudeville. Now that they are everywhere, they no longer create that same atmosphere. There may still be small traces left here and there, but our plan for future development is to go fully AI-free in the art, aside from the real-time conversations that define the game.

This is not the end of Vaudeville. It is just the beginning. As soon as we can put the heavy technical work behind us, we will focus on creating new content for the game.

Here is what we have added since the original Early Access release:
New 3D environments
A new character (the Librarian)
A story mode with location unlocks
Offline AI that works without internet, protects your privacy and keeps the game alive forever
Better AI prompts
Twelve language translations for the legacy online version
A more polished interface
A Linux and SteamOS version (Steam Deck Verified)
Full gamepad support
Improved accessibility
Achievements and community items

Temporary limits in the new version:
No multi-language support yet. This is still in development for the offline version and has no set timeline. Other languages remain available in the legacy version
Steam Deck performance is still being tuned
The game is very stable, but performance may vary depending on your machine

The legacy version will remain available through the Steam beta channel for non-English speakers and for low-end hardware. It will be discontinued only once multi-language support has been added to the official release.

The game is available with a launch discount on
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2240920/Vaudeville
Epic Games Store: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/vaudeville-86cff0
Itch: https://bumblebeestudios.itch.io/vaudeville

10/06/2024

Today, we are happy to introduce Eye of the Summoner as our contribution to Steam Next Fest: June 2024. If you played this game during Ludum Dare 55 Game Jam, you will see how far we have come with this new milestone. If you did not, you now have the chance to start following us on this exciting adventure.

What we are showcasing today is an early alpha version of this auto-battler tower defense game, where YOU are the tower. The game is far from complete, but we wanted to offer a sneak peek of what is to come. In the final version of Eye of the Summoner, there will be more units with different skills, permanent skill unlocks as in every respectable roguelike, improved sound and video effects, full support for game controllers and the Steam Deck, and, later, local and online multiplayer. We are also continuously working on testing and balancing to make the experience as rewarding and fun as possible.

We believe that Eye of the Summoner is the perfect game to challenge yourselves, your friends, and strangers on the leaderboards to be the best at repelling the hordes of knights threatening the tower. We are confident that streamers will enjoy showing off their skills and challenging their audiences to beat their high scores, even more so when all the features are in place.

The free demo is publicly available on Steam now: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2953340

If you are a member of the press or a content creator, you can request a key on
Keymailer: https://www.keymailer.co/g/games/f2a3034c
Lurkit: https://www.lurkit.com/campaigns/eye-of-the-summoner

19/03/2024

Vaudeville and Bumblebee Studios are featured in the GDC showcase reel from Inworld

From sci-fi action dramas, MMOs, fantasy RPGs, base management, detective, and slapstick-comedy action-adventure games – indie developers are exploring how A...

14/03/2024

'Sell the kids for food, weather changes moods, Spring is here again'

Fear not — you don't have to part with your offspring to snag a copy of Vaudeville. Now, it's available at an unprecedented 60% discount during the Steam Spring Sales 2024.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2240920

24/02/2024

Le Monde analyses the usage of French titles in video games and talks about our Vaudeville in this article:

Depuis la réussite en 2018 des titres « Celeste » et « Gris », les noms aux sonorités étrangères, même pour les anglophones, ont la cote. Une façon de se démarquer des jeux vidéo grand public aux titres souvent génériques.

30/01/2024

To mark the 7-month anniversary of Vaudeville's release, we decided to write a retrospective of what has happened so far. Not really a post-mortem, one of those essays you write after the game's development has been completed and wrapped up, because Vaudeville is alive and kicking, still in Early Access and still evolving with daily efforts from us and the community. We won't be done with the project until we have achieved our vision.

Not really a post-mortem, one of those essays you write after the game's development has been completed and wrapped up, because Vaudeville is alive and kicking.

16/01/2024

We're thrilled to unveil a MASSIVE update to our best-selling game, Vaudeville! Bumblebee Studio has been hard at work, and we're excited to share what's new:

✨ New Story Mode: Join Detective Martini and unlock the secrets of Vaudeville, one conversation at a time.

👥 Enhanced Characters: Dive deeper into the stories of our more realistic and consistent characters.

🎮 Three Save Slots: Juggle multiple storylines and experiences like never before!

🏆 12 New Achievements: Are you up for the challenge?

🔊 Upgraded AI Voices: Thanks to Eleven Labs, the characters now sound more real than ever.

🌟 Community Treats: Collect 12 trading cards, wallpapers, badges, and emoticons!

📜 Transparent and Safe: Learn about our AI dialogue system and data handling practices.

📔 Notebook Import: Seamlessly continue your legacy journey in our new modes.

🌍 Explore Vaudeville like never before and immerse yourself in the adventure. And here's the best part:

🎁 Vaudeville is now available at a 50% discount on Steam! 🎁

Don't miss this opportunity to experience Vaudeville at half the price. Offer valid for a limited time only.

Join the adventure now and see what all the buzz is about!



👉 Check it out on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2240920/Vaudeville

21/12/2023

Vaudeville Slashes Prices for Steam Winter Sales
Biggest Discount Ever!

This winter, immerse yourself in the intriguing world of Vaudeville at a price that’s too good to resist! Bumblebee Studios is thrilled to announce an unprecedented 50% discount on Vaudeville as part of the Steam Winter Sales starting today. It’s the biggest discount we've ever offered, making this the perfect time to dive into the captivating narrative and groundbreaking gameplay of this beloved detective adventure.

Vaudeville has enthralled players with its unique blend of interactive storytelling and advanced AI-driven character interactions. Set in a richly detailed world, players step into the shoes of a detective unravelling complex mysteries. With this special offer, we aim to bring the intriguing world of Vaudeville to even more players.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2240920/Vaudeville

22/11/2023

Vaudeville @ Steam Awards 2023
Win your free copy of Vaudeville with our giveaway!

Is Vaudeville the most innovative game in years? We think so! If you've had a chance to experience "Vaudeville" and its unique approach to NPCs and narrative, you might share the feeling that there's something special going on there. The way these AI characters respond and adapt genuinely stirs some...

21/11/2023

Is Vaudeville the most innovative game in years? We think so!

Bumblebee Studios gives a glimpse into the future of gaming
If you've had a chance to experience "Vaudeville" and its unique approach to NPCs and narrative, you might share the feeling that there's something special going on there.

The way these AI characters respond and adapt genuinely stirs something that feels a bit like the future peeking through. That's why considering "Vaudeville" for the "Innovative Gameplay" category of the Steam Awards feels right.

If this resonates with what you’ve felt playing Vaudeville, Bumblebee Studios invites you and all the players and fans of the game to drop it a vote.

Vaudeville is right now 40% discounted on Steam:

Vaudeville is an experimental whodunit game based on the latest AI technologies to generate dialogues in real time. This tale of murder, suspense and absurdity unfolds as you play, and you are the protagonist.