Doggy Don't Care Release Date Set for September 24
The game has been called a pug version of Untitled Goose Game on social media, and its wishlist count surpassed 15,000 on March 31, indicating strong pre-release interest.
Key Facts
- Doggy Don't Care launches on PC via Steam on September 24, 2026.
- The game costs $14.99 with a 10% launch discount.
- It features 5 environments and over 100 mischief badges.
- Players can unlock 14 pajama-style costumes called 'Pawjamas'.
- The game received $130,000 in grants from Screen NSW and Screen Australia.
Reporting from 2 sources: Automaton, Game Spark.
Rotub Games announced on August 13 that Doggy Don't Care, the 3D comedy adventure where players control a mischievous pug named Charlie, will launch on PC via Steam on September 24, 2026. The game, developed by solo developer Rohan Nowell, lets players explore five colorful environments, solve puzzles, collect over 100 mischief badges, and pee anywhere. The price is $14.99 with a 10% launch discount. A demo is currently available on Steam, which has earned a 100% positive rating from 21 user reviews. Nowell said the idea came from his own anxiety about getting a dog, imagining chewed furniture and neighborhood complaints. Development took about three years, supported by grants from Screen NSW and Screen Australia, totaling $130,000. The game was showcased at events including SXSW Sydney and Day of the Devs in San Francisco. Players can also unlock 14 pajama-style costumes called 'Pawjamas' and interact with five bird companions who give challenges.
- Charlie the pug can jump, bark, use items, and pee anywhere in the house; the game opens with the owner hiding ten snacks before leaving.
- Badge puzzles include dragging toilet paper across the floor and leaving paw prints on the owner's car roof after stepping in oil.
- A bird named Rocko gives hints that lead to new mischief, including a double-jump tip in the demo.
- Beyond the main stages, Charlie's dreams are explorable areas with hidden meaning to uncover.
- Fan-submitted drawings of Charlie by children appear as decorations inside the game.
- Nowell quit a ten-year web development career after releasing the mobile game Swoopy Boi to work on Doggy Don't Care full time.
- Screen NSW provided $30,000 and Screen Australia $100,000, which funded external graphic designers and a composer.
- The game appeared at more than ten events worldwide, including the Frosty Games Showcase during Summer Game Fest.
- Nowell said being selected for SXSW Sydney and Day of the Devs made him realize the project was no longer a side project.
- The full game currently supports English only.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.