Japanese Ramen Simulator Misses Its September 28 Steam Launch

The planned 9 AM JST launch did not happen

Wild Dog announced on September 15 that Early Access would begin at 9 AM JST on September 28, equivalent to midnight UTC. That date followed three closed beta rounds, with the final test ending at 11:59 PM JST on September 27, almost directly before the planned commercial launch.

Steam nevertheless continued to list Japanese Ramen Simulator as unavailable after the announced time. Wild Dog subsequently published an official update explaining that a delay in Steam's pre-release review process had prevented the game from launching on schedule.

The studio says it currently has no confirmed replacement date or time. An updated schedule will be announced through Steam and its official Discord once it has been established.

Launch-day messaging became outdated within hours

The delay has produced an unusual situation because communications prepared for September 28 were already describing Early Access as launched. A Wild Dog release carried by Japanese media stated that the game would open at 9 AM JST, priced at 1,900 yen in Japan with a 10 percent launch discount lasting two weeks.

Wild Dog's newer Steam announcement is the statement that reflects the game's actual status: Japanese Ramen Simulator did not launch as scheduled. The announced pricing and promotion may remain part of the commercial plan, but they do not establish that the game can currently be purchased.

100,000 wishlists just before the false start

The delay follows a rapid rise in interest around the project. Wild Dog reported 50,000 Steam wishlists when it announced the release date. By September 24, that total had reached 100,000, roughly doubling in about a week.

Japanese Ramen Simulator is the new game from the Japanese studio behind Keep Digging. Wild Dog is both developing and publishing it, with the upcoming release beginning an Early Access period rather than marking version 1.0. The studio currently expects Early Access to last approximately six months, although it explicitly says that timing may change with development progress and player feedback.

Six players can work behind the same counter

The simulation covers the working cycle of a ramen restaurant: ingredient preparation, cooking noodles and broth, plating, serving, customer care and cleanup. Up to six players can divide those jobs in online co-op. Solo players can instead hire NPC part-time staff.

Cooking goes beyond selecting a recipe. Broth temperature, noodle texture, aroma, umami and serving time all contribute to a bowl, while toppings use physics-based placement. The menu also extends beyond ramen to gyoza, rice bowls and beer.

Restaurant management allows equipment, furniture, storage and decorations to be rearranged. A custom-design system can place player artwork on posters, noren curtains, bowls and clothing. Steam also lists Workshop support.

And sometimes you throw a shuriken at a thief

Wild Dog is not aiming solely for meticulous kitchen work. Ramen critics can visit the restaurant, fires may break out and thieves can target the cash register. Fire extinguishers are among the available solutions. So are shuriken, which is a considerably less conventional approach to restaurant management.

The studio says its team visited ramen restaurants and repeatedly tried making ramen themselves while developing the game. Cooking sounds were recorded from real preparation, while some physical ingredients and materials were scanned to help create 3D assets.

French support is planned; a new launch date is not yet

Steam lists ten interface languages, including French. The game targets Windows 10 and 11, with minimum requirements of 8 GB of RAM, a GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 580 with at least 6 GB of VRAM, and 10 GB of storage.

For now, the important status is the one an older release schedule cannot override: Japanese Ramen Simulator did not become available as planned. Wild Dog still needs to announce a replacement date or time once the Steam review issue has been resolved.