Round IV: A Note to the Community

Hi all,

We just released the first trailer for Round IV, if you haven't checked it out I highly recommend it! It shows our last 10 months of dedicated work to completely revamp core game systems, build new ones and add a whole ton of new content.

I also wanted to thank our staff members Mika and TommyVercetti who have been helping behind the scenes with feedback, testing and moderation. As well as the players who participated in our Private BETA and then our Open BETA, we greatly appreciated your feedback and help.

Chicago Rum is packed full of extremely exciting features, some of which are unique to the genre, including:

• Real time multiplayer heists with Crew Ops
• Player-ownable black market Gem Dealer for gems stolen in Jewelry Heists
• Immersive Target Practice feature, allowing you to level up in primary and secondary guns
• Top-down Racing tracks, showing how the race plays out in real time
• Completely revamped interface, featuring faster actions and more user-friendly experiences
• An economy that has been balanced carefully using tens of thousands of simulations powered by the real game engine for accuracy
• All-new moderation features targeting duping, scripting and other rule violations, including automated AI model detection systems and adaptive CAPTCHA challenges

You'll see more of these as the next week progresses with our in-depth Feature Overview trailers.

While I hate to dwell on the past, and I prefer not to be introspective by nature, I feel I wouldn't be doing the game justice unless I address the events of the last 2 years.

2024 to 2025 was an extremely tumultuous time for me personally, in which I was strained under a looming international move, the demands of Chicago Rum, and a full-time job as well. I made several mistakes, but most importantly I wasn't as active as I should've been to support the new game we'd built. I heard your very specific feedback loud and clear and have lifted my game as a result. Chicago Rum is a far cry from where it was 10 months ago.

None of this is an adequate excuse. I should've prioritized things better to give the game more of my attention and I'm sorry for that.

My work over the last 10 months has been a sort of apology to the community for previous actions as well as an attempt to move forward productively. This level of activity will persist as long as you're still a fan of the game and you still allow me to keep working on it.

Let's make Chicago Rum the best it's ever been, while looking to the future for where we can go from here.

Mark & the staff team