Baby Steps isn’t finished — Maxi Boch, audio fixes and what’s next for the walking sim

Baby Steps, the walking‑sim from Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy and Gabe Cuzzillo, launched on September 23, 2025 — but developer Boch says the project still isn’t “done.” The debut suffered launch‑day audio sampling and timing issues that affected many of the game’s reactive sounds, a core part of Boch’s audio‑first design.

Boch, who previously worked on big music titles like Rock Band and Fantasia: Music Evolved, led the game’s dynamic audio system. The team used a mix of middleware and bespoke tooling to create reactive musical cues tied to Nate’s footsteps; late‑stage problems meant some samples didn’t trigger as intended at release.

What happened at launch

• Several audio samples and dynamic cues failed to populate at the right moments on day one, impacting the intended rhythmic feel of walking and falling.
• The team shipped the game because collaborators were ready to release, even though Boch wanted more time to refine audio behavior.
• Developers have already released patches to fix sampling errors and are preparing larger updates to improve reverb, animal vocals and dynamic responses.

Why the audio matters

Audio is integral to Baby Steps’ identity: Boch designed systems where footfalls, environmental sounds and musical layers form a hypnotic rhythm that guides the player. That focus on sound comes from Boch’s background in rhythm games and a deliberate goal to put audio at the center of the interactive experience.

Development and personal context

Boch, Foddy and Cuzzillo prototyped Baby Steps starting in 2019 and worked closely — even sharing time at the NYU Game Center and living together during early development. Boch’s own health challenges (Ehlers‑Danlos Syndrome, POTS, MCAS) influenced both her work process and the themes of endurance in the game; she balanced physical therapy and creative work while building reactive audio systems.

What’s next

• Audio patches are rolling out to fix sampling and cue timing; upcoming updates will add improved reverb, animals singing along, and other polish.
• Boch plans more audio‑focused content, livestream showcases (Baby Steps Fi Beats) and ongoing composition work through November and beyond.
• The team intends to keep refining the game’s tech and sound design even after launch — Boch emphasizes the project as an evolving, audio‑driven work.

If you experienced the game at launch, the audio fixes and upcoming updates may change your playthrough — and for newcomers, Baby Steps is already praised for its mechanical precision and surreal tone. You can read the original coverage for more background: Engadget feature on Baby Steps.

Discussion: Did audio issues affect your experience of Baby Steps? Will the promise of richer, dynamic sound make you replay or pick up the game now?