Ball Retrieval Simulator Launches on Steam, Adds Czech Support for One Wishlist
A single wishlist registration prompted the developer to implement Czech localization, a gesture that drew responses from Warhorse Studios and Czech baseball player Ondrej Satria, turning an indie release into a cross-cultural exchange.
Key Facts
- Ball Retrieval Simulator launched on Steam on August 31, 2026.
- The game is priced at 700 yen, with a 30% discount to 490 yen until September 14, 2026.
- The developer added Czech language support after receiving a single wishlist registration from the Czech Republic.
- Czech national team pitcher Ondrej Satria offered to help and is planned to appear in the game via audio and photo compositing.
- Czech studio Warhorse Studios sent a message of thanks to developer Eba.
Reporting from 3 sources: 4Gamer.net, Denfaminicogamer, Game Spark.
EBA GAME released the PC title Ball Retrieval Simulator on Steam on August 31, 2026. The first-person exploration game is set in a Japanese high school baseball club, where the protagonist, a new club member, must retrieve scattered balls after practice. Seniors, fearing the coach's reprimand, order the protagonist to search, and the player can only respond "Yes" to their commands. The game depicts the oppression and unreasonable hierarchy of that environment, based on the developer's real experiences and those of people around them. Priced at 700 yen, it is available for 490 yen (30% off) until September 14. Players can carry over surplus balls found beyond the required number, and the game over screen shows "YOU DIED" alongside a baseball-related message. The game also became a topic for adding Czech language support after the developer noticed a single wishlist registration from the Czech Republic. This led to volunteer cooperation, including help from Czech national team pitcher Ondrej Satria, and plans for professional Czech voice acting.
- Developer Eba posted his Czech-language decision on X on August 1, before the August 31 release.
- The X post passed 110,000 likes and 2.22 million views; overseas outlets Dexerto covered it on August 5 and PC Gamer on August 4.
- Warhorse Studios, the Czech studio behind the Kingdom Come: Deliverance series, sent Eba a message of thanks.
- Czech national team pitcher Ondrej Satria sent a direct message asking "Is there anything I can do to help you?" and posted "Arigato" on X.
- A total of 8 volunteers gathered for the Czech localization, including Satria.
- The Czech dub will feature professional voice actors, including Filip Cvejn, who appeared in the Czech-language version of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
- Satria's appearance in the game via audio and photo compositing is planned, after he taught Eba "the wonderfulness and emotion of Czech baseball."
- The localization was initially planned as AI translation before switching to volunteer cooperation.
- Players can stock up to 2 surplus balls beyond the required number, and consume them to get through a day when no balls are found.
- The protagonist searches the field, school building, and club room area while mindful of the coach's gaze.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.