TL;DR
Future roadmap includes: Expansion Pack 1 "Market Mayhem" (new locations, event cards, exotic ingredients, Q3 2026), Educational Edition with enhanced teacher resources (2026), potential digital adaptation (exploring partners, 2027+), international versions (translating, adapting for global markets), tournament circuit formalization, and community-created content platform. Balancing growth with maintaining game's core accessibility and educational value. Community feedback actively shaping direction.
"What's next for Smoothie Wars?"
I get asked this weekly—by players eager for new content, teachers wanting expanded resources, tournament organizers hoping for official support, and investors wondering about growth plans.
Fair question. Smoothie Wars launched September 2023. We've sold 2,500+ copies, reached 200+ schools, and built a passionate community. That's solid start, but it's just the foundation.
This article reveals our roadmap: confirmed releases (Expansion Pack 1 in Q3 2026), projects in development (Educational Edition, digital version), exploratory ideas (international versions, asymmetric player powers), and—critically—what we won't change (core game accessibility, educational focus, community-driven approach).
Some of this is locked in. Some is "we're figuring it out." All of it is shaped by community feedback—so if you have opinions, the end of this article tells you how to share them.
Expansion Pack 1: "Market Mayhem" (Q3 2026, Confirmed)
Our first expansion is locked in, currently in final playtesting.
What's Included
3 New Locations:
- Airport: High-volume, price-sensitive customers (volume strategy location)
- Food Truck: Mobile location (can move between spots, unique flexibility)
- Farmers' Market: Organic-only ingredients, premium eco-conscious positioning
30 Event Cards:
- Weather events (storms, heatwaves affecting location traffic)
- Market trends (smoothie fads, health scares)
- Regulations (health inspections, licensing costs)
6 New Exotic Ingredients:
- Acai berries, lychee, guava, starfruit, matcha, ginger
Advanced Rules Integration:
- Negotiation and trading system
- Loan/investment mechanics (optional module)
Price: £15-18 (works with base game, not standalone)
Compatibility: Requires base Smoothie Wars game to play.
Design Philosophy for Expansions
Core principle: Expansions are additive, not essential.
What this means:
- Base game remains complete, balanced, fully playable forever
- Expansion adds variety and complexity for players who want it
- Expansion is optional (never required)
Anti-pattern we're avoiding: Games where expansion becomes "the real way to play" and base game feels incomplete. That's exploitative.
Our promise: Base Smoothie Wars will always be a complete, excellent game. Expansions are for players who've exhausted base content (50+ plays) and want fresh systems.
Playtesting Status
Current status: 40 playtest games completed (January-April 2025)
Findings:
- Event cards add variability without chaos (sweet spot: 1 event per turn, predictable timing)
- New locations create interesting trade-offs (Airport is high-risk/high-reward, Food Truck is flexible but lower ceiling)
- Exotic ingredients balanced for cost:benefit (acai expensive but justifies £11 pricing at premium locations)
Remaining work: Final balance tweaks (acai cost might drop from £14 to £12), rulebook writing, artwork finalization.
Release timeline: Playtesting complete by June 2025, manufacturing July-August 2025, release Q3 2026.
Educational Edition (2026, In Development)
Teachers keep asking: "Can you create a version specifically for classroom use?"
Enhanced Teacher Resources
What's included (planned):
- 30-page Teacher's Guide: Lesson plans (5 different formats), curriculum alignment, assessment rubrics, differentiation strategies
- Student Workbooks: Reflection worksheets, extension activities, homework assignments
- Curriculum Maps: Explicit links to UK National Curriculum (Business Studies, Economics, Maths, PSHE)
- Digital Resources: Downloadable scoresheets, printable reference cards, PowerPoint presentations
Price: £35-40 (base game + educational materials, or £15 add-on if you own base game)
Classroom-Optimized Components
Modifications being tested:
- Durable components: Laminated cards (withstand 200+ plays in classroom environments)
- Quick-setup trays: Pre-sorted component organization (faster setup/pack-away)
- Classroom pack: 6 game sets in one box (for 24 students), bulk discount
Development Timeline
Status: Concept phase, teacher advisory group feedback (15 teachers consulting)
Timeline: Resources drafted by September 2025, classroom testing October 2025-March 2026, release September 2026 (start of 2026-27 academic year).
Digital Version (2027+, Exploratory)
The most-requested feature: "Is there a Smoothie Wars app?"
Digital Version Possibilities
Platform options being explored:
- Mobile/tablet app (iOS, Android)
- Steam (PC/Mac)
- Browser-based (play in web browser, no download)
Features we'd want:
- Solo play: AI opponents (better than physical solo mode flowcharts)
- Online multiplayer: Play with friends remotely, matchmaking with strangers
- Tutorial mode: Interactive rules teaching (better onboarding than physical rulebook)
- Statistics tracking: Analyze your gameplay, identify improvement areas
- Asynchronous play: Make your turn, opponent plays later (like Words With Friends)
Challenges of Digital Adaptation
Why it's complex:
1. Development cost: Quality app development = £50-100K investment (need funding or publisher partnership)
2. Monetization: How to price?
- Option A: £5 premium app (one-time purchase)
- Option B: Free with ads
- Option C: Freemium (free base, pay for expansions/features)
3. Competing with physical: Will digital version cannibalize physical sales? (Probably some, but might also drive discovery)
4. Maintaining educational value: Physical play has social/discussion component (critical for learning). Digital is solitary unless carefully designed for group use.
Current Status
Discussions: Talking with 2 mobile game developers (preliminary, no commitments)
Decision point: 2026—after Expansion Pack 1 release, we'll decide whether to pursue digital based on:
- Physical game sales trajectory (is market saturated or growing?)
- Funding availability (bootstrapped or seek investment?)
- Developer partnership viability
Realistic timeline if pursued: 2027-2028 for release.
Community Input Needed
Question for community: Would you want digital version? What features matter most? Would you pay £5 for it?
Feedback form: Digital version survey
International Versions
Current: English-language, UK market only
Potential: French, German, Spanish, US editions.
Translation and Cultural Adaptation
Straightforward translations:
- Rulebook (already translated informally by French teacher in Paris—waiting for official approval)
- Card text (ingredient names, location names)
- Currency symbols (£ → € or $)
Cultural adaptations needed:
- Fruit availability: Dragonfruit exotic in UK, common in Thailand—adjust ingredients for regional familiarity
- Business culture: Some mechanics (competitive pricing, undercutting) resonate differently in various cultures
- Educational alignment: Curriculum links differ (UK National Curriculum vs. US Common Core vs. French Baccalaureate)
International Expansion Plans
Priority markets:
- France: Strong game culture, educational board game market mature
- Germany: Largest European board game market
- USA: Huge market, but competitive (many economic education games already)
Timeline: French version possibly 2026, others 2027+ (requires local partners for distribution, marketing).
Tournament Circuit Formalization
Current: Grassroots tournaments (community-organized, unofficial)
Future: Sanctioned tournament circuit with official support.
UK Smoothie Wars Championship Series (Proposed 2026)
Structure:
- 4 regional qualifiers (London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow)
- Top 8 from each → Finals (32 players)
- National Champion crowned
Support from Smoothie Wars:
- Prize pool contribution (£500 total)
- Promotional support
- Official tournament rules/structure
- Qualified judges
Organizer benefits:
- Official sanctioning (attracts participants)
- Marketing support
- Prize funding
- Community connection
Status: Proposal phase, seeking organizer partners in each region.
Community-Created Content Platform
Vision: Enable community to share variants, strategies, stories.
Platform features (planned):
- Variant database: Submit house rules, others can try and rate them
- Strategy guides: Community-written tutorials, voted on by usefulness
- Tournament results: Upload results, track player rankings
- Story sharing: Submit game stories, get featured
Timeline: Basic platform (website) by end of 2025, expand features 2026+.
What Won't Change
As important as what's new is what's preserved.
Core Values and Accessibility Commitment
Non-negotiables:
- Base game remains accessible: 10+ age range, 5-minute teach time, 45-minute play
- Educational focus preserved: Business/economics learning embedded in mechanics
- Family-friendly: No mature themes, violence, inappropriate content
- Reasonable price: Base game stays £25-35 range (affordable for families/schools)
- Solo designer integrity: I (Dr. Thom Van Every) retain creative control (no selling out to publisher who'd compromise vision)
Why this matters: As Smoothie Wars grows, pressure will come to "optimize for profit" (make it cheaper to produce, simplify for mass market, license for cash grab). We're resisting that.
The game exists to teach business strategy accessibly. Profit is necessary (sustainability), but it's not the primary goal.
How to Stay Informed
Want updates on expansions, digital version, tournaments?
Newsletter: Sign up at smoothiewars.com/newsletter—monthly updates, no spam
Social media:
- Instagram: @smoothiewars (visual updates, community features)
- Facebook: Smoothie Wars Community Group (discussions, fan content)
- Twitter/X: @smoothiewarsgame (announcements, tournament results)
Community forum: smoothiewars.com/forum—discuss strategy, share stories, vote on future features
Community Wishlist: Inviting Feedback
We actively want your input.
Current questions for community:
-
Expansion Pack: Which variant rules from "Market Mayhem" are you most excited for? (Vote at expansion survey)
-
Digital version: What features matter most? Solo AI? Online multiplayer? Tutorial mode? (Vote at digital survey)
-
Tournament circuit: Would you participate in regional qualifiers? (Register interest at tournament interest form)
-
Educational Edition: Teachers, what additional resources would help most? (Share at educator feedback)
Your feedback directly shapes priorities. High-voted features get resourced first.
Behind-the-Scenes: Decision-Making Process
How do we decide what to build?
Decision framework:
1. Community demand: What are players asking for repeatedly? 2. Educational value: Does it enhance learning outcomes? 3. Strategic depth: Does it add meaningful decisions or just complexity? 4. Accessibility: Does it preserve 10+ age range? 5. Business viability: Can we fund development and distribution?
Example:
-
Expansion Pack: High demand (✓), enhances replayability (✓), adds strategic decisions (✓), optional so doesn't affect base accessibility (✓), £15 price covers costs (✓). Approved.
-
Ultra-Complex Expert Expansion (18+ only): Some demand, no educational value for kids, high strategic depth but loses family appeal, business viable BUT conflicts with core values. Rejected.
Principle: We serve the core mission (accessible business education) before chasing every revenue opportunity.
About the Author: Dr. Thom Van Every, creator of Smoothie Wars, shares the vision and roadmap for the game's future. The team committed to community-driven development and preserving educational accessibility.
Be part of shaping Smoothie Wars' future. Join the community, vote on upcoming features, and stay updated via newsletter. Get Smoothie Wars today and grow with us over the years ahead.
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