SCREAM NOTE Launch Day Checklist

SCREAM NOTE went live on Steam July 28, 2026. Launch day is chaotic — friends buy at different hours, someone forgets to disable PC-reach scares, and the first bridge scare ends a cooperative run. This checklist compresses wiki guidance into a single pre-flight list so your group spends less time troubleshooting and more time screaming.

Pair it with launch day release notes for what shipped, and getting started for full match flow.

Before you buy or gift

Confirm the basics so nobody refunds mid-lobby:

• Platform: Windows PC via Steam only at launch — no console or macOS ports advertised.
• Group size: Plan for 2–8+ online players; solo is not the intended experience.
• Voice chat: Groups without microphones lose half the social game — Discord works, but proximity chat is stronger for alibis.
• Content tone: Comedy horror with loud jumpscares, not slow-burn dread — set expectations for sensitive players.
• Demo: No public demo at launch; watch the embedded trailer on getting started instead.

Read the launch review if someone needs a buy-or-wait verdict.

Steam and PC setup (15 minutes)

1. Purchase or install from Steam App 4791980.
2. Verify system requirements — 8 GB RAM minimum, GTX 1050 Ti class GPU, ~15 GB SSD space.
3. Update Windows and GPU drivers — day-one builds stress new driver paths.
4. Set Steam download region if a friend on another continent hosts.
5. Launch once offline to finish shader compile before inviting seven players.

In-game settings before inviting friends

Open Settings and walk through every tab — do not skip Audio or Gameplay:

Setting	Recommendation
PC-reach scares	Off unless the whole group opts in — details in PC-reach scares guide
Voice input device	Match your actual headset mic, not a webcam
Push-to-talk vs open mic	Decide as a group; open mic sells alibis, PTT reduces noise
FOV	Slightly higher helps track chasing monsters
Streamer Mode	Off unless streaming — see Streamer Mode guide

Full keybind tables live in controls and settings.

Lobby social contract (5 minutes)

Before loading into the haunted house, agree verbally:

1. Win path — elimination last-player-standing vs cooperative escape to exit.
2. Betrayal rules — is early notebook usage fair game or round-two only?
3. Streamer audience scares — if one player streams, can chat trigger redeems?
4. Quit etiquette — three strikes eliminates you; stay for laughs or spectate voice.
5. Session length — one hour blocks fit 2–3 rounds without fatigue.

Lobby hosting steps: player count and lobby. Voice psychology: co-op multiplayer.

First match goals (do not skip)

Round one is learning, not winning:

• Pick up two cursed pages and announce one pickup aloud — practice transparency.
• Open the Scream Note UI once without confirming — learn menu navigation under zero pressure.
• Experience one chase as victim or witness — understand monster audio cues.
• Reach one map landmark named in the map guide — stairwell, bridge, or exit direction.
• Debrief after the round — who sounded guilty, which scare landed hardest?

Round two is when you write a real name with a delay timer — practice timing on the Scare Timer tool between matches.

After your first hour

If this happened	Read next
Lost track of strikes	Winning strategies
Bridge betrayal ended escape	Escape walkthrough
Could not find pages	Cursed pages
Want stronger scares	Jumpscare tier list
Heard about patches	Updates hub and launch day notes
Need official links	Wiki links hub

Launch week maintenance

• Verify game files after any Steam update — Properties → Installed Files.
• Re-read patch summaries on the updates hub before ranked-with-friends nights.
• Report bugs with repro steps on Steam discussions — include player count and scare type if known.
• Avoid fake promo codes — codes hub lists verified keys only.

Launch day checklists expire faster than cursed pages rot — bookmark this page for the next friend who buys on sale week two.