Log inTry it free
Ren’Py visual novels

Your Ren’Py web build, on the stores

For visual novels that started in the browser: the web build you already publish becomes signed Windows, macOS and Linux builds, uploaded to Steam, Epic and itch.io from one dashboard.

Build your game free →

Most Ren’Py games don’t need this

Ren’Py’s own distribution tools are excellent. They build Windows, macOS and Linux packages from the launcher, native builds run better than the web build, and Steam support (achievements included) installs from the launcher as an add-on library. If that’s how you ship, keep shipping that way.

Deskifier is a narrower fit. It helps when:

  • Your release is web-first, for example played in the browser on itch.io, and the web build is the one you test and polish.
  • You’d rather not run store tools yourself. Steam, Epic and itch.io uploads happen from one Build & push button per platform, with no steamcmd or butler on your machine.
  • You want the extras without Python work: Discord Rich Presence, a window and volume settings menu, and saves backed up outside browser storage.

If none of those apply, Ren’Py’s distribute tool is the better choice, and we’d rather tell you that here.

What your web build gets

Store uploads from a dashboard
Steam, Epic and itch.io, pushed per platform with SteamPipe, BuildPatchTool and butler run for you.
Saves that survive
The web build keeps saves in browser storage; Deskifier backs them up to a visible GameSaves folder and restores them after a reinstall.
Signed builds
Notarised on macOS and signed on Windows, without an Apple Developer account of your own for direct downloads.
Discord Rich Presence
Show the chapter or route on players’ Discord profiles, with default lines set in the dashboard.
Window and volume settings
Fullscreen, borderless or windowed, monitor and volume, alongside your game’s own preferences screen.
Offline reading
Upload the web build and it ships inside the app, so the whole novel plays without a connection.

Ren’Py web build to the stores

  1. 1
    Build for the web
    Use the Web build from the Ren’Py launcher, and upload the folder it produces.
  2. 2
    Try a free dev build
    Install it and read through as a player would. Check that saves and audio behave as they do in the browser.
  3. 3
    Build & push
    Connect the stores you ship to and push each platform from the Builds page.

Frequently asked questions

For most visual novels, no. Native Ren’Py builds run better, and Ren’Py’s Steam support installs from its launcher. Deskifier fits when your release is web-first and you want that build on desktop stores, with uploads handled from a dashboard.

Deskifier’s Steam SDK is JavaScript, on window.deskifier.steam, so a Ren’Py game would need to call it through the web build’s bridge to JavaScript. It’s possible, but if Steam achievements matter to you, Ren’Py’s native Steam support is the simpler route.

Ren’Py’s web build saves to browser storage. Deskifier snapshots that to a GameSaves folder every few minutes and on quit, and restores it if storage comes back empty after a reinstall.

Yes. It runs the same web build in Chromium, so what you see in Chrome is what players get, including the web build’s limits compared with native Ren’Py.

Dev builds are free on all three desktops. You pay per store you ship to.

Keep reading
Sell your game on itch.io →RPG Maker games →Discord docs →

Your web build, on desktop stores.

Upload your Ren’Py web build and try a free dev build. No card required.

Build your game →See pricing