Changing your visual novel's title/name after it's announced

[PrismProjections]

New developer here! I jumped into the deep end of making a visual novel just last month and somehow managed to finish my first 'demo' game within 30 days for a game jam.

Now, as I'm expanding on the work I did, I find that I don't like my game name. It's, ironically, alienating. (My game is about said aliens.)

Currently, the game's name is "CE-5," which is short speak for Close Encounters of the 5th Kind. I don't imagine people outside of a very niche audience would know this term and I'm worried it might intimidate players looking at the game.

Lately, I've been feeling a stronger pull towards calling the game "City Lights." It pins down the location and hints at the main issue. It's just a better fit. However, I've already made development blogs for "CE-5" during the Game Jam period and I worry that changing the name of it now would be seen as fickle and ill-planned on my part.

My question is this: Has anyone changed their project's name early in development and found it causing problems further down the road? Any tips or advice from those that have gone through this?

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

[SundownKid]

You could just write "so and so, formerly known as so and so" for the first news bits so people have a chance to realize it.

[Ghost #9]

It is not at all uncommon for a game to having a "working title" that is ultimately changed by the time of its full release, even within major studios. If you feel that another title would better suit your project, I'd say go ahead and change it.

For a bit of fun, here's an entire list of various works (comics, movies, games, etc.) that began production under a different name: Click Me!
It's a TV Tropes link. Don't get lost. : P

[PrismProjections]

You could just write "so and so, formerly known as so and so" for the first news bits so people have a chance to realize it.

Thank you, that's a fantastic idea. I appreciate you taking the time to respond!

[PrismProjections]

It is not at all uncommon for a game to having a "working title" that is ultimately changed by the time of its full release, even within major studios. If you feel that another title would better suit your project, I'd say go ahead and change it.

For a bit of fun, here's an entire list of various works (comics, movies, games, etc.) that began production under a different name: Click Me!
It's a TV Tropes link. Don't get lost. : P

You've got a great point and I had a lot of fun reading (getting lost) in the page for a while. Thank you for taking the time to respond!

[Jae]

Square Enix changed "Final Fantasy Versus XIII" to "Final Fantasy XV" after five years of development, so I think you're okay on your end.

[Laiska]

Square Enix changed "Final Fantasy Versus XIII" to "Final Fantasy XV" after five years of development, so I think you're okay on your end.

It was actually seven... But I think that just proves the point more xD

[sake-bento]

Edge of Tomorrow aired in theaters under one title, then changed its name to Live Die Repeat for the home video release. In an attempt to stave off some of the confusion, the movie is officially "Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow" where the original title is now the subtitle. Your game could be City Lights: Close Encounters of the 5th Kind so anyone following you would still see the original title and know what it's referring to.