Hello Wayfarers,
Whether you’ve been starside with us recently or haven’t been back for many solar cycles, now’s the perfect time to see what we’ve been up to in Stars Reach.
We just launched our FINAL update before we enter Early Access on August 18, 2026. And right now, you can get a sneak peek at some of the big features players have been eagerly awaiting.
Some things that have been added, updated, and polished over the last few months:
A spiffy new character creator. Now you can tailor your in-game persona to stand out from the crowd.
Dangerous fauna now emerge from Makers. You’re going to want to destroy those, especially if they’re close to your homestead. Don’t let them get out of control, or you may find yourself with some unfriendly visitors.
A complete user interface refresh makes interacting with Stars Reach’s systems much easier (and more pleasant on the eyes)!
Crafting has received a significant overhaul, creating the foundation of a player-driven galactic economy.
Terrain now slides! Be careful you don’t end up under a landslide or avalanche! But DO try and use this to your advantage in combat. Pro strats!
We’ve added an enormous number of quality of life and stability improvements. Especially if you haven’t played in a few months, you’re coming back to a game that has greatly evolved.
Your feedback is vital as we enter the home stretch of our playtest period. Playtesting will end on August 12, 2026 at 1:59 PM PT / 4:59 PM ET.
Join our Playtester Rewards Campaign!
We’re also running a Playtester Rewards Campaign! We’ll be giving away wallpapers, in-game titles, Discord roles, and merchandise! You don’t need to do anything to opt-in to earn rewards. Everything is handled through your Firstlook profile. However, once you’ve earned enough points, you’ll need to log in to redeem your rewards.
We’ve also scheduled a number of events to celebrate the closing days of our playtest, we hope you’ll join us this weekend!
Fireside Chat with Raph Koster - Saturday, August 8, 2026, 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET
Our journey to Early Access has been exciting, and we are excited to open the doors for the general public. Join us this Saturday, as Raph Koster walks us through the Calm Before the Storm update and he might even share a few peeks at the Founders Packs.
Server Slam - Saturday, August 8, 2026, 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET
You’ll be the asteroid. We’ll be the dinosaurs. Let’s see what happens when you hurtle through space and collide with our servers!
Right after our Fireside Chat with Raph Koster, we will all make new characters at the same time and gather in Haven; just like we will on launch day. From there we’ll work through the tutorial and head out into space.
The more players we can have in-game, the better our data will be. For those of you who have not participated in a Server Slam before, the goal is to push the servers as hard as we can. For that reason, we do expect downtime and various oddities. Your help will shore up our stability for Early Access launch!
How to Homestead Community Event - Sunday, August 9, 2026, 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET
Our community builders are truly remarkable! From a giant Minion to the finest Kebab restaurant in the galaxy, building is an important activity in Stars Reach.
If you’ve never built your own home in a game, it can be a little intimidating (even with our tools, which are designed for approachability). That’s why we’re getting together to show you how to plan, build, and decorate your very own home among the stars.
We hope you’ll join us in-game, on Twitch, or both for this fun and educational event!
In closing, we want to thank each and every one of our playtesters. Your input, feedback, in-game builds, and bug reports have shaped Stars Reach as it exists today. We can’t wait to welcome the world on August 18th when we kick off Early Access.
And with that… we’ll see you in the stars!