That's right, Space Station Continuum is entering Early Access on June 24th 2020.
We'll be sharing more details between now and then, but for now please enjoy a few new sneak peeks in the above trailer. We'd also like to share some answers to these commonly asked questions about the Early Access process:
Why Early Access?
Space Station Continuum aims to become a complex and engaging simulation of building and managing a space station across many decades. To achieve this will require time, testing, and most importantly feedback from the community. Early Access is the perfect way for us to develop the game that we envision without rushing to meet deadlines and cutting complicated features, while benefiting from real time feedback from you, the players.
Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?
We expect the Early Access phase to last for one to two years, depending on the community reception to certain features and ther overall direction of the game.
How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?
The full version of the game will be a much deeper and longer simulation experience, with clear goals and construction milestones to aim for. It will have many more systems and equipment types to manage. Some features that are currently in the planning stages or early stages of development include:
- Thermal management systems
- Research tech tree for unlocking new equipment and progressing through time
- In-orbit construction and manufacturing
- Satellite launching
- Space tourism
- Asteroid mining
What is the current state of the Early Access version?
The current version of Space Station Continuum is in a basic but playable state. It includes a short tutorial to familiarise yourself with the controls and systems onboard your station, as well as a Sandbox mode where you can build without limitations. This mode features saving and loading of your creations. Currently, the Sandbox mode includes:
- 7 types of Spacecraft.
- 2 types of station modules, each in 4 different styles.
- 3 types of solar panels including simulated energy production, consumption, and storage.
- Simulated Astronauts who require food, sleep, and bathroom facilities to stay healthy.
- Interior equipment including food stations, beds, bathrooms, research stations, batteries, and storage compartments. Each in a variety of styles representing different eras of spaceflight.
- EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity) suits that can be flown manually outside your station.
- Simulated disasters including asteroids and meteor storms.
- An original and growing soundtrack inspired by the different eras of spaceflight, all in a classic video game style.
Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?
Yes, the price will increase as more features and content are added to the game.
How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?
Community feedback will be very important for deciding which new features to prioritise and which systems require further balancing. Discussions in the Space Station Continuum Steam Community and Space Station Continuum Subreddit will regularly feature sneak peeks at upcoming content and questions about the community's thoughts on recent additions.
With all of the work that has gone into preparing the game for Early Access we have come to a point where we no longer believe that the current Demo provides an accurate view of the game. We are therefore removing it from the store page today. Watch this space for an updated version in the near future.
Thanks!
- John