Playable Worlds, a company founded by veteran MMO designer Raph Koster, has announced its first title called Star Reach. This game is a fully-simulated, massively multiplayer sandbox game that takes place in a smarter, more reactive galaxy. The game runs partly on the cloud, allowing for more natural and dynamic environments. In Star Reach, players can experience a persistent universe that doesn’t reset, meaning that the actions they take have a permanent impact on the landscape and are visible to other players.
One of the key features of Star Reach is its detailed and malleable world. The game’s technology allows for realistic interactions with the environment. For example, water flows and generates natural currents, forests can catch fire, and flora changes with heat and humidity variations. Creatures in the game migrate when food sources are depleted, creating a dynamic ecosystem. This level of detail and interactivity sets Star Reach apart from other MMOs.
The game’s cloud-native architecture enables players to have unique experiences. In a demo of the game, players could use a mining tool to hollow out a rock and discover a cave. Pouring water into the hole created a pond in the cave, which could be used to extinguish fires. This level of freedom and flexibility in gameplay is a departure from traditional MMOs where actions are often pre-scripted.
Star Reach aims to fulfill the dreams that the MMO genre had 20 years ago but hasn’t fully realized. The game’s creators want to shake up the category and point the way forward. With a team of just 43 people, Playable Worlds has raised $38.7 million to develop Star Reach since 2019. The game is set in a colorful, science-fantasy setting that appeals to a wider audience than just MMORPG fans. It offers gameplay that can range from casual to hardcore, and players can build their own homes on various planets, allowing for endless possibilities.
The lore of Star Reach revolves around an ancient alien civilization that terraformed the galaxy and created humanity. Players join the transplantary league and venture out to explore strange new worlds, harvest resources, build civilizations, and form empires. The game’s lore draws inspiration from classic science fiction and aims to bring back the optimism of the genre’s past.
Star Reach is currently in pre-Alpha, and a launch date has not yet been announced. Playable Worlds is focused on friends-and-family testing to refine key aspects of the game. The company has also launched a new website for players to sign up for updates and testing opportunities.
With its innovative gameplay mechanics, living world simulation, and player-driven economy, Star Reach aims to deliver a unique MMO experience. Playable Worlds is determined to create a game that surpasses the expectations set by previous MMOs like Star Wars Galaxies and Ultima Online. The team is open to fan feedback and plans to continue evolving the game based on player input.
In summary, Star Reach is an ambitious MMO that offers a fully-simulated, dynamic universe for players to explore. It incorporates cloud-native technology to create detailed, interactive environments where players’ actions have a lasting impact. With its focus on player-driven gameplay and diverse experiences, Star Reach aims to redefine the MMO genre and provide a fresh and exciting gaming experience.