Hi everyone! I've been working on StellarDrive's demo since the page launch, and I wanted to share with you what content it will have and when to expect it.
A starting earth-like planet and its ring system. The demo will "end" once you get to space and reach the rings. You'll be able to keep playing as long as you want afterward.
Steam multiplayer via your friend list.
Around 20 early game parts, including logic gates and fluid systems.
An introductory tutorial and onboarding tips as you explore.
I'm aiming to release this summer. Just don't expect it tomorrow! To give you an idea, here are some of the things I have left to do:
Redo the 3d models that are still from the itch.io prototype and don't fit the current style.
General balance & polish of the early game flow: tech unlocks, tutorial bits & discoveries.
Replace the default UI elements from Unity with ones custom-made for the game.
Optimize the graphics. The game is currently a lot more demanding than the itch.io prototype, and I want to make sure it's at least playable on older PCs.
Optimize multiplayer. My current implementation is pretty awful, and a game can quickly stall just by having a few moderately sized ships.
Options menus & customizable keybinds.
I plan to keep updating the demo for a while as I work on the full game. I'll most likely go for an early access launch of the game. I don't have a date yet, but I'll keep you updated as we get there!
If you want to playtest the demo before everyone else, you can fill out this short form.
For more updates, join the Discord.
Also check out these screenshots from the demo: