Starbase

Platform(s): PC
Genre: Online Multiplayer
Developer: Frozenbyte
Release Date: 2020

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'Starbase' Gets Early Access Date, Reveals Development Roadmap, New Features - Trailer

by Rainier on April 29, 2021 @ 12:25 p.m. PDT

Starbase is a hybrid voxel/vertex-based space MMO with a fully destructible and infinitely expanding universe.

Starbase is a massively multiplayer online game with gameplay focused on building and designing spaceships and stations, exploration, resource gathering, crafting, trading, and combat. Alternatively the game features a sandbox mode where players can explore the game alone or with selected friends in their own universe.

Set in a universe of vast scale and detail, the fully-destructible environment and hybrid voxel/vertex-based game mechanics enable simulations in the game at immense depth; minor collisions may break a few outer plates from your spaceship, while fast-speed crashes can rip the ship apart. Thruster propellant pipe leaks may cause spaceships to stall, but the corrosive, leaking propellant might also melt the superstructure of the ship and cause a catastrophic failure. Damaged ship controls in a spaceship do not necessarily mean the journey is over, as manual values for the flight can be applied directly to the generator and thrusters from the engine room.

Starbase is developed with Frozenbyte’s internal game engine that is custom-built for conquering space, enabling the use of extremely challenging combination of voxel and vertex technologies in the game. The modern engine has been built specifically with Starbase in mind and the engine’s architecture is designed to handle all the quirks of simulation, damage, building, player amounts and the ever-growing universe to match the challenges the ambitious vision of the game can pose. Similarly, all features of the game have been developed with the infinite scale and the creative freedom of the players in mind.

Starbase has been in secret development for five years without restraints and the development will continue until the game’s bold vision is achieved. In the ever-expanding space the scale can range from the unit of one bolt to massive space station structures, with exploration missions varying from journeys to nearby asteroid fields, to salvaging ship debris, and eventually to other galaxies.

In Starbase players are given the freedom to build the kind of universe they want to, and a small group of players can eventually form large factions that challenge the powers that be. Being inventive will also help, as cleverness often triumphs over brute force in Starbase, and the only limitation is the creativity of the players.

The scale and depth of the simulation in all aspects of the game gives players the ultimate freedom to exploit their innovativeness and creativity – the building blocks of success in Starbase. From constructing single spaceships with durable outer platings to creating massive automated factories and designing electricity and data networks, the players are free to do it their own way.

Fully destructible environment and a multitude of fine-detailed simulations allow the players the ultimate freedom to conquer space by unleashing their creativity to design spaceships, stations, factories, find and exploit flaws in others' creations, and build their way to galactic supremacy.

A bit later than expected, Starbase is coming to Steam Early Access on June 17, 2021, and developer Frozenbyte also revealed new features and a Development Roadmap.

"The Early Access release date for Starbase is now set in stars as June 17th, 2021! We're also really excited to introduce an amazing new feature to the game, the Capital Ships. These massive, station-sized ships enable thrilling new gameplay both for solo players and bigger groups and factions, and we cannot wait for the players to experience that! Stay tuned, save the date and see you in June!" said Frozenbyte CEO and Game Designer, Lauri Hyvärinen.

We're really excited to introduce an amazing new feature to the game – the Capital Ships, massive, station-sized ships that enable thrilling new gameplay both for solo players and bigger groups and factions.

The Capital Ships are capable of warp travel and hosting hundreds, even thousands of players inside them. They can be used as exploration bases or as powerful assets in warfare and station sieges by upgrading them to Military Capital Ships. A new video takes a deeper look at the Capital Ships, their warp mechanics, and shields that double as safe zones.

In preparation for the Early Access release, a roadmap outlining the progress of the development has also been released.


Key Features:

  • Destructible environment with voxel and fracture damage and in-depth simulation
    • The environment in Starbase is fully destructible, meaning everything can be destroyed or disassembled with the right kind of tools and weaponry.
    • The in-depth physics simulation enabled by hybrid voxel/vertex-based game mechanics make fights, exploration and flying spaceships more creative and fun and the simulation of structural and elemental durability in the game adds its own twist and challenge to the efforts to conquer space; poorly designed superstructures combined with overpowered steering thrusters can snap the spaceships in half if cutting corners too much in a space race.
  • Play and interact online with thousands of players, join factions, and more
    • Start shaping the Starbase universe with fellow robots by joining and working for factions.
    • Build, fight, chat and group up with other players to discover and settle the vast galaxy that is waiting for its first conquerors to make their mark.
    • Mine asteroids by yourself, trade and haul cargo with your friends, or build a capital station with a huge company.
    • Take part in the battle between the Empire and the Kingdom, or leisurely explore the galaxy while the insurance system has you covered should you accidentally wander into uncharted space.
    • Success in Starbase is not measured in hours played or an endless grind, but in the ingenuity of each player and their ability to work together.
  • Build and design your spaceships, stations and devices down to the tiniest detail
    • The smallest building unit in Starbase is a single bolt, allowing you to build, repair and modify spaceships, stations, and devices as you wish.
    • Even the smallest ships have thousands of parts, each with their own detailed damage model, making building and designing a truly creative process.
    • Learning to use the in-game programming chips will take building and designing to a new level; innovation, automation of ships and creating clever ship layouts will make all the difference!
  • Explore the infinite universe and gather resources
    • Explore the vast universe to discover stations, social hubs and new raw materials. Arrange an exploration mission with friends and find out what the universe has to offer.
    • Travel to an asteroid field to mine raw minerals and salvage different materials from broken ships, trade materials at trading stations or steal from others if that floats your (space)boat.

Starbase is coming to Steam Early Access on June 17, 2021.


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