Developer Playable Worlds has officially released Stars Reach, a sandbox MMORPG, into Early Access on PC via Steam. The title, led by co-founders Raph Koster and Eric Goldberg, is available as of August 18, 2026.
Quick Facts
- Platform: PC (Steam)
- Availability: Early Access as of August 18, 2026
- Pricing: Firstlight Pack ($29.99), Voyager Pack ($49.99), and Cosmonaut Pack ($79.99)
- Core Technology: Cloud-native, persistent, and reactive simulation
Gameplay and Simulation
Stars Reach is built on cloud-native technology that allows for a persistent galaxy where player actions carry significant weight. The environment is highly reactive; players can terraform terrain, grow or stunt trees, and mine resources. The simulation extends to the ecosystem, where wildlife can go extinct and weather or environmental events can permanently alter geography.
The current Early Access version features exploration across multiple planets, resource gathering, crafting, trading, and combat. Players can also defend against a planet-eating hive mind. The game utilizes a classless progression system with hundreds of skills, allowing players to focus on roles like trading, crafting, or governance.
Future Development
While the game is currently playable, Playable Worlds has outlined several features for future updates. These include the addition of spaceships, new species, expanded factions, political structures, and PvP combat. Players entering the game now are positioned to help shape the evolution of these systems as the project continues its development cycle.