Astroneer

Astroneer
Developer(s)	System Era Softworks
Publisher(s)	System Era Softworks
Designer(s)	Jacob Liechty Riley Gravatt
Programmer(s)	Brendan Wilson Zabir Hoque
Artist(s)	Adam Bromell Paul Pepera
Composer(s)	Rutger Zuydervelt
Engine	Unreal Engine 4
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
Release	Original release date: N/A Early Access: December 2016
Genre(s)	Sandbox, Adventure
Mode(s)	Cooperative video game single-player

Astroneer is an upcoming space-based sandbox adventure game developed by System Era Softworks. The player is tasked with colonizing planets, creating structures and mining resources. Astroneer has no set goal and no storyline, giving the player a great deal of freedom to do what they wish. The Early Access for Astroneer is set to release in December 2016.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Astroneer takes the form of other sandbox games in some senses. There is no set storyline or necessary goal to achieve, and the player is free to explore as he or she wishes. However, it is similar to survival games because the player has basic needs that must be met. The player's food and water levels drop, and oxygen must be replenished. A lack of these immediate needs will, much like real life, cause pain, suffering and death.

The game is confirmed to have no enemies or dangerous creatures that the player will have to face, but there is still dangerous occurrences that will set the player back, getting the player killed or have their possessions destroyed. Some of the confirmed challenges or disasters the player will have to face are dust storms, unstable terrain and falling from high locations. The game is also confirmed to have no PvP (Player vs. Player) combat.

While there is no mandatory goal or mission to achieve, the main idea of the game is to colonize celestial bodies and harvest resources. There are different types of minerals the player can harvest, and using these minerals the player can improve their ship, their colony, their machines or any of their other possessions. The player can construct machines, pods, habitats and other structures to aid in the process of mining and colonization.

Another important point in Astroneer is exploration and salvaging. The player has the ability to terraform the land to their liking, which can be used at the player's discretion. On many planets, wrecks of spacecraft and former colonies can be found littering the surface, usually somewhat submerged. The player can uncover these wreckages and salvage resources from them to be used. The player can also terraform to his or her will, allowing access to certain hard-to-reach locations. Every player is equipped with a deforming tool at the time of their spawn, and this tool is always available to use.

The player has both power and oxygen bars, which will deplete in different ways. The player will slowly but constantly deplete their oxygen supply as they move around. The oxygen depletes faster depending on how fast or how much the player is moving. Oxygen will not regenerate unless the player is tethered to a tether chain or to their spaceship. Power does not deplete unless the player uses certain objects, such as the deforming tool. When the player runs out of power, the flashlight on the spacesuit will automatically power off and nothing requiring power can be used. Power will regenerate slowly when unconnected to a ship, but when the player is connected to a tether or the spaceship it will regenerate faster. The player will die without oxygen, but a lack of power will simply hinder their actions. Players can use objects like batteries to extend the length of time before total depletion.

The player will create objects and tools using a 3D printer. The player's backpack is equipped with a small printer; however, the player is strongly recommended to acquire a full-size printer in order to create larger objects. The player can also create land vehicles, such as rovers, to travel across surfaces with ease. Tethers and extensions can be created as well. These tethers connect the player to their spaceship, regenerating power and oxygen. Tether extensions allow players to reach farther distances and increase the size of their base.

The game will feature online multiplayer and possibly appear as early as the Early Access release date. Local co-op is also planned for the game but will not be in the original release. Rather, it will be released in an unspecified future update.

Development and release

Astroneer is developed and produced by System Era Softworks. The Early Access for Astroneer is set to release on Xbox One, Windows 10 and Steam in December 2016. The price of the Early Access is $20 (€19).

See Also

• No Man's Sky
• Starbound
• Space Engineers
• Star Citizen