Dyson Sphere Program News

Hi engineers! We hope you are ready to explore the universe aboard your Icarus, because Dyson Sphere Project launches on Steam on 21th January, 2021 – just one week to go! In the past days we have received many questions about the game and its release; today we're releasing this FAQ to tackle the most pressing issues.



Q: How much will the game cost?

A: The price of Dyson Sphere Program will be $19.99 / €16.79 / £15.49 during Early Access, with a 1-week long release discount of a 10% off.

Q: At which time will the game be available?

BJS (UTC +8) - January 21st at 3:00 p.m.
CET (UTC +1) - January 21st at 8:00 a.m.
PST (UTC -8) - January 20th at 11:00 p.m.

Q: How advanced is the Early Access version? How long is the estimated gameplay time?

A: Don't worry: the EA version will have a lot of content – the game will just grow from there. A single playthrough takes between 50 and 100 hours to complete – and that's if you focus on building the Dyson sphere. If you sneak off to explore the universe, spend time optimizing the factory layout , etc., it may take you longer than that.

Q: Are many bugs and glitches to be expected?

A: Obviously, we can't guarantee a 100% bug-free experience (the game is still in development, so it might be rough around the edges in some aspects), but we're working really hard to release the most polished version possible. If you find a bug, you can report to us and we will fix it as soon as possible.

Q: Are there enemies in the game?

A: Icarus does not have an enemy in the current version, but it's a feature we plan to implement in the future. We are also looking forward to it!

Q: Does the game have intragalactic and intergalactic logistics?

A: Yes it does! You need to research a specific technology to unlock transportation between planets, though. It is also possible to do logistics between distant galaxies.

Q: Are there black holes?

A: Big YES!



Q: Can you build a Dyson sphere in the game?

A: Definitely yes! (Otherwise, we would have named the game differently!)

Q: Does the game have online features?

A: For now, it is a single-player game.

Q: Will there be mod support?

A: It's on the plans.

Q: Can I claim back land from the sea to extend the layout of my factory?

A: Yes, you will be able to do it -- after researching a specific technology.

Q: Can I change the look of the mecha?

A: Not in the current version, but mecha-customization will be implemented in the future.

Q: Can I land on other planets?

A: You can land, mine and build structures on most of the planets in the game. Time to explore!

Q: Are all planets equal?

A: Not at all. Planets have different ecological environments and materials. Some rare materials can only be found on certain planets. Their revolution and rotation are different as well, which influence how you produce solar- and wind energy.

Q: Will Icarus burn if I get too close to a star?

A: Icarus is a magnificent mecha, you can even crash against a star, no worries!

Q: Can your mecha betray and leave you?

A: Not in Dyson Sphere Program!

Q: I heard that there are only five people in the development team.

A: Yes, we are a five-person team from Chongqing, China.


Q: How frequently will the game be updated?

A: We will announce a development roadmap. Stay tuned!

Q: Is there any place to report bugs or exchange tips for the game?

A: You can join our official Discord and our Steam forums. (Discord is more recommended)

Q: I backed the game on Kickstarter, when can I expect to receive my Steam key?

A: Check your inbox, we're already delivering the keys to our backers! If you haven’t received it yet, you should receive it very very soon, no later than 20th January.

Q: I backed the game on Kickstarter, what do I have to do to get my name in the Credits?

A: We’ve sent a survey to all our backers to get this information; if you have not answered it (or prefer not to), we will show your Kickstarter username.

Thank you for all of the support for Dyson Sphere Program!

Hi Engineers!

It is drawing near the time we embark on Dyson Sphere program journey together. First thing first, thank to all engineers show us so much support! Secondly, we hope this short announcement covers a couple of burning questions —

Dyson Sphere Program will launch its Early Access at 3:00 pm BJS, 21th January 2021 (8:00 am CET, 21th Jan/ 11:00pm PST, 20th Jan) priced at ＄19.99/€16.79/￡15.49. If you purchase the game in the first week, you will gain 10% off on the price.

In addition, more details of the game have been uneviled in the latest developer's streaming - if you haven't seen that, check it below! Please notice that this video is in Chinese language.

https://youtu.be/Y1vnv-qgUVg
As a team of five, we look forward to launch day with you, and hope you like this game! Again, thank you for all of your support!

Good day, engineers! First of all, we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support throughout the whole crowdfunding campaign of Dyson Sphere Program. We reached the funding goal a few days ago, and it will still be going for 3 more days, so we may even get some stretch goals!

That said, we've got exciting news: we announce with great pleasure that Dyson Sphere Program will launch on Steam Early Access on January 21th, 2021! We can't wait for you to check the game out!



Are you new to this game, and you wonder what's it about? Dyson Sphere Program is a sci-fi simulator with space exploration and factory automation elements where you have to build your own galactic industrial empire from scratch. But that's a very long-term goal: you will need to take many, many steps before you get there! You'll need to mine a huge amount of resources and use them to build intergalactic facilities to advance your research and produce the parts needed to build your Sphere.



You're not limited to a single base or a single planet as it happens in other games of the genre, though. You will need to explore the universe, build facilities on many planets, and connect them with an interstellar logistic network in a galaxy-wide production empire. You will have to hone your strategic and management abilities to get there!



To do so, you explore the universe with your very own high-tech mecha, Icarus, which you can upgrade too with its own tech tree! Whether you're pulling through a planetary conveyor belt or traveling through deep space breaking the speed of light, Icarus will be your vehicle and "body.” So don't forget to upgrade your Icarus abilities while you research other technologies!



Dyson Sphere Program is a deep and complex game that will keep you engaged for many, many hours of play; we calculate that a single playthrough can take from 50 to 100 hours! And the good news is that if you buy it even on Early Access day 1, you won’t be playing an incomplete version: the final construction of the Dyson Sphere is already implemented in the game!

Join our Discord server and follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay tuned to all the news about Dyson Sphere Program and join our amazing community of COSMO engineers!

Good day, engineers! We want to begin this post by thanking you again for your amazing support: Dyson Sphere Program is nearing 70% of its funding goal on Kickstarter! We’re getting there, and it’s thanks to you!

To celebrate this step forward, we’ve got a lot of news to share with you today. For a start, we want to show you one of the physical goodies included in the Pioneer tier – the Fusion Reactor night lamp! This is how the lamp will look like – mind you, this is a design picture for your reference; the look of the final product may vary.



[h2]New Reward Tier![/h2]
That said, we’ve got an important update about the campaign to share with you today. We’ve always said that this Kickstarter campaign is a great opportunity to build a community that will allow us, with its feedback, to improve the game and reach its true potential. Of course, we are already receiving and hearing your feedback, and today’s update tackles one of the things that you have let us know.
In the comments, some of you said that the rewards could be fleshed out a little bit more, or some extra value added to the campaign, so backers can see how their support have an impact on the game. While it’s true that the game would never be as ambitious without this campaign and your support, we understand where that comment comes from, and we have been discussing how to improve in these areas.
Just a few days ago, we announced the first stretch goal of this campaign and some updates to the existing reward tiers. Today we want to unveil a brand new reward tier: the Voyager!

[h3]The Voyager[/h3]
Our new tier is named after the probe that was sent to space in 1977 and is now the man-made object that has traveled “further than anyone or anything in history”, as put by NASA itself. And this tier includes a very special reward: if you pledge $278 or more, you can put a message into the game itself!
In your explorations of the universe, you might find abandoned spaceships – space flotsam, left adrift after its crew either abandoned the ship or suffered an unknown destiny. But they left a message behind – maybe a letter to their loved ones, a poem, a song, a message for future generations… You can write a text of up to 50 words and send it to us, and after its approval (we do have to make sure there is no profanity, hate speech, etc.) it will be included in the game as the message that every player will be able to read when they find an abandoned spaceship in their exploration.
Think of it: your words will always be part of the game, and thanks to that, part of the life of the thousands of players that will enjoy Dyson Sphere Program in the years to come. It can be a very special gift for someone you love or a message for your future kids: what you write will be, in some way, floating in space for eternity. It is a limited reward, though – we cannot make space to be choked full of abandoned ships, after all!

This is the full list of what’s included in this tier:

[h3]New Tier - Voyager - ＄278 (Limited to 10 backers)[/h3]
Beta Access (NDA)
Customize a text/pic that will be included in the game (limited to 50 words)
Digital Wallpaper Pack
Name listed in Game Credits
Steam Key
Steam OST Key
DSP-customized Mouse Pad
DSP-customized Pin or Key Chain Set
DSP-customized night lamp
Our Deepest Gratitude

Wait – I backed with another reward, but I do want to put a message in the game!
That’s alright! We have included it as a separate tier too, so you don’t miss anything.
[h3]New Tier - Cosmic radio[/h3]
It allows you to add a custom message to the game for $94. Since you can only back a project once, if you have already backed Dyson Sphere Program and want to add this, you can adjust your pledge +$94 up to include this reward. Just message us to let us know you’ve done so (learn how to do it here).

All these new tiers will be unlocked at November 24th, 00.00 PST / 9.00 am CET.

[h2]Stretch Goals[/h2]
A few days ago we announced the first stretch goals of this campaign: the Community Galaxy. We want to unveil the rest of them now; we’ll explain them in more details in the coming days, but here you have a quick sneak peek of how much the game can grow with your support:

[h3]Stretch Goal I: $12,000 ─ Community Galaxy[/h3]
See other players’ progress reflected in your universe: each star in this galaxy will represent the energy output of another player. The brightness of their stars will be more or less intense depending on the energy output of their factories.
[h3]Stretch Goal II: $18,000 ─ Voiceover and localization[/h3]
English voiceover will be added to the game, as well as localizations to two extra languages: German and French.
[h3]Stretch Goal III: $24,000 ─ Assembly Space Module[/h3]
You asked for a Space Station and here it is! Starting from a small cube, create and customize your own floating base in the vastness of space, choosing between different modules that will provide you with different abilities. In Dyson Sphere Program you can only build facilities on the surface of a planet, so it can’t escape its gravity – but with the Space Module you can shoot their components to space and put them together up there!
[h3]Stretch Goal IV: $42,000 ─ Wandering Sun[/h3]
Build thrusters so powerful that they can move a whole star. What could you possibly do with your own wandering sun…?

That’s all for today! Remember that you can help this project by spreading the word on your social media channels. Have a great day, engineers!

Greetings engineers! The space agency COSMO is happy to report that the Dyson Sphere Program crowdfunding campaign is good on its way to its final destination. Our Kickstarter campaign just hit 50% of its funding goal in just 10 days. There’s still a long road ahead of us, but we are confident in achieving our goals with your help! If you want to support Dyson Sphere Program, you can back our crowdfunding, of course – but helping us to spread the word on social media and among your friends will also help us a lot!

To celebrate reaching this milestone, we’re releasing today this gameplay trailer, so you can have a sneak peek at what awaits you in Dyson Sphere Program. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8F6uOMGhTg