Out of Orbit News

[p]Dear Earthlings

Finally, after a long grind, I can officially announce the release date of the Crew Update! June 19th 2025! It took me nearly six months to bring this update to life. I basically had to rebuild all the AI systems from the ground up, since I made the major decision to switch from grid-based movement to a more flexible node-based system. It was a huge undertaking, but it opened the door for some exciting new possibilities. One of the biggest additions in this update is the introduction of crew members, a feature I’ve been wanting to implement for a long time. Manage their loyalty and sanity as they assist you aboard your ship and accompany you while exploring the universe! This update also serves as a solid foundation for future updates to build upon. I'm in the final stages, just fixing the last remaining bugs.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]I can't wait for you all to try it out and see how it changes the gameplay experience!

Also, if not already, please link yourself up to all social media platforms to stay up-to-date.
[/p][p]Discord Server Twitter Youtube Instagram TikTok

That's that!

If you guys have any other questions, i'd love to answer them.
Stay good, stay fresh and stay healthy!

Cheers,
Bryan[/p]

Dear Earthling,

I have a great announcement to make!
The beta version of the Crew Update is now live in the Beta branch on Steam!

The goal of this build is to find and fix as many bugs as possible before I release the final version. Just in time for the Steam Summer Sale. During the sale, which runs from June 26th to July 10th, the game will be heavily promoted and available at a 50% discount.

If you'd like to participate in the beta test, simply follow these steps:

1. Go to your Steam Library.
2. Right-click on Out of Orbit.
3. Select Properties.
4. Navigate to the Betas tab.
5. In the Beta Participation dropdown, select beta.
6. Close the window.

That’s it! The game will reinstall, and the beta version will be ready to launch!

Please keep in mind that this beta build is not fully stable. You may encounter bugs during gameplay. This version is not meant to be polished or finished, it's intended for testing purposes only.

Also, if not already, please link yourself up to all social media platforms to stay up-to-date.

Discord Server Twitter Youtube Instagram TikTok

That's that!

If you guys have any other questions, i'd love to answer them.
Stay good, stay fresh and stay healthy!

Cheers,
Bryan

Dear Earthlings
It's been about a month since the last dev diary, so it's time to write a new one.
I want to keep doing these monthly, because I don’t want to give the impression that I’m not working on the game. Even though I’m not always posting a lot of content, it actually means I’m working really hard behind the scenes!
So, let’s get into it.

Animations
I'm currently reworking all the animations and sprites for every faction. So far, the Naala, M38, and Sundogs have been completed, now I just need to redo the Robotek faction.
Animations are now being done in Adobe After Effects, which will result in a much smoother visual experience.

I showcased the Sundogs in the last dev diary, so this time I’ll be showing the M38 and Naala.


Crew Roles And Types
I'm also busy assigning different roles to your crew members. One of these roles is the Engineer, who will help repair your ship when it takes damage. Another is the Pilot. You'll be able to instruct them to fly to specific locations, and they’ll take you there. There are many more crew types in the game, but I won’t reveal them just yet!
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Planned Release Date
My plan is to release this update about a week before the Steam Summer Sale. That way, I’ll have time to fix as many bugs as possible before the game goes on sale.
Right now, that puts the release around June 19th 2025. I’ll do everything in my power to make that date a reality, but I’m not ready to lock it in just yet. If everything goes according to plan and nothing unexpected comes up, I should be able to pull it off.

Also, if not already, please link yourself up to all social media platforms to stay up-to-date.

Discord Server Twitter Youtube Instagram TikTok

That's that!

If you guys have any other questions, i'd love to answer them.
Stay good, stay fresh and stay healthy!

Cheers,
Bryan

Dear Earthlings
Just a quick update on the development of the Crew update! Things are progressing really well. The new Node AI is working like a charm, it has been thoroughly tested and debugged, and so far, it’s performing flawlessly.

Recruitment
The recruitment feature has also been fully implemented. This gives the player control over a group of crew members, with two teams of up to three members each. These team members can be commanded using a new command pop-up, as seen in the video below. This system allows for more tactical gameplay, enabling players to flank enemies and execute strategic maneuvers. Just to be clear, this is separate from your crew, it's simply a group you can bring along with you.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]



Keeping your crew members happy
Crew members now have individual needs. They require an assigned bed, enough food, and sufficient water to stay sane. If their sanity drops below a certain threshold... well, let’s just say some interesting things will happen, but I’m not going to spoil the surprise! Crew members will take care of their own needs whenever possible, ensuring they remain in good condition.





More immersive NPC interactions
All dialogues related to crew members have also been implemented, with a total of 321 new dialogue lines added. These cover a range of interactions, including reassigning crew members to different ships, recruiting NPCs to join the crew, initiating trade, and more.



Detainment Feature
A new detainment feature has been introduced as well. Players can now detain NPCs using handcuffs, which works on all NPCs, including friendly ones and potentially unruly crew members. This feature will be further expanded in the upcoming RPG update, allowing players to turn in bounties for cash rewards.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Development
At this stage, the remaining tasks include fine tuning the AI, updating the save system and its processes, and integrating the Node AI into Robotek, Naala, and M38. Additionally, more sprite assets will be added to further polish the update.

Exciting times ahead! Stay tuned for more updates!

Also, if not already, please link yourself up to all social media platforms to stay up-to-date.

Discord Server Twitter Youtube Instagram TikTok

That's that!

If you guys have any other questions, i'd love to answer them.
Stay good, stay fresh and stay healthy!

Cheers,
Bryan

Dear Earthlings
Exciting Update on the Game Development!

I’ve got some great news to share! I’ve fixed most of the bugs in the current version, and I’m confident that the game is now fun and fully playable until the Crew Update is released.

Speaking of the Crew Update, development officially started about a week ago. One of the biggest challenges I faced was reworking the AI and pathfinding system. Currently, AI movement is grid-based, each spaceship has its own grid, and moving an enemy from point A to B requires an enormous amount of trigonometry. However, for the Crew Update, it's essential for NPCs to move seamlessly between ships, so I needed to find a better solution.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

After some deep problem-solving, I’ve started completely revamping the AI system, transitioning it to a node-based system. This will make the AI feel more dynamic and alive instead of being rigidly confined to a grid. It also unlocks tons of exciting possibilities for future gameplay mechanics. I’ve been experimenting with decompression and other fun features, and the early results are really promising! I’ve even put together a small test video below, it looks great, and I’m excited to see how it evolves.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

While overhauling the AI, I also decided to revamp the NPC sprites, making them more natural and visually appealing.



Once these changes are implemented, I’ll start shaping the Crew Update itself. I’ve received tons of fantastic suggestions from the official Discord server, many of which I’d love to incorporate. If you have any ideas, feel free to join the conversation on Discord!

My main goal is to categorize crew members into different ranks and roles. Each crew member will have a unique role on the spaceship. You’ll also be able to recruit new members and command them in battles against other spaceships.

I will be announcing a giveaway in a few weeks on TikTok, so follow me there to stay updated and get a chance to win a free copy of the game!

That’s all for now! I’ll keep you guys updated as development progresses. Stay tuned for more exciting news!

Also, if not already, please link yourself up to all social media platforms to stay up-to-date.

Discord Server Twitter Youtube Instagram TikTok

That's that!

If you guys have any other questions, i'd love to answer them.
Stay good, stay fresh and stay healthy!

Cheers,
Bryan