Stars Reach News

[p]Visual Upgrades[/p][p]Day and night visuals were altered, volumetric fog and improved terrain tiling were added. The overall effect of these changes can be dramatic. Not all of the lighting values and tuning have been completed so more will improve over time.[/p][p]NOTE: Volumetric fog has performance impact, so it defaults to OFF currently. You can turn it on in the Options menu.[/p][p]Our visual upgrades in this update includes:[/p]

• [p]We replaced the stock Unity point and spot light system with our own light grid solution which renders about 400x faster[/p]
• [p]Our global illumination supports ambient occlusion and is automatically computed dynamically resulting in darker crevices and caves[/p]
• [p]Our custom-made reflections implementation takes ambient occlusion into account and results in much better metals, custom reflections on flora, and better performance[/p]
• [p]Automatic sky hue for different sky colors[/p]
• [p]Map sized Volumetric Fog adapting to terrain height[/p]

[p][/p][p]Preamble[/p][p]The initial screens you see after starting a new character have been pared way back. We (hopefully) kept the humor of those screens intact, but now there are only two of the “silently screaming” screens. Then you pick a basic character type and move into the Hallway experience.[/p][p][/p][p]Hallway[/p][p]The initial user experience has been overhauled.[/p]

• [p]To make the experience less claustrophobic, the hallways have been widened significantly.[/p]
• [p]The “broken elevator shaft” that you climbed up wasn’t obvious to many players, so it has been replaced with a ladder instead.[/p]
• [p]A very large number of aesthetic improvements were made.[/p]
• [p]The dialogs were simplified to make it much harder to become uncertain of what to do next.[/p]
• [p]The lava room was removed entirely.[/p]
• [p]The Professions Kiosks at the end of the hallway were removed entirely. Why? Because in the next Update, we’re working on the Training Moon that comes after the Hallway and you’ll be learning skills and gathering tools there instead. For now, every character will receive an OmniShock, Harvester, Terraformer, and Pathfinder when they start. This is temporary but necessary until we get the Training Moon functionality in place.[/p]
• [p]The Chat Pane is closed while in the Hallway to avoid visual clutter. It opens again when you leave.[/p]
• [p]You can now roll under the “Crouch” obstacle.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Identity Kiosk[/p][p]At the start of the Hallway experience, you’ll be able to interface with an Identity Kiosk. There, you’ll be able to select from one of 64 visual appearances available in that kiosk, determining what your character will look like from that point onward.[/p][p][/p][p]We no longer randomly change your character appearance when zoning.[/p][p]This is not a permanent feature, but is a bridge feature that we’ll keep in place until much better character customization options are available in the near-ish future.[/p][p][/p][p]Basic NPCs[/p][p]At the end of the Hallway, there’s a Servitor (the same one you’ve been talking to while you moved through the Hallway). He doesn’t do much at this point, but he was an experimental test so we could put into place the features needed to support basic NPCs going forward (which will be quite useful on the Training Moon).[/p][p]In the future, you’ll be able to customize NPCs for your Homesteads.[/p][p][/p][p]Miscellaneous Improvements[/p]

• [p]The Starbase got a big update. The basement has been removed entirely. You now spawn into the Garden (of Life) via the Respawn Stations that have been moved there. There were also many significant visual upgrades as well as changes to reduce the number of objects used for performance reasons.[/p]
• [p]The Wild Wormholes have been turned off currently, in favor of a “planet rotation” feature which will be fully explained later when that feature is ready for testing.[/p]
• [p]A large number of art assets were introduced to add visual distinctiveness to many ores, plants, etc. when viewing your inventory. (This work is not yet complete, but we made good progress with this update.)[/p]
• [p]A large number of performance improvements went into the game that should significantly improve framerate for many users.[/p]
• [p]When you use a ReLife station, there is now a visual effect to make it more obvious that something happened.[/p]
• [p]You should no longer see multi-boss spawns in various zones.[/p]
• [p]The recipes for Soil-to-Metal or Soil-to-Gemstones have been removed because they were an early design that has been replaced and are no longer needed. Instead, we have the “adds” system so that when you extract soil, you occasionally get extra drops of the metal or gemstones you could make previously.[/p]
• [p]Harvesting logs are now beneath the notice of the Servitors and will no longer trigger edicts.[/p]
• [p]The Xyloslicer and Harvester have been improved with better targeting.[/p]
• [p]GovBot missions now require less wood. We doubt anyone will be surprised by this.[/p]
• [p]Many new fruits can be harvested. Seeds for fruit-bearing trees/bushes are now found when harvesting those fruits instead of when chopping them down.[/p]
• [p]More new furniture and lights were added.[/p]
• [p]The camera now defaults to Fixed-Reticle mode rather than Free-Reticle mode. Remember that “T” toggles your camera mode, as always. You can also temporarily switch it by holding the ALT key.[/p]
• [p]Camera behavior in tight spaces has been greatly improved.[/p]
• [p]You can now have private chats, as long as you’re on the same world. If you use /tell to message another player, it opens up a new chat channel where you can chat back and forth. This does not work across servers yet, but we’re working on it![/p]
• [p]Some of you may have noticed a while ago that we did some tests with client prediction on firing certain tools and then removed the feature. Those initial tests only worked for those specific tools but client prediction is now back with a more generic model so all projectile weapons will see you fire them immediately without waiting on a server response. There are still some iterations coming to improve this feature further and fix edge case bugs but you can disable it in the Options menu if you have any issues with it.[/p]

[p][/p][h2]Update 1.1[/h2][p]UI Change to Skill Window[/p][p]The first step to revising the Skill Tree window is accomplished. The aesthetics aren't where we want them yet, but the functionality is great. Take a gander. It's only going to get bigger.[/p][p] [/p][p]Improvements to Server Memory Usage[/p][p]We've figured out a number of memory leak and optimization strategies for the servers. They should no longer require the periodic resets you've been experiencing during playtests.[/p][p] [/p][p]Improved Graphical Settings[/p][p]The graphic improvements introduced in the last update have been further improved. Also, fog is now turned on by default (but can still be turned off in the new and improved Graphics Options.)[/p][p]NOTE: The graphics settings are not saving currently between logins. This will be fixed shortly.[/p][p] [/p][p]Improvements to Hallway[/p][p]We've made a series of improvements to the First Time User Event Hallway scenario. They are subtle, but they are based on user feedback, so thank you for that feedback![/p][p] [/p][p]And a number of other bug fixes[/p][p]All minor, but all useful. Enjoy![/p][p][/p][h2]Update 1.2[/h2][p]Improvements to Settings [/p][p]Your individual settings should now save between sessions. So tap escape, check out the menu, and get everything just the way you like it.[/p][p] [/p][p]Day and Night Cycles Extended[/p][p]We have slowed down the day/night cycle to a modest degree. More tuning of this cycle may be expected in the future.[/p][p] [/p][p]Simulation Modifications[/p][p]We felt that the erosion effects of water were too aggressive and we tuned this back. [/p][p] [/p][p]Bugs and Bug Fixes[/p][p]The Xyloslicer now works again. [/p][p]Midotara is running a bit slow so expect to see a slight delay in terraforming operations.[/p]

[p]NEW UPDATE NEXT WEEK[/p][p]We have not yet announced what is coming in next week’s update but savvy observers have been watching our public roadmap.[/p][p]Update notes will be posted next week. We will leave you some surprises for that post, but here’s the roadmap in the meantime.[/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]FIRESIDE CHAT[/p][p]Our next Fireside Chat will be Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 9:00 AM Pacific. Dave Georgeson will join us to describe the new update and answer questions about our roadmap and design choices.[/p][p][/p][p]You can watch the Fireside Chat live on [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]. [/p][p][/p][p]NEW PLAYER ONBOARDING LIVESTREAM [/p][p]Did you know that nearly anything in this game is (or will be) interactable? You just need the right tool. Most new players miss this (as we watch them on livestream or video.) There is so much to learn. So we’re going to try something new: hands-on new player onboarding.[/p][p]Thursday, November 27, we will feature new player training for our weekly livestream. Everyone is welcome to join us in the game and we’ll help you get up-to-speed on Stars Reach. Or shy folks can watch us on Twitch.TV from a safe distance. [/p][p]When the playtest opens at 9:00am Pacific (noon Eastern), please launch the game from your Steam library, create a new character, and make your way down the initial hallway. When you go through the gateway at the end of the hallway, you can then join us on the TPL Space Station.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]CONTROLLED CHAOS INTERVIEWS LIGHT BATES [/p][p]Technical Designer Light Bates explains elements of the GovBot update, the dev team’s reactions to how the players interacted with the GovBot, and tries not to leak anything too sensitive. And something about spam.[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]PLAYTEST SCHEDULE [/p][p]The playtest continues with GovBot Update from Thursday (US Thanksgiving) morning through Tuesday morning, December  2, (119 hour test). Then next week we are installing a new game update with a quick initial test on Thursday, December 4, 2025.[/p][p][/p][p]LOGO MERCH AVAILABLE [/p][p][/p][p]We currently have three sets of logo merchandise in stock:[/p]

• [p]The Transplanetary League set[/p]
• [p]The Stars Reach logo set[/p]
• [p]The Infinite Worlds set[/p]

[p]You can visit the store here:

[/p][p]HOW YOU CAN HELP [/p][p]If there is one thing you can do to help us, you can wishlist us on Steam. This makes a difference for the algorithm and also helps on the day we eventually launch on Steam. Thank you for this support. [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p]

[p]ON THE GOVBOT UPDATE[/p][p]The GovBot update is the talk of the town right now but perhaps you have not read through the entire patch notes: [/p][p]If you prefer to hear about it firsthand from one of the designers who worked on it, you can listen to the interview with Technical Designer Light Bates.[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]FIRESIDE CHAT[/p][p]If you missed last weekend’s fireside chat, you can hear another take on the most recent update from Game Director Dave Georgeson.[/p][p]Also, Dave spends time talking about the roadmap and our priorities.[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]PUBLIC LIVING ROADMAP[/p][p]Last week we posted our public, living roadmap and told you about it. Some of you quickly realized you can click on individual cards for more information.[/p][p]What others didn’t realize is that we are updating it frequently. We’ve updated it four times since posting it. It’s worth revisiting regularly.[/p][p]We haven’t received a lot of feedback other than you like it. We were expecting more questions and more comments on priorities.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]MMORPG EXPLAINS STARS REACH ROADMAP[/p][p]MMORPG.com commented on our roadmap that we are “aiming for accountability and transparency about which features are planned and in that pipeline.”[/p][p]The author explains that we are in “full-fledged development testing, with occasional updates and playtests shared from the team.” [/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]CONTROLLED CHAOS ALSO EXPLAINS THE GOVBOT UPDATE[/p][p]Did you know that the GovBot update lets you rule a planet in Stars Reach?[/p][p]While one might ask our first official major of any city in Stars Reach, Dr. Drake Vellaut, it turns out that one could also ask Controlled Chaos about this subject![/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]PLAYTEST SCHEDULE[/p][p][/p][p]The playtest continues with GovBot Update from Thursday morning through Tuesday morning, December  2, USTZ (119 hour tests).[/p][p]

LOGO MERCH AVAILABLE[/p][p]We currently have three sets of logo merchandise in stock:[/p]

• [p]The Transplanetary League set[/p]
• [p]The Stars Reach logo set[/p]
• [p]The Infinite Worlds set[/p]

[p]You can visit the store here:

[/p][p][/p][p]HOW YOU CAN HELP [/p][p]If there is one thing you can do to help us, you can wishlist us on Steam. This makes a difference for the algorithm and also helps on the day we eventually launch on Steam. Thank you for this support. [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p]*NEW* GOVBOT UPDATE[/p][p]The GovBot is a Transplanetary League construct that serves two purposes:[/p]

• [p]It’s a sequence of tasks that a group of planetary pioneers can use to establish a township on a new planet, and;[/p]
• [p]It enables the tools that the government of that new township will need to maintain and grow the planet going forward.[/p]

[p] [/p][h3]Citizenship[/h3][p]Players may (optionally) become citizens of a specific planet. To do so, go to the GovBot on a planet, access the kiosk and choose to become a citizen there.[/p][p]If you are already a citizen on another planet, you’ll have to renounce that citizenship first before you can become a citizen elsewhere.[/p][p]You cannot access any other GovBot functionality until you become a citizen of that planet.[/p][p] [/p][h3]The First Mission[/h3][p]GovBots have levels, and they start at level 1. To move to the next level, the citizens of that planet must rally together to bring resources and Klaatu to the GovBot. Once they Deposit enough materials and currency in the GovBot, the mission will complete and new functionality will be unlocked for the township.[/p][p]The first goal is to unlock a Missions Kiosk for the planet.[/p][p]When the first mission is completed, the Mayor will be notified of the community’s success and the next mission will automatically begin.[/p][p][/p][p]This is a small fraction of the important information in this update. Please find the rest here:[/p][p]https://starsreach.com/govbot-update[/p][p] [/p][h3]PUBLIC LIVING ROADMAP[/h3][p]Today, we reveal our Stars Reach development roadmap. We built something more than just a timeline, but a living page![/p][p]You can click on individual cards for more information. Additionally, watch cards move between categories (forward and backward) as development progresses.[/p][p][/p][p]We want your feedback, so don’t be shy and let’s hear some typing on those keyboards![/p][p]https://starsreach.com/roadmap[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]MASSIVELYOP REMARKS ON RESEMBLANCE TO SWG[/h3][p]MassivelyOP warmly compared Stars Reach’s new government system to the original government system in Star Wars Galaxies. The commenters agreed with the writer on the strong resemblance to the cherished memories of SWG.[/p][p]\[READ MORE][/p][p] [/p][h3]MASSIVELYOP SAYS WE’RE HAVING A HELLUVA WEEK![/h3][p]They watched the new Servitors video by Stars Reach Lab. They checked out our living roadmap, comparing it to a Trello board, but might not have noticed that one can click on a tile and open it for more details.[/p][p]They are right. We’re having a great week![/p][p]Explore the full article →[/p][p] [/p][h3]STARS REACH LAB: THE SERVITORS[/h3][p]The Lab series continues with a look at The Servitors.[/p][p]The old ones left their garden of planets in the care of their faithful Servitors. They care for us, for our planets, and all the flora and fauna living on these worlds.[/p][p]Endlessly polite, they may still schedule you for termination with the right motivation.[/p][p][/p][h3]PLAYTEST SCHEDULE[/h3][p][/p][p]Saturday’s Fireside Chat is our 50th Fireside Chat. Dave Georgeson will be joining Carneros to break down the new update and talk about our newly-posted development roadmap.[/p][p] [/p][h3]LOGO MERCH AVAILABLE[/h3][p]We currently have three sets of logo merchandise in stock:[/p]

• [p]The Transplanetary League set[/p]
• [p]The Stars Reach logo set[/p]
• [p]The Infinite Worlds set[/p]

[p]You can visit the store here: https://starsreach.com/store[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]HOW YOU CAN HELP [/p][p]If there is one thing you can do to help us, you can wishlist us on Steam. This makes a difference for the algorithm and also helps on the day we eventually launch on Steam. Thank you for this support. [/p][p][/p]

[p]Today we reveal our Stars Reach development roadmap. [/p][p][/p][p]We built something more than just a timeline. This is a full-featured living document. Click on individual cards for more information. Watch as cards move between categories (forward and backward) as development progresses. [/p][p][/p][p]We want your feedback.  [/p][p]https://starsreach.com/roadmap[/p]