Star Atlas

Overview

Star Atlas is delivering a never before seen experience not only in web3 but also in traditional gaming. A game of this scale is one of the most ambitious we have seen in the gaming industry overall and it is definitely exciting to watch it all unfold. The game takes players on a futuristic journey to the year 2620 where three space-faring factions are in competition for intergalactic dominance.

Gameplay and Features

The game is currently in the pre-alpha stage with multiplayer, space racing, dogfighting and exploring the environment, and is available on the Epic Games Store. Players can summon their own spaceships, walk around and inside them and fly several models. Star Atlas is also publishing its own episodic graphic novel, Star Atlas: CORE, which is revealing the backstory of the game itself, month by month.    On top of all that, Star Atlas is innovating in the space of blockchain technology and has released a freely available open source F-KIT, a software development kit enabling anyone to connect Unreal Engine 5 with the Solana blockchain.  

Star Atlas also has its DAO, available through their website's Governance portal, where players can participate in the political aspect of the game by holding one of the two in-game tokens, $ATLAS and $POLIS.

The Showroom

It is the year 2622 and upon entering the Showroom, you find humanity's attempt to preserve a piece of their deceased planet. In the past, humanity was convinced by extraterrestrial beings to extract Earth's remaining resources and migrate to other planets as a united force, which now comprises most of humanity under the MUD group. As you explore the Showroom, you will see statues and displays of various spaceship manufacturers from humanity and various alien groups such as the ONI faction and the Ustur sector's sentient androids.

The Star Atlas galaxy is currently governed by the Council of Peace and the Showroom serves as a place for all species and factions to appreciate the different ships built across the cosmos. In this pre-alpha version, you will play as Asha, an elite pilot, captain of the Council of Peace, and instructor of the Academy where she trains young talents from all species and factions. Future versions of the game will feature new characters from different races.

After getting familiar with Asha, you will have access to advanced Photoli terminals which allow you to summon the ships you own to one of the Showroom's landing pads. During the Pre-Alpha stage, some of the ship textures are still in development, but you will be able to view the ship models you own in their full scale and volume as they will appear in the final version of Star Atlas.

The Showroom also includes a cinematic photo mode that allows you to capture every detail of your ships. You will be able to explore every aspect of this carefully crafted world, where every pixel has been placed to create an immersive experience that blends reality and imagination.

Space Combat and Exploration

All of the stars that are visible can be visited in the game. However, some of the more distant stars may be too far away to reach without proper fuel. The game does not have a skybox, which allows players to explore the Star Atlas universe visually. Players will manually pilot their ships to uncover the wealth of the universe by using their upgradable scanning modules.

Higher level scanning equipment allows for deeper and broader scans, which leads to a higher number of assets that can be discovered. The scanning data can be used to stake claims or can be sold on the marketplace. Ships are equipped with weapon turrets and missile bays. The turrets can be energy, ballistic, or disruption type and can target different components of enemy ships and installations.

The turrets are powered by a power supply and protected by shields and a hull. When encountering another enemy ship, if scanned properly, the player can target subsystems to gain an advantage in combat. Ships can also target land- and space-based installations to claim them for themselves. However, these installations can also have their own weaponry installed and ready for attack. All players can mark their stance as aggressive or passive to signal their desired combat engagements. Passive stance grants a shield and maneuverability buff to allow for escape if attacked without formal declarations.

Building and Crafting

To thrive in the Star Atlas universe, players must build a variety of structures—from mining rigs on remote asteroids to sprawling space stations serving as trade hubs or military fortresses. Each construction project requires specific resources and blueprints, which players can acquire through exploration, trade, or combat victories. Crafting plays a significant role in customization and progression, allowing players to create unique ship modules, weapons, and personal gear, each with its own stats and abilities.

NFTs and Blockchain 

Star Atlas features a peer-to-peer marketplace where players directly trade ships, gear, and other in-game assets. Each item in this marketplace is a Non-Fungible Token (NFT), ensuring true ownership and unique asset security, which bolsters both player trust and asset value.

Token Utilities

The game economy is driven by two primary tokens: ATLAS and POLIS.

• ATLAS is the main currency for transactions within Star Atlas, used for purchasing items and covering fees. It is inflationary, designed to expand with the game's economy.
• POLIS is the governance token, giving players voting power to influence the game's direction and rules. This token is deflationary, aiming to provide long-term value and governance influence to its holders.

Asset Deflation Mechanisms

Star Atlas incorporates asset deflation mechanics, such as the ability to permanently destroy ships. When a ship, also an NFT, is destroyed in high-risk areas, it is burned and removed from the game, reducing the overall asset pool and potentially increasing the value of remaining assets. This feature introduces real risk and consequence into gameplay, emphasizing the impact of strategic decisions on the game’s economy.

How to Get Started

Star Atlas is currently on closed access, offering the exclusivity of faction-based strategy and interstellar warfare for those who gain entry. To start your adventure in Star Atlas, it’s essential to keep updated with the game's progress and availability. The best way to stay informed is to wishlist Star Atlas on the Epic Games Store.

Additionally, you can get involved with the game's development through "Surge," a new faction-versus-faction game mode designed to test the multiplayer capabilities of Star Atlas. Surge allows you to participate in competitive gameplay to score points for your faction, helping to refine the game's mechanics and earn rewards. To access this mode, join the Star Atlas Discord community where you can request a key for Surge.

Minimum System Requirements

• OS: Windows® 10 64-bit
• CPU: Intel® Core™️ i5 4590T 3.0 GHz
  
• Memory: 8GB
• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1080 / AMD Radeon RX 5700
• DirectX: DirectX 12
  
• Storage: 20 GB
  

Recommended System Requirements

• OS: Windows® 10 64-bit
• CPU: 8 core Intel or AMD, 3.5GHz or faster
• Memory: 32GB
• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 2070 or higher
• DirectX: DirectX 12
• Storage: 20 GB