Why Early Access?

“This is a passion project of ours, a vision for a game we would have liked to play ourselves but couldn't find. With Early Access, we want to avoid the common pitfalls of new projects in order to create a truly amazing experience. Early Access is a way for us to develop the systems considering user feedback, to keep heading in the right direction without forcing anyone to invest before they are happy with the direction the game is taking.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We have a set of features we aim to implement, and depending on user feedback, feasibility, and complexity of those features, the timeline will certainly vary but we expect about two more years (second half of 2025). The game in its current form has been in development for a little over a year now, so there is still a long road ahead, especially since we are currently a team of two. You can find in the full description below a full roadmap of the project.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“The currently implemented mechanics will be expanded upon, along with new content (new maps and activities) and updated assets. We plan to include locations you can physically infiltrate, NPCs, factions to work with or against you, the story of Phantom-OS, decisions impacting the world around you, a dynamic item and inventory system, and more. We also plan to have missions that will play out differently depending on various factors like previous actions or the time of day. We want to add more computer upgrades, more minigames, more approaches when dealing with a mission (remote, in the field, a combination of both, outside help, multiplayer friends). We also plan on offering mod support so you can expand the game however you see fit.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The basic framework for the game has been implemented, that being the computers, operating system, networking and ways to access data. While currently exclusively single-player, we plan to add multiplayer support once the preceding roadmap mechanics are implemented. None of the assets are final, we are currently working on the core mechanics of the game.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“No definitive plans here yet, but it is likely that the price will be increased once we deliver major milestones. We plan on having an approach similar to Minecraft and other indie games where price scales in relation to the amount of content that the base game offers. Increasing up to a regular indie game of this caliber as more content gets added to the game. We are also considering an expansion pack model, but that remains to be decided.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“We currently use our Discord server as our primary way to talk to our community. Players are welcome to suggest and discuss new features and modifications in the "Suggestions" channel. Upcoming changes are openly discussed with the community for early feedback. A closed test-group of players have access to the latest builds of the game and work closely with the dev-team. The test-group evaluates and tests new features and changes before they are released to a public test branch, available for everyone, and then ultimately to the live version of the game. We will continue to develop this process based on the needs and feedback of the community.”