Why Early Access?

“Please Note: As of December 2023 (patch v0.3.1), development on Jumplight Odyssey has been paused indefinitely. You can read the official announcement here and the FAQ in the Steam forums provides even more context. We do hope to recommence development, and so have left our original Early Access message intact below.

The journey to the Forever Star takes time - and to build a game that fits our vision is going to take the combined efforts of our talented team and a passionate community who understand what we're trying to achieve.

We know where we are headed, but we also know the power of player investment. With our previous game Armello, we worked with our community for over seven years to realise our ambition of bringing tabletop adventure to life. Thanks to those players, we achieved far more than we ever expected.

Now, as we merge the structure of an FTL roguelite with colony sims like Dwarf Fortress or Rimworld, with so many systems to refine and decisions to make, we knew from the very start of development that we’d be returning to Early Access, and to all of you. <3”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“As mentioned above, we have unfortunately had to pause development on Jumplight Odyssey indefinitely. Although we hope to recommence development at some point in the future we can’t make any promises as to when that will happen or when Jumplight Odyssey will reach v1.0.”

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

“Our ambition for Jumplight Odyssey’s v1.0 is nothing short of a ‘Starship Adventure Sim’ where a fully fleshed-out colony sim meets the roguelite structure of games like FTL, all while placing you directly in the Captain’s seat of a 1970s sci-fi anime.

You can expect everything we've communicated about the game so far to be fully realised and the final chapters of the game’s Starmap and story will be revealed.

Naturally, we will continue to define incoming content and features as we move through Early Access, and you, of course, will help us shape that roadmap.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Although our ambition for Jumplight Odyssey has not yet been realised, and development is currently paused, we feel there is value and magic in the experience we have built so far.

We have a suite of content and features in-game (as well as difficulty modes) that should appeal to the pace and tension that each of these playstyles enjoy. ;)

There are a number of different systems you can jump to; each with their own biomes, dozens of props for building out your colony, and a working simulation for you to monitor the lives and relationships of your crew. Not to mention the beginnings of some meaty combat with the Zutopans! AND every run is procedurally generated, as is your crew, so each Odyssey will be different from the last.”

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

“Yes. We will be increasing the price of Jumplight Odyssey when we leave Early Access to reflect the significant increase in both the scope of content and features, and the overall quality of the experience provided.”

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

“We have a very well-defined vision for this game:
Jumplight Odyssey is a starship adventure sim. Think FTL meets Evil Genius with a little bit of Rimworld thrown in for good measure; a colony sim in the stars with roguelite elements and emergent storytelling. You are the captain of your starship, leading your colourful crew on a daring escape from the pursuit of a relentless enemy.

While development is paused right now, and we are unable to implement any feedback, we still welcome it and are actively involved in the community. Should development recommence we will absolutely need all of your assistance and guidance in achieving our ambitious vision for this beloved Starship Adventure Sim of ours.

This is how we ran Armello's Early Access campaign and it was incredibly successful. Together we achieved our grand vision for that game, with a huge proportion of the game being directly informed and inspired by community input.”