Why Early Access?

“As a solo developer building a procedurally generated FTL-style dungeon crawler, I want to involve the community to help refine the experience. Feedback on balance, run length, and even story contributions will make Dread Protocol stronger than I could achieve alone.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“No longer than a year. The game already has a strong foundation and is content-rich, with over 5 hours of branching dialogue on the Star Map. Early Access is about refining the experience, polishing systems, and expanding content with community feedback.

Expect regular updates tied to meaningful milestones. For example, when a new faction, biome, or major feature is added.”

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

“The core loop is fully in place and already includes a large amount of content. Players can progress through procedural stations, branching narrative events, and punishing combat runs. Future updates will expand the home base with features like a shop, alternate run modes, new bosses and factions, additional Star Map encounters, and overall polish.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“All core systems are implemented and the game is fully playable from start to finish. Procedural dungeons, narrative events, combat, and squad mechanics are all present, with enough content to support multiple runs. Expect bugs, balance issues, and missing polish. Which is exactly why Early Access feedback is so valuable.”

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

“Yes. The price will be lower during Early Access and will increase once the game reaches full release, to reflect the added content and polish.”

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

“I’ll be active in Steam discussions and on Discord, sharing updates, running surveys, and listening to feedback. As a solo dev I read almost everything, and I want to shape Dread Protocol directly with the community.”