Why Early Access?

“Texplore is in Early Access because it’s still being built and is not content-complete. The current build is playable and represents the core direction of the game (mining/drilling, combat, upgrades, and runs), but major parts are still being expanded and iterated on.

Early Access is how I want to develop Texplore with the community, so players can influence:

Combat feel and difficulty pacing

Progression balance (upgrade costs, resource pacing, run length)

What makes the Moon mechanically distinct from Earth

Which content and systems get prioritized next (bosses/enemies, Moon mechanics, onboarding, progression depth)

This is not a finished game looking for final testing. It’s a playable alpha/beta-style build that will evolve as new content and systems are added and refined.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Current estimate: 8–14 months. That’s a target range, not a guarantee—development timelines can change as features are tested and iterated on. I’ll keep the store page and Community Hub updated as milestones shift.”

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

“My goal for the full version is for Texplore to have more variety, stronger world identity, and deeper progression than the Early Access build.

What I’m currently planning/exploring includes:

More enemy and boss variety (with more distinct encounter patterns and rewards)

Moon changes to make it feel meaningfully different from Earth (mechanics/hazards are being tested and may evolve)

Additional replayability/progression layers beyond the current foundation (final direction depends on what best fits the game and what players respond to)

Improved onboarding/tutorialization and UI/UX quality-of-life updates

Ongoing balance and pacing adjustments across weapons, upgrades, resources, and difficulty

Plans may change as development continues, and some features may be revised or cut if they don’t improve the game.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The Early Access version of Texplore is playable, but it is not content-complete.

Currently included:

Mining/drilling, movement/jetpack, and combat

A working progression foundation (shop/skill upgrades)

Save/load

Earth and Moon are accessible

2 world boss encounters are included, with limited boss/enemy variety overall

Still in progress:

More enemy and boss variety, and better encounter pacing

Moon mechanics that clearly differentiate it from Earth

More guidance/onboarding and smoother UI/UX

Balance tuning across different playstyles

Additional accessibility and quality-of-life options over time

Because systems are still evolving, larger updates may include balance changes and occasional redesigns. I’ll document major changes in patch notes and dev updates.”

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

“I expect the price may increase over time as major updates add significant content and features and/or when Texplore leaves Early Access. I’m not committing to exact timing for price changes.”

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

“I plan to collect feedback primarily through Steam Discussions (and potentially Discord), and to share progress through patch notes and periodic dev updates. I also expect to run occasional polls or focused threads around major design decisions (combat feel, Moon mechanics, progression pacing, and what to prioritize next).

Community feedback and play patterns will influence what gets built next and how systems are tuned.”