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Zenith Expanse
Explore, fight and manage your colony in space, where systems intertwine and every decision has consequences. Choose your path - explorer, trader, smuggler - or try everything in a deep, living simulation.

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Features
Languages:
Interface Full Audio Subtitles
English ✔ ✔ ✔
German ✔ ✔
Spanish - Spain ✔ ✔
Polish ✔ ✔

Coming Soon To Early Access

The developers of this game intend to release as a work in progress, developing with the feedback of players.

Note: Games in Early Access are not complete and may or may not change further. If you are not excited to play this game in its current state, then you should wait to see if the game progresses further in development. Learn more

What the developers have to say:

Why Early Access?

“PZE is a deep simulation game, and deep simulations need real players to find the cracks. We've built and tested the core systems, but balancing an entire galaxy's economy, making sure colonists behave believably across thousands of scenarios, and ensuring the game remains challenging but fair - that requires more eyes than one developer has.
Early Access allows us to:

* Identify balance issues we couldn't find in internal testing
* Prioritize features based on what players actually want
* Catch edge cases and bugs across different hardware configurations
* Build a community that shapes the game's direction

This is a long-term commitment. We're planning approximately one year of active Early Access development with regular updates, patch notes, and direct community communication. PZE will reach 1.0 - and it will be better for having taken this path.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Approximately one year. We're targeting a full release in late 2027, though this may shift based on community feedback and the scope of features we add during Early Access. We'd rather take extra time to get it right than rush to an arbitrary deadline.”

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

“The core systems are complete and playable. Our current development goals include:

Content Expansion (planned):

* Additional ships (currently 3, aiming for 8+)
* More building modules (currently 15, aiming for 30+)
* Expanded events and quests (currently 100+, aiming for 200+)
* Additional factions with unique storylines
* New biomes and planetary conditions

Systems & Features (planned):

* Enhanced diplomacy and faction reputation systems
* Expanded trading mechanics
* More crafting recipes and production chains
* Additional colonist traits, skills, and interactions

Polish & Quality of Life (ongoing):

* UI/UX improvements based on player feedback
* Performance optimization
* Accessibility features

These are goals, not guarantees. Development priorities may shift based on community feedback and what makes the game better.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Project: Zenith Expanse is a sandbox - there's no 'you win' screen, just a galaxy that keeps going until you decide to stop (or your last colonist decides for you).
Current build includes:

* Full colony building system with 15+ modules
* Complete crew simulation: personalities, skills, relationships, needs, and opinions about your leadership
* 3 ship classes for exploration and trading
* Procedurally generated galaxy with multiple factions
* Dynamic economy and trading system
* 100+ events and quests that emerge from gameplay
* Survival mechanics (food, water, resources)
* Combat system (ground and space)
* Mini-games like fauna racing with betting (for those questionable financial decisions)
* Let Me Cook modding framework - fully functional

The game is stable and playable. You can sink hours into building your colony, lose it all to poor planning, and immediately start again because 'this time will be different.' Core systems are complete - Early Access is about expanding the content and polish."”

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

“No. We believe in fair pricing - early supporters get in at the same price as everyone else. No launch discounts, no post-release price hikes.”

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

“Directly. No community managers, no corporate filters – just me and you.

Discord: Our main hub. I'll be there daily, reading feedback, answering questions, and occasionally defending my design decisions (or admitting they were terrible).
Public issue tracker: A dedicated space for bug reports, feature requests, and suggestions - where you can see what's planned, what's in progress, and what made it into the game because someone asked.”
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This game is not yet available on Steam

Planned Release Date: Q3 2026

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About This Game

Hundreds of star systems. A handful of colonists. Zero chance of survival. Relationships, personality traits, the political scheming of 19 factions, random events, and your decisions weave together into a story nobody wrote for you.

Take Control

In Zenith Expanse, nothing happens without a reason. And no two playthroughs are ever the same.

  • Explorer - hundreds of procedurally generated star systems, each planet hosting multiple biomes - from scorched deserts to tropical jungles teeming with wildlife. Abandoned caves, freighter wrecks, drifting escape pods. Someone was here before you. The question is what stopped them.

  • Trader - prices shift with supply, demand, political tensions, and rumors you pick up from passing ships. Buy low, sell high. Simple? Wait until your first trade war.

  • Smuggler - stimulants, contraband, big money. Faction patrols don't like smugglers. Then again, smugglers don't like being broke.

  • Puppet Master - 19 factions based on real-world regions and nations. Each has its own agenda. You have yours. May the better player win.

Watch It Unfold

You don't control everything. That's the best part.

  • Mark dropped a crate in the cargo hold. Your fault? No. His "Clumsy" trait.

  • Takahashi picked a fight with Anatoly. The reason? Something that happened weeks ago that she still hasn't let go of.

  • Andrew punched Piotr. His back hurt from sleeping badly. And since he was already aggressive - it didn't take much.

Survive

Your colonists aren't pawns. They're people who get sick, hold grudges, and die in stupid ways.

  • Health is broken down into major and detailed body parts. Yes, that means exactly what you think it means.

  • Dozens of ailments - from scratches to venomous wildlife poisoning.

  • Dozens of recipes. Feed the colony nothing but burgers and watch them die of heart attacks.

  • Settle down or live nomadically. Both paths are fully supported.

  • Build a settlement - water pumps, crop fields, and eventually... a casino. Someone has to build Las Vegas in space.

  • Over 3,500 procedurally generated species. Hunt, trap, fish, research - or get eaten.

  • Earn credits. Colonists need pocket money, and the ruling factions always have their hand out for taxes.

Coexist

Flora and fauna aren't health bars. They're a living ecosystem. And the planets? They don't suffer tourists gladly.

  • Ecosystems are alive - animals migrate, populations rise and fall in response to changing conditions.

  • 30 weather types, seasons, atmospheric fronts. All simulated. All patiently waiting for your colonist to go hunting in the middle of a storm.

  • Relocate wildlife between planets. Just remember - a tropical creature won't exactly appreciate an ice biome.

  • Plant foraged flora, harvest crops. Unless winter comes. Then harvest whatever's left of your hopes.

Optimize

  • Automate orders. Set schedules, frequency, work hours. The game handles the rest.

  • Plan ship routes in an intuitive configurator - landing, docking, trade runs, shuttling colonists and cargo between settlements.

  • Manage morale. A day off, lighter workload, better food. Small gestures, big impact.

  • Any colonist can be dismissed. Or... parted out for organs. But shh.

Do It Again

Every system feeds into every other. Each playthrough, each decision - or lack of one - drags consequences you never saw coming. No two stories are the same. The galaxy is waiting.

AI Generated Content Disclosure

The developers describe how their game uses AI Generated Content like this:

This game uses AI-generated images for fauna and flora portraits. All AI-generated assets are static artwork used for visual representation of procedurally generated creatures and plants. No AI is used for gameplay mechanics, dialogue, or other interactive content.

Mature Content Description

The developers describe the content like this:

This game contains mature themes typical of colony simulation games. Colonists may engage in violence (depicted through text descriptions, not visually), use fictional recreational substances, gamble on fauna races, and form romantic/sexual relationships (implied through journal entries only, no visual content). The game also features occasional profanity and the ability to engage in illegal activities such as smuggling. All content is presented in a non-graphic, text-based manner.

System Requirements

Windows
macOS
SteamOS + Linux
    Minimum:
    • OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
    • Processor: Intel Core i5-4460 / AMD FX-6300
    • Memory: 8 GB RAM
    • Graphics: GTX 750 Ti / RX 460
    • DirectX: Version 11
    • Storage: 10 GB available space
    Recommended:
    • OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
    • Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    • Memory: 16 GB RAM
    • Graphics: GTX 1060 6GB / RX 580
    • DirectX: Version 11
    • Storage: 10 GB available space
    Minimum:
    • OS: macOS 11 or newer
    • Processor: Apple M1 / Intel Core i5
    • Memory: 8 GB RAM
    • Storage: 10 GB available space
    Recommended:
    • OS: macOS 12 or newer
    • Processor: Apple M1 Pro / Intel Core i7
    • Memory: 16 GB RAM
    Minimum:
    • OS: Ubuntu 20.04+ / SteamOS 3.0+
    • Processor: Intel Core i5-4460 / AMD FX-6300
    • Memory: 8 GB RAM
    • Graphics: GTX 750 Ti / RX 460
    • Storage: 10 GB available space
    Recommended:
    • OS: Ubuntu 22.04+ / SteamOS 3.0+
    • Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    • Memory: 16 GB RAM
    • Storage: 10 GB available space
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