Stars Reach leaves the playtest behind and opens Steam early access tomorrow

Stars Reach ends its testing years tomorrow: Playable Worlds opens paid early access on Steam on August 18. We covered the end of the playtest, Server Slam and homesteading event included, two days ago; what's worth adding is what the studio has now put in writing about the stage that starts.

On its Steam page, Playable Worlds says the goal is to stay in early access for at least six months, and that player feedback will shape the 1.0 plan. There is no date for that final version and no other timeline beyond that floor.

The version going live tomorrow covers combat, building, crafting, trade and player government. You can set up a homestead, defend it from creatures, take part in the economy and travel between planets. For 1.0 the studio promises new worlds, more creatures, more professions and deeper simulation.

The other detail on Steam is the business model: the studio plans to sunset the founder packs and go free-to-play at 1.0. The three entry packages, at 30, 50 and 80 dollars, announced in late July, are the only paid door for as long as early access lasts.