“Fortnite Looking” MMO “Stars Reach” Announced by Raph Koster

Raph Koster, renowned for his work on Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies, revealed his latest project, “Stars Reach,” a space sandbox MMO that promises to push the boundaries of what virtual worlds can be.

Built on groundbreaking server technology partly powered by the cloud, the game introduces a universe ripe for player-driven alteration and exploration, setting a new benchmark for persistent world MMOs.

Koster’s return to his sandbox game development roots alongside his team at Playable Worlds harnesses modern technology to achieve a never-before-seen level of universe simulation. Every cubic meter within the game’s expansive galaxies pulses with life, featuring dynamic environmental systems such as flowing water, shifting climate conditions, and ecosystem changes that react naturally to player activities.

The minds behind “Stars Reach” ensure that players can impact the world in permanently visible ways. Activities ranging from terraforming landscapes to influencing the migration patterns of creatures contribute to a single, unified, evolving universe.

This level of detail extends to environmental reactions, where forests can ignite into wildfires and water cycles evolve naturally through various states, showcasing the game’s deep commitment to a living, breathing galaxy.

Playable Worlds is not just innovating on the environmental front; the entire galaxy operates on sophisticated simulations, where every element is interactive and subject to change based on player actions. From altering landscapes with high-tech weaponry to cultivating flora that adapts to its surrounding conditions, “Stars Reach” offers many experiences rooted in its unique simulation-driven gameplay.

As a project that has been a dream for nearly three decades, “Stars Reach” borrows lessons from Koster’s extensive game development history while also looking forward to reinventing the MMO genre. Despite the long development road ahead, with graphics and gameplay still under refinement, Playable Worlds is committed to an open development process, inviting you to join the testing phase slated for the upcoming summer.

While some fans questioned the art style about being ‘Fortnite looking’, developers Justified this by explaining it as a trade-off between cost, accessibility, and attracting a broader audience, with comparisons to the visual styles of Genschen Impact and Breath of the Wild aiming for an appealing, less “hardcore” look.

Here’s his exact quote from the Official announcement video –

You can watch the full video here –

So are you hyped for Raph Koster’s next game “Stars Reach”? Do share your excitement level from 1-10 in the comments below.