Starship Simulator

Starship Simulator is an upcoming free-to-play space exploration sandbox video game developed by UK-based indie studio Fleetyard Studios. Set approximately 200 years in the future (~2261 AD), the game aims to deliver a deeply immersive experience by combining a highly detailed, realistically simulated starship with a scientifically accurate, 1:1 scale procedural simulation of the Milky Way galaxy. It is an original intellectual property based on real or theoretical science, not tied to existing sci-fi franchises.

Gameplay Overview

Starship Simulator focuses on exploration and deep simulation within a sandbox environment. Players serve aboard the UNSF Magellan, humanity's first true deep space exploration vessel capable of faster-than-light (FTL) travel. The primary mission involves exploring space beyond Earth, searching for habitable worlds, making first contact with alien cultures, and managing the ship and crew's health, returning to Earth upon completion.

Core gameplay involves:

Exploring the Galaxy: Navigating a vast, 1:1 scale Milky Way galaxy. Travel between stars and planets occurs seamlessly in real-time.
Detailed Ship Interaction: Managing and interacting with numerous onboard systems. This includes detailed procedures like performing a "Cold & Dark" start-up of the Fusion Reactor, managing power distribution via simulated grids and cables, and maintaining components that experience wear and tear.
Crew Roles: Players choose from distinct roles (e.g., Captain, Pilot, Science, Engineer, Doctor, Tactical, Steward) with unique tasks, operating alongside over 200 NPCs who also have needs and routines. A Passenger role with no duties is also available. Gameplay loops differ significantly depending on the chosen role.
Resource Management: Balancing ship needs like fuel and maintenance with crew needs like food and healthcare during long voyages.
First Contact: Encountering procedurally generated alien civilizations and navigating first contact scenarios through dialogue, where diplomacy is key. Combat may occur as a consequence of failed diplomacy.
Planetary Interaction: Sending probes to surfaces, or using shuttles for landings (a planned feature) to explore, investigate structures, and collect samples. EVA is also planned for external maintenance.
Scope: The core focus is exploration from the starship. Player-built settlements or starship construction are not planned for the initial releases (though influencing NPCs settlements is envisioned for a later expansion).
Game Over: Destruction of the player's ship constitutes a Game Over scenario, requiring a new vessel to be launched to continue exploring the galaxy. A self-destruct system is planned.

Key Features

1:1 Scale Milky Way Galaxy: Explore potentially over two billion star systems across a scientifically plausible, procedurally generated galaxy (driven by real astrophysics principles) spanning quadrillions of cubic lightyears.
Deep Starship Simulation: Experience life aboard the Magellan Class starship, designed using CAD software and real-world engineering analogies (like naval architecture). Features fully simulated and interconnected electrical, fluid, structural, and other systems down to individual components ("every button does something").
Seamless Real-Time Exploration: Travel anywhere within the galaxy, from orbiting planets to interstellar space, without transitions or loading screens via the Alcubierre Drive FTL system.
Role-Based Multiplayer Co-op: Embody a specific crew member, performing tasks relevant to that role while relying on other players or NPCs to handle other ship functions. Multiplayer is session-based using Steam matchmaking (planned dedicated servers). Single-player is the primary focus, with NPCs filling roles. Game supports 14-16+ players in testing.
Dynamic Encounters: Discover unique alien species (with procedural traits), procedurally generated derelict vessels and stations to board and explore/loot, strange stellar phenomena, and ancient relics. Explore Sol system stations and planned alien orbital facilities on foot.
VR Support: Designed with support for both standard PC play and Virtual Reality headsets (funded stretch goal).
Offline Play: The game is DRM-free and can be played single-player offline by launching outside of Steam.
Controller Support: Full controller support, including HOTAS for the Helm station, is planned.
Character & Ship Customisation: Options to customise character appearance, uniform, and various aspects of the ship's interior (colours, materials, registration).

The Magellan Class Starship

The primary vessel featured is the Magellan Class, humanity's first experimental FTL starship operated by the United Nations Space Fleet. Its design emphasizes scientific plausibility and functional realism. The interior aesthetic draws inspiration from Retrofuturism, the work of architect Zaha Hadid, and the style seen in the film Passengers, aiming for a look described as akin to a functional "corporate office in space". It features 7 decks and over 200 interactable rooms, each intended to serve a practical purpose within the simulation.

Design Philosophy and Key Influences

Led by Dan Govier, the development philosophy centers on deep simulation, immersion through detail and realism, and focusing on exploration as the core experience ("Star Trek, but realistic"). While aiming for scientific plausibility, using real astrophysics for galaxy generation and basing the FTL system on theories by Miguel Alcubierre and Erik Lentz, gameplay balance remains a key consideration. Starship Simulator is an original IP, with similarities to existing sci-fi arising from shared scientific source material or tropes.

Key named influences include:

Sci-Fi Media: Star Trek (overall ethos), Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, and particularly the ship Destiny from Stargate Universe.
Video Games: The original Elite (1984) is cited as sparking the initial passion for the genre.

Development

Starship Simulator is developed by Fleetyard Studios, founded in 2020 by Dan Govier (Lead Developer) and Claire Govier (Community & Social Media Manager). The game uses Unreal Engine 5.

The project was initially funded via a successful [Kickstarter campaign] in 2024, raising over £400,000. Ongoing development is supported through platforms like Ko-fi (Starship Simulator Ko-fi Page). The base sandbox game is planned to be free-to-play upon full release (target Version 1.0), with ongoing development funded via future paid DLC, such as additional smaller ships (~£10) and full story-driven campaigns (~£29.99). No microtransactions are planned.

A public tech demo is currently available on Steam, with updates released periodically. Fleetyard Studios aims to release the game into Steam Early Access, potentially in late 2025, but users should follow official announcements for confirmation. More details on the development process can be found on the Development of Starship Simulator page.