"Stars Reach: A Living Galaxy Sandbox MMORPG" Raises Over $200k on Kickstarter In 1 Hour
The team behind Stars Reach, a Kickstarter-funded science-fantasy MMORPG, has announced its campaign’s first milestone achievement, unlocking stretch goals to expand its vision of a fully reactive, player-driven galaxy. The game, already in pre-alpha testing, promises procedurally generated planets, environmental permanence, and a classless skill system where every action reshapes the world.
Star's Reach is led by Raph Koster, who is best known for his role as designer of Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies. Despite his industry credibility, Kickstarter funded MMORPGs have a history of over promising and under delivering.
Stars Reach Features
- Living Galaxy Mechanics Every planet evolves dynamically: forests regrow after fires, rivers carve new paths, and abandoned settlements decay. Seasons and weather systems impact survival, with acid rain, blizzards, and droughts forcing players to adapt.
- Classless Progression Choose from professions like Xenobiologist, Merchant, or Politician, each contributing to a player-run economy. Skills develop through use, allowing hybrid roles (e.g., a botanist who crafts weapons).
- Action Combat & Destruction Physics-based battles let players crater landscapes or trigger avalanches. Enemies flee or retaliate based on ecosystem disruption.
- Player-Driven Settlements Build cities, govern planets, and set laws—or strip worlds bare for resources. Planets have “health bars” reflecting ecological balance.
- Space Exploration Pilot ships through wormholes, engage in fleet battles, and discover procedurally generated star systems that expand over time.
Early Access & Launch Plans
- Pre-Alpha: Limited testing with frequent wipes (backers prioritized).
- Early Access (2026): Paid entry, with Reacher-tier backers included.
- Full Launch (2027): Free-to-play with a “Head Start” purchase option.
Time will tell if Stars Reach can hit their release schedule. While I love the concept of a sandbox MMORPG, I'm skeptical of Kickstarter MMORPGs. It's easy to promise the world and end up delivering nothing. Just look at Chronicles of Elyria which promised an everchanging world and player aging, but ended up delivering some Unreal Engine parkour demo.
