Development Roadmap
Transparent development. Realistic timelines. No bullshit.
The Journey
From prototype to persistent universe. Here's the plan.
Foundation
Core systems, prototypes, architecture decisions
- ✓ Hex-grid combat prototype
- ✓ Hardware system design
- ✓ Server authoritatice architecture
- ✓ Frontend UI/UX design
- ✓ Database schema finalized
Demo Release - Tartarus Breakout
FREE | Single player experience | 1-2 hours gameplay
- 5 progressive tutorial missions
- Full hardware and software customization intro
- Boss encounter (Tartarus prison break)
- Online play (byt single player)
- Progress transfers to full game
Early Access Launch
Steam | Online multiplayer enabled
- Hyperion Galaxy (20 planets, 2 systems)
- Solo & squad content (2-4 players)
- Crafting & marketplace
- Main story: Act I complete
- PGR Tiers 1-6 accessible
Full Release (1.0)
Feature-complete | Story finished
- All 3 story acts complete
- PGR Tiers 1-10 (endgame content)
- Raids (4 players)
- Warp Gate Trial (15 players)
- Guild system
- Advanced crafting (rare blueprints)
- 100+ hours content (tutorial → endgame)
Post-Launch Content
Frequent updates, alternating free/paid content
- New galaxies & systems
- Seasonal events
- Quality-of-life updates
- Community-requested features
- Balance patches & optimizations
- Regular bug fixes and performance improvements
- Community engagement initiatives
DLC & Monetization Policy
Fair pricing. No exploitation. Sustainable for solo dev. Respectful of your time and wallet.
🎁 Free Updates
- Balance patches (always free)
- Bug fixes (always free)
- QoL improvements (always free)
- Seasonal events (always free)
- New features (usually free)
- Content updates (alternate free/paid)
💰 Paid DLC
What You Pay For:
- New galaxies (substantial content)
- New systems (exclusive content, like chip sets)
- Story expansions
- Endgame raids
- Cosmetics
- Titles
What You DON'T Pay For:
- Power (no pay-to-win)
- Core features (guilds, crafting, etc.)
- Bug fixes or balance
⏰ 18-Month Rule
All extension galaxies become completely free after 18 months.
Why?
- No Fragmentation: Eventually all players have access to all galaxies
- Fair to Late Adopters: Join 2 years later? Get everything
- Early Supporter Value: 18 months exclusive access
- Sustainable Revenue: Ongoing DLC sales fund development and servers while respecting players
Example:
Axiom Expansion releases Q1 2027.
Q3 2028: Becomes free for everyone.
Early buyers got 18 months head start + supported development and servers costs.
Hard Limits (Will Never Do)
❌ Pay-to-Win
No buying power. No XP boosters. No "premium" hardware. Cosmetics only.
❌ Lootboxes
Gambling mechanics = predatory. Never. You know what you're buying.
❌ NFTs/Crypto
Absolutely not. Ever. Don't ask.
❌ Subscriptions
Buy once, play forever. No monthly fees. Servers funded by DLC sales.
❌ Exclusive Pre-Order Bonuses
Early Access = support reward.
Community Shapes the Roadmap
Solo dev = limited perspective. You play the game. You know what sucks. Your feedback drives priorities.
How Feedback Works
1. You Report
Discord #feedback channel, Reddit, Steam forums. Bug reports, balance concerns, feature requests.
2. I Prioritize
Devlogs shows what's being worked on. Community votes on priorities. Transparent process.
3. Updates Ship
Frequent patches (small fixes), monthly updates (features), quarterly content drops. Changelog = detailed.
4. You Validate
Test changes, provide feedback. Iterate. Repeat. Living development.
Past Community Wins
(Examples will populate post-demo based on actual feedback)
Example: Power Grid Visibility
Issue: Beta testers confused about PGR downscaling.
Solution: Added real-time stat comparison UI
(actual vs downscaled).
Result: Clarity improved, complaints dropped 80%.
Example: Heat Management
Issue: Overheating penalties too punishing.
Solution: Reduced forced cooldown time by 30%,
added visual warnings.
Result: Balanced risk/reward, more aggressive
playstyles viable.
Feature Voting
Discord polls + Reddit upvotes determine non-critical priorities. Critical bugs = immediate. Features = community-driven.
Example Vote (Hypothetical):
Result: Loadout presets prioritized for next update. Others queued.
Roadmap FAQ
What if dates slip?
Answer: They probably will. Solo dev + realistic scope = delays happen. I'll communicate early and often. Quality over arbitrary deadlines. Demo Feb 2026 is locked. Everything else is "when it's ready."
Will Early Access price increase?
Answer: EA buyers pay a discounted price, locked forever. Full release (1.0) with full price for new buyers. Early supporters save ~$5.
Can I refund if I don't like Early Access?
Answer: Steam refund policy applies (< 2 hours played, <14 days owned). Play the free demo first to decide. No hard feelings.
What if you abandon the project?
Answer: Brutally honest: now impossible. Solo dev = all eggs in one basket. Mitigations: (1) Demo proves commitment, (2) Early Access only if demo succeeds, (3) Financial runway calculated for 2+ years. If worst happens, I'll try to sell it to someone else.
Will there be regional pricing?
Answer: Yes. Steam handles regional pricing automatically. Brazilian players won't pay US prices. Fair global access.
Mac/Linux support?
Answer: Yes.
Will you add [feature X]?
Answer: Maybe. Submit to Discord #feedback with rationale. Community votes on priorities. Popular requests = seriously considered. No guarantees, but I listen.
How long will servers stay online?
Answer: Minimum 5 years from 1.0 launch (guaranteed). Ideally: as long as players exist.
Can I buy all future DLC upfront?
Answer: No season pass planned, but future packs are a possibility. Buy what you want, when you want.
What about competitive/PvP?
Answer: I'll release it post-launch in a feature update within months.
Development Philosophy
These principles guide every decision. When in doubt, refer to these.
1. Respect Player Time
No grinding for grinding's sake. No daily login bonuses. No FOMO mechanics. Play when you want. Pause for months. Come back — your stuff is still there.
2. Respect Player Wallet
Fair pricing. No psychological manipulation. No lootboxes. No pay-to-win. Cosmetics and paid DLCs = support the dev, not competitive advantage.
3. Quality Over Quantity
20 polished planets > 100 copy-paste zones. Systems designed for depth, not checkbox features. If it doesn't improve the game, cut it.
4. Transparency
Public roadmap. Join Discord. Frequent devlogs. Honest about challenges and setbacks. No corporate PR speak. Direct communication with the community.
5. Community-Driven
Players vote on priorities. Feedback shapes balance. Your game as much as mine.
6. Long-Term Sustainability
Designed for years, not months. Systems scale. Content pipeline sustainable. Revenue model supports ongoing development without exploitation.
7. No Feature Creep
Stick to core vision: tactical hex MMO with hardware progression. Resist scope expansion. Deliver what's promised before adding "nice-to-haves."
8. Accessible Difficulty
Easy to learn, hard to master. Tutorials = comprehensive. Challenge = optional (harder difficulties, raids). Don't gatekeep with artificial difficulty.
Join the Journey
Play the Demo
See the roadmap in action. Tartarus Breakout demo drops February 2026. Free, standalone, progress transfers.
Download Demo Available february 2026Wishlist on Steam
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