Earth From Another Sun

TLDR

Earth From Another Sun is an ambitious open-world sci-fi MMORPG that lets players shape their own destiny in a vast galaxy. With an immersive universe powered by advanced AI, deep empire building and trading mechanics, epic space battles, and rich social gameplay, EFAS offers unparalleled freedom and possibilities. Built by an experienced team in Unreal Engine 5, it aims to set a new standard for the genre.

What is Earth From Another Sun?

Earth From Another Sun (EFAS) is a massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that throws players into a dynamic sci-fi universe full of dangers and opportunities. Developed by Multiverse and built with Unreal Engine 5, EFAS combines action-packed space combat, deep trading and empire-building mechanics, and rich social gameplay into a living open world that reacts to player choices.

In EFAS, players can forge their own path and play style. You can focus on climbing the ranks of wealth and power as an intergalactic trader, constructing stations and striking deals. Or you can build up a formidable fleet and blow your rivals out of the sky in epic space battles. You can even start a family, recruit allies, and lead a powerful faction to conquer new regions of space. The galaxy is yours to explore and shape.

One of the game's standout features is the Ascendance AI system that powers the universe. Much more than simple quest-givers or cannon fodder, the NPCs in EFAS pursue their own goals and agendas. They respond to player actions and to each other in organic ways, learning and adapting over time. This creates an unprecedented level of immersion and emergent gameplay, where your choices ripple across a persistent, ever-evolving galaxy.

How to Play Earth From Another Sun

EFAS will launch on PC on Steam, with plans for console releases in the future. Players can join the game with a one-time purchase of a base copy or deluxe edition, with optional microtransactions for cosmetics and convenience items. There is no subscription fee.

Character creation is deep and flexible, with a wide array of cosmetic options as well as backgrounds that impact your starting skills and reputation. You can align yourself with one of several major factions or chart an independent course.

Progression involves gaining experience and loot from activities like combat, trading, and quests. As you level up, you earn skill points to further specialize your character. Acquiring better ships and gear is also key - you can buy them, loot them from fallen foes, or even craft them yourself with the right blueprints and materials.

The interface is designed to be intuitive while still conveying a wealth of information. Contextual menus provide quick access to actions like docking, trading, or hailing nearby ships. A starmap lets you plot interstellar journeys and survey trade routes. Battles unfold from a cockpit view, with customizable UI elements for shields, weapons, and other systems.

An extensive tutorial guides new players through the essentials of flight, combat, trading, and more. The Ascendance AI also provides context-sensitive advice and tips. Beyond that, much of the depth emerges through firsthand experience and player-to-player interaction. Joining a helpful faction, studying the markets, and keeping your ear to the ground can reveal all sorts of opportunities.

What Makes Earth From Another Sun Unique?

Several key pillars set EFAS apart in the crowded MMO landscape:

A Truly Living Universe: The Ascendance AI system takes the idea of a dynamic game world to new heights. NPCs aren't just quest dispensers - they have their own wants, needs, and relationships that evolve over time based on their interactions with each other and players. Empires rise and fall, trade routes shift, and new threats emerge organically. No two sessions will play out quite the same.

Unparalleled Player Freedom: EFAS doesn't constrain you to a linear story or progression treadmill. It's a true sandbox where you set your own goals and write your own tales. You can be a peaceful trader, a fearsome warlord, an intrepid explorer, or any mix in between. Robust tools let you build and customize your own ships, stations, and even small empires.

A Vast, Seamless Galaxy: Unlike many space games, EFAS boasts a sprawling galaxy that you can traverse without loading screens. Planets, moons, and space stations are all fully realized places you can seamlessly land on and explore on foot. Detailed graphics and atmospheric effects sell the illusion of a gritty, lived-in sci-fi world.

Emergent Player-Driven Narratives: While EFAS has handcrafted story content, the real magic happens when players' goals and factions collide. The game provides the setting and systems for player-generated drama on a grand scale, from tense trade negotiations to massive fleet battles to political intrigue. Your actions can shift the balance of power and leave a lasting mark on the galaxy.

A New Leap in MMO Immersion: The cutting-edge tech of Unreal Engine 5 powers EFAS' stunning vistas and rich details. Physically-based rendering, dynamic global illumination, and high-fidelity sound design combine for unmatched immersion. It's not just a game, but a tangible universe to lose yourself in.

Earth From Another Sun Features and Gameplay

EFAS' feature set is extensive, but some of the core gameplay pillars include:

Freeform Character Progression: Gain XP and loot from virtually any activity to level up and acquire new skills, perks, and gear. Construct the ideal build for your playstyle with an expansive, flexible skill system.

Immersive Space Flight and Combat: Engage in white-knuckle dogfights, daring raids, and large-scale fleet battles. A physics-based flight model and realistic weapon systems provide unparalleled immersion and tactical depth. Outfit your ship with an array of weapons, defenses, and utility modules to gain the edge.

Deep Trading and Economy: Buy low, sell high, and work the margins to amass a fortune. A fully simulated economy reacts dynamically to events and player actions. Corner markets, disrupt trade routes, form cartels, and manipulate prices to come out on top.

Empire Building and Politics: Construct and upgrade stations to establish a foothold in new systems. Negotiate or strong-arm your way into controlling entire regions. Craft and enforce laws, extract taxes and tariffs, and project your power across the stars.

PvE and PvP Content: Tackle challenging raids, anomalies, and world bosses for loot and glory. Compete with other players in tense faction warfare, or go rogue as a pirate or bounty hunter. EFAS' open world PvP creates constant tension and emergent gameplay.

Rich Social Features: Form or join player-led factions, each with their own goals, hierarchies, and specialties. Raise a family, building a legacy that spans generations. The built-in VOIP and robust chat features enable players to coordinate and socialize with ease.

Player-Driven Missions and Services: Players can take on jobs and bounties posted by other players or NPCs. Become a trader, smuggler, mercenary, spy, or any other role that suits your fancy. Provide services like repairs, overclocking, or insurance to earn coin and build your reputation.

Modular Ship and Station Design: Extensively customize the look and layout of your ships and structures, from the aesthetics to the placement of individual components. Create the perfect vessel or base fine-tuned to your needs and tastes.

The Earth From Another Sun Team

EFAS is the brainchild of Multiverse, an independent game studio with a passion for pushing the boundaries of the MMO genre. The team's ranks include industry veterans with experience on acclaimed titles like EVE Online, Destiny, and No Man's Sky.

Leading the charge is acclaimed designer and Multiverse co-founder Damien King, who previously served as lead systems designer on EVE Online. He's joined by technical director Amir Elion, whose credits include the AI systems for Middle-Earth: Shadow of War. The rest of the team boasts similarly impressive resumes across programming, art, audio, and design.

Multiverse has been working on EFAS in some form since 2016, steadily growing the team and refining the technology and design. The studio secured substantial funding from investors like Xsolla and Sisu Game Ventures to realize their ambitious vision.

Earth From Another Sun Roadmap

EFAS is slated to launch into early access on Steam in Q4 2024, with a full release to follow in 2025. The initial early access launch will include the core space flight, combat, trading, and social systems, as well as a substantial portion of the explorable galaxy.

Post-launch, the team plans to roll out regular content updates adding new star systems, ships, gear, factions, and features. Major tentpole expansions will drop every 6-12 months, significantly expanding the scope of the game.

Some of the major features planned for post-launch updates include:

• Player-owned capital ships and mobile stations
• Deeper factional warfare and territory control mechanics
• Procgen missions and events powered by the Ascendance AI
• Expanded ship and station customization options
• Additional specializations and progression paths
• Enhancements to the economy, trade, and resource gathering
• Modding and player-created content support

Longer-term, Multiverse hopes to bring EFAS to consoles and explore the possibility of VR support. They're committed to supporting and expanding the game for years to come.

Earth From Another Sun Monetization

EFAS will employ a buy-to-play model with optional microtransactions. Players can purchase the base game for a one-time fee, with no subscription required. An optional deluxe edition will also be available, bundling exclusive cosmetics and a chunk of starting currency.

Post-launch, the in-game store will offer cosmetic items like ship skins, character outfits, emotes, and base decorations for real money. These will be purely aesthetic and won't provide any gameplay advantages. Players can also purchase convenience items like XP boosters, inventory expansions, and fast travel tokens. These will be earnable through regular gameplay as well.

Multiverse has committed to keeping all store items cosmetic or convenience-oriented. They will not sell power, ships, or any other items that would unbalance gameplay or enable "pay to win."

Additionally, the game will feature an in-game player-to-player market where players can trade items and currency. Multiverse will take a small cut of these transactions. There are no plans for blockchain integration or NFTs at this time.

Security and Fairness

To ensure a level playing field, EFAS will employ robust server-side authority and anti-cheat measures. All gameplay-critical calculations will occur server-side, making them very difficult to hack or exploit.

Multiverse is also working with industry-leading online security experts to harden the game against DDOS attacks, bot nets, and other threats. They're committed to swiftly investigating and actioning any reported cheating or griefing.

On the fairness front, the team has put a lot of thought into balance and progression. They aim to ensure that no single playstyle or approach can dominate, and that player skill and dedication are rewarded over raw time investment.

The in-game economy will be closely monitored for exploits and irregularities, with the team ready to step in and make corrections if needed. The goal is to maintain a stable, healthy economy that rewards savvy play without allowing massive wealth disparities.