Starbase

Lore & Background

Starbase places players as humanoid robots in deep interstellar space, populated mostly by small asteroids and large space stations. The player begins at a large space station orbiting a gas giant planet, where they can perform various jobs to earn credits, the universal currency. Credits allow the purchase of starship components, equipment such as firearms, backpacks, and armor, and other goods and services.

The game was initially announced on Frozenbyte's official website on 28 May 2019 alongside an official trailer. It had been in development for five years prior to the announcement and was described as a massively multiplayer online game focused on building and designing spaceships and stations, exploration, resource gathering, trading, and combat. On 16 December 2020, Starbase began seeking more users for a closed alpha test after failing to release in 2020 as originally anticipated. The early access release was planned for 17 June 2021 but was delayed, eventually launching on Steam on 29 July 2021.

Due to funding issues, development was put on pause alongside the first major patch after launch in April 2022. Development briefly resumed two years later, adding a test branch with unfinished features like siege mechanics, ship warp, and a map. However, development again stalled after less than six months, with the most recent update being on October 24, 2024, fixing minor bugs on the test branch.

Reader's Guide

Starbase represents an ambitious attempt at a voxel-based massively multiplayer online experience set in space, emphasizing player creativity through ship and station design. Its early access release on Steam in July 2021 followed a delayed launch and a closed alpha test that began seeking participants in December 2020. The game's development history is marked by funding issues that led to a pause after the first major patch in April 2022. A brief resumption of development two years later introduced a test branch with unfinished features such as siege mechanics, ship warp, and a map, but this effort stalled again within six months. The most recent update, on October 24, 2024, addressed minor bugs on the test branch, leaving the game's full release and future uncertain. Despite its incomplete state, Starbase is notable for its voxel-based construction system and the promise of a persistent universe where players can mine, trade, and combat as robots.

Did You Know?

• Starbase was revealed in May 2019 and entered Steam early access on 29 July 2021.
• The game is voxel-based and set in space, with players controlling humanoid robots.
• Development was paused in April 2022 due to funding issues, then briefly resumed two years later.