TerraTech

Lore & Background

TerraTech was conceived as a construction sandbox focusing on vehicular combat and resource management. The developers created a playable demo in 2014 and presented it at indie games shows such as Rezzed, promoting it through Steam, IndieDB, Twitch, and other web platforms. A successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign followed, after which an open beta was released as early access on Steam. After a protracted development period, version 1.0 officially released in August 2018. Despite being released, the game remains in active development, with several major new features planned.

The game offers a variety of blocks with different functions that can be combined using attach points on each, with the control block—a cab—always serving as a centrepoint. Wheel blocks enable driving, wing blocks generate lift for flying, and other blocks provide additional functions. Weapons deal damage, and shields protect from damage or apply effects such as restoring part durability. Players can also construct static bases anchored to the ground, mainly used for storage and crafting. Blocks can be crafted using resources gathered from the environment via a system of resource silos, conveyors, and automatic factories.

The environment consists of biomes with objects such as trees and rocks; destroying these provides resources from wood to minerals. Veins can be exploited by building stationary mining equipment on top of them. Trading stations sell blocks, issue missions, and buy resources. Players can also sell resources with 'delivery cannons' that blast resources into orbit. Multiple factions, called Corporations, exist, each with a distinctive style of blocks and associated playstyle: GSO offers starter-grade parts; GeoCorp focuses on heavy structures and mining; Venture produces light, high-speed vehicles; Hawkeye is combat-focused; Better Future provides futuristic technology; and Reticule Research offers experimental weapons. The player is free to use blocks from all corporations in a single vehicle.

Reader's Guide

TerraTech's significance lies in its combination of a construction sandbox with vehicular combat and resource management, drawing comparisons to playing with Lego bricks. The game offers several modes: a Campaign with a loose storyline where the player is an interplanetary prospector gathering resources for Earth, starting with a cab and a handful of GSO blocks on a procedurally generated map; a Creative mode with unlimited blocks and optional enemies; and Sumo mode featuring tech-versus-tech battles in an arena. Online multiplayer is also available. Reviewers praised the building mechanics for evoking childhood memories but were less commendatory of the user interface, controls, and game AI. The AbsoluteXbox reviewer was particularly critical of unintuitive camera controls, clumsy driving performance, and frustrating combat in the Xbox version. A successor, TerraTech Worlds, entered early access in March 2024, described as a 'reimagining of' the original release, using Unreal Engine 5 and including co-op and PvE modes from the start. Payload Studios received funding from Tencent for this project. In August 2024, Payload laid off 25 employees but maintained that both TerraTech and TerraTech Worlds would continue to be updated without interruption.

Did You Know?

• The game was developed by British studio Payload Studios and released in August 2018.
• Players build vehicles called Techs using blocks with attach points, with a cab always serving as the centrepoint.
• Six corporations exist in the game, each with a distinct style: GSO, GeoCorp, Venture, Hawkeye, Better Future, and Reticule Research.