Blackbird Interactive, the maker of Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, is bringing Hardspace: Shipbreaker to Steam Early Access next month. Hardspace takes a unique approach to sci-fi gaming by putting you in the spacesuit of an indentured servant, forced to scrap ships in exchange for the promise of a better life.
In the trailer announcing Hardspace: Shipbreaker‘s Steam Early Access release date, we get a brief overview of what we can expect out of a life of space salvaging. Lynx Corporation, the company that brought you out amongst the stars—and which saddled you with crippling debt—has a constant stream of ships for you to strip.
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Your job in Hardspace: Shipbreaker is to separate the valuable components, reactors, thrusters, power cells, data drives, etc., from the hull of decommissioned ships. Of course, this is easier said than done, because Lynx Corporation apparently isn’t covered by OSHA. These retired crafts still have all their systems intact, which means you’ll have to use your scanners to cut around fuel and electric lines carefully, and avoid catastrophically decompressing the ship and firing valuable parts and yourself into space.
The prize of each vessel is the reactor. This volatile part is the most valuable component, and recycling it is a major goal of each salvage operation. Unfortunately, like the rest of the devices in each ship, the reactor is still hot, so you must quickly deliver it to the salvaging receptacle before it suffers a meltdown. This means you’ll need to map the interior of each ship and figure out the most efficient way of pulling the reactor. If you fail, a meltdown will cause a massive explosion, destroying valuable components and possibly killing you.
Hardspace: Shipbreaker brings a unique approach to the sci-fi genre, and I’m excited to get a chance to cut my way out of servitude. Hardspace enters Steam Early Access on June 16, 2020, and releases for PS4 and Xbox One are planned in the future.
