Far From Home has announced they’re delaying the Early Access version of their upcoming sci-fi survival action game, Forever Skies. The release window has been switched from the previously planned 2022 to the first half of 2023.
Originally announced under the codename “Project Oxygen,” Forever Skies has been in the works for over two years and is being developed by former AA and AAA developers who have previously worked on major titles. You play as a lone scientist in Forever Skies who returns to Earth long after a global environmental disaster has rendered the planet uninhabitable for humans. Players can explore the world above and below the “dust,” a toxic cloud.
The reasoning for the delay was given via an extensive post. The developers stated that over 80,000 players had played their demos last month, and many have provided positive and constructive feedback. As a result, they’ve decided to incorporate much of that feedback and expand the game’s scope that will launch in Early Access.
The developers said they didn’t expect this much positive attention and feedback from the demo, and they’re incredibly grateful. They noted that the demo seemed great initially, as eighty-three percent of respondents rated it 8 out of 10 or higher. But upon further inspection, they noticed various criticisms of the demo and how they could improve it.
The developers are now looking at a much more significant influx of players picking up the game during Early Access than initially anticipated; as a result, they want to lay a better foundation for other core mechanics so that players can have a clearer idea of what else to expect from the game. Below is a list of promised changes to the game:
- Increasing the scope of the game’s gameplay beneath the “dust”
- Deeper location variety
- Overhauling airship damage and repair
- More customization options for airships
- Survival elements being reworked to focus more on the “scientific approach”
- The addition of four player co-op in the Early Access
As for the release date, the team stated that they’re moving it into the first half of 2023 to launch the Early Access in a much better state than previously anticipated. The developers also went on to promise that they’re going to be transparent about the game’s status in the upcoming future.
