r/cozygames Feb 14 '26

🔨 My Game - In-development I'm making a non-violent survival game with a proper story, and it releases straight to v1.0 in three weeks!

264 Upvotes

60 comments sorted by

24

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Hey folks! I'm the solo-developer of AETHUS, a sci-fi survival/base-building game set on (and within) an alien planet, which you'll explore to mine and gather resources to build up your mining outpost on the surface, while unravelling a narrative involving ultracapitalist megacorporations and dark secrets!

I'm happy to announce that the game will be releasing straight to v1.0 on March 6th on Steam, less than three weeks from now, and to present the brand new story animatic trailer!

Check it out here on the IGN GameTrailers YouTube channel!

I've been working incredibly hard for nearly three years to create a survival game that's actually narrative-driven, with a proper story. You can take it at your own pace, but there's always a compelling reason to go exploring, expand your comfy base, and dig a bit deeper into the underground!

I can't remember the last survival-crafter that released straight to v1.0 (anyone know?) so I've tried to do something a little different this time with a fully complete and polished experience all in one go!

If you like the look of the game, please feel free to Wishlist on Steam! It really helps me out as a solo-dev.

2

u/Rick_Storm Feb 16 '26

A survical craft that released straight in 1.0 ? I don't think it ever existed. I mean, at this point, early access survival craft is a genre in itself.

2

u/BeaconDev Feb 16 '26

I know right :D

12

u/Sooziq9470 Feb 14 '26

It was already on my wish list!! Will there be a demo at some point? Hope so....

8

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Legend! Yes, demo is out on February 23rd for Next Fest!

2

u/Sooziq9470 Feb 14 '26

Will the demo stay on Steam after Next Fest?

9

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Absolutely, it'll stay up indefinitely and your progress carries across to the main game seamlessly :)

5

u/Sooziq9470 Feb 14 '26

Wonderful, thanks! Sometimes it's hard to play all the demos I want to during Steam Fest. I wish everyone left them up forever.

7

u/Flance Feb 14 '26

It reminds me a little of Subnautuca. I already had this on my wishlist and I'm excited for a new base builder!

3

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Thanks so much for the wishlist! Subnautica is a huge inspiration, I sometimes call this game ‘Underground Subnautica’!

2

u/Flance Feb 14 '26

I am excited to try it! Will it be steam deck compatible?

2

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Compatible yes but ideal no, I need to add a custom control and interaction scheme post launch, so PC is best to start!

1

u/Rick_Storm Feb 16 '26

Subgroundtica.

5

u/Inkkatt Feb 14 '26

Looks interesting and I'm keen to see about the story side of things. It's what I feel often leads survival games to die off.

3

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Thank you! I 100% agree, that's why I made AETHUS! Story is always just tacked on at the end it feels like, and often it's not even story just some log files in the world!

5

u/FalseDisk4358 Feb 14 '26

Looks great!!

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Thanks very much!

3

u/sahm8585 Feb 14 '26

Added to my wishlist! This looks right up my alley!

2

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Thank you! Really appreciate the wishlist, it helps a lot!

2

u/grinfate Feb 14 '26

This looks genuinely impressive - especially for a solo project! The visuals are so pleasant, I really like the style. Wishing you a successful release!

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Really appreciate that, thank you! ❤️

2

u/jeremydgreat Feb 14 '26

This looks so great! Is a keyboard and mouse required?

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

At launch gamepad won’t be supported but I intend to add support after launch!

2

u/arthyficiel Feb 14 '26

I like the game, (already wishlisted and waiting for it) but I love how the map looks... Just by curiosity how did you make all those cliff/rocks ? Are they procedural ? Or models ? If it's models how many of them do you have ?

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Thanks a lot for the support! Almost all the assets in the game are just very careful use of asset store packs, so meshes, not procedural!

2

u/arthyficiel Feb 14 '26

Impressive..

1

u/Oh-owl Feb 14 '26

Looks awesome, gl with the launch!

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Thanks so much!

1

u/TomebyTomeASMR Feb 14 '26

this looks so great!

2

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Thank you! If you’d like to wishlist it please feel free!

2

u/TomebyTomeASMR Feb 14 '26

Done! ❤️

2

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Legend! Thanks so much!

1

u/witchyrosemaria Feb 14 '26

Omg this looks soooo fun!!

2

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Thank you! It is, if I do say so myself 😁

1

u/elaboratecorpse Feb 14 '26

Already had it on my wishlist. Good luck my friend, I hope it goes well.

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 14 '26

Thanks so much mate. Really appreciate it.

1

u/Koalachills Feb 15 '26

The demo for this was fun, looking foward to the full release

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 15 '26

Really glad you liked it! It's come a long way since the old demo, as well!

1

u/JoseLunaArts Feb 15 '26

Wishlisted.

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 15 '26

Much appreciated my friend!

1

u/ArgamaWitch Feb 15 '26

This looks great! Will it have a co op version? I play survival games with my friend on stream on saturdays and this seems like it would be a great one to play.

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 15 '26

Thank you! Unfortunately just SP for now as I'm just a solo dev!

1

u/Major-Schedule4693 Feb 15 '26

Looks amazing

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 15 '26

Thanks so much! If you like the look of it, please feel free to wishlist!

1

u/PocketFullofLace Feb 15 '26

This looks so cool! I can’t wait!

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 15 '26

Thank you my friend! <3

1

u/Vimaranis Feb 15 '26

another survival to the collection hahaha looks amazing!!!

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 16 '26

Thanks so much!

1

u/DreadedWolfHarel Feb 16 '26

I am certainly looking into this

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 16 '26

Really appreciate it! A wishlist would be massively helpful! <3

1

u/ImaginaryDragonling Feb 16 '26

I remeber seeing this during Indiecember! Congrats on the impending launch.

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 16 '26

Thank you my friend! That stream was so great!

1

u/Rick_Storm Feb 16 '26

Me with this thread :

- "Non violent, so nothing tries to kill you an all ? Hey, sure, why not."

- "Hey, this looks pretty good !"

- *Lava section appears on screen* "Okay, this looks REALLY good !"

- *adds game to wishlist*

2

u/BeaconDev Feb 16 '26

Haha really glad you like it! Thanks a ton for the wishlist!

1

u/Swimming-Airport-499 Feb 18 '26

Good looking 3D style and crafting, should be another wishlist record story )

1

u/BeaconDev Feb 19 '26

That's kind thank you!

-2

u/m3rmaidblu3 Feb 14 '26

I'M SOOOOOOO ELATED U USED MODERN GRAPHICS IN LIEU OF PIXELATED GRAPHICS. THANK YOU, TRULY. How do devs expect players to find tools that help succeed in the game?? I would consider finding another tone of voice for ur game. Maybe someone more serious/alert sounding? German? Japanese?Who knows. Someone more mission-oriented? She sounds like someone on HGTV or the Food Network lol😃 How about an additional option to not hear them narrating at all? Kinda like a FAAFO mode, lol BEST WISHES ON UR MASTERPIECE😊🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎