Kerbal Space Program 2 should be released in 2022. Will the little brother of the cult game of Squad keep all its promises? Zoom in on what we know for the moment.
Kerbal Space Program: a game that has become cult
Launched in 2011, the game Kerbal Space Program had created a stir by arousing particularly high enthusiasm among fans. It must be said that its ambition was broad: it is not a simple space game, but a flight simulator with a system very firmly anchored in scientific reality. It joins in this a game like Car Mechanic Simulator Classic.
Players can build a spaceship, pilot it and explore a planetary system using probes, rovers, etc. Being a simulator, it does not present a scenario or goals: the choice is left to the player to carry out his space program as he sees fit.
The game has been praised for its sandbox aspect, which gives players a lot of freedom, like the Mechanic Simulator. In addition, it stood out for its replayability, as well as its complexity. Kerbal Space Program first of the name thus received several awards, including the Golden Joystick Award in the category of independent games, as well as the Audience Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards in 2013.
What will Kerbal Space Program 2 look like?
Suffice to say that the sequel is eagerly awaited by fans of the first opus. Initially expected at the start of 2020, the title has been postponed several times. It is now estimated that Kerbal Space Program 2 will be released in the second half of 2022. Here is what we know so far:
Change of studio
Publisher Squad had developed the first game, but Star Theory Games supported the second edition of Kerbal Space Program. The company already has experience in space-based games: we owe it Planetary Annihilation. Creative Director Nate Simpson and Production Manager Nate Robinson will continue to develop the game.
A native multiplayer
Other news: Kerbal Space Program 2 will offer a multiplayer mode natively. As a reminder, the first version required the addition of mods to be able to play at the same time as other players. It is not known, however, what this game mode will look like in detail. Unlike Robot Squad Simulator X, however, it should not include missions.
Planetary colonies
When it comes to gameplay, the most notable change is the addition of settlements. Players will be able to build colonies on the planets they explore, and dedicate a portion of their resources to support their inhabitants. This will also allow players to build larger ships, and therefore explore the planetary system around them more widely.
Space, a safe bet for leisure
Fan passion for the Kerbal Space Program comes as no surprise, when you consider the windfall of space-based games. Beyond classics of the genre such as the Mass Effect or Halo franchise, ship management games are particularly popular with players. Got out in 2017, the Everspace shooter has thus been praised by critics and users. This is also found beyond video games. In the broader leisure sector, we also find the trend. Betway Casino online casino offers several slot machines on the theme of space, such as Starburst or Star Dust. The most modern slot machines and more than 450 casino games draw heavily on the universe of space to attract players who appreciate their geek side.
Recently, the cinema has also reconnected with space beyond lightsabers, thanks to feature films such as Le Passager N ° 4. On the Netflix side, the success of The Expanse has shown that viewers react favorably to realism, such as that expressed at Kerbal Space Program.
Space is therefore fashionable, and realism even more so. We are willing to bet that Kerbal Space Program 2 will therefore experience similar success to the first opus, and that many Kerbonauts should launch their rockets in the years to come ...