Stars Reach is heading into a new phase of development, but the team at Playable Worlds has reached a point where they can't complete the game on their own. Now with a Kickstarter campaign on the horizon, we sat down with Raph Koster and David Georgeson to ask the tough questions on what's to come.
Stars Reach has generated significant buzz from the MMORPG community, and it's no secret that much of it has to do with the extensive experience at the helm, guiding the genre into untested waters. In the interview we delved into the purpose behind crowdfunding, what the Kickstarter means for the game’s future, and how community involvement will shape its development. We also hit on some hotbutton topics like PvP and how they'll stop destructive players from ruining what other gamers have created. You can watch the entire interview, alongside early in-game footage in the video below.
Why a Kickstarter? The Reality of MMO Funding
Kickstarter campaigns for MMORPGs often come with a high level of skepticism, and with good reason. Many players have seen projects overpromise and underdeliver, leading to wasted funds and broken trust. Koster and Georgeson are keenly aware of this history and addressed it head-on.
“We did not originally set out to go this route,” Koster admitted. “We weren't going to do it. I’ve seen Kickstarter pitfalls up close. It can lead you down a dangerous path of scope creep where you promise things just to drive pledges, and then you find yourself unable to deliver in a reasonable timeframe”.
Despite initial hesitation, shifting industry trends made crowdfunding a necessary step. Koster pointed to the current investment climate, where funding for in-progress projects has dried up. “Investment money is coming in smaller amounts and mostly for new titles, not for games already in progress. We raised over $38 million to build this game so far, but our budgets have always accounted for needing more”.
The Kickstarter, then, isn’t about starting from scratch—it’s about reaching early access. “We believe that between the money we’re raising now plus the Kickstarter, we can get Stars Reach into early access,” Koster confirmed. But that wasn't all, the team still has a path prepared to get the game into a full commercial launch by next year. Kickstarter is only the first step. Recently, Playable Worlds revealed some of the reward tiers that players can expect, and it seems like there will be some interesting options for those hoping for a few visual goodies to go along with Early Access.
What Comes Next? Post-Kickstarter Plans
I've argued before that Stars Reach is unlike other MMO Kickstarters that have raised funds without a clear end in sight. As the associated video confirms, Stars Reach is already in a playable state. “This is more of a kick-finisher than a Kickstarter,” Koster explained. “We’ve got five years of sunk work. The game is playable now. Is it finished? No. But we have a clear picture of what needs to be done”.
Anyone who has been following the game will also know ho import community engagement is to the team and how it will be central post-Kickstarter. Weekly updates, lore drops, and behind-the-scenes spotlights will become standard. “You should expect to need to be on the Stars Reach website every day as soon as next week,” Koster stated, emphasizing a commitment to transparency. Additionally, the team plans to merge the public and testing Discords to give players a clearer view of development. It will certainly provide insight to players who have yet to jump into the game.
As for continued financial backing, Koster made it clear that the Kickstarter won’t be the end of the road. “You should expect late pledges, followed by pre-sales after that,” he said. “We hope, expect, and plan that our total audience is not going to have found us by the end of the Kickstarter”.
The State of the Game: Community Influence and PvP Plans
Community input has already played a role in shaping Stars Reach, and that influence will only grow as the game moves forward. “We've tried to be transparent with one big exception—we don’t overpromise,” Koster said. “If you overpromise, you get held to it. That’s why we’ve shared only so far forward. But with the Kickstarter, people are going to expect a roadmap, and we’ll share more”. Georgeson and Koster were both somewhat mystified at how often players are confused about the state of the game.
"I think people do want what we're offering, but we recognize in some ways in MMOs, we've been MMOs best kept secret for a while. Right? Like, I think a lot of people don't know what we're already pulling off and that people are already playing." Koster stated. In a lot of ways, Stars Reach does seem to fly under the radar. The Kickstarter aims to change all that. Despite being playable for a while and dropping the NDA months ago, the team will be showing off much more of the game in short order during and after the campaign.
One of the most debated aspects of any MMO is PvP, and Stars Reach is no exception. A lot of players were wondering how Stars Reach will implement their competitive modes. Koster clarified that while the game is PvE-first, PvP will play a role, especially at the elder game level. “It is entirely opt-in,” he confirmed. “Players who control a planet will be able to set the PvP rules for that planet”. If you've been hoping for a war world, it looks like you'll be able to create that yourself.
The game’s terraforming mechanics add another layer to the PvP discussion, as players will be able to modify environments in ways that could affect others. Koster recounted an in-game incident where an unintended leak flooded a city’s basements. “A few of us spent hours mucking out everyone’s basement. It was an accident, but it showed how player actions can shape the world”. The challenge, then, is balancing dynamic world systems with protections against griefing. However, Koster stated that players or guilds that own a planet can set the rules to that planet, which means no unauthorized terraforming!
How Non-Backers Can Still Support the Game
For those hesitant to back a Kickstarter but still interested in supporting Stars Reach, Koster had a simple answer: spread the word. “Resharing, spreading the word—those things matter. Participate on the subreddit.”
There will also be a Kickstarter tier specifically for those who just want to contribute without expecting anything in return. “There will be a tier that’s just ‘hand over some money with no expectation of anything’ because I want to be supportive”. he concluded.
Stepping Up to the Challenge
Koster and Georgeson are no strangers to the challenges of MMO development. Their approach to Stars Reach—grounded in transparency, community involvement, and a clear roadmap—separates them from the many successful-yet-incomplete crowdfunding efforts of the past. While skepticism around MMO Kickstarters is warranted, Stars Reach is further along than many projects that have asked for public funding.
But that isn't to say that Stars Reach is a sure thing either. What we do know is that the team is skilled, passionate, and they've been speaking directly with the community. If you're on the fence about the state of the game currently, check out the video interview which shows off some combat, and some mild terraforming. While the game still has a long way to go, there are some mighty good bones that need a smidge of polish to really make them shine. Will a successful Kickstarter get it there? I can't wait to find out.