Jumplight Odyssey Flying Into Early Access Next Month

How did I describe it in the PC Gaming Show this year between the blind rage fits of wanting to kill the Kimmel-like host? To quote me recently, “Sort of FTL meets Theme Hospital/Evil Genius, Jumplight Odyssey thrusts you into the stars without the hint of [a] release date…” That last bit isn’t so true anymore. It was announced late last week that Jumplight Odyssey is releasing next month. Starting out in Early Access, the Community Manager and Director for the Australian developer League of Geeks held a Q&A after the announcement. The Q&A was long and seemingly only held on Steam.

To say that I am excited for the August 21st Early Access release of this management/strategy/colony sim would be an understatement, as I was so happy seeing it originally in the PC Gaming Show. With art direction blending 80s/90s that She-ra/Sailor Moon Filmation/anime look for characters and shiny, almost Two Point Hospital/Evil Genius 2-like simplicity with some shine to everything else, I am in absolute love. If you somehow managed to find time to play the demo during the Steam Next Fest, just know I am jealous of you and I hope (selfishly) it was good.

Helming the SDF Catalina, Princess Euphora is looking to escape the danger of the Zutopans and Admiral Voltan, all in search of a possible home in by the mythical Forever Star. In your typical FTL story influence, I did catch the portion of the stream that highlighted there isn’t a direction you are pushed towards by League of Geeks. There is enough freedom that you can get to the Forever Star however you need to, just as long as you can get there. Defined around resource management, leadership, and decisions made you can see the influence of Evil Genius, FTL, and as the team points out, Rimworld or Dwarf Fortress.

As already mentioned, Jumplight Odyssey is releasing into Early Access on Steam on August 21st, with language support for English, French, German, Japanese, and several more. It is intended that there will be a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S release following the Early Access period, according to the press release. At the time of writing, there isn’t a set price as far as I could find, but I would assume we’d find out more over the next three weeks as the release gets ever closer.