Pistol Shrimp Games, an independent studio founded by veterans from Toys for Bob, is delighted to announce the release of the beloved science-fiction action-adventure game Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters on Steam.
Players are invited to immerse themselves in the retro charm of this cult-classic space game, embarking on a thrilling and quirky journey to defend Earth against the formidable Ur-Quan armada. As the Alliance of Free Stars beckons, players must rise to the challenge and become the saviors humanity needs.
Check out the Steam launch trailer of the game below:
Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters marks a triumphant return to an award-winning space saga that has left an indelible mark on the video game industry. Its iconic setting has inspired generations of creators, influencing titles such as Mass Effect, Subnautica, and Stellaris. Renowned for its colorful cast of characters, immersive storyline, and expansive universe, the game continues to captivate audiences with its memorable alien species, including the timid Spathi, the formidable Ur-Quan, and the mysterious Orz.
Reflecting on the impact of Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters, Tim Cain of Obsidian Entertainment, known for his work on Fallout and Fallout 2, remarked, “It was the perfect game at the perfect time… It’s gotta be like this game.” Similarly, Ken Levine of Ghost Story Games, famed for his contributions to BioShock and System Shock 2, praised the game’s humor, intelligence, and complexity, stating, “I played that game to death.”
In Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters, players assume the role of the last human starship captain, tasked with liberating Earth from a hostile forcefield and leading humanity in a galaxy-spanning conflict. Assemble your fleet, engage enemy starships in strategic battles, engage in witty banter with eccentric characters, and explore countless uncharted worlds to gather vital resources and technology. When not embarking on adventures, showcase your combat prowess in online or split-screen PvP duels.
The founding of Pistol Shrimp Games by Paul Reiche III, Fred Ford, Ken Ford, and Dan Gerstein marks a continuation of the legacy established by Toys for Bob. With a direct sequel to “Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters” currently in development, the saga of this celebrated part of gaming history is poised to evolve under the Free Stars banner.
Key features of the game include:
- Experience an “open-world” galactic adventure through space to defeat the invading Ur-Quan and its hierarchy of battle thralls
- Travel through extra-dimensional HyperSpace and discover nearly 500 unknown star systems filled with thousands of alien worlds, collecting resources and technology to upgrade your flagship and grow your fleet
- Fight enemies in fast-paced space battles with 25 different starships, each with its own unique attacks and powers
- Befriend, threaten, or fight a diverse cast of aliens with unique personalities, from scary to funny, to just plain weird
- Play standalone Super Melee to practice space combat against AI opponents or to duel against a friend
- Mod and tinker with readily available, open-source code and content
Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters is now available on Steam, inviting players to rediscover the magic of classic space exploration and engage in epic interstellar battles. Since the direct sequel is currently in development, additional details on it will be announced at a later stage.
Are you looking forward to playing Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters on PC via Steam or have you already jumped into the title? Let us know in the comments section below.
