What the Stars Forgot has passed two-thirds of its crowdfunding goal in just five days as Airlock Games space horror sim vision resonates with gamers. The new independent studio is aiming for a return to creative risk-taking and focused game design. Airlock Games, founded by seasoned developers Justin Fischer and Brock Feldman, is a self-funded venture.
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What the Stars Forgot‘s devs a modest $21,721 target, and found themselves sailing past $14,500 just five days later on Kickstarter.
Fischer and Feldman say that Airlock Games will focus on shorter, more affordable experiences that can be developed in under a year. Their goal is to recapture the spirit of experimentation that defined earlier eras of game development.
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The studio’s first project, What the Stars Forgot, is a horror-themed management simulation set to launch in Steam Early Access later this year. Drawing inspiration from Star Trek and the historical drama The Terror, What the Stars Forgot blends retro 16-bit visuals with unsettling sci-fi horror and dark humour.
SenpAI
Players take on the role of SNPAI (Sentient Neuromonitoring Partner AI), the onboard supercomputer of a deep-space vessel dispatched to investigate a mysterious signal from the Legasov Nebula. As SNPAI, players must manage crew assignments, respond to emergencies, and balance short-term survival with long-term strategy. From extinguishing fires to quarantining infected crew members, the AI must make critical decisions that shape the fate of the mission.
The narrative unfolds in a future where humanity has explored the galaxy only to find it devoid of life. That changes when a dormant probe reactivates, transmitting an indecipherable signal from a previously empty region of space. In response, Earth commissions a cutting-edge starship equipped with the latest quantum AI core to uncover the source of the anomaly.
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Speaking about their new venture, Feldman and Fischer said: “We’ve spent years working on high-profile AAA titles, but we missed the wonderful, reckless creativity of more focused games.
It’s a space where we can focus on providing new experiences that interest us both as players and developers. We’re so excited to have the freedom to take creative risks, push boundaries, and tell stories that just aren’t feasible for AAA productions.”
With What the Stars Forgot, Airlock Games is positioning itself as a studio unafraid to challenge conventions, offering players a fresh take on sci-fi horror and strategic gameplay.