Starlance Studios has released ZeroSpace in Early Access on Steam, offering the first act of its campaign, multiple multiplayer modes, and a launch tournament, with player feedback set to shape the road to version 1.0
Starlance Studios has officially launched ZeroSpace, its cinematic sci-fi real-time strategy game, in Early Access on Steam. The release follows a well-received demo during Steam Next Fest and marks the first time players can access the Orion Sector, begin the campaign, and provide feedback that will influence the game's development ahead of its full release. ZeroSpace is available now for £28.99 / $35.99 USD, reflecting a 10% launch discount until 3 August 2026.
Early Access Content and Structure
The Early Access version of ZeroSpace includes Act 1 of the campaign, featuring 12 missions that introduce players to the game's branching narrative and decision-driven structure. Alongside the campaign, players can access expanded co-op missions, ranked and unranked versus modes (1v1 and 2v2), and a full skirmish mode supporting 1v1, 2v2, and free-for-all matches against friends or AI. The game aims to streamline classic RTS mechanics for more responsive play while retaining strategic depth, and features cinematic storytelling sequences influenced by role-playing games.
ZeroSpace currently offers four main factions: The Protectorate (humanity), the Grell (symbiotic plant-like beings), the Legion (fanatical force), and the Xol (a synthetic machine civilisation). The Xol are playable in Early Access but will only be added to ranked matchmaking after further balance testing with the community. Players can also customise their armies with units from various mercenary factions, adding further variety to strategic options.
Development Roadmap and Community Involvement
Starlance Studios has published a development roadmap outlining the path from Early Access to the planned 1.0 release. The studio is actively seeking player feedback to refine balance, content, and features, with the full campaign and additional updates scheduled for the coming year. The involvement of Aaron Kambeitz, co-founder of Relic Entertainment and artist on the Homeworld series, is highlighted as part of the game's creative direction.
ZeroSpace supports a wide range of languages at launch, including English, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish (Latin America and Spain), Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Russian. The game is available exclusively on Steam during Early Access, with no other platforms currently announced.
Launch Tournament and Live-Service Features
To mark the Early Access launch, Starlance Studios is hosting the ZeroSpace: First Contact Invitational, a tournament featuring well-known RTS creators and competitors such as GiantGrantGames, PiG, Lowko, TheViper, JimRising, MarineLord, White-Ra, and Harstem. The event runs from 20 July to 9 August 2026, culminating in a final to decide the champion. In addition, the game is launching its first live-service event, Galactic War: Season Zero, a three-way faction conflict led by community creators Neo (Back2Warcraft), uThermal, and Winter. Players can join alliances and contribute to their side's progress on the galaxy map until 1 August 2026.
ZeroSpace is positioned as a persistent online RTS with both ranked and casual play, hero-driven tactics, and a focus on player choice. The studio has not yet confirmed a final release date for version 1.0, and the scope of future content updates will depend on player feedback and ongoing development.
Early Access is a release model where players can purchase and play a game before its full launch, often while it is still in active development. This approach allows developers to gather feedback, test features, and refine balance based on real player experience. However, Early Access games may lack complete content, contain bugs, or undergo significant changes before reaching their final version. Players considering Early Access titles should be aware that the experience may differ from the finished product, and features or performance can evolve over time as development continues.
