# What is Star Atlas?
Star Atlas is an upcoming open-world MMORPG based in the year 2620. In the distant future, three major factions have emerged: (1) the MUD Territory governed by humankind, (2) the ONI Region governed by a consortium of alien races, and (3) the Ustur Sector controlled by sentient androids. These factions are in an ongoing struggle for resources, territorial conquest, and political domination. You, a faction citizen of Star Atlas, will have the ability to influence the outcome of this intergalactic conflict while creating the opportunity to earn rewards for your contributions.
Our philosophy is to truly give **‘Power to the People’** by creating a fully immersive MMO gaming and metaverse experience which:
- Provides real-world ownership of your in-game assets through blockchain technology which you can continuously expand through your chosen profession and gameplay.
- Enables our community to be as close as possible to the development of the game by having tight feedback loops for each gameplay module being released.
- Provides the opportunity to our community to co-create the vast metaverse of Star Atlas for the benefit of the whole ecosystem.
# State of the game
Star Atlas is currently in development and will be released iteratively through game modules in both web and Unreal Engine 5 which allows the game to continuously expand while the community immerses themselves in the Star Atlas gaming and co-creation experience. The first of the Unreal Engine 5 game modules is the Showroom.
# Latest Update - Pre-Season (R2)
The current stage of Showroom is a closed, pre-alpha testing version set at Volant Station. Players can control several different characters to explore an extended landscape and a ground race track by walking or flying around in 6 vehicles/ships.
You will be able to race against time in one of the 6 currently flyable ships on the Volant Station Showroom race track.
**Overall highlights of R2.1:**
- Ground Racing single player with shooting
- 11 raceable, 49 flyable ships
- UE5 in-game marketplace for ships
- Test flight of ships not owned + ships becoming available free to test in a cycle
- Jetpacking - base tier (feet thrusters only)
- Photographer career mode - tier 0
- Train station activated
- Performance improvements and optimization
- Main menu ship selection
- Racing bug fixes
- Dogfight updated (level update)
- Experimental mode toggle
- Explore Outpost 39 & ONI CSS Blockout levels
- Explore the future MUD CSS expansion of Volant Station
- View upcoming character species variants
# Gameplay
The Showroom now offers two fun and experiential ways to improve your flying and combat skills via the Dogfighting & Race Track mini-games.
- **Dogfighting**
- Battle waves of computer-controlled enemies (available to anyone)
- Enemies attack in a range of ships with different levels of strengths in speed, elusiveness and weaponry
- Players receive a score upon completion
- Scoreboard tracks current leaders and all time scores
- **Racing**
- Activate ground race track (available to anyone)
- Players receive a score upon completion
- Separate leaderboards to track players’ scores against each other
- Scoreboard tracks current leaders and all time scores
# Characters
- Choose from 4 different characters, including the original pilot, Captain Asha.
- For a limited time, players can select from a number of free skins (not owned NFTs).
- A character selection screen replaces the main menu.
- These characters will work solo or in multiplayer situations.
# Ships
- Any explorer can summon a Floyd Liner to fly and a Pearce X4 for dogfights and racing - all for free.
- Owners of a Pearce X4, Calico Medtech, Fimbul Airbike, Opal Jet, Opal Jetjet, Fimbul Lowbie and Fimbul ECOS Unibomba can fly them around Volant Station and race against time on the Ground Racetrack.
- For the Floyd Liner, Calico MedTech, Pearce X6 and more, explorers can open ramps, elevators, and doors, and fly around the Showroom environments. The full interior of these ships are walkable during flight in multiplayer mode. *Disclaimer: this is currently still in early stage development.*
- All other ships are accessible for owners in partially rendered, clay form.
- The latest versions of ships in the pipeline are now visible in the Showroom.
# Coming soon - Pre-Season
- Ship cargo and hauling
- Looting and skins crafting with ability to sell it on the marketplace
- Warp Gates
- ECOS PvE Attack
- Additional PvP Modes
