Omega Phenex Developer Interview: 8-Year Solo Project Hits 45,000 Beta Players in 5 Days
The interview reveals how a solo developer's long-running passion project, born from a lack of new Armored Core entries, has found a substantial audience through a Steam open beta, demonstrating that niche mecha action can still attract tens of thousands of players.
Reporting from 1 sources: Game Spark.
Game Spark interviewed Surumemanju, the solo developer of the high-speed mech action game Omega Phenex, which has been in development for about eight years. The open beta on Steam surpassed 45,000 participants in its first five days and 60,000 by the end of May, with over 125,000 wishlist additions. The game is heavily inspired by the Armored Core series, particularly Armored Core: For Answer, and also draws from Ace Combat. Surumemanju, a CG designer by trade, started the project in 2016 as a self-study exercise in Unreal Engine 4, later migrating to UE5. The full release is planned for 2027.
Surumemanju, the solo developer behind the high-speed mech action game Omega Phenex, told Game Spark that the project began around 2016 as a self-study exercise in Unreal Engine 4. The developer, a CG designer by day, wanted to create a game similar to Armored Core after a long gap in that series following Armored Core: Verdict Day. The open beta on Steam, running until June 25, 2026, has already drawn over 45,000 participants in its first five days and 60,000 by the end of May, with wishlist registrations exceeding 125,000. Surumemanju said the initial participant cap was set at 9,999, which was nearly reached on the first day, forcing a quick adjustment.
The game's influences include Armored Core: For Answer and the Ace Combat series. Surumemanju noted that feedback from players who recognized the combined feel of those two series was especially gratifying. The full release is planned for 2027, with the developer currently focusing on bug fixes and updates.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.