← all stories

Ostranauts

Ostranauts left Early Access with its 1.0 release on August 4, 2026, adding endgame content, a bounty hunting system, and Steam Workshop support. Development is set to continue for at least another year.

Synthesized from 2 Yomimono stories · updated 6d ago

Ostranauts, the noir space life sim from Blue Bottle Games and publisher Kitfox Games, ended its nearly six-year Early Access run with a full 1.0 release on August 4, 2026. The game first entered Early Access in September 2020. Set in a solar system cut off from a devastated Earth, it casts the player as an illegal immigrant scavenger who salvages derelict ships for parts to sell or install on their own vessel.

The 1.0 launch bundles a narrative conclusion to the Ceres Affair story, a bounty hunting system for capturing criminals dead or alive, new station maps including Mars's Tharsis Landing and Labyrinth, Deimos's Voltaire facility, and the Moon's Jade Rabbit outpost, plus achievements and improved tutorials. Steam Workshop support launched with over 68 community mods already available. The game is known for its dense simulation of physical and psychological needs, including air pressure, temperature, pain, and 11 mental parameters, with ship piloting handled through a cockpit view of instruments and switches.

Blue Bottle Games said development will continue for at least another year, with further work if sales warrant. The game holds a 'Very Positive' rating from roughly 2,500 Steam user reviews, with 80% positive. The supported language is English only, with Japanese localization under consideration but undated. The game is available on Steam for 2,600 yen, discounted 20 percent to 2,080 yen until August 11.

Key facts

Release date
August 4, 2026
Early Access start
September 2020
Developer
Blue Bottle Games
Publisher
Kitfox Games
Platform
PC via Steam
Steam rating
Very Positive, 80% positive from roughly 2,500 reviews
Post-release development pledge
At least one more year
Language support
English only; Japanese localization under consideration

Timeline

Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.

Facts

Release
game · 2026-08-04 · 2026-08-04
Release
game · August 3, 2026 · worldwide · 2026-06-27
Licensed by
Steam (Japan) · 2026-08-04

Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/ostranauts. CC BY 4.0.

All coverage

Aug 4

Ostranauts Leaves Early Access With Full 1.0 Release

Blue Bottle Games released version 1.0 of the noir space life sim Ostranauts on August 4, ending a nearly six-year early access period that began in September 2020. The game, published by Kitfox Games, is set in a solar system cut off from a devastated Earth, where players scavenge abandoned and drifting ships for parts to sell or install on their own vessel. Character creation lets players set background, income, qualifications, traits, and skills, which affect ship and crew management. Encounters include enemies, ex-lovers, and acquaintances, with early decisions influencing later dialogue and outcomes. Version 1.0 adds endgame content concluding the Ceres Affair story, a bounty hunting system to capture criminals dead or alive, Steam Workshop support with over 68 community mods already available, new station maps such as Mars's Tharsis Landing and Labyrinth, Deimos's Voltaire facility, and the Moon's Jade Rabbit outpost, plus achievements and improved tutorials. The game is available on Steam for 2,600 yen, discounted 20 percent to 2,080 yen until August 11. Blue Bottle Games said development will continue for at least another year, with further work if sales warrant. The supported language is English only, with Japanese localization under consideration but undated.

Jun 27

Hardcore Space Salvage Sim Ostranauts Gets August 2026 Release Date

Blue Bottle Games and publisher Kitfox Games have set an official release date of August 3, 2026, for the hardcore space life simulation game Ostranauts on PC via Steam. The title has been in Early Access since September 2020, roughly six years. Set in a dystopian solar system where Earth is sealed off by Kessler Syndrome debris, players take the role of an illegal immigrant scavenger born in an asteroid colony. The game is known for its dense simulation of physical and psychological needs, including air pressure, temperature, pain, excretion, cleanliness, and 11 mental parameters such as self-esteem and sense of accomplishment. Spaceship piloting is handled through a cockpit view of instruments and switches rather than a window. Players accept jobs, salvage derelict ships, and modify their own vessels. The 1.0 release will add endgame content resolving the 'Ceres Affair' story, a bounty hunter system, tutorial improvements, new station designs, and continued Steam Workshop support. The game currently holds a 'Very Positive' rating from roughly 2,500 Steam user reviews, with 80% positive. Localization is under consideration but Japanese support is not yet confirmed.