Shortest Trip to Earth signed by Iceberg Interactive, Early Access launch later this year

Interactive Fate and Iceberg Interactive have announced that they will be working together on Shortest Trip to Earth. It’s a deep-space roguelike where you must juggle upgrading your ship with exploring deadly, volatile systems.

Shortest Trip to Earth, which was formerly known as Rogue Ambassador, is a top-down spaceship simulator that requires players to juggle an interesting events system and the inner workings of their space shuttle. This extends beyond crew management, all the way down to defining the exact ship layout using its modular systems. It’s the debut title from Interactive Fate, however, the team includes Edvin Aedma, from the team behind 2012’s fantastic Teleglitch, who is onboard as a producer.

The title, which cites inspiration from FTL, Firefly, and Star Control II, is now expected to launch on Steam Early Access later this year.

Below are the game’s key features, as per the press release:

Key features

• Master the art of survival in unexplored space!
• Traverse a procedurally generated universe full of intrigue
• Ship customisation & crew management
• Epic real-time tactical space battles
• Onboard combat, featuring hostile intruders, drones and battle-hardened pets
• Hundreds of random events with unique outcomes
• Uncover fascinating and exotic stories from across the universe

And, here’s the announcement trailer for the game:

Those curious about the game can find out more on the developer’s website, where you can also sign up for access to an early demo of the game which includes two sectors of gameplay.

Personally, I’m always interested in another sci-fi roguelike, and Shortest Trip to Earth’s multi-ship combat, as well as the wonderful, hand-drawn art style, both really appeal to me. I’m also quite taken by the system view which we get to see so much of during the trailer. Also, pets, pets are good in practically everything — although I do have to wonder how memorable each character is when there are so many moving around in the ship.

We’ll be sure to keep you up to date on Shortest Trip to Earth‘s development as it heads into, and through, Early Access.