Stars Reach Ends Playtesting Ahead of August 18 Early Access

Playable Worlds has shut down the Stars Reach test servers as the MMO moves out of its long-running playtest phase and into Early Access on August 18. The final public test was a weekend Server Slam, with players asked to pile in and help stress the game’s infrastructure before the paid release.

The studio says data from that last test is already being used for Early Access prep. Stars Reach has been through multiple wipes, alpha weekends, and pre-alpha sessions, so this is less a surprise shutdown and more the end of the free testing window.

Stars Reach is a sandbox-style online game built around a simulated world, where terrain, water, weather, and player-made changes are meant to matter in play rather than sit in the background. The team also ran a “How to Homestead” session alongside the sendoff, focused on claiming land and keeping a player’s part of the galaxy intact.

Early Access begins with the Firstlight Pack at $29.99. The Voyager and Cosmonaut packs are priced at $49.99 and $79.99, with extra cosmetics and early tool upgrades included in the higher tiers.

Playable Worlds is also bringing back its creator rewards program when Early Access starts. Applications are open through Creators.gg, and the program runs through September 4. Approved creators can earn keys, in-game titles, and merchandise, while unfinished progress from the playtest version of the program will carry over.

After Early Access is live, the studio plans to share a fuller list of updates and talk more about its living roadmap. Playable Worlds is framing that roadmap as subject to change, so players should expect features to shift as testing continues.