Wildgate – Sea of Thieves in Space?

Dreamhaven and developer Moonshot Games have launched Wildgate, their spacefaring crew-based first-person shooter, across Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. The game, which combines multiplayer action with explosive spaceship combat, is available in Renegade Edition or deluxe addition.

Explosive Space Competition

Wildgate casts players as “prospectors” who form small crews to venture into the hostile region of space known as the Reach. The primary objective involves locating an ancient relic called the Artifact whilst competing against rival crews attempting the same goal. Teams must work together to pilot spacecraft, plunder wreckage, and discover forgotten loot in pursuit of victory.

The game offers two distinct victory conditions: successfully escape through the Wildgate whilst carrying the Artifact, or achieve domination by destroying all rival ships. This dual-path approach should create varied tactical scenarios and ensure that combat remains intense throughout each match.

Procedural Space Exploration

The Reach serves as a procedurally-generated battlefield that changes with every match, ensuring that teams cannot rely on memorised routes or predictable strategies. This dynamic environment is populated with deadly hazards, cosmic storms, space creatures, and alien ruins containing valuable loot caches.

Environmental storytelling appears significant, with the promise of “treasure beyond your wildest dreams” alongside genuine threats that require careful navigation. The combination of exploration, combat, and resource gathering suggests a comprehensive space adventure experience.

Community-Driven Success

The game’s development has been notably community-focused, with studio head Jason Chayes highlighting their recent massive playtest: “Last month, we held our biggest playtest yet, where hundreds of thousands of players from around the world joined us. During this release, we hit the number two spot among the most-played games on Steam during Next Fest.”

This impressive community engagement, particularly considering the game was only revealed three months prior to launch, demonstrates significant anticipation for crew-based space combat experiences.

Diverse Character Options and Combat

Wildgate features multiple prospector characters, each offering unique abilities and tools that cater to different playstyles. Whether players prefer direct combat as “heroic pilots” or prefer cunning tactics as “clever tricksters,” the character diversity should accommodate various strategic approaches.

Combat mechanics extend beyond traditional shooting, incorporating spaceship hijacking, trap-setting, and sabotage elements. When carefully planned strategies fail, the game encourages improvisation, suggesting that adaptability becomes as important as initial tactical planning.

Post-Launch Content Pipeline

Dreamhaven has outlined a robust post-launch roadmap, with Season 1 planned to introduce a new prospector, Reach anomalies, an Adventure pass, additional weapons, and new equipment. The immediate launch includes progression updates, improved matchmaking, spectator view enhancements, and an in-game cosmetic store.

CEO Mike Morhaime expressed enthusiasm about the project’s reception: “The response to Wildgate‘s open beta was incredible. Wildgate represents what Dreamhaven believes games can be: rich, imaginative, and deeply engaging.”

With its combination of procedural environments, crew-based tactics, and multiple victory conditions, Wildgate appears positioned to capture audiences seeking strategic multiplayer experiences in science fiction settings.