Community infrastructure
Scalable moderation, membership, and communication tooling are being built first so the universe can welcome players with confidence.
Development Dispatch
Charting the next era of Stardust Universe
We're consolidating around a clear roadmap: finish the web platform overhaul, transition gameplay plans into Unreal Engine, and return to the ARChaotic Engine once it is ready for a dedicated production push.
ARChaotic Engine
Development paused
Awaiting new greenlight
Game builds
Unreal planning
MVP & advanced versions scoped
Website overhaul
Active sprint
Community tools first
Where we're focused
Establishing a reliable launchpad before we build the galaxy.
Community-first delivery
We are prioritising the platform, documentation, and support systems that will power Stardust Universe once gameplay arrives.
Unreal Engine foundations
Both the MVP and full-featured editions of Stardust Universe are being planned for Unreal Engine to maximise future flexibility.
ARChaotic Engine on hold
Internal engine research is paused until further notice so the team can focus on web infrastructure and pre-production.
Current status: Website overhaul sprint in progress · Unreal Engine production planning underway · ARChaotic Engine development paused until further notice.
Mechanics Spotlight
Building the launch systems before the launch
With the ARChaotic Engine paused, our energy is on the infrastructure and planning required to make Stardust Universe sustainable once production resumes. These are the pillars being actively developed right now.
Platform resilience
The web platform is our live operations backbone — we are hardening auth, analytics, and support workflows before gameplay arrives.
Unreal Engine pre-production
Both the MVP and advanced versions of Stardust Universe are now scoped for Unreal Engine with detailed technical design in motion.
Feedback pipelines
Town halls, surveys, and closed discussion groups feed directly into planning so every milestone is shaped with community input.
Governance & safeguards
Policy frameworks, trust & safety tooling, and transparent escalation paths are being codified ahead of public programs.
Documentation refresh
Legal pages, onboarding material, and contributor guides are being rewritten to match the new direction and terminology.
Partner alignment
We are opening conversations with collaborators, advisors, and vendors who specialise in Unreal production and live services.
Roadmap transparency
Every sprint ships written updates, public changelogs, and adjusted projections so you always know what is — and is not — in motion.
What to expect
Immediate delivery priorities
The team is concentrating on tangible, high-impact deliverables that keep the community informed and the project operational while game development is on hold.
Under active development
- • Modular news, roadmap, and status publishing tools
- • Membership experience and support workflows
- • Revised legal and policy documentation
- • Visual refresh across every core page
In pre-production
- • Unreal Engine technical design documents
- • MVP scope for survival-focused release
- • Default version backlog & feature matrices
- • Resourcing plan for long-term development
Expect candid updates, published meeting notes, and realistic timelines. We will only promise what is funded, scheduled, and resourced.
Transparent cadence
Expect monthly roadmap recaps covering web progress, Unreal milestones, and any shifts to the ARChaotic Engine timeline.
Community-first tooling
The website becomes the canonical source for documentation, patch notes, and governance as we prepare for eventual playtests.
Engine hiatus
ARChaotic Engine work is paused. We will only resume once the Unreal roadmap is underway and the required funding and team are confirmed.
Game Versions
Check out the latest builds and development stages.
Roadmap & sequencing
A phased plan with clear status
We are focused on getting the fundamentals right. Each phase only begins once the prior goals are complete and resourced, ensuring the community always has an honest view of progress.
Phase 0 · Platform Overhaul
Active · Q1–Q2 2025
Completing the visual and functional overhaul of StardustUniverse.com so it can host community programs, documentation, and live status reports.
- Responsive redesign for every core page
- Modular news, roadmap, and update systems
- Stabilised authentication and account tooling
- Updated legal, policy, and support touchpoints
Phase 1 · Unreal Engine MVP
Pre-production · Begins after Phase 0
Planning a tightly scoped Unreal Engine build centred on survival loops and co-operative base operations to validate core gameplay.
- Technical design packages & staffing plan
- Narrative + systems scope for MVP release
- Prototype milestones for critical mechanics
- External playtest & feedback structure
Phase 2 · Unreal Engine Core Universe
Planned · Begins after MVP validation
Expanding the MVP foundation into the default version of Stardust Universe with economy, governance, and expanded exploration layers.
- Persistent progression & social systems
- Expanded sectors and cooperative activities
- Live operations and content pipeline setup
- Accessibility & localisation support
Phase 3 · ARChaotic Engine Overhaul
Deferred · Starts after Unreal launch
Rebooting internal engine development to unlock seamless galaxies, deterministic simulation, and large-scale player agency.
- Resuming ARChaotic Engine research
- Replatforming Stardust Universe onto bespoke tech
- Seamless shards, simulation, and modding pipelines
- Launch of the long-term live service vision
How we will communicate
Transparency is non-negotiable. Milestones will only be announced once resourced, and any pauses will be documented with action items.
Communication standards
- • Monthly blog briefs covering progress, blockers, and decisions
- • Dedicated status page for major roadmap milestones
- • Quarterly community calls with published agendas and notes
Accountability checkpoints
- • Resourcing reviews before any phase change
- • Public retrospectives when timelines adjust
- • Community surveys informing prioritisation
What this means today
Stardust Universe does not yet have active game development builds to share. The website you are browsing is the current deliverable, and ARChaotic Engine work will remain paused until the Unreal roadmap is underway and the right team is in place.
Dispatch incoming soon
We're preparing a fresh wave of transmission logs. Check back shortly for dev diaries, roadmap reveals, and community highlights.