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Starside Weekly - FEB.13.2026

[p]From our current location on the moon called Haven, we can sometimes see the planet Crucible below. We’ve heard from the advance team that Crucible is an uncommon planet and we look forward to our first visit.[/p][p][/p][h3]WHAT’S NEW [/h3][p]Here are a list of things that have entered internal testing phase:[/p]
  • [p]Advanced training missions on the planet Crucible[/p]
  • [p]Names that include spaces[/p]
  • [p]Keymapping (a very common request)[/p]
  • [p]Revised movement speeds (walk, run, and sprint) for players and creatures and even projectiles. Trees have once again been left behind.[/p]
  • [p]Improved targeting by the Healix tool[/p]
  • [p]Chat customizations and colors[/p]
  • [p]New creatures[/p]
  • [p]Fixes to soft grouping[/p]
  • [p]A new weapon type: the Battle Rifle[/p]
  • [p]Survey maps[/p]
  • [p]New modularity for all weapons and tools, making them more interesting and flexible to craft[/p]
[p][/p][h3]CONTROLLED CHAOS INTERVIEWS WORLD DESIGNER MEGHANN[/h3][p]Controlled Chaos brought a list of questions for our world designer Meghann Bledsoe. [/p][p]He asked about the planet Jotania and its erosion issues and she explained how the biome system interacts with the materials system, etc.[/p][p]He asked about cave dynamics, erosion, rain cycles, the return of giant stone mushrooms from Pyromycis, and much more.[/p][p]He asked about Crucible and Meghann explained how she made a dangerous planet to match the name, and how the terrain can teach players about movement and how to handle lava. You should expect this planet to be volcanically active.[/p][p]You’ll want to hear the parts of the interview about exceptionally alien looking planets and possible timing for larger play areas.[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h3]PLAYTEST SCHEDULE[/h3][p]The playtests have resumed their usual Thursday-morning-through-Tuesday-morning cadence.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]LOGO MERCH AVAILABLE[/h3][p]We currently have three sets of logo merchandise in stock:[/p]
  • [p]The Transplanetary League set[/p]
  • [p]The Stars Reach logo set[/p]
  • [p]The Infinite Worlds set[/p]
[p]You can visit the store here: https://starsreach.com/store[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]HOW ELSE YOU CAN HELP?[/h3][p]If there is one thing you can do to help us, you can wishlist us on Steam. This makes a difference for the algorithm and also helps on the day we eventually launch on Steam. Thank you for this support. [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]
[/p]

ROLEPLAY GUIDE: ELIONI

[p]ELIONI PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION[/p][p]Elioni are the “cat-people” of the Garden in the most readable, cosplay-friendly way: cat ears, whiskers, a furred face, and a visible tail, on an otherwise humanoid body. They tend to look built for alertness and agility rather than raw bulk, which is why they’re often described as making good scouts/explorers/hunters. For roleplay, lean into quick head turns, tail tells, and the idea that personal space and personal dignity are real things you notice.[/p][p] [/p][p]HOME PLANET, HISTORY, AND CULTURE[/p][p]Elioni come from Rowwsia, where the biggest landmass is overwhelmingly desert and most people historically lived along the coasts. That geography breeds a specific kind of mindset: you don’t get a lot for free, you learn to make your own luck, and you don’t wait around for permission to be yourself. Their culture’s “center of gravity” is independent thought and expression, plus a strong meritocracy streak—people want accomplishment to matter, even if the reality can drift into prestige, gatekeeping, and “prove it” attitudes. They’re also a species that leaned hard into industrial robotics and AI (partly because so much of their world is brutal to work by hand). Even when an Elioni is friendly, there’s often a vibe of: I respect you most when you show me who you are and what you can do.[/p][p] [/p][p]LANGUAGE, AND HOW TO “SOUND LIKE ONE”[/p][p]Elioni speech is designed to feel like a drawled, meow/yowl/trill cadence in text: you’ll see lots of stretched sounds written with doubled letters (rr, ww, oww, urr, arr), and it comes off playful, dramatic, or intensely sincere depending on context. The easy RP trick is: avoid contractions (say “do not,” “cannot” instead of “don’t,” “can’t”), keep sentences clean and declarative, and drop in a few signature particles/words when you want to flavor it: ne for “not,” ma for “do it!” commands, and ke to turn something into a question. Also: in Elioni culture, the tail = the self, so tail-related insults land as personal insults—use that for comedy or for serious escalation.[/p][p] [/p][p]NAMING YOUR AVATAR[/p][p]To make an Elioni name feel right, make it look like it’s meant to be spoken with a purr: pick something 2–4 syllables, then add the Elioni “drawl” by using rr/ww and the signature endings like -urr / -arr / -oww / -roww (and doubling letters when you want it extra Elioni). Canon-shaped examples look like Dreer Mowurr, Sturrnmarr Krowwm, Phrawer Renurr, Murrr Vower, Timurr Drawermol—notice how they’re readable, but they linger in the mouth. If your name starts looking like a real Earth word, twist a vowel, add an rr, or swap a syllable so it stays alien.[/p][p] [/p][p]ROLEPLAY TIPS FOR PLAYING AN ELIONI[/p]
  • [p]Lead with self-direction. You state what you’re doing; you don’t ask unless you must.[/p]
  • [p]Respect is earned through action. Competence, craft, creativity, follow-through—this is how you impress Elioni.[/p]
  • [p]Make “be yourself” a principle, not a vibe. Elioni will defend weirdness (including your own) as long as it’s honest.[/p]
  • [p]Be allergic to “because tradition.” If there’s a rule, you want to know what problem it solves.[/p]
  • [p]Use tail/body language in emotes. Tail twitch = irritation, tail high = confidence, tail tucked = genuine unease, etc.[/p]
  • [p]When conflict happens, get direct. Not loud. Direct. An Elioni can be blunt without being crude.[/p]
  • [p]If you want everyday flavor: coastal comfort foods (often chilled seafood), lots of practical tech/automation talk, pets like ferrets/desert rats/fish, and a taste for showing off achievement.[/p]
[p] [/p][p]ELIONI PHRASEBOOK[/p]
  • [p]Hello / Hey: Purr veyy ti.[/p]
  • [p]Goodbye: Purrdat yarrweer troww. (“go your own way”)[/p]
  • [p]Yes: Nurra.[/p]
  • [p]No: Nerr.[/p]
  • [p]“Please” (polite request / permission): Mi pravva liva. (“I request permission”)[/p]
  • [p]“Thanks” vibe (closest common approval): Ri purr-nurra. (“that’s good / agreed / acceptable”)[/p]
  • [p]I don’t know: Mi ne mewrr.[/p]
  • [p]I understand: Mi vann.[/p]
  • [p]I mean no harm: Mi ne ravaw hurra.[/p]
  • [p]I need help: Mi pravva purrm.[/p]
  • [p]Follow me: Ma trenn mi.[/p]
  • [p]It’s dangerous here: Korru inn harru.[/p]
  • [p]Wait here: Ma kessh inn harru.[/p]
  • [p]Stop!: Ma stemm![/p]
  • [p]Run!: Ma runn![/p]
  • [p]I want to trade: Mi ravaw barru.[/p]
  • [p]Curse: Mreow ckhak! (“Damn it!”)[/p]
  • [p]Put-down: Growwrurr arrsus troww! (“your tail’s knotted!” / “you messed up!”)[/p]
  • [p]Quick apology (pardon me): Hiss browroww arr.[/p]

Starside Weekly - FEB.06.2026 

[p]We're hard at work on enhancements to some systems, and a number of fixes to get them ready for you to put through their paces.[/p][p]We're working on an improved shader system, an overhauled interface system, and wrangling Jotania's wobbly terra so it will finally be firma.[/p][p]We're also tuning up the text chat system, addressing an issue with spaces in names, and adding your friends list, survey maps, water erosion, and keymapping options.[/p][p]As for those wonderful toys you get to play with, we'll be adding some new weapon specials for your pistol weapons. And, when you're waiting to zone, we'll share new bits of lore on loading screens, as well as a brand new planet for advanced training![/p][p][/p][h3]THAT’S NO MOON v7.1.2 MINOR PATCH[/h3][p]We released a small update with a few improvements too good to wait for our next content update.[/p][p]Here’s a list of improvements:[/p]
  • [p]We have fixed one or more significant GPU memory leaks which should improve client stability[/p]
  • [p]We have improved our exception logging to capture more useful data to improve our forensics[/p]
  • [p]We have reduced the overall logging to slightly improve performance[/p]
  • [p]The wormgate to planet Jotania will be opened but we invite more testing – specifically moving around on the planet for extended periods of time, and terraforming sections of the planet.[/p]
  • [p]Planet Jotania continues to show stability problems. As we resolve issues with it, the portal may be inaccessible from time to time.[/p]
[p][/p][h3]THE STEALTH OPTION[/h3][p]Sometimes you'll want to step lightly to avoid notice from creatures and other players. Whether you want to avoid combat or ensure you aren't messing someone's beauty shot, stealth is now a viable option.[/p][p]We've implemented the basics, but more sneaking features are coming in the future. Tap the control key to toggle yourself into a crouch position. You'll move slower, and stealth will eventually break, but now you can move around that pack of Heetahs in your way.[/p][p][/p][p]Above your health bar, in the area where your status effects are displayed, there is a small icon to represent stealth. No, that is not a rain umbrella – it’s an aircraft with a stealth status effect or something (likely not final art.)[/p][p][/p][p]What does crouching do?[/p][p]Stealth reduces the aggro radius of nearby creatures with respect to you. If you are crouched and perfectly still when they move into perception range, they won’t notice you. You’re effectively invisible if you stay still. Don’t move until they have moved away.[/p][p]If you are crouched and moving, they will notice you when you're close and react to you unless you stop moving immediately and wait until their attention goes elsewhere.[/p][p][/p][p]What are best practices for using stealth?[/p][p]Move and stop, move and stop. Pause frequently to maximize the value of your stealth while still covering ground. Watch for any creatures that drift a bit too close to you.[/p][p]For now, ignore terrain and concentrate on pure distance. Hiding behind a boulder or tree does not currently help you in this first iteration of stealth. It’s purely about distance.[/p][p]When you see a creature or creatures about to pass, crouch and make a small arc around them, stopping as much as you are moving. You will develop a feel for how close and how fast to move as you practice. Good luck and good hunting.[/p][p]For now, ignore terrain and just go by pure distance to those you wish to hide from.
[/p][h3]WELCOME TO DORASTAG[/h3][p]From the Transplanetary League Space Station, take the red beacon gate to the newly discovered planet of Dorastag.[/p][p]As of press time, Dorastag was nearly uninhabited and there is no government as yet. No mayor, but you can request citizenship.. No signs of civilization at the portal area. [/p][p]Mists vary in color from golden…[/p][p][/p][p]…to pink tones.[/p][p][/p][p]The land is uneven, with striking vistas and interesting rock formations. The picturesque lakes are already drawing attention from visitors.[/p][p][/p][p]If you’re looking for a new home or just some scenic exploration, visit Dorastag this playtest.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]PLAYTEST SCHEDULE[/h3][p]The playtests have resumed their usual Thursday-morning-through-Tuesday-morning cadence.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]LOGO MERCH AVAILABLE[/h3][p]We currently have three sets of logo merchandise in stock:[/p]
  • [p]The Transplanetary League set[/p]
  • [p]The Stars Reach logo set[/p]
  • [p]The Infinite Worlds set[/p]
[p]You can visit the store here: https://starsreach.com/store [/p][h3]
HOW ELSE YOU CAN HELP?[/h3][h3]If there is one thing you can do to help us, you can wishlist us on Steam. This makes a difference for the algorithm and also helps on the day we eventually launch on Steam. Thank you for this support. [/h3][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

Starside Weekly - 01.30.2026 

[p]As we are writing this update, we should mention a service interruption: Our camera is being a bit temperamental, disconnecting from characters. We're investigating now, and we'll open the servers as soon as we have a fix. Stay tuned by watching Discord, X, Bluesky, or /r/starsreach.[/p][p][/p][h3]THAT’S NO MOON v7.1.1[/h3][p]We smoothed out a number of problems around Haven including the juvenile Ballhogs escaping from confinement in the hospital, the target dummies moving around in the shooting gallery, the bank kiosk in the Bank of Haven, the moving survey point in the park, and the disappearing grappler.[/p][p]We also fixed some things unrelated to Haven. The gravity generators seams in the Transplanetary League Starbase should be much better. We added crafting tables to the starbase too. We changed when we award you the Trowel recipe (when you unlock the Seed Planting skill box.)[/p][p]Reminder: you must create a new character to experience the Haven part of That’s No Moon – the new player experience. Existing characters cannot go to Haven.[/p][p][/p][h3]WHAT REDBEARDFLYNN IS EXCITED ABOUT 2026[/h3][p]Everyone could use a heaping helping of optimism right now, and thankfully, Redbeardflynn is ready to serve some up![/p][p]In a new video, he features 15 MMO games to look forward to in 2026. It's likely no mystery why we're sharing it this week. (Spoiler: We got a lovely mention!)[/p][p]We're thrilled to see Stars Reach on the list, and we're in fantastic company. This year's going to be exceptionally good for MMOs![/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p] [/p][h3]CONTROLLED CHAOS IS EXCITED ABOUT STARS REACH IN 2026[/h3][p]Controlled Chaos gives us his list of top five things he hopes to see happen in or added to Stars Reach in 2026. We can’t disagree with any of them. They sound great.[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p] [/p][h3]MMORPG COVERS NEW PLAYER TUTORIAL BASE ON HAVEN[/h3][p]Christina describes how the tutorial works and what to expect on Haven. She explains how this section fits into the greater Stars Reach experience by teaching you important basics. She also mentions other improvements outside of Haven such as chat upgrades.[/p][p][/p][p]\[Read More][/p][p][/p][h3]PLAYTEST SCHEDULE[/h3][p]The playtests have resumed their usual Thursday-morning-through-Tuesday-morning cadence.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]MERCH AVAILABLE[/h3][p]We currently have three sets of logo merchandise in stock:[/p]
  • [p]The Transplanetary League set[/p]
  • [p]The Stars Reach logo set[/p]
  • [p]The Infinite Worlds set[/p]
[p]You can visit the store here: https://starsreach.com/store [/p][p][/p][p]HOW ELSE YOU CAN HELP?[/p][p]If there is one thing you can do to help us, you can wishlist us on Steam. This makes a difference for the algorithm and also helps on the day we eventually launch on Steam. Thank you for this support. [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

Starside Weekly - 01.23.2026

[p]THAT’S NO MOON[/p][p]A huge number of changes have been made in this update. The largest of those changes is the new training base on the moon of Haven that you encounter after you finish the Hallway experience with a new character.[/p][p]Eventually, the new player’s path will be:[/p][p]Preamble → Hallway → Haven → Crucible → TPL Starbase and Beyond[/p][p]Currently, Haven is completed and we’re working on Crucible, so you’ll skip the Crucible step for now and move directly from Haven to the Transplanetary League Starbase.[/p][p]You must create a new character to experience this part of That’s No Moon. Existing characters cannot go to Haven.[/p][p]The town of Haven at night.[/p][p][/p][p]SO WHAT IS HAVEN?[/p][p]Haven is the name of a moon where a Transplanetary League training base has been built for the specific purpose of training new recruits.[/p][p]It is a thriving township built around the same concepts as the GovBot townships you have seen and built on other planets. This includes its own mayor, Bob Howard, who greets all residents personally.[/p][p]The citizens of Haven will send you on a dozen or so short missions crafted to introduce you to fundamental elements needed to understand and enjoy playing Stars Reach.[/p][p]You’ll receive Klaatu and XP awards along the way, as well as earning your first tools, and even making your first weapon.[/p][p]Everything else should be self-explanatory, and if it’s not, that’s exactly why we’re running these playtests. Please let us know if anything is confusing or tedious! We’d even enjoy hearing if you think it’s fun! [/p][p][/p][p]SYSTEMS CREATED OR CHANGED FOR HAVEN[/p]
  • [p]Underlying mechanisms and categories we need for our procedurally-generated content missions (to be introduced in the near future), used for the first time here in Haven.[/p]
  • [p]The BioScanner tool for doing non-destructive scans of Makers and Creatures. (You can use it to add creatures to your collection without having to kill them. They may still try to kill you though.)[/p]
    • [p]This will be used for flora scanning soon also, but not quite yet.[/p]
  • [p]Better NPC and NPC chat controls[/p]
  • [p]The whole mission interface got a massive overhaul (and is used for regular Mission Kiosk missions also)[/p]
  • [p]“Scanner” features for the BioScanner, Harvester and Xyloslicer. (TAB to select a resource, then “Q” to scan for where the closest one is in the world so you can hunt it down. Kind of like a cross between Maker Scanning and Mineral Prospecting.)[/p]
[p][/p][p]For the rest of the update notes, including the new first-person camera perspective, please see: [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]TIPS FOR HAVEN[/p][p]Tip #1: Actually read the dialogues. Seriously. [/p][p]Tip #2: Don’t forget that you have a grappler. Your grappling ability will make your life better. Did you forget how to activate the grappler? Use the “R” key.[/p][p]Tip #3: When the time comes for you to build your weapon, you will have a choice of five handguns: Cryostar, Atomizer, Pulsar, Spitfire, or Voltstar. Don’t worry. They will give you the parts and the recipe so you can pick any one of those five.

Cryostar - cold damage
Atomizer - corrosive damage
Pulsar - kinetic damage
Spitfire - heat damage
Voltstar - shock damage[/p][p][/p][p]This also comes at the time you are asked to hunt down certain dangerous fauna that have been threatening a group of scientists. Again, don’t worry. The fauna you are asked to hunt have no immunities.  Pick whichever handgun type seems fun to you. [/p][p][/p][p]Tip #4: Regardless of weapon choice, hunting with a friend will help a lot.[/p][p]Tip #5: Don’t be afraid to try the new First Person camera mode. In some situations, it’s the best approach. You are free to switch camera distances whenever you want by simply scrolling the mousewheel.[/p][p][/p][p]The new first-person camera perspective is already a crowd favorite for photography.[/p][p]
[/p][p]PLAYTEST SCHEDULE[/p][p]We have one upcoming livestream scheduled, a Fireside Chat on Saturday, January 24, 2026, with Game Director Dave Georgeson. [/p][p]The playtests will resume at the end of the Fireside Chat and follow our usual Thursday-through-Tuesday-morning cadence.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]LOGO MERCH AVAILABLE[/p][p]We currently have three sets of logo merchandise in stock:[/p]
  • [p]The Transplanetary League set[/p]
  • [p]The Stars Reach logo set[/p]
  • [p]The Infinite Worlds set[/p]
[p]You can visit the store here: https://starsreach.com/store[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]HOW ELSE YOU CAN HELP?[/p][p]If there is one thing you can do to help us, you can wishlist us on Steam. This makes a difference for the algorithm and also helps on the day we eventually launch on Steam. Thank you for this support. [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]