If you’re itching for a PvE-focused space sandbox, now’s probably a good time to check out Ascent: The Space Game. It’s 20 percent off during Steam’s summer sale, and Fluffy Kitten Studios has recently patched in the ability to talk to NPCs and explore player-made colonies.
The “new update to NPCs will radically change the landscape of the game,” according to a Fluffy Kitten press release. “NPCs have personalities, needs, wants, and even approval ratings of their colonial governor, but much of that is hidden away waiting for new features. For now, players can seek out NPCs in colonies and hire them to ferry goods to and from destinations, removing the burdensome task of having to do it yourself.”
Fluffy Kitten says that as Ascent evolves, NPCs will “act on their own,” including going rogue, stealing ships, getting addicted to substances, and attempting to fill their own wants and needs. “These NPC needs will be tied together, where completing one task will likely result in the change of needs and wants of other NPCs on the planet, opening new options to explore,” the firm explains.
