Dual Universe

Platform(s): PC
Genre: Online Multiplayer
Developer: Novaquark
Release Date: Sept. 27, 2022

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'Dual Universe' Alpha Coming In November, Development Roadmap Through 2020 - Screens & Trailer

by Rainier on Aug. 8, 2018 @ 5:00 a.m. PDT

Dual Universe is a sandbox Sci-Fi MMORPG set within a continuous single-shard universe where players can freely edit the world and build any construction they like with no size restrictions, from space ships to cities to giant space stations.

Played in first person view, Dual Universe takes place in a vast realistic universe made of millions of planets, and focuses on emergent collective gameplay based around exploration, mining, crafting, trade, politics and warfare.

The concept of Dual Universe is described by Novaquark as a “Boundless MMO”: based on an innovative server technology called CSSC (Continuous Single-Shard Cluster), the game enables everybody to play in the same world, at the same time, without any slicing of the game universe into instances or zones. In addition, for the first time in a single-shard MMO, the world is entirely modifiable and an unlimited number of players will be free to build together, cooperate or compete. The focus has been made on giving the keys back to the MMORPG fans: using the building blocks provided by the game, the in-game community will make the choices and create the content they will play in.



Novaquark is excited to blow the lid off a detailed roadmap, charting the development of civilization building MMO, Dual Universe, through launch.

Beginning with its first Alpha test in November 2018, Novaquark plans to continue expanding its sci-fi universe until it hits Beta in the first half of 2020 and officially launches in the latter half of 2020. This roadmap arrives alongside the announcement that all Kickstarter backers will be granted access to the in-development Alpha by the end of 2018, as originally announced during its crowdfunding campaign.

Every step of the way, the team at Novaquark intends to engage their dedicated community as they introduce new gameplay systems and work towards establishing a true gaming Metaverse. Take a look below to get an idea of some of the key features that will be added as part of each subsequent milestone:

If keeping up with this roadmap sounds like a daunting task, you’re absolutely right. Building an entire living, breathing universe isn't exactly an easy task, but it’s a dream that the team has shared for decades now. Maintaining momentum towards Alpha, though, the team has raised an additional 3.5 million dollars, bringing the total funding of the project, including backer support, to over 11 million dollars, which will be used to hire new, passionate staff, accelerate development and keep everything moving to the roadmap’s timeline.

This is only a taste of what players can expect from Novaquark in the coming months and years, though. Game development is constantly filled with surprises, so while there will undoubtedly be obstacles for the team to surmount, they also have their share of surprises to share with the community. Whether it’s the pre-Alpha supporters who have already begun shaping the universe of Dual Universe in their own image, the players who will join the journey along the way, or interested sci-fi fans on the fringes, Novaquark intends to maintain transparency through launch and offer ample opportunities for the community to directly impact the development of this ambitious project.


Traditional approaches in gaming and entertainment are based around companies spending substantial amounts of money to create content, and sell it. Most of the time, players have little influence on the value of the platform, as they passively consume the content, and then move on to another game. Novaquark aims to reverse this logic with its one-of-a-kind technology providing users with a stage to collectively create the content and share it together, at an unprecedented scale. The value of Novaquark comes entirely from its users and the material they generate, giving the power back to them instead of a centralized system.

Beyond its initial release, Dual Universe is set to be a long term continuous development project and will grow with regular updates.

At the heart of Dual Universe is a truly innovative proprietary technology, that was developed to lay the foundations of the game: the CSSC (continuous single-shard cluster) manages one single universe with potentially millions of people interacting in it at the same time, with no loading screen. Coupled with this is an innovative voxel engine enabling players to physically modify the world and foster a persistent, continuous form of reality where meaningful contributions can accumulate.

Dual Universe Gameplay Features

  • UNIVERSE (available in test version): The first fully editable universe made for players by players. The only limit is your imagination! Gather your friends and build on a truly epic scale, from ships, cities and space stations, to Lua scripted puzzles and interactive constructs.
  • MASSIVE (available in test version): Dual Universe is the first game where potentially millions of players can interact together simultaneously, inside the same giant universe. We call it the Continuous Single Shard Cluster (CSSC) technology. This proprietary technology means no multi-server player separation, instances or loading times, just one enormous, persistent universe.
  • EXPLORATION (partially available in test version): Explore & Discover new worlds with your friends, find rare resources and build the greatest place in the universe. Will you be a nomad treasure hunter, or a calculating profiteer?
  • ECONOMY (work in progress): Dual Universe will have the most realistic economy system ever made in a game. From weapons and tools, to spaceships and giant space stations, build and trade everything to everyone - at your price - on your own market.
  • WARFARE (work in progress): Fight for supremacy, resource control or geostrategic advantage, as you join with fellow players and create your own defense systems, build warships, cities and space stations. Will you defend yourself or lay waste to your enemies?
  • POLITICS (work in progress): Be a lone wolf or choose an organization or build your own, hire new players, fight other alliances, cut deals with them or rule your own part of the Universe with this completely open political landscape, full of emergent gameplay opportunities.
  • Technological Features
    • Procedurally generated planets, revealed as players explore further and further.
    • 25cm precision voxel technology to modify the environment or construct buildings/ships
    • Unlimited LOD (Level of Detail) technology allows planet-sized construction to be built
    • 64bit Planetary Engine: Smooth transitions from planet surfaces, through atmosphere and into space with no limits to how far the player can travel or see.

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