Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Polaris takes place in a region of space overtaken by a ruthless force known as the Regime, where players must reclaim their homeworlds and raze every last enemy stronghold to the ground.

Battles take place across meticulously detailed, entirely destructible environments: whole cityscapes, wild forests, and even the planet’s very terrain can be destroyed throughout the game’s intense PvE match-ups. Banding together as superpowered freedom fighters, players will execute guerrilla tactics to take back their territory, flying through dynamic open levels, destroying enemy infrastructure, and unearthing the coveted mysteries that drive the Regime’s war of conquest.

All in-game structures— installed by the Regime, but not yet inhabited by their indoctrinated citizens— can be crushed, blown apart, and otherwise annihilated over the course of every match, and the same is true of the natural environments and terrain upon which they’ve been constructed. Whether decimating towering buildings or blowing craters in the earth, players will find that the worlds of Polaris are intricately destroyable, leading to a reactive and ever-evolving combat environment.

Team up with your most trusted comrades to liberate your home system’s planets and lay waste to your oppressors.

Today, Polaris Team (an offshoot of indie developer Variable State) announced that Polaris is participant in Steam Next Fest, lasting from Monday, October 14th until the event’s conclusion on Tuesday, October 22nd.

Players interested in experiencing this first entry into the world of Polaris can download the demo now via the Polaris Steam page, and below, check out the explainer trailer to guide your entry into battle!

Since the game’s reveal this past June, Polaris Team has been hard at work in the development process, refining the core gameplay mechanics and exploring a more stylized visual aesthetic.

The demo featured at Steam Next Fest will highlight these central components, including a dynamically destructible environment, flying abilities and co-op shooter-action.

Players will also be able to offer feedback, coordinate multiplayer sessions, and discuss their Polaris experience in the newly launched Discord.

Polaris is a departure from their previous titles, such as the BAFTA-winning mystery adventure Virginia. This stylistic contrast led to the creation of a new division within Variable State: Polaris Team, whose eponymous project channels the developers’ shared passion for the craft and techniques of PvE game design. Featuring former members of studios such as Creative Assembly, Splash Damage, Ninja Theory, Rebellion & Cloud Imperium, Polaris Team immediately brought a wealth of multiplayer combat action experience to the table, devising a project that focused on a mix of refined combat mechanics, team-oriented gameplay, and dynamically-destructible settings.

Polaris is coming to PC (Steam) in 2024.