This sequel builds on the sandbox capabilities of its predecessor Kerbal Space Program while introducing new propulsion methods (e.g. the Orion drive), habitation modules to build orbital and planetary colonies on the surface, a multiplayer mode, as well as interstellar travel.
Game development
Kerbal Space Program 2 was announced at Gamescom 2019 on August 19, with an initial release date set for early 2020. The game was in development by Star Theory Games, formerly Uber Entertainment, which changed its name to display a stronger association with the Kerbal Space Program franchise. Development was moved to Star Theory in part so that Squad could focus on developing new updates to the original game. To ensure the experiment appeared “grounded,” the team consulted a panel of scientists and experts, including Dr. Uri Shumlak, associate chair of the Aeronautics and Astronautics department at the University of Washington, Scott Manley, an astrophysicist and prolific Kerbal Space Program YouTuber, and Dr. Joel Green, also an astrophysicist. The game also received feedback that the original game was too overwhelming for new players. Therefore, the team aimed to make the game more accessible by introducing more tutorials to give players more guidance to ensure they understand the game’s various gameplay systems.
However, for a variety of reasons, the release date has been pushed back to the third quarter of 2021. Take-Two has established a new unnamed studio in Private Division to continue development on Kerbal Space Program 2, with some of Star Theory’s employees brought into it, making it clear what Star Theory’s role remains in the title. Later reports from Bloomberg revealed that Take-Two was in talks to acquire Star Theory, but abruptly changed course, set up a new studio to develop the game (Intercept Games), and then hired a third of Star Theory’s developers, including creative director and the main producer. Star Theory closed its doors three months later.
In November 2020, creative director Nate Simpson announced that the release date had been pushed back again to 2022. In June 2021, it was announced via the account game official on Twitter that the game would also be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2022.
