Story-driven survival-crafter AETHUS skips Early Access, launches straight to 1.0, available now!

Delve deep into an underground alien world in pursuit of dark corporate secrets in AETHUS, a solo-developed narrative adventure now available in full 1.0 on Steam and the Humble Store!

Developed and self-published by AAA veteran (R* North, Build a Rocket Boy, Splash Damage) turned solo-indie developer, Alex Kane (Pawsmonaut Games), AETHUS takes the natural next step in the genre by ensuring there’s always a narrative motivation to head out and explore, build up your base, or grind for resources.

Step into the mining suit of Maeve, former engineer of the Astral Resource Corporation (ARC), as she sets out to uncover the mysteries buried beneath her newly purchased, long abandoned corporate mining claim in this truly story-driven survival-crafter.

Accompanied by Roland, her devoted AI companion, Maeve begins to unravel the conspiracy of the vast abandoned facilities she discovers deep within her supposedly barren mining claim, and must decide how far she’s willing to go to unearth the truth as ruthless ultracapitalist megacorps close in to protect their dark secrets.

Key Features of AETHUS:

  • Deep, story-driven exploration – Follow in the boot-prints of a disastrous corporate scientific expedition and navigate arid desert caverns, misty subterranean jungles and sweltering magma lakes in search of vast abandoned underground facilities in a fully voice-acted narrative.
  • Mine, refine, craft and prospect for hundreds of resources, items and tools in an open, physics-driven, futuristic sci-fi underground world.
  • Build up your mining Outpost – Construct modular habitats and facilities, grow hydroponic crops, automate your resource gathering and decorate with extensive cosmetic options and visual themes.
  • Straight to full 1.0 release – No years of Early Access, just a fully-formed, polished experience available at a reasonable price… and no genAI was used in creating the game, either!

A playable demo featuring the first hour of the story will remain available post-launch, with seamless save integration to the full game so that you can easily continue your adventure.