Lunar automation factory building game inspired by industry giants Rimworld and Factorio is set to take center stage on Steam and Epic on July 15th 2024. From passion project to published, The Crust merges factory building with scientist management mechanics and paints the evocative narrative of a hopeless future and their cautious optimism of shaping a destiny on the moon.
Starting with nothing but a handful of drones after a mysterious explosion, players will seek to build up the surface and the underground. A network of solar panels and batteries will become the foundation of the underground, powering up different machines as the player progresses. From regoliths that turn powders into useable materials through presses and smelters to more complex factories that are able to craft refined materials into more valuable productions, the underground will eventually build up over time as the need increases.
While the primary mission is to make the moon suitable for humanity, there are tertiary goals, such as helping Earth through different factions and special projects. These factions, from time to time, will request different resources via contracts the player can accept or refuse. Should they be accepted and completed in a timely manner, the player will receive rewards, such as money to spend on conveyor belts, reputation, and even additional drones.
Additionally, players will need to manage teams of scientists by building a suitable habitat underground that provides water, oxygen, and food. In turn, these scientists will operate special machines, lead lunar expeditions, and generate research points that can be used in a multilevel research tree consisting of Fundamental, Engineering, and Social branches.
With these different mechanics, The Crust seamlessly blends the end of the world with both strategy and management, allowing players to experience the best of both worlds on the moon. Launching on July 15th, the developers at VEOM Studio and the publishers at Crytivo are proud to showcase this gem.
Automation: Build up factories and connect them together through conveyor belts
Research: Utilize a multilevel research tree consisting of three branches, Social, Fundamental, and Engineering
Manage: Rescue teams of scientists, take care of their needs, and put them to work
Economics: Trade and influence Earth’s politics through factions
