The latest developer update for Sanctuary: Shattered Sun is packed with new details about the game’s progress, unit design, funding decisions, and future plans.
Here’s a closer look at what was covered.
New Content Showcase
The team has been refining Sanctuary’s visuals and mechanics, with a focus on:
- Enhanced unit effects – Lasers now have more distinct colors and visual elements.
- New drone carriers – Each faction is getting unique drone capabilities.
- Guard Transmitter Unit – A support unit that buffs nearby allies with a visual effect that’s being tweaked for clarity.
- Anti-air units – New weapon effects and models for chosen experimental air units.
Funding & Publishing Deal
One of the biggest reveals was that Sanctuary: Shattered Sun was offered a publishing deal worth over a million dollars. The team turned it down in favour of private investment to retain creative control. Currently, they have 29 investors helping to fund development, which means they’re on track to self-publish the game.
Kickstarter & Early Access Plans
The roadmap for release is now clearer:
- Kickstarter planned for July 2025 – The campaign will launch alongside a more polished demo and an in-game encyclopedia to help new players.
- Early Access in July 2026 – The goal is to refine multiplayer before launch.
AI-Generated Cinematics?
The devs are exploring AI-assisted art for Sanctuary’s cinematics, proposing a comic-book-style approach using AI-generated character portraits and animations. They asked the community for feedback on whether this would be an acceptable alternative to fully animated cutscenes.
Development is progressing steadily, with new units, effects, and game mechanics being polished. The team is confident that delaying Kickstarter will lead to a better demo and a stronger campaign.
