Rather than expanding on the survival crafting elements of the original, STARSEEKER instead largely leaves those gameplay systems behind. Rather, it jumps into an entirely different genre altogether, with more similarities with extraction shooters than anything else. The title puts you in the role of an Astroneer on the ESS Starseeker—a spaceship tasked with exploring the far reaches of space and conducting scientific experiments. You’re not alone in this, however. The ESS Starseeker, which essentially acts as the central hub where you can do things like take on missions or change gear, is filled with other Astroneers as well. Right from the get go, STARSEEKER makes its emphasis on multiplayer quite clear.

"Rather than expanding on the survival crafting elements of the original, STARSEEKER instead largely leaves those gameplay systems behind."

While the core game loop is quite simple, setting you up to take drop pods to strange alien planets where you can explore, gather resources, complete objectives for more rewards, and get science points by scanning flora and fauna, the general structure of the whole experience revolves around completing simple missions, which task you with, for example, scanning a certain number of alien plants, or gathering a certain amount of Resin. Each expedition allows you to team up with up to three other Astroneers, and even if you jump in alone, you will often get thrown into expeditions that already have other players running around.

Once on the planet itself, you also have to deal with a strict time limit. You have a limited amount of oxygen, after all, and you need to complete all of your objectives in 30 minutes. Dying has severe penalties as well, denying you all of the resources you may have gathered. Once you’ve accomplished everything you wanted on a given run, you then have to make your way to one of the many launchpads all over the map, and call in a drop pod to take you back to the ESS Starseeker.

Much like other extraction-styled games, each expedition in STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions also has other players and teams running around completing their own objectives. Thanks to a complete lack of any PvP mechanics in the entire game, players are instead incentivized to work together to complete the many objectives on the map. To help you accomplish this without having to worry about potential language barriers that are bound to pop up in a typical multiplayer game, STARSEEKER also features a simple pinging system where, on pinging something on the map, other Astroneers can acknowledge your objective and offer to help by pinging back. The entire system works quite well, and is context-sensitive, changing the meaning of a ping depending on what you’re looking at.

"Thanks to a complete lack of any PvP mechanics in the entire game, players are instead incentivized to work together to complete the many objectives on the map."

Unfortunately, one of the biggest issues with STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions is its poor tutorialization. While it encourages trial-and-error, letting you learn from mistakes you might make throughout your time with the game, it doesn’t really teach you much about how its many systems work, and even its UI can often be incredibly clunky. When you first get to the ESS Starseeker, for example, it can be difficult to figure out how you’re even supposed to start an expedition, and it took me around 15 minutes of running around the place and interacting with just about every in-game terminal I could find to finally get to the one that let me start missions. The “map” you get in the hub area is also quite possibly the most useless thing I’ve ever seen in the game. Aside from the position of a few of the NPCs, this map doesn’t really tell you anything, including your own position in the starship.

The expedition menu also certainly needs further development. While other co-op games give you options to create a party before you start a mission, and STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions certainly has menu elements that imply that you could do so here as well, there just isn’t any menu option, or even a confirmation dialogue box about if you’re sure you want to start your journey solo. You can also only track up to three of your missions at a time, which, combined with the inability to get the full mission list while on an expedition, makes attempts at knocking out more missions in a single go all the more frustrating.

Progression also feels incredibly opaque throughout STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions. There isn’t really any skill tree to speak of, and new outfits are just cosmetic choices. That’s not to say there aren’t some progression systems in the game; you can upgrade some of your capabilities by crafting and installing new modules in your suit. These boosts tend to be quite simple, like raising your maximum stamina, for example. Each of the major NPCs also has their own distinct reputation track which you can progress through by completing the missions they give you. Making it further up these reputation tracks will reward you with more items, like new modules or extra resources to use in crafting.

"Progression also feels incredibly opaque throughout STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions."

Visually, STARSEELER: Astroneer Expeditions certainly has a lot of charm. Just about every character, despite being covered head-to-toe in their Astroneer suits, oozes plenty of charm thanks to simple things, like how they stand around. Mission descriptions also do quite a bit to help flesh out some characters, letting their quirky personalities shine through. Even the game’s various regions can often be quite fun to explore thanks to a plethora of strange flora and fauna that look equal parts interesting and gross, depending on the scenario. All of this was combined with great performance on the PS5 version, where I didn’t suffer a single hitch or slowdown despite how chaotic things could sometimes get.

Generally speaking, STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions feels quite half-baked in its current incarnation. However, it is worth noting that it is an Early Access release, and System Era Softworks has confirmed that it will continue to work on the title for at least a whole year. The studio’s roadmap has also outlined how it plans to expand on the game’s content over the coming year with additions like biomes, regions, and points of interest. Thankfully, STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions’ problems aren’t foundational ones, and many of my biggest complaints largely come down to the fact that the title simply needs more time in the oven.

As it currently stands, STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions is a difficult game to recommend. While the core loop can certainly be quite fun, especially if you jump into an expedition with a full party of friends, it just doesn’t offer enough in the way of gameplay depth or variety right now to be worth more than an evening of fun. Combined with an incredible number of rough edges all over the title, I would say that you should give STARSEEKER a few months before jumping in.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

Rather than going into in-depth detail about the content, the trailer instead showcases how players can work together to conduct research experiments on the various planets they have to visit. There is also quite a bit of chaos shown off in the trailer, with players needing to deal with the consequences of some of their actions during any given mission.

At launch, STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions will feature cross-platform multiplayer and progression, with all of its online systems working. The studio has promised that it will offer a “fun action sandbox” along with hundreds of missions and tasks. Players will be able to complete these missions to earn a variety of rewards, all while they climb up different reputation paths, which form the basis of the title’s progression systems.

STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions will also feature an ongoing narrative that will change as the title gets more content through post-launch support.

System Era Softworks has noted that it is aiming to spend a year in Early Access as it slowly works towards the 1.0 release of STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions. Among the content planned for the game is the addition of new regions, items, characters, and sandbox systems, among many other things.

June 8th will see two more games joining the service – Solarpunk and Undisputed. While both will be available across PC, cloud and Xbox Series X/S, Undisputed will also be available on handhelds. Solarpunk will be available through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, while Undisputed will also be available for Game Pass Premium subscribers.

Persona 5 Royal will be coming to PC, console and cloud on June 9th for Game Pass Premium, Ultimate, and PC subscribers, followed by Beastro for PC, Xbox Series X/S, Cloud, and handheld on June 11th for Game Pass Ultimate and PC subscribers. The same day, Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers on cloud, Xbox Series X/S and PC will also get Frog Sqwad and the Game Preview version of STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions. Finally, Junkster will come to Ultimate and PC subscribers using Xbox Series X/S, PC, Handheld and cloud on June 16th.

Since it’s a part of Game Pass Ultimate, EA Play is also offering an Early Access Trial for its upcoming title, EA Sports UFC 6 for console players on June 12th.

June 15th will see a number of titles leaving the service – Jurassic World Evolution 2, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.

While there are quite a few indie titles that are making their debut through Game Pass in this batch, the headliner for many will likely be System Era Softworks’ STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions. The title has been in development for quite some time now, and unlike the original Astroneer, will have an even larger focus on multiplayer gameplay.

October 2025 saw the studio showcasing the gameplay for STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions through a video that came in at almost 17 minutes in length. It also featured creative director Adam Bromell giving some insights into the title.

“With this game, I didn’t want to just make a sequel to Astroneer,” explained Bromell in the video. “This is not Astroneer 2. This is a game that really represents the kind of online sandbox games that I want System Era to be known for, so much so that it is a whole new genre, and it is a whole new title. That game is STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions.”

STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions has been described by the studio as being a “full-blown expedition game”, with its core gameplay emphasizing improvisation and co-operation with other players. The title revolves around players being recruits on an experimental space station – the ESS Starseeker – and setting off on timed missions on different alien worlds under the leadership of the Fronteer Force.

Along with PC and Xbox Series X/S, STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions is also coming to PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

BrokenLore: FOLLOW

After UNFOLLOW, Serafini Productions now wants you to FOLLOW with its addition to the BrokenLore franchise. What exactly is happening? Well, we don’t know, aside from the fact that Anne is back and still dealing with extensive trauma, including but not limited to issues with her mother, bullying, feelings of worthlessness, and so on. And if that wasn’t bad enough, she contended with all kinds of horrors, like a giant gagged head shuffling through the halls and Mini Anne, a sentient doll. If this is truly the end of her journey before we move on to scary climbing in Ascend, then here’s hoping Anne finds some peace when BrokenLore: FOLLOW launches on June 1st for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2)

The second chapter in the remake trilogy features a much bigger world to explore, far deeper combat, enough mini-games to trip over, and of course, more Sephiroth. With Midgar left behind, Cloud and company venture across new locations, which are more expansive open-world-esque fields with enough enemies to test out the new Synergy attacks and Summons. And if you’re just here for the story, the Streamlined Progression features allow limitless HP and MP, easier ways to earn weapons, XP boosters, and much more, keeping the focus entirely on exploration and getting to know old and new friends, including Red XIII and Cait Sith. Currently available on PS5 and PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 players will finally get their chance to join the adventure on June 3rd.

Gothic 1 Remake

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but regardless of the many clones over the years, nothing quite captured the feeling of the original Gothic. On June 5th, Alkimia Interactive is bringing the legend back to life, complete with contemporary visuals, expanded questlines, new abilities, and combat that promises to be more “fluid and dynamic.” However, the core experience of wandering around the Colony, which is a venerable ecosystem in its own right, and choosing which camps to ally with while uncovering this massive world and its stories, remains intact. If an open-world RPG that doesn’t hold your hand sounds good, then Gothic 1 Remake may be worth your while when it launches on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions

If you’re looking for a break from No Man’s Sky, perhaps a more structured co-op experience, then Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions may be your jam. It enters early access on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S on June 11th, and diverges from the original’s terraforming gameplay loop in favor of more adventure. Through the ESS Starseekeer, you’ll meet other players, pair up for expeditions, and venture to various planets to complete objectives (along with materials and loot to earn). The twist is that you have a limited amount of oxygen and avenues for violence, so you’ll need to repel creatures, explore the environment – including diving into unknown depths – and work alongside your crew to survive. With a much more polished base and monthly updates planned, it could serve as a worthwhile co-op distraction…in space.

EA Sports UFC 6

Much like EA Sports FC, Madden, and College Football, you know what you’re getting into with a new UFC title. UFC 6 sports a few new modes at the very least, including Hall of Legends, which feels like it’s taking a page out of the WWE 2K Showcase mode with its mix of gameplay and live-action footage from famous fights across UFC history. Meanwhile, The Legacy has you playing as a prospect who fights all the way to the top to become champion, offering a more narrative bent. But you still have Career Mode, where you can create a fighter and plot their career with a much larger number of choices and the option to hold and defend two belts. With its June 19th launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, maybe it could break the mold and bring some excitement to an otherwise familiar formula. Just like EA Sports is renowned for!

The 7th Guest Remake

As obtuse and impossible as the old-school adventure games were, it’s nice to see the more contemporary remakes capturing their essence with updated visuals. The 7th Guest Remake, based on Trilobyte’s critically acclaimed 1993 adventure, offers the same mystery as before. You’re the titular seventh guest, investigating a mystery surrounding the previous six and the villainous Henry Strauf in a dark mansion. Numerous puzzles await, unraveling more of its secrets while bringing you ever closer to the truth. Perhaps more intriguing, however, is that the remake retains the original’s use of live-action actors in 3D environments, except with newly recorded footage that looks far crisper. The 7th Guest Remake launches on June 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, so if you covet adventure mystery titles with a dash of horror, this might just be another worthy addition to the collection.

#DRIVE Rally (Consoles)

Sega will continue dragging its feet and never give us a brand new Sega Rally title, so in the meantime, efforts like #DRIVE Rally will have to suffice. Currently available on PC, it’s coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on June 18th, packing six massive locations and 25 customizable vehicles in three classes. If you’re serious about competition, there are multiple Championships to earn and leaderboards to compete in (complete with ghosts), or you can kick back in Free Roam and add some sweet interior decorations to your collection. #DRIVE Rally definitely leans more towards the arcade side of racing, especially with its aesthetic, but it still offers some fun off-roading action.

NBA The Run

Remember the good old days of NBA Street? Play by Play Studios is seemingly trying to capture some of that magic with NBA The Run, a $30 street basketball title coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. The main goal is to win the Run the World Tournament. Four rounds, knockout rules, winner is crowned the champion. Pair up with two other players, taking control of a single player in Knockout Squads or control the entire team in Knockout Solos. Private Tournaments are also possible in Knockout Friends, and you can either take on the AI alone, with other players, or organize a massive competition with a staggering 48-player limit. And even with the indie studio budget, there are still over 30 NBA superstars to control, as you make a run for the top.

Star Fox

The audible groan of certain communities when this was revealed to be a remake of Star Fox 64 was palpable. But the latter arguably remains the series’ peak, and Star Fox for the Switch 2, launching on June 25th, retains everything that made it so great, save for completely overhauled visuals. You can experience the story on three different difficulties, either solo or in co-op, or partake in Challenge Mode with different objectives. Even multiplayer has been revamped to support multiple objective-based modes pitting Star Fox and Star Wolf against each other. It may not be the next big Switch 2 exclusive, but personally, it’s great to see the franchise return and looking so good.

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam

After bringing the brutal conflicts of World War 2 into the multiplayer space with unrelenting realism and a massive scale, Expression Games has its eyes set on Vietnam. Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, out on June 18th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, leverages Unreal Engine 5 to deliver six massive maps where one side attempts to annihilate the other. With 17 different combat roles, new aerial units like helicopters, patrol boats, to battle across extensive rivers, dragging allies away to help them recover, revamped movement and the ability to tunnel for ambushes, this could be the definitive war sim shooter experience of the year.

As you would expect from a multiplayer-focused entry in the series, the showcase for STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions leans quite heavily into giving us a look at the multiplayer gameplay. The showcase also features creative director Adam Bromell providing a few details for the upcoming title, while also teasing some of the new content coming to Astroneer in its Megatech DLC.

“With this game, I didn’t want to just make a sequel to Astroneer,” explained Bromell in the video. “This is not Astroneer 2. This is a game that really represents the kind of online sandbox games that I want System Era to be known for, so much so that it is a whole new genre, and it is a whole new title. That game is STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions.”

STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions has been described as a “full-blown expedition game” with the gameplay revolving around improvisation as well as co-operation. In the title, players are recruits on an experimental space station dubbed the ESS Starseeker. Working under the leadership of the Fronteer Force, players are tasked with setting off on timed missions on different alien worlds.

The showcase for STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions focused on three main steps that players will have to go through: gearing up for a mission, deploying on to a hostile planet, and surviving and celebrating the success of their missions. The video gave us a look at these three steps by showcasing a mission on planet Tephra.

Tephra itself is described as being “a lush and mysterious planet” that features vast oceans, cavernous depths to dive, and tangled jungles to navigate. Through Tephra, System Era Softworks has also highlighted the fact that each planet in STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions will be hand-crafted, which will allow players to revisit points of interest that the might have spotted in a previous run but didn’t have the time to go check out.

In the video, a squad deployed on to Tephra with the mission to help in repairing critical equipment used by the science team. The squad was forced to improvise the repairs when the equipment was found to have been gooped up by the local fauna.

As for the original Astroneer, its Megatech DLC will bring with it a host of new content for players that enjoy the game’s base-building and automation aspects. This means the ability to create massive structures and more complex automation system using expanded versions of tools already in the game like rail lines. The DLC will be accompanied by a free update that also brings with it a few new items, as well as a new megastructure-styled project that will have players dip their toes into the large-scale automation offered by the DLC. Megatech, along with the free update, are slated for release in November 2025.

STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions will be coming to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch in 2026.