The combat demo for Free Stars: Children of Infinity is out, and it's free

After five years in development, Free Stars: Children of Infinity—the official sequel to The Ur-Quan Masters created by the original developers—has released a free public combat demo. The release brings 1v1 arcade space battles reminiscent of the classic melee mode, allowing players to assemble fleets from a roster of 38 different ships and engage in head-to-head SpaceWar-style action.

The combat demo is currently available on Steam and GOG for Windows, Mac, and Linux, with console versions confirmed to be on the way though not yet released. The roster features familiar ships returning from The Ur-Quan Masters, alongside new faces and special melee-only vessels designed by Kickstarter backers. Notable exclusions include the Slylandro probe, which did not make the cut. While returning ships retain their classic identities, they have been recreated in Fred Ford's new SIMPLE game engine and feature more natural turning capabilities than their 1990s counterparts.

Developed by Pistol Shrimp Games, Children of Infinity operates as a space adventure RPG in the style of its spiritual predecessors, including Starflight and Starflight 2. While the full game is still on the horizon, lead designer Dan Gerstein, narrative lead Mallory Littleton, and a team of writers including volunteer contributors have been working to complete the title. The newly launched combat sandbox serves as an early taste of the experience, letting players test ship maneuvering characteristics, weapons, and special abilities ahead of the full game's eventual launch.