Sci-Fi Extraction MMO Nova Era: Atom Kicks Off Open Steam Playtest

Nova Era: Atom, a third-person spaceship extraction shooter with MMO elements, has launched an open playtest on Steam to test its core gameplay loop.

Ever wanted to pilot a spaceship, grab loot, and race against other players to extract before things go sideways? If that sounds like your kind of chaos, Nova Era: Atom might be worth a look this week.

The self-described "third-person spaceship extraction shooter built on an MMO framework" has officially kicked off an open playtest on Steam. The devs are using the next several days to put the game's core gameplay loop through its paces, giving players a chance to jump in and see what the sci-fi MMO is all about.

For those who haven't been following along, Nova Era: Atom isn't your typical MMO. Instead of running around a fantasy world swinging swords, you're strapped into a spaceship, and the goal is all about extraction. You head out, you collect stuff, and you try to make it back in one piece. It's a formula that's become super popular in recent years, and now it's getting the MMO treatment.

We've covered Nova Era: Atom here a couple of times before, and it's clearly a project that's been steadily building momentum. This playtest is a big step for the team, since it lets them see how the core loop holds up when actual players get their hands on it. That's the kind of feedback you can't get from internal testing alone.

So what should you expect if you decide to dive in? Well, it's an open playtest, which means you don't need an invite or a special key. Just hop onto Steam and give it a shot. The focus is on the core gameplay loop, so don't be surprised if some rough edges show up. That's kind of the point.

If you're into extraction shooters or sci-fi MMOs, this could be a nice way to kill some time and see something new. And if you're not sure yet, well, it's free to try, so there's not much to lose.

What do you think? Will you be jumping into the Nova Era: Atom playtest, or are you waiting for more polish before you give it a go?