Summary

  • Sea of Stars is getting a massive free update on November 12.
  • Called Dawn of Equinox, the new update will add 3-player co-op, a redesigned combat system, and a revamped prologue, among over half a dozen other novelties.

Sea of Stars is getting a massive free update in November 2024, Sabotage Studio has announced. Called Dawn of Equinox, this release will expand Sea of Stars with some much-requested features.

August 29 marked the one-year anniversary of Sea of Stars' release. Sabotage Studio's retro RPG enjoyed a strong critical reception at launch, with many reviewers praising Sea of Stars for its beautiful pixel art, charming setting, and nostalgic gameplay, among other qualities. The RPG presently boasts a "Mighty" rating on OpenCritic, derived from an aggregate score of 89 and a 97% reviewer recommendation rate. This makes Sea of Stars one of the highest-rated games of 2023.

Sea of Stars: Dawn of Equinox Update Coming in November 2024

The critically acclaimed RPG will soon become even better, courtesy of its newly announced Dawn of Equinox update, which is scheduled to roll out on November 12. The contents of this patch were largely informed by player feedback, Sabotage Studio said, noting that Dawn of Equinox will introduce the previously announced Sea of Stars co-op mode for up to three players.

The Sea of Stars combat system will also be revamped as part of the November patch. Specifically, the developers are adding a new Mystery Lock mechanic that will require players to experiment with ways to break enemy spells whenever they encounter a new type of opponent. The idea behind this feature is to add some strategic depth to battles. The update will also rebalance the existing combat system with Mystery Locks in mind.

Furthermore, Dawn of Equinox will make some major changes to the Sea of Stars prologue, introducing combat sections for the younger versions of its heroes and doing away with the flashback story structure in order to make the opening moments of the RPG more action-packed and compelling. The update will also include a bonus cinematic cutscene that will be added to highlight one key moment in the game's story. Difficulty presets will be part of the package as well, together with improvements for the secret-tracking parrot, which will soon learn some new tricks in order to better serve its purpose.

Dawn of Equinox will reach the PC and console versions of the RPG simultaneously. This won't be the last major addition to the game, not least because Sabotage Studio is still working on the Sea of Stars: Throes of The Watchmaker DLC. Slated to release in spring 2025, this expansion is set to add a new side adventure to the game. Much like Dawn of Equinox, Throes of the Watchmaker will be released free of charge.

Sea of Stars: Dawn of Equinox Update Patch Notes

  • All-New Local Co-op: Sea of Stars’ story will be playable in its entirety by up to three players, with allies traversing the world together and mastering a new Co-op Timed Hits combat mechanic.
  • Combat 2.0: The addition of Mystery Locks brings a new gameplay loop around revealing the ways to break the spells of enemies each time a new type is encountered in battle. Along with "Reveal" functions added to some of the playable cast’s special skills, Combo Points now remain after battle, offering new ways to open certain encounters, or test different damage types on enemies to reveal their locks. A comprehensive balancing pass has also been done to reflect both these new changes and player feedback since launch.
  • A Revamped Prologue: Implementing combat for the young versions of our heroes, the updated flow does away with the flashback structure to begin in their childhood, directly including action in the prologue.
  • Bonus Cinematic Scene: An entirely new cutscene has been added to accentuate a pivotal moment in the original adventure, referred to as "Paths on Water".
  • A Speedrunner Mode Relic: This new item activates a range of features helpful for those looking to set a new personal best or world record.
  • Difficulty Presets: Three difficulty options are now available when starting a new game, which are presets using the game's Relics. New Relics have also been added, both for quality of life and difficulty adjustments.
  • Improved Parrot Relic: Sea of Stars’ secret-tracking parrot has learned a few new tricks to better assist players tracking down overlooked challenges and collectibles.
  • Quebecois Localization: A comprehensive French Canadian translation for Quebec’s finest Solstice Warriors.
  • Quality of Life Improvements: A constellation of general updates and improvements spanning Sea of Stars’ full campaign.
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Sea of Stars Tag Page Cover Art

Sea of Stars
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RPG
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
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Released
August 29, 2023
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language
Developer(s)
Sabotage
Publisher(s)
Sabotage
Engine
Unity
Multiplayer
Local Co-Op
Number of Players
1-3
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Set in the same world as 2018's The Messenger, Sabotage Studio's Sea of Stars is an RPG that takes inspiration from Japanese classics like Chrono Trigger. Featuring a dynamic turn-based combat system and platforming-based exploration, Sea of Stars is an ambitious and gorgeous addition to the role-playing genre.

Genre(s)
RPG
How Long To Beat
28 Hours
PS Plus Availability
N/A
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty