Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes

Key art from Scattered Hopes.

Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes is an upcoming tactical roguelite video game developed by Alt Shift and published by Dotemu in collaboration with Universal Products & Experiences. The game is set within the universe of the Re-imagined Series and focuses on the experiences of scattered fleet remnants attempting to escape the Cylon genocide while seeking to reunite with the Battlestar Galactica.

Announced at Gamescom's Opening Night Live on August 19, 2025, the game is scheduled for release on PC via Steam in early 2026.

Gameplay

Scattered Hopes combines tactical space combat with narrative-driven crisis management in a roguelite structure. Players assume the role of a Gunstar Captain commanding a small fleet of survivors who have been separated from the main Colonial fleet during the Fall of the Twelve Colonies.

Fleet Management

The core gameplay revolves around managing limited resources across multiple ships while making critical decisions that affect crew morale and survival. Players must allocate resources including:

• Fuel - Required for FTL jumps between sectors
• Supplies - Necessary for maintaining crew and ships
• Scrap - Used for repairs and upgrades

Each turn represents a period of preparation before the inevitable Cylon pursuit forces another jump. Players must assign named VIP characters representing officers and advisors to various tasks, with each action consuming precious time as the Cylon fleet closes in.

Crisis Events ("Situations")

The game features dramatic narrative events called "Situations" that present players with difficult moral and tactical choices. These scenarios include:

• Managing resource allocation during critical shortages
• Resolving disputes between different factions within the fleet
• Identifying potential Cylon infiltrators among crew members
• Addressing civil unrest and mutinies

Each decision carries lasting consequences that affect the fleet's capabilities and crew loyalty throughout the run.

Combat System

Combat encounters are built around the central concept of "resist until you can jump," reflecting the series' emphasis on survival over victory. When Cylon forces engage the fleet, players must:

• Deploy Viper squadrons from hangar bays
• Position ships to maximize defensive capabilities
• Protect civilian vessels while minimizing damage to the fleet
• Survive long enough for FTL drives to calculate the next jump

The combat system uses real-time action with pause functionality, allowing players to issue tactical orders while managing the overwhelming odds typical of Cylon encounters.

Roguelite Progression

Each playthrough offers different challenges through procedurally generated events and encounters. Progress is made through meta-upgrades that unlock:

• Additional squadron types and weapons
• New ship classes and defensive systems
• Enhanced crew abilities and training
• Permanent fleet improvements

The roguelite structure encourages multiple playthroughs as players learn optimal strategies and unlock new tactical options.

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Development

Studio Background

Scattered Hopes is developed by Alt Shift, a Montpellier-based independent studio founded by Frédéric Lopez. The studio is best known for developing Crying Suns (2019), a tactical roguelite space game that sold over one million copies and established Alt Shift's expertise in narrative-driven strategy games.

Alt Shift designed Crying Suns with the specific goal of making players "act like Admiral Adama in Battlestar Galactica," commanding hundreds of crew members rather than micromanaging individual units. This design philosophy directly informs the development approach for Scattered Hopes.

Publisher and Licensing

The game is published by Dotemu, a French company specializing in modern adaptations of classic video game franchises. Dotemu has published several critically acclaimed titles including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge and Streets of Rage 4.

The licensing partnership with Universal Products & Experiences provides access to the Battlestar Galactica intellectual property, allowing the developers to create an authentic experience within the established universe.

Design Philosophy

The development team has stated their intention to capture the fundamental aspects of the Battlestar Galactica franchise while offering an innovative roguelite experience where narrative and tactical choices guide players toward survival. The game draws heavily from the tone and themes of the 2003 pilot episode, emphasizing the desperate struggle for survival against overwhelming odds.

Reception

Preview Coverage

Early hands-on previews from gaming press have been generally positive, with reviewers praising the game's faithfulness to the source material and its effective translation of the series' themes into interactive gameplay. Critics have noted the game's success in capturing the feeling of crisis management and impossible choices that defined the television series.

Several reviewers have drawn favorable comparisons to FTL: Faster Than Light, noting similarities in the core gameplay loop while highlighting Scattered Hopes' greater emphasis on narrative events and character development.

Community Response

The announcement at Gamescom generated significant interest among both Battlestar Galactica fans and roguelite gaming enthusiasts. The game's focus on fleet management and survival rather than direct combat has been particularly well-received by fans of the television series.

Technical Specifications

Scattered Hopes will launch exclusively on PC via Steam, with no console versions announced at this time. The game features:

• Hand-drawn pixel art graphics inspired by the Re-imagined Series aesthetic
• Real-time combat with pause functionality
• Procedurally generated events and encounters
• Full voice acting and atmospheric sound design
• Support for multiple save files and run tracking

Release Information

The game is scheduled for release in early 2026, specifically targeting the first quarter of the year. The game is currently available for wishlist on Steam, with the developers encouraging fans to add it to their wishlist for notifications about the release date and potential beta testing opportunities.

Trivia

• The game marks the second major Battlestar Galactica video game to focus on fleet management and survival, following Battlestar Galactica Deadlock.
• Alt Shift's previous game Crying Suns was directly inspired by Battlestar Galactica, making Scattered Hopes a full-circle project for the studio.
• The development team has cited the Fall of the Twelve Colonies as the primary narrative inspiration, focusing on the immediate aftermath of the Cylon attack.

External Links

• Official Steam Page
• Alt Shift Studio Website
• Dotemu Publisher Website

References