Goodbye Volcano High Developer KO_OP Shadow Drops New Narrative Sim Young Suns in Early Access on Xbox
KO_OP, the creative studio known for the 2023 narrative adventure Goodbye Volcano High, has officially revealed and released its newest project Young Suns. The announcement arrived without prior warning, with the game immediately launching through Xbox Game Pass as a Game Preview early access title. The studio has confirmed that Young Suns will expand to additional platforms later, with Steam being the only other platform currently identified for future release.
Young Suns continues KO_OP’s commitment to story driven experiences, but this time with a broader design. The new title is a one to four player narrative simulation set in deep space. Players take on the role of Sundog, one of the final remaining independent ship owners after a major uprising that pushed back a predatory corporate force. With the people of Jupiter newly liberated, it falls to the player to help build the improved society they fought so hard to achieve.
The game promises thirty fully realized characters, each with personal challenges, aspirations and needs that players will uncover through exploration and interaction. KO_OP has also released the official announcement trailer which can be viewed through this Young Suns trailer.
According to the project roadmap published on the Young Suns official website, KO_OP plans a steady stream of feature updates throughout the early access period. Short term development priorities include character and friendship tracking systems, a redesigned workbench interface, and a range of new cosmetic customization options such as clothing and furniture. Stability improvements, bug fixes and balance adjustments are also part of the ongoing updates.
Further down the roadmap, KO_OP indicates that new platform releases including Steam are planned once the early access version reaches major development milestones. The studio has not yet confirmed any plans for PlayStation or Nintendo platforms.
In addition to the initial update wave, KO_OP is preparing a second round of post launch features that introduce wildlife on explorable planets, in world mini games, additional story quests and a full photo mode. These expansions aim to broaden player choice, deepen character interaction and enhance the overall worldbuilding of Young Suns as it evolves throughout early access.
Young Suns represents a notable step forward for KO_OP, combining narrative depth with interactive simulation systems and cooperative play in a richly imagined future setting. With an active development roadmap and early access availability on Xbox, the title is positioned for continuous growth as community feedback shapes its next stages.
What do you think about KO_OP releasing Young Suns as a surprise early access launch and expanding into a narrative simulation experience
