Jagex Partners to publish This Means Warp space management game from Outlier Games

Jagex will publish the inaugural game from independent Irish/Canadian developer Outlier Games, called This Means Warp.

Due to be released on PC via Steam Early Access on March 17, the multiplayer spaceship management title encourages players to co-operate and think tactically in hectic, real-time space battles.

Players will need to guide their ship through a hostile, procedurally-generated universe.

Jagex said the game takes “inspiration from roguelikes such as FTL and party games such as the Overcooked series”, with players controlling crew members on board a ship, manning different systems, targeting weapons and conducting repairs.

It will be the third game published by Jagex Partners, the Cambridge game developer’s publishing arm, following Space Punks and Melvor Idle. Jagex will provide resources, marketing support and publishing experience during the game’s launch and commercial life cycle.

Jagex CEO Phil Mansell said: “When we were first introduced to Outlier Games, we were incredibly impressed with what they’d created in This Means Warp – it combines some of the best aspects of roguelikes with party games in a way that encourages cooperation and has endless replayability.

“What most stood out to us as a publisher was how Outlier has involved its community at every stage of development so far, putting player feedback at the centre of how the game is made, and influencing the direction its development has taken.

“As a publisher, it’s a rare pleasure to find a game that resonates with its player base, that can bring that appeal to the wider gaming audience, and that has serious long term commercial opportunity. We look forward to supporting the launch of This Means Warp later this year, and Outlier Games as a developer well into the future.”

Outlier Games was founded by Paul Froggatt and Matt Rathbun in 2018, based in Dublin, Ireland, and Toronto, Canada.

Paul, who is also technical director, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be working with Jagex Partners to bring This Means Warp to market. The scale of support that we’ve been able to draw on in the run up to our Early Access release has really impressed us, not just in terms of the specialised skill sets that the teams at Jagex bring to the table, but how much their support has allowed us to plan for the future of both This Means Warp and Outlier Games as a company.

“They’ve been nothing but responsive and professional throughout this entire process and we look forward to working closely with them moving forward.”

More information is available on the game’s Steam page and a playable demo will be available prior to launch.

Read more

Jagex launches RuneScape on mobile after 1.8 million pre-register to play it

Flying Wild Hog game will be first to launch under Jagex Partners publishing division