A free demo for tactical space-exploration rogue-lite Crying Suns received a substantial update a few days ago, streamlining core mechanics - at the same time, developers Alt Shift have announced that the title has found its publisher in Humble Bundle.

The update will address feedback on the original demo, streamlining the battle process by removing focus points, assigning Heroes to support different battleship functions, adjusting the functionality of critical damages, and more. None of these specifics will mean much to those who have not already played the demo, but regardless, they point to a developer who listens to fan feedback.

The game began its life as a Kickstarter project, and it is not difficult to see why donators blasted past the €25,000 goal to reach €72,395 (almost $83,000 US) - the core concepts and promises of the game are immediately enticing.

Players take control of the admiral of a space fleet, fighting their way across a dying galaxy through rogue-lite, tactical combat mechanics - it’s a hell of a pitch. Alt Shift promises a story-focused experience, with the mystery of the fall of the Galactic Empire to be solved, compelling villains to grapple with, and over 300 story events to be triggered.

Aesthetically, the game is a blend of dark, moody backgrounds and vibrant neon, also incorporating retro pixel art with the modern bells and whistles of 3D visuals and HD special effects.

In terms of gameplay, players will explore a procedurally-generated universe, partaking in several phases - including real-time battleship and squadron unit fights with a pause feature, story events incorporating choices with consequence, and planet expeditions for resources.

The initial free demo has been positively received by critics, deemed promising and a title to watch as it develops - with the major development of this substantial update now live, those paying attention have been rewarded.

An exploration of these additions to the demo will take place on Monday, February 4, at noon PST, when a Gameplay Livestream will take place on the Humble Bundle Twitch channel, Youtube channel and Steam. In the meantime, you can check out the trailer from last year when it was seeking Kickstarter funding.The full game is set for an as-yet unspecified 2019 release and will be available on Mac, PC, and iPad.

Will you be giving the Crying Suns free demo a shot? If you have, do you think the rogue-lite makes good on its promises? Let us know in the comments below.