Co-op space game Jump Space sets a date, so get your Helldivers 2 crew together

To call new space FPS Jump Space highly anticipated would be selling it short. Formerly known as Jump Ship, Keepsake Games' planet-hopping shooter boasts more than a million Steam wishlists following its hugely popular Next Fest demo. With seamless transition between on-foot action and interstellar cruising reminiscent of No Man's Sky, it promises to deliver a frantic co-op experience that's ideal for your Helldivers 2 or Deep Rock Galactic crew. Now, the Jump Space release date has been confirmed, and there's less than a month to wait.

Keepsake opted for the slight name change to Jump Space in the wake of its tremendous success during Steam Next Fest, explaining that the new moniker better represents "our scope and ambition for what is possible for the future of the game." While it certainly feels built to play with friends (and might well be one of the best co-op games of the year), you're still able to enjoy it solo. If you're traveling alone, you'll be joined by your Buddy Bot, who can act as your wingman through the many adventures permeating the space game.

The mission loop involves kicking into campaigns from a galaxy map that feels reminiscent of Helldivers, with a branching path of potential goals to complete on your road to the ultimate objective. This structure allows players in your group to jump in and out of adventures on the fly. Drop onto a planet, watch each other's backs as you blast your way through vicious enemy hordes, and search out the most valuable weapons, components, and gear before making your way back to the ship to extract.

Instead of simply loading back to space, however, your crew actually flies the ship off the planet and across the stars to your next destination. Along the way you'll deal with galactic battles, some of which will jam your jump engines, so upgrading your armaments and defenses is crucial. Sometimes, a space walk will be in order, whether it's to make repairs or investigate a broken-down wreckage for valuable loot.

Once the mission is complete, you can head back to your hangar and put all that hard-earned loot and currency into action. Upgrade your gear and components, trick out your suit and craft's fashion, and chill out in the bar Deep Rock Galactic style. Then head back out to take the fight to the machine virus once more.

"We are still so thrilled that so many of you joined for our Next Fest demo," Keepsake writes. "Since then, we've been hard at work adding as many additional features and further polish to the early access launch as possible. You can expect improvements to moment-to-moment gameplay, persistent progression, new enemies, new weapons, a new player ship, public server browser, and text chat, just to name a few."

Jump Space launches Friday September 19 in early access via Steam. You can wishlist it now to be notified when it launches, and be sure to let your friends know as well.

For more high-octane action, take a look through the best FPS games in 2025. If you're planning to Jump Space with a crew, you might want to upgrade to the best gaming headset for PC to ensure your communication is always crystal clear.

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