PAX AUS Indie Showcase 2024 - Untethered
The PAX AUS Indie Showcase is a chance to see some of the best new and upcoming titles from the ANZ digital and tabletop development scene, with past winners including such celebrated games as Unpacking, Copycat, Yum Cha, Kingless and many more. The 2024 Indie Showcase is shaping up to be another highlight of the event and Player2 encourages visitors to PAX AUS to make their way to the PAX Rising area and check out the following title, as well as the many other excellent indies on display.
Untethered comes from solo developer Luna Veratti, an engineering student with a passion for film, music, drama, sound and game design. Having started development on Untethered at just 17, this exciting project is set to hit Early Access on Steam in the near future. We spoke to Luna about what inspired Untethered and their excitement over winning a place in this years PAX AUS Indie Showcase.
Player2: When did your journey into game development begin and what have been some of the major milestones along the way?
Luna Verrati: It’s hard to say exactly when I got into game dev… I’ve been programming for about 10 years, and maybe 6 years ago I decided to explore the world of game dev. So very slowly, after many unfinished and bad projects, I’ve built up my skills to embark on my first commercial project!
P2: What inspired you to begin work on Untethered? Both the setting and survival mechanics seem very well intermeshed, was this apparent from the outset?
LV: I love space! I love learning about the engineering of it all, as well as the survival stories. Films like Apollo 13, The Martian, and Gravity have all be inspiration for the concept. So it has been a space survival game from the beginning, although of course the exact mechanics and style have evolved massively over the development process.

P2: How would you say Untethered separates itself from other contemporary survival games – what do you feel is unique about the approach you’re taking?
LV: I think the big difference between Untethered and other space survival games is the realism in style and mechanics. That’s not to say that Untethered is super hard sci-fi – I still want to make it accessible to the general survival gaming community – but I find a lot of space games tend to steer away from zero gravity movement and NASA-style art, which personally I find introduces some interesting design possibilities and a more immersive environment.
P2: As a solo developer, what aspects of design and development do you find the most challenging and the most rewarding?
LV: There are so many aspects of game dev that I love – it’s hard to choose! I think the most rewarding is definitely the art side of things. Creating new models, sounds, and music tracks, and getting to experience them in the little world I’ve created is incredibly satisfying. On the flip side, I’d probably say marketing is the most challenging at times. I’d much prefer to be making things than trying to sell copies, but it’s a necessary evil if I want to justify the amount of time I’ve spent on this thing!

P2: How did you feel finding out you had been selected as an Indie Showcase winner for PAX Aus 2024?
LV: It was amazing! I wasn’t really expecting it, but I am very grateful for the opportunity. It’s a rare opportunity to meet people in the gaming and development community in person, and I’m so excited!
P2: Are there any plans for more sinister encounters in Untethered? Obviously the genre is littered with examples of alien contact not working out particularly well for hapless astronauts and engineers, is this something you’re interested in Untethered exploring at some point?
LV: Not really! Combat isn’t something I’m that interested in. I’d much prefer to focus on the design, engineering, and operation of space stations as you travel alone through the completely empty abyss.

P2: What can attendees look forward to at the Untethered booth – you’ve already mentioned a new demo just for the event?
LV: I will indeed have a special demo, made specifically for PAX! I’ll be there with some friends and I can’t wait to chat with guests!
PAX AUS Attendees can find the Untethered booth in the PAX AUS Indie Showcase section of PAX AUS from October 10-13. The game can be Wishlisted on Steam right now!