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Getting Started

1. Install

  1. Download and run the Beyond Aphelion Launcher installer (link comes with your tester key).
  2. Enter your tester key when prompted. Keys look like NAME-ALPHA-001 and are case-insensitive.
  3. The launcher downloads the latest build automatically and keeps it up to date — every launch checks for the newest version.
  4. Press PLAY.

Windows will warn you — that's expected

The alpha builds aren't code-signed yet, so Windows treats them as unknown software. You'll likely see some of these — all safe to proceed through if you got your download link from us:

  • Edge: "…isn't commonly downloaded" → click the … on the download → Keep → Show more → Keep anyway.
  • SmartScreen: "Windows protected your PC" when running the installer → More info → Run anyway.
  • Windows 11 Smart App Control may block the game outright (error 4551). SAC has no per-app override — it must be turned off under Settings → Privacy & security → Windows Security → App & browser control. Tell us if you hit this one.

Code signing is planned; until then, these warnings are the cost of being early.

macOS / Linux (manual download)

No launcher on these platforms yet — grab the archive for your OS from the same releases page (…-macos-arm64.tar.gz / …-linux-x64.tar.gz), extract it, and read the README.txt inside:

  • macOS: one-time Gatekeeper step (right-click Play.command → Open, or xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine . in the folder), then double-click Play.command.
  • Linux: sudo apt install libasound2 libudev1 (or your distro's equivalents) + Vulkan drivers, then ./play.sh.

Manual builds don't auto-update — check the releases page when a new version is announced.

Note

The game itself will ask for your key once too (first run only). Same key, same rules. After that you're remembered on that machine.

2. Your first five minutes

You boot docked at your home station — the station UI is the main menu:

  • UNDOCK — head out and fly. F docks you again when you're near a station.
  • SHOP — buy hulls, weapons, equipment, consumables, cosmetics.
  • SHIP HANGAR — own up to 8 ships; switch, rename, sell.
  • SECTOR EDITOR — build worlds (see the editor guide).
  • SAVE / LOAD — manual saves; the game also autosaves on zone switches.

Undock, and get a feel for the flight model before picking fights: your ship drifts. Thrust adds velocity; nothing steers for you. Ten minutes of just flying — thrust, rotate, reverse-thrust to brake — pays off fast.

3. First fight

Head for the Training Grounds (galaxy map: press M) and shoot something that shoots back. Watch your energy bar: energy is both your health and your ammo. Firing drains it, taking hits drains it, hitting a wall drains it. It recharges when you stop doing all three.

4. When something breaks

You're in an alpha — something will. See Alpha Testing for the one-minute bug report flow. Screenshots and "what I did right before it broke" are gold.