C-Beams is a new space action-RPG from Hooded Horse inspired by Escape Velocity

Hooded Horse and developer Distant Light Games have announced C-Beams, a space action-RPG that takes its name from the famous "tears in rain" monologue in Blade Runner — and draws heavy inspiration from Ambrosia Software's classic 1996 Mac space sim Escape Velocity.

The game is described by the author as a "modern version" of Escape Velocity, one of the most fondly remembered open-world space sims of the late 1990s. Escape Velocity put players in the cockpit of a customisable spacecraft in a freeform galaxy, mixing trading, combat, and faction storylines in a way that influenced a generation of indie space games. C-Beams appears to be chasing that same freeform energy under the Hooded Horse label — a publisher that has built a strong reputation for backing ambitious, systems-heavy PC games like Terra Invicta and Menace.

No release date or platform details have been confirmed yet, but a trailer is available. Hooded Horse's track record with niche but deeply replayable strategy and RPG titles makes C-Beams one to watch for fans of open-world space games.