About us
Welcome to the grand headquarters of Retro Inc.—population: one.
Who is behind “Retro Inc.”
My name is Simone Lombardo and I’ve spent years in the glamorous world of games and movies, most recently clocking in seven years at Epic Games as a Senior Game Designer, worked on projects like Lyra, Mission AR, Valley of the Ancient, Fortnite Live Events, and finally Lego Fortnite. Then, in a twist that shocked absolutely no one, I ditched the corporate scene to finally develop the game I wanted to make. It’s a one-person operation now.
What is Retro Inc.
Survival Semi-Open World, adventure crafting game—that’s a mouthful.
Retro Inc. is a PC solo adventure game (with co-op potentially later on) that puts you in the role of a “volunteer worker” dispatched to a mysterious planet.
Your mission? Scan, conquer, and extract resources and treasures from the alien planet. Then move to the next one!
Armed with minimal, questionable gear, you’re not exactly set up for success—but that’s the Retro Inc. way!
Explore a vast world filled with handcrafted POI across various biomes, from lush forests to arid deserts. Engage in gunplay with weapons that can be upgraded and customized.
Keep an eye out for timed vaults—if you can reach the lower levels, you’ll find even better rewards, but be careful: if the timer runs out, you won’t make it out alive!
However, you’re not alone. The “Retro” bots—four quirky, mood-swinging AI companions—are stuck with you, each with a distinct personality and, unfortunately for you, no desire to help. They’ll react to what you do, sometimes providing “assistance,” but more often, they’ll just add to the chaos.
The key to survival? The “Groundbreaker”—your vehicle that doubles as a mobile base. Deploy, build and customize your base directly from it, and adapt to the many challenges thrown your way.
Light hearted at its core, Retro Inc. is a blend of exploration, action, and fun!
FAQ
Curious? Here’s What You Need to Know.
* When will the game be ready?
Ah, the million-dollar question! While I’d love to throw out a date like a magic number, I prefer to take my time to make this game the best it can be. So, brace yourself—the current guess is that it might be ready by the end of 2025. Free Alpha testing will be reserved for our bravest volunteers around March 2025. The game is playable, but it’s still a work in progress and missing a lot of content. Additionally, I am right in a middle of a move from one country to another. So until I am set up in that new country, I will be working on my laptop. I really do not want to rush anything.
* Will there be a Kickstarter?
Right now, the answer is no. Instead, the goal is an Early Access type approach on Steam — but only when the game is in a state that’s worthy of your time (and sanity). I want to make sure there’s enough content to keep you entertained, get enough feedbacks, and build on that.
* Will you be streaming the development online?
Yep! Starting early next year, I’ll be live-streaming the development process. Come join the chaos and watch me grapple with code, question my life choices, and maybe even pick up a tip or two about game dev—if that’s your thing!
We’ll also chat about video games, movies, and books, and I’d love for you to be a part of the development process. Your input could help shape the game!
* What about monetization?
We’re keeping it simple: a fixed price with no microtransactions in sight—unless you count our exclusive $1 million DLC that guarantees to make the game completely unplayable (no joke)! But hey, if that’s your jam, who are we to judge?
* What about co-op?
The game is designed with co-op in mind, meaning I’m making sure the technical framework supports it without needing a complete overhaul later. However, focusing on co-op now would significantly slow down the development process, and it’s too early for me to fully commit to that route.
* So, what are those quirky ball robots?
The Retros are your charming companions on this journey, created by Retro Inc. These budget-friendly prototypes each have their own unique personalities and react to your actions and the ever-changing world around you. While they’re cheaply made, have limited battery life, and can be a bit moody, you can upgrade them! Each Retro comes equipped with two special weapons and can manifest an infinite variety of tools and weapons from the trapdoor on top of their bodies. Who knows what surprises might come out of there?
BLOG
Here, you’ll find updates, development insights, and behind-the-scenes looks at the wild journey of creating Retro Inc.
First Post and More info about the game!
Alright, here we go—first blog post! I wanted to kick things[…]