I ThalassaInvestor Deck & Game Design Document

Sci-fi underwater exploration meets mechanical wildlife in a premium discovery-driven experience

€150-250kFunding Ask
Q1 2026Kickstarter
12-18moTimeline

Executive Summary

I Thalassa is a first‑person sci‑fi underwater exploration game with mechanical wildlife, modular base building, and procedural worlds. Built in Unity HDRP with a VFX/Technical Artist background, the project emphasizes visual fidelity, performant pipelines, and transparent development.

ProductPremium exploration-survival experience with discovery-driven loop
StatusActive development with regular devlogs and Discord community
TeamSolo developer with shipped experience on ERA ONE (VFX/TA)
LaunchKickstarter Q1 2026 + Steam (EA/1.0) with public demo/Next Fest
BusinessPremium pricing (€19.99–€24.99), KS tiers, optional DLC/OST
Ask€150–250k for 12–18 months (art/audio/QA/marketing/buffer)

Product & Differentiation

Core Experience

Deep ocean exploration, environmental storytelling, advanced submarine systems, modular base building

Pillars

Discovery-first loop, technological progression, risk/reward, distinct biomes

Visual Identity

Techno-biological aesthetic with superior feedback thanks to strong VFX expertise

Tech

HDRP pipeline tuned for performance and fidelity

Transparency

Public devlogs, Discord updates, private task manager

Market & Target

Audience

PC players into survival/exploration crafting (Subnautica-likes), 18–40

Market

Resilient, long-tail on Steam; discovery aided by Next Fest and creators

Competitors

Subnautica, Below the Waves, Aquatico, No Man's Sky

Positioning

"Deep sci‑fi ocean exploration with mechanical wildlife and modular bases"

Traction & Proof Points

Regular devlogs and active Discord community
Professional process: private task manager, daily check-ins
Background on ERA ONE (VFX/TA) with strong commercial performance
Early supporter program and growing email list for Kickstarter

Roadmap

2025 Q4

Vertical slice + feature-complete demo for Next Fest

2026 Q1

Kickstarter launch; validate pricing and community growth

2026 Q2–Q3

Content production, polishing, audio, QA; closed playtests

2026 Q4

Steam EA or 1.0, based on KS and demo metrics

Post‑launch

Regular patches and seasonal lightweight content/DLC

Go‑to‑Market

Pre‑launch wishlist campaign, demo, Next Fest presence
90–120s trailer, clear KS tiers, AMA, stretch goals
Creator kit, PR to PC outlets, Steam visibility rounds

Business Model

Steam: €19.99–€24.99
KS tiers: €15–€120
Upside: OST, artbook, DLC

Budget & Use of Funds (€200k / 12–18 months)

Art/Animation€60k–€80k
Audio/SFX/OST€20k–€30k
QA & Playtests€15k–€25k
Marketing/PR/Trailer€35k–€50k
Ops/Tools/Services€10k–€15k
Contingency (15–20%)€30k–€40k

Projections (orders of magnitude)

Price: €22.99, Steam take‑rate ~70%
Prudent15k copies~€241k net
Base Case50k copies~€805k net
Ambitious120k copies~€1.93M net
Key Drivers: Wishlists (80–120k target), demo CTR, Next Fest conversion (2–5%), community retention

Risks & Mitigations

Scope creepmilestone gating, predefined cut‑list
Discovery noisedemo/Next Fest, influencers, early PR
Tech performanceoptimization budget, build automation
Solo founderreliable contractors, advisors

Key Performance Indicators

Wishlists total & conversion
Demo→wishlist rate
Discord/email retention
Demo DAU & trailer CTR
KS conversion & reviews

Team & Advisors

Solo developer (VFX/Technical Artist) with experience on ERA ONE. Seeking part‑time advisors for QA and marketing; network of reliable contractors for art/audio.

Investment Options

SAFE

€200k with discount/valuation cap

Equity

Minority (10–20%) via SPV/Studio

Revenue Share

1.8–2.2x payback, then 5–10% fixed term

Elevator Pitch

I Thalassa is a sci‑fi underwater exploration game with mechanical wildlife and modular base building, developed with a performant HDRP/VFX pipeline.
Problem/Opportunity: Consistent demand for premium exploration/survival; few distinctive underwater experiences
Solution: Clear design pillars; discovery‑centric loop; strong technical/visual differentiation
Traction: Public devlogs, Discord, task manager; ERA ONE experience
Market: PC survival/exploration with long‑tail; Next Fest/Kickstarter window
Go‑to‑Market: Demo/Next Fest, creator kit, targeted PR, KS
Budget & KPIs: Fund use, quarterly milestones, wishlists/CTR/retention
Ask: €150–250k via SAFE or revenue share

Let's Discuss the Opportunity

Interested in supporting I Thalassa? Let's connect to discuss investment terms, milestones, and partnership opportunities.