Classy Games is expanding its survival title Orbital to PC following strong performance on mobile, where the game surpassed 200,000 organic downloads and generated more than 180,000 hours of player engagement since launching in 2022. The studio says early metrics from the Android release demonstrated demand for a broader platform audience, leading to a full rebuild of the game for PC rather than a direct port.
Originally designed around short, repeatable sessions, Orbital encourages players to jump into quick survival runs while competing against global leaderboards. The structure helped support retention on mobile and provided the data Classy Games needed to justify expanding the project beyond smartphones.
How Orbital’s Gameplay Translates to PC
Orbital is built around an infinite survival challenge where players pilot entire planets in an effort to delay humanity’s extinction. The central objective is to outrun a supermassive black hole for as long as possible, with scores determined by survival time and competitive ranking.
On mobile, the game focused on fast restarts and short play sessions, making it easy for players to compete with friends and return frequently. For PC, Classy Games is restructuring the experience to better fit longer sessions and higher performance expectations while keeping the competitive core intact.
The studio confirmed that the PC version is not a simple conversion of the mobile build. Instead, the team rebuilt Orbital to take advantage of PC hardware and input, aiming to expand systems and improve presentation without changing the fundamental loop that defined the mobile release.
Testing, Release Window, and Steam Plans
A public playtest for the PC version of Orbital has already taken place, giving players early access to the rebuilt experience. Based on that feedback, Classy Games is targeting a Q2 2026 launch window for PC, with Steam confirmed as the primary platform.
To maintain interest ahead of release, the studio plans to run monthly in-game competitive events with prizes. These events are intended to support community engagement while also serving as ongoing tests for balance and progression systems.
By spacing out competitions during development, Classy Games is aiming to refine the PC version with real player data rather than relying solely on internal testing.
From Mobile Metrics to Platform Expansion
The decision to expand Orbital to PC came directly from the performance of the mobile version. Since its debut in 2022, the game has accumulated more than 180,000 hours of combined playtime alongside its 200,000-plus downloads. According to the studio, those figures showed that players were not only installing the game but returning consistently.
Classy Games designed the original release to be easy to access, competitive, and repeatable. Players could start a run quickly, compete on survival time, and aim for higher leaderboard placement. That loop helped validate the concept and gave the team confidence to grow the project into a more fully featured PC release.
CEO and founder Jamie McClenaghan said the mobile response helped confirm that players wanted something they could jump into quickly, compete with friends, and revisit often, which guided the decision to expand the experience for PC.
Funding and Studio Development
The PC expansion also follows Classy Games’ participation in Exel by Merak’s first accelerator cohort. The program, backed by an $80 million fund, selected the studio as a graduate and provided $300,000 in funding to support development.
That investment is being used to strengthen production and support the transition of Orbital from a mobile-first project into a broader PC release. For Classy Games, the funding helps stabilize development while preparing the studio for larger-scale releases and live competitive features in the future.
What Comes Next for Orbital
With a Steam launch targeted for Q2 2026, Classy Games is positioning Orbital as a competitive survival game built for PC while carrying forward the design principles that worked on mobile. The choice to rebuild rather than port suggests a long-term approach rather than a quick platform expansion.
Between public testing, monthly competitions, and ongoing tuning, the studio plans to refine the experience with player feedback as development continues. For Orbital, the move to PC represents the next phase of a project that started small on mobile and is now aiming for a larger competitive audience.
Source: PocketGamer
Make sure to check out our articles about top games to play in 2026:
Best Nintendo Switch Games for 2026
Best First-Person Shooters for 2026
Best PlayStation Indie Games for 2026
Best Multiplayer Games for 2026
Most Anticipated Games of 2026
Top Game Releases for January 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Orbital?
Orbital is an infinite survival challenge game where players pilot planets to outrun a supermassive black hole and delay humanity’s extinction while competing for leaderboard rankings.
When is Orbital releasing on PC?
Classy Games is targeting a Q2 2026 release window for the PC version of Orbital.
Which platform will Orbital launch on for PC?
The PC version of Orbital is planned to release on Steam.
Is the PC version a direct port of mobile Orbital?
No. Classy Games rebuilt Orbital entirely for PC rather than creating a simple mobile port, allowing for expanded systems and platform-specific improvements.
How successful was Orbital on mobile?
Since launching in 2022, Orbital surpassed 200,000 organic downloads and recorded more than 180,000 hours of combined playtime on Android.
Will there be events before launch?
Yes. Classy Games plans to run monthly competitive in-game events with prizes leading up to the PC release.
Who is developing Orbital?
Orbital is developed by Classy Games, which recently secured $300,000 in funding after graduating from Exel by Merak’s accelerator program.
