OREANDA-NEWS. Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV, "Frontier", the Group"), a leading developer of video games, has released as planned the first Alpha build for Planet Coaster, its second major self-published franchise, ahead of its full release in calendar Q4 2016. 

Planet Coaster builds on Frontier's extensive expertise with coaster park simulation games - one of its previous games in the genre, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, is still selling today over a decade after its release.  Over this time, 10 million units were shipped. 

Frontier will be releasing a number of Planet Coaster development builds during 2016.  This will allow early adopter players to provide detailed feedback on different features of the game as well as stimulating further awareness of the franchise. The company believes that a similar process was a key aspect of its successful Elite Dangerous development. 

Commenting on this David Braben, CEO said 

"I'm delighted to announce our first Planet Coaster Alpha build was released today. The early development diary videos we have released to date have had excellent feedback, and this first Alpha release is an important step in continuing the positive trajectory towards the planned Q4 2016 full launch of Planet Coaster, which will complete Frontier's transition to self-publishing all its own development."

About Frontier Developments plc 

Frontier Developments plc, quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM: FDEV), is a leading independent game developer founded in 1994 by David Braben, co-author of the seminal 'Elite' game. Based in Cambridge, Frontier uses its proprietary 'COBRA' game development technology to create innovative games across videogame consoles, computers, smartphones and tablets.