Companion App Unlocked + Final Call for Custom Cards
about 1 month ago
– Tue, May 05, 2026 at 06:06:37 AM
Hello, Celestials
The Companion App is unlocked, for every backer
We're sitting at $470K. The companion app stretch goal was set at $500K.
After looking at where we are, where we're heading, and what we want this universe to feel like in your hands, we've made a decision: we're unlocking the Life After Everything: Astro Oceans companion app now, for every backer, regardless of tier.
You don't need to do anything to claim it. When it's ready, access goes out to all backers automatically.
A few honest notes on what it will be:
- A companion to the physical experience, not a replacement for it.
- Support for tarot draws, journaling prompts, and reference material from the deck and the rulebook.
- Built carefully and on its own timeline. We'll share more once development is further along.
We've sprinkled a few clips of the app in its current state into this update so you can peek into the kitchen. It's still very much in the oven, but the smell is good.
We didn't want the line between $470K and $500K to decide whether something this central to the experience exists. So it exists.
While we're still cooking, Drop a comment on this update with what you'd like to see in the companion app, what would make it genuinely useful at your table or in your solo practice, and any features you've wished existed in other tarot or TTRPG apps. We're reading every one.
Custom Card tier: final deadline is May 15
If you backed at one of the following tiers, this is your final call:
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Custom One-of-One Rune or Tarot Card: illustrated, and made uniquely for you.
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Your likeness, name, or symbol woven into the lore of the Astro Oceans universe as an NPC, relic, or constellation.
We need your design ideas in writing by May 15 so we can finalize artwork and send files to our printers in time.
If you haven't sent yours in yet:
Charges on May 15: upgrades and pre-orders
Card upgrades and pre-orders made through BackerKit will be charged on May 15.
If you've made changes recently or want to make changes, please review your selections in BackerKit before that date.
A few housekeeping items before May 15
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Check your shipping address. If you've moved (or are planning to move between now and ship date), please update your address in BackerKit before the 15th. November is closer than it sounds, and we'd rather not chase relocations later.
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Lost your survey email? A small number of backers still haven't completed their BackerKit survey. If you can't find your survey invite, use the survey recovery page. Enter your email and BackerKit will resend your unique link:
https://life-after-everything.backerkit.com/
If your survey isn't completed by the 15th, your pledge can't be charged or shipped with the rest of the wave.
Production status
A brief note on where things stand with manufacturing.
We're in active production with our partners across all 20+ physical SKUs: tarot deck, rune deck, rulebook, tuck boxes, cloths, and the rest. Samples are in our hands, and we're moving from sample approvals into full production runs as final files are signed off (which is part of why the May 15 deadline on custom cards matters).
We're tracking to the November shipping window.
Our next Kickstarter is on the way. Gifted Saga: Echoes of the Starfall is a deckbuilding board game where luminous factions clash across a mythic cosmos. Fast to learn, surprisingly deep, and yes there will be Life After Everything and Astro Oceans crossover goodies for those of you in both worlds. Give it a follow so you don’t miss launch day: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/giftedocean/gifted-saga-echos-of-the-starfall
Join the Gifted Ocean and follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giftedocean
Discord: https://discord.gg/FQ9VNhQPYw
Thank you
Unlocking the app early isn't a small decision for a studio our size. We're doing it because the response from this community has earned it.
- Samuel 🖤 & the Gifted Ocean Studio team
Join the Gifted Ocean and follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giftedocean
Discord: https://discord.gg/FQ9VNhQPYw
Surveys at 81%! The Voyage is happening! Books are getting even better!
3 months ago
– Wed, Mar 04, 2026 at 07:10:07 AM
Hey Celestials,
Your survey response has been incredible, we're already at 81% completion. I'd love to credit my own organizational skills being this is our very first campaign but honestly? This is just the smartest, most on-it group of backers out there. Seriously, you all rule.
If yours is still sitting in your inbox, please don’t sleep on it, we’re using these responses to lock in our final manufacturing numbers, and we can’t do that without you. If you’re having trouble finding it or something seems off, reach out and we’ll help take care of it.
Postcards from the Voyage!
Just a heads up, I'm currently traveling with my partner Laura across China and Japan photographing all 78 cards for final production, and I'll be away until the 21st of March. Polished shots are going up on Instagram, and Discord members are getting the behind-the-scenes "Celestial Voyage" series with the unfiltered moments that don't make it to the grid. If you haven't joined the Discord yet, now's a great time. https://discord.gg/FQ9VNhQPYw
I'll still get back to everyone during the trip, it just may not be the usual fast turnaround.Â
Production status
Everything remains on track for our November 2026 ship date. We're currently finalizing book layout updates with our editors, and one decision we're really excited about, we've decided to integrate the Runes of Becoming content directly into the core books rather than keeping it separate. It just makes more sense to have everything in one place, and it means the books you receive will be even more complete than what was originally planned.
New Card Back Design coming!
We're also working on a brand new card back design. The community has been awesome with feedback, and we've gotten some really great ideas from the conversations happening in Discord. More on this soon I can't wait to show you where it's heading.
Games London!
Games London runs April 13th–19th. Gifted Ocean won't have a booth, but I'll be there networking for our flagship console game. If you happen to be in London that week, come find me! Fair warning though, every time I go to one of these events I tell myself I'm just there to talk business, and every time I come back with way too many new ideas.
One more thing our next Kickstarter is on the way. Gifted Saga: Echoes of the Starfall is a deckbuilding board game where luminous factions clash across a mythic cosmos. Fast to learn, surprisingly deep, and yes there will be Life After Everything and Astro Oceans crossover goodies for those of you in both worlds. Give it a follow so you don’t miss launch day: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/giftedocean/gifted-saga-echos-of-the-starfall
More updates when I'm back on the 21st. Thank you for being here and for choosing what comes next.
- Samuel 🖤
Join the Gifted Ocean and follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giftedocean
Discord: https://discord.gg/FQ9VNhQPYw
🌊 Sailing Toward the Next Harbor: BackerKit & Split Pay Update
4 months ago
– Sat, Feb 21, 2026 at 05:06:28 PM
Hello, Celestials!
We’ve been charting our course through the administrative nebula. We wanted to pop in and let you know exactly where we are on our voyage toward bringing Life After Everything: Astro Oceans to your table.
🛠What We’ve Been Working On
Our main focus right now is bringing the core books to life. We are deep in the process of finalizing the manuscript and have simultaneously started the detailed work of finalizing the book layout.
We're spending a lot of time making sure the flow of the pages, the readability of the rules, and the placement of the art all feel right. It's a meticulous process, but seeing it all come together is incredibly exciting.
💰 A Quick Note on BackerKit & Split Pay
Just a friendly reminder that our pledge manager on BackerKit is live and running. If you haven't had a chance to log in yet to confirm your address or check out add-ons, now's the time!
For those of you who used Split Pay: once your final payment is processed, please allow a few days for that to sync up with kickstarter. After that, you'll receive your official invitation to access the pledge manager if you haven't already.
That's the update from us for now. Back to the layout sheets and manuscript pages. We'll be back soon with a sneak peek of the books!
Thank you for your patience and your faith in us. These "in-between" moments are where the real foundation is built. We can’t wait to get you into the BackerKit system so you can see everything up close.
Until the next transmission, may the stars guide your path.
Fair winds and following seas,
Samuel
Join the Gifted Ocean and follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giftedocean
Discord: https://discord.gg/FQ9VNhQPYw
Pledge Manager is Live. Lock in your pledge on BackerKit.
5 months ago
– Thu, Jan 22, 2026 at 12:18:07 AM
Hey Celestials,
The Pledge Manager is officially live on BackerKit.
What to do next
- Check your email for your BackerKit invite.
- Complete your survey to lock in your pledge.
- Confirm your items, add-ons, and shipping details.
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Add any extra add-ons you want before you checkout.
Add-ons are open
You can grab extra decks, upgrades, and accessories in the add-ons section before you finalize your order.
Late pledges are still open
If you missed the campaign, you can still pledge using the original Kickstarter tiers through kickstarter.
If you only want single items, you can also shop the BackerKit preorder store, with many items still at discounted campaign pricing.
https://life-after-everything.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
Rune deck reminder
This applies automatically, no extra step needed.
Custom Card Backers
To the 11 backers who secured a Custom Card, thank you. We are excited to co-create with you. We will begin the custom card process at the end of March into April. You will receive an email with the next steps, what we need from you, and the timeline. We cannot wait to bring your card into the LAE universe.
If you do not see the email
Check spam, promotions, and updates folders.
Search your inbox for BackerKit and Life After Everything.
Backer lost their survey email
If you cannot find your survey invite, use the survey recovery page. Enter your email address and BackerKit will resend your unique link.
https://life-after-everything.backerkit.com/
Every pledge, every add-on, every message you send keeps this world alive and moving. We are hard at work bringing the decks, books, and upgrades into reality, and you are part of the crew that makes it possible.
With gratitude,
Gifted Ocean
Successfully Funded. What Happens Next.
6 months ago
– Tue, Dec 23, 2025 at 04:26:04 AM
Hi everyone,
The campaign has officially ended, and it was a success. Thank you for backing, sharing, and cheering this project on. From all of us at Gifted Ocean, thank you for making Life After Everything: Astro Oceans real.
Now onto the next phase. We are hard at work turning everything into real, shippable rewards, with steady updates as we move through production.
What happens next
For Pledge manager and surveys we are using BackerKit.
We plan to open the pledge manager in mid January. Our current target date is January 21st, 2026.
When it opens, we will send surveys.
You will be able to:
Confirm or update your shipping address
Make any required reward selections
Add any add-ons you want
Estimated timeline
Here is the current schedule from our timeline:
Kickstarter launch: November 20th, 2025
Kickstarter ends: December 19th, 2025
Pledge manager opens: January 21st, 2026
Final file preparation: March 2026
Production begins: May 2026
Production ends: July 2026
Shipped to hubs: August 2026
Deliver to backers: November 2026
A quick note on timing
These are estimates. We will keep you updated if anything shifts, and we will clearly announce the address lock date before we ship.
Thank you again
This project exists because you showed up. We are grateful, and excited to build the next stage with you.
Gifted Ocean
