Spec Ops: The Line developer Yager Developments is working with independent publisher Grey Box on an “aerial armada action game” for PC called Dreadnought.

According to Yager, Dreadnought takes place during in a futuristic era of war and refuge, where players take on the role of a mercenary spaceship captain who owes allegiance to no nation, instead fighting for glory amidst a galaxy of chaos.

“Dreadnought harkens back to the PC space combat game we developed when we first started out,” said Yager art director and co-founder Mathias Wiese.

“In the years since, we’ve been developing and testing some incredible ideas that now perfectly come together in Dreadnought. Grey Box has been an amazing partner and we’re incredibly thankful they share our vision for what Dreadnought will become.”

Battleships in Dreadnought are massive spacecraft that come in varied shapes and classes. Players will assume complete control, dedicating power to specific sub-systems, customising weapons, engines, armour, abilities, crew, and their ships’ aesthetics, all while collaborating with the development teams to help determine what comes next.

“We all have that dream of sitting in the Captain’s chair,” said Grey Box creative director Tony Medrano.

“It’s an awesome feeling to control something so huge and powerful, and that feeling is present in Dreadnought.

“Our goal is to nurture that feeling at all costs by working with players to fulfil the creation of their dream armada. With the game announced, that feedback starts now. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Dreadnought is powered by Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 4, and is set to enter public testing in early 2015.

Yager Developments is also working on Deep Silver-published Dead Island 2.