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Transistor FAQ

By Supergiant Games June 11th, 2013

Last Updated Nov. 1, 2018: We've compiled a list of frequently asked questions about Transistor in case there's something you're wondering about the game. If you have additional questions you'd like answered, send us a note!

Can I make and monetize Let's Play videos of Transistor? Short answer is yes, by all means. For more details please read our policy on Let's Play videos.

What is Transistor? Transistor is a sci-fi themed action RPG that invites players to wield an extraordinary weapon of unknown origin as they fight through a stunning futuristic city. The game seamlessly integrates thoughtful strategic planning into a fast-paced action experience, melding responsive gameplay and rich atmospheric storytelling. During the course of the adventure, players will piece together the Transistor's mysteries as they pursue its former owners. Have a look at the reveal trailer to get a feel for the game.

Launch Trailer

Reveal Trailer

Is Transistor avaialble? Yes! Transistor first launched on May 20, 2014 for the PlayStation 4 and PC.

What are Transistor's launch platforms and where can I get it? PlayStation 4 and PC.
- TRANSISTOR on PSN
- TRANSISTOR on Steam

What other platforms is Transistor available on? Transistor is also available for Nintendo Switch, Mac, Linux, iPhone, and iPad. The Steam version of the game gives you access to the Windows, Mac, and Linux versions, or you can get the Mac version at the Mac App Store. The iPhone and iPad version is available on the App Store. Transistor is also available for the new Apple TV!

Is the game's soundtrack available? Yes! The Transistor Original Soundtrack was released on our May 20 launch day for $9.99 for the digital version, and $11.99 for digital + compact disc. It's available on Steam stand-alone and bundled with the game, and on this web site. A deluxe Vinyl Edition is also available! The Transistor Original Soundtrack features more than 60 minutes of music created for the game by Supergiant's Darren Korb, with vocals by Ashley Barrett.

The OST includes an exclusive bonus track, "Signals", created especially for this release.

Also, as a small token of our gratitude for Transistor's success, we're pleased to present Steam, our online store, YouTube, and right here:

This bonus album by our composer and audio director Darren Korb contains more than 80 minutes of alternate music tracks, featuring the amazing vocals of Ashley Barrett and instrumental versions of some key pieces from the soundtrack. We're releasing it as a free update to everyone who picked up the Transistor OST on Steam or our web site, and it's also available for free streaming. We hope you enjoy it!

Will Transistor be available in my country? Transistor is available worldwide. The game includes English voiceover and text in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Japanese.

Who is the developer of Transistor? We're Supergiant Games, an independent development studio based in San Francisco, California. Our first game Bastion released in 2011 and proceeded to earn more than 100 industry accolades and sell more than two million copies across all platforms. You can learn more about us on our team page.

Who is the publisher of Transistor? We are publishing Transistor ourselves. We had a great experience working with Warner Bros. as our distribution partner on Bastion though this time around we wanted to see if we could do it on our own.

Where can I get screenshots and media of Transistor? You can find all the screenshots and artwork we've released on our Transistor page.

Which formats will the Transistor Original Soundtrack be available in? The Transistor Original Soundtrack will be offered in MP3 and FLAC formats, and in compact disc format on this web site (which includes the digital version).

Can I order the game and the soundtrack from this web site? Yes!

Where did you get funding for Transistor? As with Bastion, we self-funded Transistor, and have not sought or accepted funding from any outside sources. This means we can make the game we want to make on our own terms and timeline. We've re-invested the money we made from Bastion into this game.

Will Transistor ever come to other platforms? We don't know, though we haven't ruled anything out for the future. Bringing Transistor to new platforms is a significant undertaking for our small team so we don't take on those kinds of opportunities lightly, as the quality of our game is the most important thing to us.

How big is the development team? All seven members of the team that created Bastion are working together again on Transistor, with the help of several key new additions. We got up to 12 people while making the original versions of Transistor, and are looking to stay at around that size, as the small-team dynamic is important to how we operate.

When did Transistor first go into development? While some of the ideas on the project date back to around the time Bastion was wrapping development, we first started seriously talking about and prototyping concepts for Transistor in the fall of 2011 some months after Bastion shipped. We kept busy supporting Bastion and working on additional versions of the game for the following year so full-time work on Transistor didn't start until around September of 2012.

What engine is the game running on? Transistor is running on our proprietary 2D engine, an evolution of the tools and technology we created to make Bastion. The engine was originally written in C# using the XNA framework for the first versions of Bastion. Now it uses our fork of MonoGame, which allows us to support more platforms and continue making improvements. Since Bastion, we have implemented a large number of improvements and optimizations to our code base, from a much more powerful scripting language to a new lighting system and more.

How long is the game? Our goal, much like with Bastion, is to create a complete-feeling experience that leaves players satisfied. Thus we want the length to feel "just right". We are committed to making games that respect your time and are not filled with meaningless filler content.

Does the game have multiplayer or co-op? Transistor is first and foremost a single-player experience. Our narrative goals for the project are best suited to a game you play on your own. At the same time, we wanted to explore some online features we felt could enhance the experience of the game and its atmosphere.