There are three major political powers: The Republic, The Syndicate, and the newly seceded Free Worlds, with conflict threatening to rise between the Republic and the Free Worlds.

The game world consists of over 200 star systems, including Sol, interlinked via Hyperspace Lanes. However, shortly into your position as a starship captain, the galaxy begins to slip into war. After filling in your name and receiving your credits, you're off to the Used Future shipyard to buy your first ship and begin paying off your debt. The game begins in the year 3013, with the player entering an Ascetic Aesthetic bank on the planet of New Boston to apply for a loan. Anyone familiar with EV will instantly recognize the same look and feel. Endless Sky is a free and open source 2-D Space trading and combat game written by independent game developer Michael Zahniser as a Spiritual Successor to the Escape Velocity series.