It is based in a science fiction universe wherein players could fly from an overhead view one of 13 spaceships,[1] each with their own strengths and unique weapons, in a variety of gaming zones each with a different objective.

[2] Cosmic Rift was provided as part of the Station Pass package offered by Sony Online Entertainment, which also included Infantry and Tanarus.

Its gameplay is comparable to Virgin Interactive Entertainment's Subspace, another two-dimensional space shooter written by Jeff Petersen prior to joining Sony's team.

From this point forward players were required to pay a monthly fee to gain full access to any of the Station Pass games, with limited capability permitted to non-subscribers.

[3] A map editor[4] for both Cosmic Rift and Infantry has also been worked on in the hope that they will be publicly released by the time the three Station Pass games become free.