“How do you show in a tooltip that everything is different?” New Stellaris DLC Biogenesis is almost upon us, and it’s shaping up to completely change how you approach the iconic 4X space game. In the latest developer blog, Paradox content designer Victor ‘Iggy’ Haeggman explains the intricacies of the ancient empire at the expansion’s core, a splintered Hive Mind that is fragmented and spread across the stars. With it comes a new way to play, one that Haeggman describes as “without a doubt the most transformative origin we have ever added to the game.”
The fallen Hive Mind is the first new ancient civilization introduced to the galaxy of Stellaris since 2017’s Synthetic Dawn. Once a united entity, its existence in the 4X game is divided into three primary fragments (or personalities): growth, war, and control. Despite their differences, the three are still considered part of a shared faction, so expect any hostilities against one to upset the others. But take charge of one, and much like the old families of the Roman Empire you can push for your consciousness to lead the pack.
At the start of a playthrough, the trio spawn surrounding a central system known as Last Thought, yet each of them refuses to claim it. Like other fallen empires, they’ll watch from the shadows as the universe moves around them until something sparks their curiosity or forces their hand. Perhaps they’ll decide your expansions are ruining the vibes of space, or maybe they’ll request a member of your population as a “living sample” after determining desirable traits that their genetic repository lacks.
Things get most interesting, Haeggman reveals, with Wilderness. One of the three new starting loadouts and available exclusively to the Hive Mind, the Wilderness origin is essentially an entirely unique way to play Stellaris. Exploring the galaxy as a living, sapient planet looking to spread its consciousness across the stars, this entity doesn’t share a single base building or district with traditional empires, and has only minor overlap among its civics.
Becoming the Wilderness mandates that you use the Hive Mind’s new biological ships, replacing the colony ship process with the ability to terraform worlds with Biomass and awaken a fresh creation built in your image. Biomass is a unique resource that you build by growing new populations, and spend to develop your planets and colonize new ones.
“There is so much more we could show you about the Wilderness,” Haeggman teases, “the tradition swaps, the altered technologies, the many unique buildings; but at this point I would like you to find them out on your own.”
The Stellaris Biogenesis DLC launches Monday May 5 alongside the game’s free 4.0 update. You can buy it for $24.99 / £21.99 or as part of the Season 9 expansion pass, which is priced at $44.99 / £37.99. Head here to take a look at everything that’s included.
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