This DLC for Oxygen Not Included shifts colony management to an interstellar scale. You now manage multiple bases across distinct Planetoids, requiring real-time switching and resource transport between worlds. It introduces expanded, modular rocketry, a revamped Starmap, new biomes, and additional Critters. This expansion significantly enhances the core survival simulation by demanding complex, multi-world logistical planning.
The central feature introduced is the ability to manage multiple colonies simultaneously across different celestial bodies, referred to as Planetoids. Players must now juggle the complex needs of Duplicants residing on separate worlds, requiring real-time switching between bases to ensure all colonies survive and thrive. This mechanic necessitates establishing intricate supply chains, transporting vital resources between these disparate locations to support growth where local resources are scarce.
The expansion introduces significant upgrades to space travel. Players gain access to new, modular rocket designs, allowing for greater customization in constructing vessels capable of interstellar travel. This is integrated with a newly overhauled Starmap, which opens up the expanse of space for exploration. Furthermore, the research tree has been substantially expanded, offering new mid-game rocketry options that provide Duplicants with advanced capabilities for navigating the asteroid frontier.
This DLC enriches the existing universe with a wealth of new elements designed to challenge established survival strategies.
Explorers will encounter a variety of new biomes scattered across the various Planetoids, each presenting unique environmental challenges and resource opportunities. Discovering and mining these new resources is crucial for advancing the expanded technology tree.
The universe is populated with new Critters. These fuzzy friends can potentially be integrated into colony operations, offering new avenues for resource generation or assistance around the base, provided the Duplicants manage their interactions appropriately.
This content is not a standalone experience; it functions as a major expansion that builds directly upon the foundation of the original colony simulator. It leverages existing mechanics—such as life support, resource refinement, and Duplicant management—but scales the complexity by demanding oversight across several independent, yet interconnected, bases. The scope is substantial, offering a complete overhaul of the late-game progression by shifting focus toward interplanetary logistics.
The primary unique selling point of this expansion is the shift from single-base survival to interstellar empire building. Success hinges not just on optimizing one habitat, but on mastering the logistics of interplanetary trade and resource balancing across multiple, geographically separated colonies.
This content is available on Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), and Mac platforms.