The headline feature is undoubtedly the new swimming mechanic. For years, water was simply an obstacle or a resource to be pumped; now, Duplicants can actually move through it, though you might want to keep a doctor nearby since CPR is being added as a necessary safety measure. To support this underwater lifestyle, Klei is introducing a vulcanizer to process palm wood latex into rubber. This new material is essential for crafting submersible gaskets, insulated wires, and specialized boots that will likely become staples of your mid-game infrastructure.
The ecosystem is expanding too. You'll be able to harvest pearls from clams or milk the new Seaquines for Caviar, adding more layers to your food and luxury resource chains. There is even word of a new survivor Duplicant roaming the asteroid who can be recruited into your colony, providing a narrative hook for those daring enough to explore the new aquatic biomes.
This launch coincides with Klei Fest, making June 11th a massive day for the studio's entire catalog. For ONI players, the combination of rubber-based crafting and fluid navigation means our base designs are about to get a lot more vertical and much more damp. Whether you are looking to optimize pearl farms or just trying to keep your dupes from drowning, the Aquatic Planet Pack looks to add the kind of mechanical depth we've been craving.
Soren