The world of Astroneer, the popular indie space exploration game, just got bigger.
Developers from System Era Softworks revealed the first-ever paid expansion pack for Astroneer. Called 'Glitchwalkers', it will launch later this year.
"Over 7 years and 20 updates after its early access release, Astroneer is growing once again!" System Era announced.
Players on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One can buy the expansion pack. Glitchwalkers promises to take players on a thrilling new adventure across a vast, uncharted world.
The game's signature survival sandbox gameplay remains the core of Glitchwalkers. But with a significant twist: a whole new planet to explore. Aeoluz, the largest world ever encountered in Astroneer, boasts diverse biomes, both above and below the surface.
The latest content update isn't just about exploring a new frontier, according to devs. It also introduces the game's first true antagonist – Lyn.
A rogue member of the ESS Elysium crew, Lyn has taken to manipulating the Astroneer Training Program's (ATP) code. Players must join forces with Frank, the Elysium's Head of Maintenance, to stop Lyn from dismantling the ATP.
The journey to Aeoluz promises to be a test of both resourcefulness and technical prowess. Players will also encounter a new tech tree and modules. They'll need these advancements not only to navigate Aeoluz's unique environment. But also counter-hack Lyn's manipulations, and ultimately restore the ATP to its proper function.
Alongside the paid Glitchwalkers expansion, System Era Softworks will also release a free companion update for the base game.
This update will introduce new gameplay features. Devs will also roll out quality-of-life improvements, and bug fixes.
Since its launch in 2019, Astroneer has garnered over 11 million players. It recently celebrated its fifth anniversary of spacefaring exploration. On whatoplay, it received a playscore of 8.1 for PC, and 7.9 for Xbox.