Vowing to release the long-awaited patch on May 9, this whole force-giving day isn't the time for heavy space-based shenanigans. Instead, the Stellaris dev team have decided to focus on a second set of information pertaining to incoming 1.6 'Adams' update. This time focusing on the collective hive mind of the Devouring Swarm civic.
Coming in the next large-scale update is a new civic focused on only one thing - absorbing all life in the galaxy. Hardly a noble goal, but it's a level of ambition we can only hope to achieve in our lifetime. That kind of resolve could be used on world peace, for one thing.
Having no use for those outside their own race, the Devouring Swarm of the Stellaris: Utopia diplomacy is relatively out of the question for the monstrosities. Wars and insults are all fair methods of contact, however. Similar to the Fanatic Purifiers, the Devouring Swarm won't gain additional tradition cost when it comes to Alien 'Pops - but they will recieve a society boost for those they devour. Because of this, Army Damage, Society Research and Ship Hull Points gain a significant boost with smaller bonuses being applied to a constant ship hull regeneration passive.
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But there's still more to see and more to do! Coming alongside the previously mentioned tweaks and additions of the 1.6 Adams update, extra improvements are being put in place for Terraforming. 'Ecological Adaptation' becomes a viable research alternative following on from picking up the Atmospheric Manipulation path. Meaning you'll soon have a way to cripple your people's happiness while you hallow out their land.
All this - and more - will become available for free on May 9. Obviously, those with the Utopia add-on will gain a few features void of the basic Stellaris build, but some will be available for those on either side of the paywall.
