Paradox Interactive today unveiled Stellaris: First Contact as the sci-fi grand strategy game’s next story pack. One of the DLC’s goals is that of expanding the range of available interactions when encountering pre-FTL civilizations.
Stellaris: First Contact also introduces new origins that put you at the helm of a civilization which has encountered others with access to faster-than-light technology.
Stellaris: First Contact Story Pack
A sneakier addition then comes in the shape of cloaking technology, which makes its debut when the DLC goes live. With it, both players and the AI can hide ships and posts from their neighbors, making the galaxy a slightly more uncertain place to live in.
Here is how the publisher describes the features set to be introduced in Stellaris: First Contact Story Pack:
- New Origins:
- Broken Shackles: You didn’t take to the stars; you were taken to the stars as an alien captive! Now, you and your fellow prisoners have overtaken the ship and found yourselves banding together to survive and thrive as a diverse new community. Can you rise to greatness from this humble origin… and will your former captors take notice?
- Payback: No one would have believed your world was being watched keenly by intelligences greater than your own - until they invaded. But you did not go quietly into the night! Your civilization has repelled a would-be conqueror from space, and with sudden access to their advanced technology, you’re about to discover just what else is out there beyond the stars!
- Fear of the Dark: As you’ve explored your home system, you’ve always suspected you weren’t alone in the galaxy… especially when one of your planets suddenly suffered an “incident” a while back. A very large faction of your own people have long advocated against tempting fate out in the dark abyss of the unknown. What path will you choose as you find yourself needing room to grow?
- New Pre-FTL Interaction Options: What will your role be when the next member of the galactic community tells their origin story? New mechanics allow for a broader range of interactions with pre-FTL civilizations, depending on their level of technology and their awareness of your presence. Will your arrival be celebrated, or met with violent panic?
- Cloaking Technology: Nobody saw this feature coming! Equip your ships with cloaking devices to survey in secret or catch a foe unaware; keep subtle tabs on your pre-FTL neighbours with cloaked observation posts. Just be sure your own scanners and intel are strong… you never know which of your neighbours might be lurking in the shadows!
Stellaris: First Contact Story Pack wasn’t given a release date just yet but is confirmed to launch alongside the game’s free 3.7 update.
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