Three playthroughs later, and it still feels like Stellaris offers a seemingly limitless experience. Whether I'm playing as a race of warlike reptilian conquerors or a devouring swarm of vicious anthropoids, I always feel like I'm about to get a completely different campaign than the last time I played. Now, according to a recent trailer released by the developers over at Paradox Interactive, it seems like my options are only going to increase. Check it out:
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This isn't the first time we've heard about Synthetic Dawn. A previous teaser from early August left players anticipating the expansion, though with few details beyond what they could gather from the name and description over the Steam retail page. Lucky for us, today's trailer has given players an in-depth look Stellaris' new robotic inhabitants.
RELATED: Stellaris' next expansion will make synthetics a playable race
New races include:
Determined Exterminators - A defense system gone rogue that, after turning on and wiping out its previous masters, has now set its sights on the rest of organic life. Similarly to devouring swarm races, Determined Exterminators cannot interact with organics in any way - short of purging them, of course.
Driven Assimilators - Unlike the previous race, these synthetics are motivated by a desire to learn as much as they can about organics. Naturally, this involves assimilating them into their collective hivemind in a style most similar to that of Star Trek's Borg.
Rogue Servitors - Originally created by a "decadent, organic civilization," for the purpose of fulfilling their master's every need, these robots have but one purpose: to free organics of the "burden of self-determination."
There's also another, unplayable race: The Fallen Machine Empire. Like many fallen empires, these robots have seemingly existed since the dawn of time itself - at least, when compared to your relatively young faction. Their original goal was a type of "custodian project" in which the synthetics maintained and cared for artificial habitats for organic lifeforms fleeing some kind of threat. Beware, though; the Fallen Machine Empire appears to be malfunctioning, resulting in as-of-yet undetermined consequences.
We think we can make a safe guess, though. Source
Synthetic Dawn also comes with a variety of aesthetic changes to accompany the new races. Robotic factions will have their own portraits, as well as artificial-sounding voice lines. Players creating their own robots will now be able to specialize them for different tasks, though now with new concerns to keep in mind. Rebelling synthetics can become their own Machine Empire, complete with their own anti-organic goals.
Paradox is currently planning to launch Synthetic Dawn on September 21, 2017 for $9.99. For more information, feel free to check out the expansion's page on the Stellaris website.
