To celebrate the release of their latest major DLC, Paradox Interactive has released a trailer for Stellaris: Utopia which you can check out above.
The trailer takes the form of an AI greeting Chancellor You-The-Player, celebrating the spread of your domain across the stars and your people’s technological progress and potential (even as it zooms in on the Extermination: Purge option… some Chancellors are more merciless than others).
The next step? “A feat of stellar engineering more immense than any previously attempted: a megastructure,” announces the AI. While the scale of such a project will consume a whole generation’s energy output, its results promise to echo for centuries.
READ: 'Stellaris' Utopia DLC Gets First Trailer; Will Introduce New Buildings And Perks
The AI comments on how fractures are inevitable as your empire spreads and it is now up to the Chancellor to decide which traditions will be embraced or discarded. He also points out that the future of your people’s evolution is now your decision. Mechanical enhancement, genetic engineering and the potential of consciousness are all among the evolutionary paths you can choose for your people.
“Grand strategy on a galactic scale: Choose your path to Ascension,” states text on screen as the trailer comes to an end.
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Utopia makes major changes to core Stellaris gameplay. In addition to megastructures such as Dyson spheres and ring worlds that will bring your people prestige and major advantages, players who prefer to build “tall” rather than wide will be able to establish space stations that serve the role of planets in a smaller empire.
Ascension Perks are acquired via Unity points and Traditions and let you choose one of three Paths: Biological Mastery, Synthetic Evolution or Transcendance. You can also use Indoctrination to influence the course of primitive civilizations, forcing them to adopt your ethics via observation stations that will prepare them for enlightenment or annexation.
Slavery also gets an overhaul: enthralled species can serve other populations as domestic servants, serve as cannon fodder on the battlefield or be kept as Livestock to feed your hungry, ugly people. That’s messed up, but in space, no one can hear them scream?
As for governments, you can now adopt unique civics and authorities: “Play as a Fanatic Purifier and shun all diplomacy, become a Hive Mind to avoid political strife or create a multi-species empire born of Syncretic Evolution.” What about a Fanatic Purifier Hive Mind born of Syncretic Evolution? Alas, your imperialist madness must come to a halt at some point, Padawan.
Stellaris: Utopia will run you $19.99 via the Paradox store or Steam and is out today. Will you be playing? Feel free to let us know in the comments section below.
