Stellaris Dev Diary #376 - Announcing BioGenesis and Stellaris: Season 09

[Foxosaur]

I hope there are Tree ships along with Meat ships! Looking forward to these ascension paths, Purity sounds like it would fit one of my Empire's perfectly; I wonder how it interacts with Natural Design, or if they don't like eachother.

Pretty much my thoughts too. I hope it happens ^^

 

[Huskermax5]

MEAT SHIPS! MEAT SHIPS! MEAT SHIPS!​

Is the 20% discount only for pre order or can I get it following release?

 

[Panzerslothen]

Interesting. VERY interesting!

So it's all systems go for the early May release date, then? No pushing it back for extra polish?

I hope this is a sign not only of your confidence in fixing the troubles and snags which appear to be blighting the Open Alphas Betas, but to integrate the seperate track DLC content into that as well, all within a month of development time - but your hard competence with it too. I'd love - LOVE - to say I matched that optimism, but I cannot. Still: I sincerely hope, for all of our sakes, that you've got it thoroughly under control, and that our concerns are misplaced... I shall be 'cautiously optimistic', with a strong lean on the 'cautiously'. (I'm still gonna book time off to play it, ofc!)

Good luck

Another year with a terrible war system, no internal politics, no good diplomacy, and dead espionage.

We don't know that. Not all of it, anyway. Have you already forgotten all the feedback forms the Devs were soliciting not a mere few weeks ago? That's not likely to have been wasted effort. We could well get war and espionage changes in a balance patch. We still have two balance patches due this year, right? Scope for it to be in there.
Also Diplomacy is 'okay', I don't know what you mean by that.

People were wondering how Paradox would fit Bio and psionic ascension in one expansion.
It turns out that we will receive 2 full expansions during the year.

We already knew that. Eladrin had said so before.

I'm guessing 4.0 releases on May 5th then?

Major DLCs always release on the same day as major patches, and Eladrin has already said the drop would be "around" the anniversary (which is the 8th May). So... yes. Basically confirmed.

Last but not least (because it's tradition): meat ships meat ships meet chips

 

[Silens]

I'm a sucker for Spiritualist/Psionic content, but reading the description of the planned expansion, there is one thing that rubs me the wrong way, always has with Psionics in this game actually. Namely, your reliance on outside powers, of having patrons, of enslaving yourself, of being the eternal victim, the lesser partner, the pitiful vassal eating scraps from under the table.

All ascensions are ultimately about taking your destiny into your own hands, about shaping and forging your own future, overcoming all shackles and limitations set by reality (to the point of Cosmogenesis changing reality itself). Yet, when it comes to Psionics, it's always the same: randomness, chaos, becoming a slave to the whims of some wannabe gods, and all flavor text makes it clear that the Zroni are always better than you could ever be, taunting you over and over.

I don't mind whoring myself out to the Shroud on my way to the top, but I don't want servitude be the final stop on that road. I want the same theme that bio and machines have: ultimate mastery of your chosen craft.

 

[Tseudonym]

• Wilderness: Begin as a sapient planetary ecosystem, a living gestalt of countless lifeforms united in harmony, seeking to spread its consciousness to the stars.

So, we get to play as Ego the Living Planet.

over 18 enhanced Authorities.

Holy jump in numbers, Batman!

Customize your genetic ascension by blending Purity, Cloning, and Mutation traditions into a unique path for your play style.

We're going Civilization: Beyond Earth style with this one.

Encounter a Hive Fallen Empire, a fractured hive mind struggling to awake between its three splintered personalities.

The diplomacy messages for this one had better consist of three dudes arguing over what they want from you.

• Portraits that change based on pop strata and leader level

*surprised pikachu face*
We're getting a human version of this too, right?

• Shroud Panel: Track your empire’s attunement and unlock new powers.
• Revamped End of the Cycle: The ultimate deal with the devil—can you delay the inevitable?

Looking forward to getting to press the Funny Button(TM) that almost blows up the galaxy.

endure the scorching wrath of a dying sun

Doomsday 2: Electric Boogaloo

• Player Crisis Path: Burn the galaxy to ashes as your empire thrives in destruction.
• Volcanic Worlds: A new planetary class with unique districts, events, and archaeological sites.

*surprised pikachu face, again*

 

[MadCow94]

The new portrait will be waiting for you when you get home. If you don't see it, restart Steam.

Oh, they're mixed in. I almost missed them!

Is the MOAR MAMMALS pack still projected to be part of 4.0?

 

[Bitzo]

MEAT SHIPS, MEAT SHIPS!

 

[vulcan7200]

That cinematic was fantastic. I (like many others) have been dying for Bioships for such a long time that I almost can't believe we're getting it relatively soon.

While I've had some criticisms of the new Planet Development systems for 4.0, this preview has really made me hyped for what's coming in Season 9.

 

[Lord Milutin]

This will be a BIOtiful year for Stellaris.

 

[Faron235]

Question the patch that will come out with the Shadows of the Shroud dlc will rework the internal politics and espionage?

Oh did not immediately notice with the Infernals Species Pack we will get another path of crisis for the player can say the year has been successful

 

[LystAP]

• New Origins: Unearth ancient kin or endure the scorching wrath of a dying sun in two new Origins.

Hmm. I wonder why the sun is dying? Maybe someone's eating it.

 

[TheGrinningMan]

Batshit insane bio-meddling is my favorite trope! Here's hoping I'll be able to live out my mad science fantasies.

 

[Tseudonym]

MEAT SHIPS! MEAT SHIPS! MEAT SHIPS!​

Is the 20% discount only for pre order or can I get it following release?

Yes, you will be able to purchase the pass with the discount for about a year after release. After that it will be turned into a Steam bundle.

 

[Zoomy]

Encounter a Hive Fallen Empire, a fractured hive mind struggling to awake between its three splintered personalities.

D'awww, I just want to give the little woobie a biiiig hug

 

[Ercian]

I ever mention how much I hate volcanic planets? Huh, lava and zerg - two of my favorite things. (c)

 

[Nudeldifudel]

Man season 9 sounds awesome. Unlike season 8 to a degree, all three of these DLCs sound awesome from the beginning. I'm really excited for all of them.

But why invent vulcanic worlds, when molten worlds are already there and really underutilized, lol? So just use molten worlds, and use toxic worlds to for something as well. I still think toxoids should be able to live on them or something.

Also two new crisis paths was not what I was expecting. I mean they are cool, but I feel like they are more cool when they are rare and used sparingly, like there's just so many ways you can be a crisis to the Galaxy. I just hope it's not a creative crutch, like instead of new gameplay mechanic or systems, they just make some new civics, couple of origins and a new crisis path and call it a day, you know.

But right now this looks awesome.

 

[ZeeKirill]

Glory to meat-bags!

 

[Tseudonym]

im most excited for the mods that let me do an bio cyborg psionic empire because why the hell not. ehehehe.

Hopefully we'll finally get a version of this mod that doesn't get abandoned as soon as the game updates.

 

[Calvax]

I'm a sucker for Spiritualist/Psionic content, but reading the description of the planned expansion, there is one thing that rubs me the wrong way, always has with Psionics in this game actually. Namely, your reliance on outside powers, of having patrons, of enslaving yourself, of being the eternal victim, the lesser partner, the pitiful vassal eating scraps from under the table.

All ascensions are ultimately about taking your destiny into your own hands, about shaping and forging your own future, overcoming all shackles and limitations set by reality (to the point of Cosmogenesis changing reality itself). Yet, when it comes to Psionics, it's always the same: randomness, chaos, becoming a slave to the whims of some wannabe gods, and all flavor text makes it clear that the Zroni are always better than you could ever be, taunting you over and over.

I don't mind whoring myself out to the Shroud on my way to the top, but I don't want servitude be the final stop on that road. I want the same theme that bio and machines have: ultimate mastery of your chosen craft.

Same, fingers crossed we'll have the ability to reject any notion of a pact and forge a path for ourselves without being locked out of mechanics or power.

 

[High Speed Flying Gladius]

It's nice that you're working on the DLC, but I'd like at least a little bit of news about the new update