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Stellaris 3.1 is out and adds new content to old DLC, alongside many balance tweaksThe first update from new “Custodian” team
The first update from new “Custodian” team
The “Lem” update does all three, changing how tradition trees work, adding new features to old species packs such as 2016’s Planetoids, and rebalancing some Civics and Origins.
STELLARIS | 3.1 UPDATE TRAILER | FREE WEEKENDWatch on YouTube
STELLARIS | 3.1 UPDATE TRAILER | FREE WEEKEND
3.1’s complete list of changes is expandable overin this forum thread. It’s absolutely vast, though a few highlights are pulled out at the top. They included traditions no longer being hardlocked, so you can choose which tradition trees you want to pursue during a playthrough, and new tradition trees being added to previous Nemesis and Apocalypse DLCs.
The changes to the species packs meanwhile include a new Clone Army Origin for the Humanoids Species Pack, which lets you play “the remains of an ancient Clone Army” who reproduce solely via ancient vats.
Paradox stress that the game will not suddenly “be fixed” as a result of this team’s work, but still, it’s nice to see DLCs released years ago suddenly have new stuff in them. If you’ve never got into Stellaris before and want to try it with its new balance changes,it’s free to play for the next five days via Steamand 75% off.
Stellaris isn’t the only game to refresh an old DLC recently. Earlier this month, EA Maxisrefreshed the 2015 Spa Day pack for The Sims 4, adding new wellness-focused aspirations for your Sims, facial masks, and nail polish.
Paradox have received a lot of criticism for their strategy of endlessly juicing games with paid DLC, and never more so than in the past year. In April,Europa Universalis IV’s Leviathan expansionbecame the worst rated release on all of Steam with 90% negative reviews.
More seriously, we spoke to several Paradox QA staff last year whoalleged poor treatment, and earlier this montha union survey of Paradox employees alleged a culture of mistreatmentwithin Paradox Interactive. The company’s CEO departed over “differing views on the company’s strategy"just a few days before, and their replacement, Fredrik Wester,admitted “inappropriate behaviour” towards an employee at a company event in 2018when he was previously CEO.
