Following its successful launch, “The Alters” garnered significant critical acclaim, which was no surprise given its strengths. This success naturally led developer 11 bit studios to expand upon the game with a substantial DLC, revealed earlier in June during the ‘Not E3’ period.
Titled “The Alters: Last Variable,” this DLC is substantial, offering around 20 hours of gameplay. It aims to deepen the survival mechanics and the sci-fi narrative by introducing new mechanics, zones, tools, resources, and more.
The DLC’s plot unfolds several years after the events of the base game. The synopsis reads: “Years have passed since Jan Scientist refused to leave the planet. The world has changed around him. And he realizes what he has always feared: this work cannot be accomplished alone. So he returns to creating: versions of himself shaped by different expertise. A geologist. A biologist. A chemist. A physicist. Together, they cover all the possibilities that need to be studied.
“Over planetary cycles spanning years, Jan must terraform barren sectors into habitable zones, extract and refine exotic substances, and unlock research tiers to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge. But discovery has a price: the planet reacts with increasingly severe threats: earthquakes, radiation spikes, and time itself. Field labs offer the Alters a refuge for their research during surface expeditions, but aging without the protection of the cryosleep is inevitable.
“As his team struggles under the weight of divergent philosophies—each convinced their own vision of science is the correct one—Jan is faced with an impossible choice: will they fracture under the pressure, or conduct research that could define a legacy?”
Players can expect “Last Variable” to expand the planet’s defense mechanisms, making earthquakes, intense radiation waves, and other threats more frequent. Similarly, players will need to understand and master new soil types, new components, and new research modules, all while the planet’s surface changes significantly after each recharge period.
In short, if you enjoyed the base game, you won’t want to miss “Last Variable” when it releases on July 13th for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Check out the new gameplay trailer below.