Review
Foundry: just me and my drill building our own little world
by Debora Pape
After 5 years: "Satisfactory" has been released in full and really hits the spot again
11.9.2024
Translation: machine translated
The developer studio of "Satisfactory" has given fans a few more gifts with the full release update. A fast travel function via portals is just one of the new features.
And now the time has come. On 10 September, "Satisfactory" was finally released in version 1.0. If you don't know "Satisfactory": There is a brief introduction below.
The full release brought "Satisfactory" new player records: 104,677 players were playing at the same time shortly afterwards, according to SteamDB. Early Access also went quite comfortably for an indie game in a niche genre with 15-30,000 people active on Steam at the same time.
"Satisfactory" reaches and engages its fans, as the reviews show: Since its Steam release in 2020, "Satisfactory" has received more than 145,000 reviews - 97 per cent of them positive. The game was initially released exclusively on the Epic Games Store in 2019, where it currently has a player rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
New features of the 1.0 version
"Coffee Stain" also fulfils the wish of many for a fast travel system. The update brings portals that allow you to quickly teleport to other locations on the map. However, they are said to be power-hungry and only available in the advanced game.
The "Quantum Encoder" is the new most advanced building in the game. You use it to produce complex parts. It requires the new raw material "Excited Photonic Matter" to work. Also new is "Ficsonium", a radioactive resource that you unlock at the highest level and can be used as fuel in nuclear power plants.
Here's a look at quantum technology:
What will certainly please many friends of transport optimisation: Brand-6 conveyor belts are now available. They transport 1200 items per minute, 420 items more than Mark 5 conveyors.
The update brings even more buildings and many new cosmetic options for your character and the appearance of your factory. Numerous balancing and quality of life improvements have also found their way into the game. A return to the game could therefore be worthwhile for veterans.
What kind of game is "Satisfactory"?
You don't know "Satisfactory"? Okay, imagine you work for a ruthless corporation and are dropped off on a pristine, idyllic alien planet to exploit it for all it's worth. You begin by searching for iron and copper deposits in a first-person perspective and, if you wish, with up to three friends, and mining these resources first by hand and later with mining machines.
You process the raw materials into increasingly complex parts. You quickly need conveyor belts to connect mining buildings with processing machines. You satisfy your growing factory's hunger for electricity with rows of coal-fired power plants. The dark exhaust fumes from the power plants look really beguiling in the clean air of the planet, especially since the update to Unreal Engine 5 in November 2023.
With various updates over the course of Early Access, many new mechanics have been added to complement the conveyor belt transport system in "Satisfactory", including vehicles, trains, pipelines, flying drones and - as a fast travel replacement for yourself and because you can - "hypertubes". These are tubes that you can use to move quickly between your mining and production areas.
Your production lines need more and more space, so ancient trees have to make way for industrialisation: The chainsaw is your best friend. Lakes and entire landscapes disappear under the foundations of your giant factory. There are also hostile animals, which you first shoot out of existence with a stun gun. But don't expect waves of attackers like in the godfather of the factory building game "Factorio".
If you like the factory building genre, you might also like "Dyson Sphere Programme" or the more recent "Foundry".
Header image: Coffee Stain Studios
Feels just as comfortable in front of a gaming PC as she does in a hammock in the garden. Likes the Roman Empire, container ships and science fiction books. Focuses mostly on unearthing news stories about IT and smart products.
Gaming
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
News + Trends
From the latest iPhone to the return of 80s fashion. The editorial team will help you make sense of it all.
Show all
