Developer Wube Software has released the stable version 2.1 of "Space Age," a major expansion for the simulation game *Factorio*.
Two Years Since the Release of the “Factorio: Space Age” DLC
This game is the quintessential example of an automated factory simulation where players build and maintain factories. On October 22, 2024, the DLC “Factorio: Space Age,” which allows players to explore new worlds and build interplanetary factories, was released for PC.
To mark the two-year anniversary of the “Factorio: Space Age” DLC’s release, and following a lengthy beta period, version 2.1 has been released as the stable version.The development team expressed gratitude to players who played the beta and submitted bug reports and feedback. They noted that many of the changes and adjustments made since the initial release were based on player reports.
To mark the occasion, the classic *Factorio* trailer has also been updated. As the development team explained in a previous development blog post (“FFF-440”), version 2.1 does not add new planets, enemies, or research trees; rather, it is a large collection of “quality-of-life improvements, small features, polish, and things we wanted to do in 2.0 but couldn’t.”
In version 2.1, space logistics now allow rockets to transport multiple different items in a single launch, and items can be sent and received between orbital platforms. Regarding space platform balance, asteroid damage now depends on remaining health rather than speed, and platform drag is now mass-based.
Landing pads now feature unloading bays where inserters can directly retrieve items, enabling direct unloading onto trains and conveyor belts. The circuit network now includes a feature to separate inputs and outputs, allowing research facilities to configure studies based on circuit conditions; boilers, heat exchangers, and pipes can also be connected.
In the Quality System, the Recycler has been separated into its own mod, allowing players to play Space Age without the Quality mod. The liquid mixing prevention feature has been restored, and long-standing issues—such as the ability to reverse pump jacks and burner excavators—have been fixed.Enemy expansions have been reworked to scale according to evolution, and new graphics have been introduced for assembly machines, oil refineries, and other structures. Additionally, with ARM64 Linux support, the game now runs natively on devices such as the Steam Deck and Raspberry Pi.
Major Changes in Version 2.1
*Please note that the text below is based on machine translation and has been edited for clarity; it does not necessarily reflect in-game terminology.
Space Logistics
Space platforms are at the heart of Space Age, and in version 2.1, they have become even more versatile.
Mixed Rockets: Rockets can now transport multiple different items in a single launch. You no longer need to send a full stack of every item just to build a small platform.
Import from Any Location: By leaving the “Import from” slot blank, you can import items from any location. This is ideal for fuel, ammunition, and repair packs.
Transfer Between Platforms: You can request or provide items to other platforms in orbit.
Hub Set Requests: You can control requests for space platform hubs via the circuit network.
Radar Universe Mode: You can send and receive circuit signals using a shared channel between planets and platforms.
Space
Platform Balance Here are some changes regarding platform flight and damage.
Asteroid damage now depends on the asteroid’s remaining health rather than speed, making it more predictable.
Space platform hubs now have increased health and resistance, allowing them to withstand more attacks.
Platform drag is now based on mass rather than width, so “pencil-shaped ships” are no longer the only way to travel at high speeds.
The Landing Pad Unloading Bay Inserter
is a special cargo bay that allows you to retrieve items. You can unload directly from the landing pad onto trains, chests, conveyor belts, and anything else the inserter can interact with.
It can be placed within a limited area around the landing pad.
Elevated rails can now be built above cargo bays.
Circuit Networks
now support more wiring options, and clearer wiring methods have been added.
Input/Output Separation: You can assign different wire colors for reading and writing in circuits, eliminating the need for the traditional “magical” self-subtraction.
Research labs can now set their current research based on circuit conditions.
Boilers and heat exchangers can be connected to circuit networks, allowing for simple backup power configurations.Landmines can be used as tripwires or enemy detectors.
Pipes can now be connected to circuit networks, and a new pipe GUI has been added.
Quality
: Changes for both quality enthusiasts and those who dislike it.
You can now play Space Age without the Quality mod. The Recycler has been separated into its own mod, and Quality is enabled by default as a “recommended” dependency.
High-Quality Locomotives and Freight Cars: Faster trains, higher-capacity freight cars, and liquid cars.
“Space Casino” Closed: The Quality module can no longer be used for asteroid reprocessing.
Reversing and Liquids: Fixed some
long-standing issues.
Pump jacks and burner miners can now be reversed.
Drop arrows now indicate which conveyor lane a machine will drop items into in ambiguous situations, and flipping a blueprint no longer changes its behavior.
Inserters always drop on the input side of splitters.
Liquid mixing prevention has been restored: pipelines carrying different liquids will not merge; instead, a warning will be displayed.
Liquid flow now scales properly at high throughput (yes, I’m talking to you, Legendary-tier machines).
This is a comprehensive overhaul of how enemy Expanding
Biter expansions work.
Since expansion groups scale according to evolution, they now present a meaningful challenge rather than a multitude of small, annoying nests.
Exploring the map early on no longer reduces the number of expansions near your base.
Biter will build new bases in more natural locations.
New Graphics: This is the final major update to the game’s graphics.
New assembly machines, oil refineries, rocket silos, and heat exchangers.
A new pump rendering system that allows connection to fluid wagons, no matter how poorly the station is positioned.
Diagonal flamethrower turrets.
Planets displayed in the background of space platforms.
Please note that while save data from Version 2.0 can be loaded, changes such as the separation of circuit inputs and outputs may corrupt existing factory designs. Additionally, once you update, blueprints and save data cannot be downgraded to Version 2.0; therefore, you are strongly advised to back up any important save data and blueprints.
