Stellaris DLC Hype: The Machine Age Is Here, Again!

Bozidar Radulovic
stellaris the machine age dlc cover

Paradox has released the trailer for the new Stellaris DLC – The Machine Age. While there were a lot of speculations about what the new DLC would entail, few would have guessed that it was about the machines again. The hyper is real this time, since the DLC really looks promising so far, and the technical details that we seen in the DLC notes look very extensive.

Trailer For The Machine Age

In our humble opinion, it’s one of the best trailers Paradox has put out. The theme itself is very dystopian and resembles the “cog in the machine” scenario from Matrix, where everyone is just fuel for a giant machine. The point of interest is what this “Horizon Needle” that everyone is fueling with their brain power. Also, we can’t skip commenting on the music from the trailer, because it’s phenomenal and music is one of the reasons we fell in love with Stellaris.

It brings up a lot of questions, but we are really excited to see these super-technologies because they usually have very cool mechanics, the potential for a fun role-play, and the impact on the game is noticeable, unlike something like Astral Actions, where there isn’t that much difference in gameplay.

What Can We Expect

stellaris horizon needle
“Horizon Needle”

The crux and the most details are in the Stellaris Dev Diary, and while there are a lot of things that the Dev Diary gave info about The Machine Age DLC content, we don’t know the deeper technical aspects. We can see that we will get the overall AI, machines, cyborgs, and robots polishing, from ship designs, ascension perks, civics, origins, and traits, all the way to new music and portraits. The one thing that stuck out to us the most is the new Endgame Crisis announcement. This is very exciting because Stellaris players have been longing for a new Endgame Crisis for a long time.

It will also be interesting to see the actual impact on these super machines because that is probably the most fun thing in a sci-fi game like Stellaris.  Of course, as the tradition goes, there will probably be a big patch alongside this DLC, which will aim to expand and fix rusty game systems…maybe Ground Army rework? One can only dream.

While there are a lot of Stellaris DLCs, there have been a handful of them that really didn’t add anything substantial to impact the game in a profound way. We hope The Machine Age will be different. It kinda feels like it will because the trailer is promising, and the theme is something we know that developers are passionate about. Sure, designing toxic planets or astral planes is cool, but when it comes to machines, we know Paradox is bringing their A-game!

Stellaris Subscription Situation

stellaris the machine age dlc

With the new subscription model that Paradox is rolling out, one question is obviously negging us: Will the new Stellaris The Machine Age DLC be included in the monthly subscription? We think so because it would be a very good selling point. We really hope Stellaris will be kept alive and Paradox is doing a fine job at lowering the barrier for entry for the whole Stellaris pack, as well as dishing out a good DLC trailer.

  • Best Brotato Items: Top Picks for Every Playstyle

    Best Brotato Items: Top Picks for Every Playstyle

    As all Brotato players know, there are a ton of items as soon as you start this challenging roguelike, and more and more show up as you start completing challenges. Choosing the right items shapes your strategy and often makes a huge difference between winning and losing. If you don’t want to miss the most…

  • Slay the Spire Watcher Builds: Best Strategies

    Slay the Spire Watcher Builds: Best Strategies

    We’ve finally reached the final character in this little series – the Watcher. She has a very aggressive playstyle since she can deal double (or even triple) damage to enemies. Widely considered to be the most overpowered character in the game, this monk changes her stances and takes down enemies in record time. If you…

  • Hearthstone Battlegrounds Strategy Guide [Season 9]

    Hearthstone Battlegrounds Strategy Guide [Season 9]

    Season 9 of Hearthstone Battlegrounds has begun on December 3rd!!! We have seen many changes compared to the previous seasons. Just as a quick reminder, take a look at what previous seasons of Battlegrounds looked like in order to understand better what this season is about. In chronological order, the last few Hearthstone Battlegrounds seasons…

  • Top 15 Meta Brotato Weapons [DLC Included]

    Top 15 Meta Brotato Weapons [DLC Included]

    Picking the 15 best meta Brotato weapons isn’t an easy task since there are 62 different characters in the game at the moment and each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. However, there are some weapons that act better than others overall. If you don’t want to miss the most important tips around playing…

  • Slay the Spire Defect Builds: Best Strategies and Tips

    Slay the Spire Defect Builds: Best Strategies and Tips

    The third playable character in Slay the Spire is called the Defect. Lore-wise, the Defect is an automaton that gained sentience and is trying to escape the Spire. This character has a unique mechanic – it uses Orbs to deal damage, block, and gain energy. If you are new to Slay the Spire, check out…

  • 15 Best Brotato Characters [Winter 2024]

    15 Best Brotato Characters [Winter 2024]

    Brotato is a truly versatile game with 62 unique characters available, each with pros and cons. If you are new to Brotato, check out our Brotato beginners guide to get a general sense of the game. So when talking about the best characters in Brotato it really can come down to the personal preference of…

  • Slay the Spire The Silent Builds: Best Strategies

    Slay the Spire The Silent Builds: Best Strategies

    The Silent is the second playable character in Slay the Spire. A rogue huntress with a taste for revenge, this character uses poison and daggers to slash her way to victory. Use her skills strategically and you’ll be climbing the Ascensions of this roguelike in no time. We’ll show you how. In our last article,…

  • Ultimate Brotato Builds & Strategy Guide [Danger 5]

    Ultimate Brotato Builds & Strategy Guide [Danger 5]

    In this guide, we will explore the best builds in Brotato and dive deep into what makes each of them powerful and how they actually work. There are a lot of mechanics in Brutato, and with an absurd amount of weapons, items, and stats it can get overwhelming and confusing. The idea of this guide…

  • Brotato Beginner’s Guide [Winter 2024]

    Brotato Beginner’s Guide [Winter 2024]

    Brotato is a simple roguelike game that puts you in the jacket of a potato warrior fighting an alien invasion. The game puts you in time-limited levels where you must defend against the waves of an ever-growing number of aliens. With each level, you get more enemies with higher damage and HP but you also…

  • Darkmoon Prizes HS BG Guide [Winter 2024]

    Darkmoon Prizes HS BG Guide [Winter 2024]

    This guide will focus on Darkmoon Prizes in Hearthstone Battlegrounds. This rare mechanic is sometimes seen in battlegrounds – and we will explain in detail what those instances are. For more specific info on the game, check our full guide for builds and tips in Battlegrounds as well as Lesser Trinkets and Greater Trinkets guides.…