Factorio 2.0 with Space Age DLC Is Here!

It has been almost a decade since Factorio was first released. After years of updates, mods, and community-driven innovations, Factorio 2.0 has officially launched, giving us fresh ways to scratch that automation itch.

But wait, there’s more. The developers have also brought in a new segment of the game Space Age that offers four new planers for exploration,  new buildings, new enemies, space platforms, and a reworked tech tree. While the 2.0 update is free for everyone, the Space Age DLC is a paid expansion pack and costs somewhat the same price as the base game.

With 2.0, you will see some significant changes and improvements in the game. It includes more intelligent worker robots, better train control improvements, a new fluid system, and more.

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Let’s dive into what Factorio 2.0 brings and how Space Age builds on it. For anyone who’s invested hundreds (or thousands) of hours in this game, the changes aren’t merely interesting—they’re game-changing, and they’ll redefine how we tackle challenges in the factory simulation genre.

Factorio 2.0 Upgrades and Changes

Before jumping over to a whole new world, let’s look at all the updates brought with the Factorio 2.0.

1. Blueprint Building

One of the major changes brought in with Factorio 2.0 is the Blueprints. Well, to say it clearly, it is so much better now.

The developers have added the Super Force Building feature. This automates certain construction tasks to make building on complex terrain much easier. When placing blueprints over water, the system will automatically lay down a landfill to create a solid foundation. Additionally, it connects underground belts automatically when applicable.

Similarly, players and construction robots can now remove landfills like any other terrain feature. Furthermore, landfills are automatically marked for deconstruction when "super force building" is used for specific tasks, such as placing offshore pumps.

As per the update released by the team, the rail planners can be used in map mode, allowing players to plan and place rail lines from a broader view of the factory layout. This is especially useful with the super force building feature, which lets players clear obstacles automatically while placing tracks.

To make the factory layout more flexible, you can flip the oil refineries and other fluid-based buildings horizontally or vertically. You can adjust fluid inputs and outputs to align with existing pipes or other structures more efficiently.

2. Train System

Next up, the train system has also been updated with tons of new features. Firstly, the new Wildcard Signal feature allows trains to use a placeholder signal that automatically updates based on the first item loaded.

Coming over to the Station behavior, any disabled station would act as if they have a “station limit” of zero, effectively taking them out of circulation without deleting them.

Furthermore, there are two factors in play due to this. If any train is en route to a station that becomes disabled will continue to that destination instead of re-routing. This avoids disruptive re-pathing and makes system behavior more predictable.

Although a very minor change, but pretty useful in emergencies is that you can manually give a push to the train by yourself. It will be slow, but this nudge might be useful if a train stall or power isn’t immediately available.

Apart from this, there has been a significant improvement in the Rail Planner. You can now make smaller curves in your rails, allowing more flexibility in your track designs. Likewise, you can now place more rail and chain signals there than you had earlier.

Rail Planner Mode: In version 2.0, you will encounter multiple Rail Planner modes once you upgrade your game. You have the Normal mode, where you can simply lay down the track, and the robot will build it. There are others, such as Obstacle Avoidance Mode, where you can lay down the track around obstacles.

Train Interrupts: Another incredible addition to version 2.0 that solves many issues you are familiar with. This feature allows you to alter a train's schedule based on certain conditions.

It's pretty cool, and it changes the way you operate trains. For example, you can create an interrupt or condition that triggers when the train's fuel level is low. The target station for the interrupt can be a refueling station.

Additional features added to this are the Elevated Rails and Signals. They are constructed using the Rail ramps and supports.

This entire layout reduces congestion and allows you to create layered train networks.

There are many more features for Rails and Trains included in the update that you can eventually explore as you move ahead in the game.

3. Circuit Network Changes

The first change you might notice is that wires are no longer a separate resource to be crafted. They are now integrated into the power poles themselves. This means you don't need to specifically craft red and green wires; you can simply connect the power poles and choose the wire type when placing it.

One of the major rework given to the Circuit system is the Combinators. The Decider Combinator filters specific signals from a more extensive set of inputs. This is useful for isolating and processing the information you need.

Similarly, you have the new Selector Combinator. This new combinator allows you to select specific signals from a group of inputs based on various criteria, such as index, count, randomness, stack size, or rocket capacity.

Next up, in the 2.0 version, all the radars are connected to the same circuit network. You can control and monitor multiple radars using a single-circuit network.

Apart from the above, there have been some minor changes to the new version, such as the Logistics Group, which allows you to group different logistic requests together and control them as a single unit.

4. Miscellaneous Updates

So, there are some more updates that are equally amazing and worth mentioning. Well, it is physically not possible to mention each of them, but some are very useful.

Here it goes.

  1. Spidertron: You can now select multiple Spidertrons in one go and control them all. The remote is no longer a craftable item, and you can access all the new features with a click of a button.
  1. Fluid System: Another major upgrade you might encounter is the Fluid System. Pipes, underground pipes, and storage tanks are now merged into fluid "segments." Pumps are a special case. They can pull fluid faster if they're directly connected to a storage tank.

  1. Factoriopedia: The most useful addition to the game is the game’s very own encyclopedia, known as Factoriopedia. It offers info about every item in the game along with their recipes. You even get a visual idea of all the ingredients needed in the recipe and more.

  1. Display Panel: This item allows you to set an icon for other items on your base along with a description to help you identify different structures easily.

Well, this is all we have for 2.0 mentioned in this guide. However, there are a lot more changes across the game that you are free to explore and enjoy.

Let’s move on to the new game segment, Space Age, which will open new worlds for you and many upgrades. This is where the Factoriopedia will come in handy. Let’s check it out.

Factorio Space Age- A New Era is Here!

Unlike the changes brought in with the 2.0 version, the Space Age DLC is more advanced and will give you a fresh new start to the game.

If you are new here, you can opt to start with this or get on with the same old Factorio 2.0. Here is everything you will see in Space Age.

1. New Planets

Once you have launched the rocket into space, you will discover a new world in the game and have four different planets to choose from. They have their own set of challenges and exploration along with different military targets.

Here they are:

Vulcanus

This is the hottest planet and the name speaks for the terrain of the planet that is volcanic with mountains and sulfuric acid geysers. There are specific places designed by the developers, such as the Ashland, for building purposes since the ground is flat.

Some of the resources you can extract here from different regions are:

  1. Lava: Iron, Stone, and Copper
  2. Coal: Coal, and with liquefaction, you can get oil.
  3. Sulfuric Acid Geysers: Sulphuric Acid
  4. Other Resources: Tungsten and Calcite

Along with these, there are some very powerful structures you can craft, such as mining drills and belts for transporting goods.

Fulgora

The second planet added to the gameplay is Fulgora. This is a storm-laden planet that features two distinct biomes, i.e., Plateaus and Oilsands.

The Plateaus is the best place to build your base and set up factories. These are small isolated islands; anything around them is Oilsands, where you are restricted from setting up machines or factories.

However, you can build rail supports on them and set up offshore pumps to produce unlimited amounts of heavy oil.

The planet is plagued by intense and powerful electrical storms causing frequent lightning strikes across the planet’s surface. This occurs every night and has the power to damage all your stuff and even kill you.

There are a few spots on the planet that have alien ruins, such as the lightning attractors that absorb these lightning and also provide protection in a designated radius. Likewise, you can also unlock and craft similar Lightning rods and Lightning Collectors to collect electricity.

Now, the significant resource here is Scrap. These are ruins and technologies left over by the aliens who inhabited the planet earlier. Here, you can unlock Recycler by mining scrap and getting resources such as ice, stone, processing units, etc. To get copper and iron, you will have to recycle processing units.

Another resource you will find here is Holmium. The ores of this rare element can be gathered from the debris and scattered remains of the previous civilization. Moving on, you can set up the electromagnetic plant, the “Foundry,” in other terms. It can be used to craft wire, circuits, electric poles, accumulators, lightning rods, supercapacitors, etc.

Gleba

Gleba is visually distinct from other planets due to its thick, green landscape teeming with vegetation and alien flora. In fact, earlier, the planet was named the “biological planet” considering its vegetation and environment.

There are fruit tree patches spread across the entire ecosystem, specifically Yumako and Jellynut trees. These trees are then harvested and re-planted by the Agricultural Tower, which you can unlock on the planet.

Like the Foundry and Electromagnetic plant, we have a Biochamber on Gleba that will help process plant fruits to produce carbon fiber and Bioflux. Nutrients act as fuel for Biochambers crafted from spoilage or fruit mashes. Keeping a steady supply is crucial since Biochambers require Nutrients for production.

One of the most unique components of this planet is Spoilage. Any harvested fruits or other products will spoil someday or the other, known as Spoilage. This adds a unique twist to the game since you must keep the products in check and use them before they are spoiled.

Ensure spoilage doesn’t pile up by directing it into Heating Towers or other recycling processes, which prevents backups and keeps production lines efficient.

Now, speaking of the enemies, we have Pentapods. They are 5-legged creatures that drop eggs, which are very useful in crafting biochambers. They can even walk on walls, ensuring Agricultural Towers are protected from it.

Traditional ore patches are scarce on Gleba. Instead, you collect resources by smashing specific stromatolite rocks—grey-blue for iron and yellowish-orange for copper. Additionally, you can cultivate bacteria to produce iron and copper.

Aquilo

The last planet you will land on is the Aquilo. We have seen all kinds of terrain on different planets; here, the entire planet is somewhat freezing, and you need to keep everything warm enough.

Due to the cold climate, there’s minimal plant or animal life, so food sources are scarce. This lack of biological diversity means fewer natural obstacles but also limits local resources that might be found on more temperate planets.

Well, the entire planet has hardly any land and very few icebergs where you can set up your base. Using the chemical plant, you can use an offshore pump to get liquid ammonia and separate different components from it. This will then be used to build blocks of ice for more land.

It is an absolute waste if you are considering bringing any solar panels from Nauvis. Instead, you need to bring nuclear reactors. As mentioned earlier, this is a cold planet, and you need to keep yourself and the other structures warm. The Nuclear reactors and the heating tower will serve the purpose.

Furthermore, the resources here are very limited. You will get solar power which is hardly 1%, ammoniacal from the water, crude oil, Lithium brine, and fluorine gas from the resource nodes. Some of the structures you can unlock here are the Cryogenic plant, the Fusion reactor, and the Fusion Generator.

2. Quality

This makes the entire gaming experience on Space Age worthy of the money spent on it. Quality is one of the best features of the Space Age expansion that adds depth to the game.

Each item you craft in the game has 5 different levels of Quality naming, Normal, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary.

When you craft an item, there’s a chance that it will be produced at a higher quality level. You can use Quality Modules to increase the likelihood of producing higher-quality items. Producing high-quality items may require additional materials or specialized production processes, mainly if aiming for top-tier items like Legendary.

The high-quality items offer faster processing time, consume less energy, and boost productivity. For example, an Epic or Legendary assembler might boost output rates, while a high-quality solar panel might generate more power.

3. Space Platform

Have you checked out Space Platform yet? This is yet another unique addition to your new space journey.

Space Platform is a modular orbital base where players can manage and produce resources and facilitate interplanetary logistics. As you advance through the space age, this platform becomes critical, providing new opportunities for automation, production, and interplanetary trade.

To create this, you must send a space platform starter pack into the space. For construction, you can only use Ghosts instead of any construction robots. The space platform will have a 10x10 square foundation with a space platform hub in its center. If, by any chance, the hub gets destroyed, you will have to start the entire process again.

You can continue your journey once you have placed all the necessary resources, weapons, and cargo on the ship. Make sure to have enough thrusters to get the platform faster to the planet and Asteroid collectors to collect the asteroids in space.

There is not much more you can explore on each new planet brought in with this new DLC update. The journey may be difficult since creating a habitat on these planets is not easy, but it is not impossible.

Keep exploring and trying out different ways to generate resources. Make the best use of other tutorials on the web and YouTube that will help you through.

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