Satisfactory's First Expansion: Everything We Know About Core Values
Following the massive success of its 1.0 release in September 2024, which saw Satisfactory surpass 100,000 concurrent players, the factory-building phenomenon is heading into its next phase. During the 'The Big Break' showcase, publisher Coffee Stain Studios officially teased Core Values, the game's first major paid expansion. We sat down with the development team to discuss the subterranean shift, technical overhauls, and the future of the franchise.
An Underground Frontier
Core Values is designed to be a substantial, paid experience that expands the game's scope without disrupting the existing surface ecosystem. The expansion introduces a vast, giant cave system, offering players a completely new biome with a raw, industrial aesthetic focused on crushing heavy rocks for foundries and smelters. This underground setting was a highly requested location within the Satisfactory community.
The expansion is designed to integrate seamlessly into the main progression. Once players reach Tier 3 (unlocking Coal and Steel), an in-game event will trigger, making Core Values available. This allows players to connect surface logistics with new underground recipes. While veteran players with thousands of hours can jump straight in, the introduction of specialized resources ensures that newcomers aren't immediately overwhelmed. The developers estimate the expansion will provide roughly 400 to 500 hours of gameplay by the game's standards.
Technical Evolution and New Life
The complexity of underground environments—specifically lighting and level streaming—has necessitated significant technical advancements. Coffee Stain Studios announced plans to transition to Unreal Engine 5.6 to handle these challenges. Additionally, the team is moving from CPU-based instancing to GPU-based instancing to ensure the game remains performant across various hardware configurations as factories grow in scale.
The ecosystem is also expanding. Alongside the beloved Lizard Doggo, players will encounter a new, friendly feline-like creature with a dachshund-style body that can be petted. However, the darkness of the caves also hides new, dangerous hostile creatures, adding a layer of environmental tension to the resource extraction process.
Addressing the Past and Looking Ahead
The interview also touched upon the controversial vehicle system. The developers admitted that the previous truck mechanics were a major pain point for the community, often ignored in favor of trains. However, a complete revamp of the vehicle pathing system has turned this once-criticized feature into a functional and appreciated part of the gameplay loop.
As for the roadmap, Emmet Burke and the team confirmed that Core Values will not be released this year. While a specific release window remains unannounced, development updates will continue to be shared via official channels. Furthermore, a Satisfactory board game is in development with Mood Publishing, with a crowdfunding campaign expected to launch later this year.
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