Stellaris The Machine Age

Stellaris: The Machine Age is an expansion for Stellaris about technological transformation and the conflicts it brings. Cybernetic augmentation pushes beyond the body's limits, synthetic ascension promises eternal life, and enormous structures appear among the stars as scientists pursue the secrets of creation. Amid rapid change and competition for resources and prestige, a threat rises from the ashes of a Fallen Empire and challenges the meaning of life.

Cetana and the endgame crisis

A tempest rages in space as a Fallen Empire goes dark and a long-forgotten enemy emerges. Cetana, the Synthetic Queen, claims she can free the galaxy from suffering, but her true aims are unclear. You can collaborate with her or try to derail her plans as the galaxy faces a new endgame crisis.

A player crisis path

The new player crisis path centers on developing technology on an unprecedented scale to break through the limits of the body, time and the universe's physical rules. Your empire uses the Synaptic Lathe to put its brightest minds to work on calculations beyond the reach of any computer, accepting that some may be burnt out along the way.

Machine empires

Machine empires are no longer limited to gestalt consciousness. You can shape their story, from servitors that suddenly gain consciousness to machines seeking the pleasures of the material world without the costs of an organic body. Three new Machine Ascension Paths offer further ways to customize your empire, alongside new situations and an advanced authority swap. Decisions during ascension bring new challenges and can change your empire.

Two new sets of reactive species portraits reflect progress through Cybernetic and Synthetic Ascension. The expansion also adds three Origins:

• Cybernetic Creed: pursue the holy fusion of body and cybernetics, treating augmentation as worship.
• Synthetic Fertility: face a novel genetic disease that prevents biological reproduction and turn to digital salvation to avoid extinction.
• Arc Welders: lead a robotic society from a space-starved world to the stars in search of resources.

New empire content

The expansion adds six Civics, two shipsets—Cybernetic and Machine—and new Pop Traits. It also includes two superstructures: the molten Arc Furnace and the powerful Dyson Swarm, as well as seven new music tracks.