Whether you’re a big fan of co-op friendly survival crafters, an enthusiastic enjoyer of the late ’90s and early ’00s aesthetic of the original Half-Life, or simply on the hunt for something new to play, it’s time for me to recommend Abiotic Factor once again. This gleeful creation from Deep Field Games draws inspiration from Valve’s iconic shooter to drop you into a secret paranormal research facility gone horribly wrong, and it’s one of the best survival games on Steam. If it’s been on your wishlist for a while, now’s a great time to start, as we just got a look at the Abiotic Factor year two roadmap.
Abiotic Factor might be wrapped in loving nods to Half-Life, but you don’t need to be a fan of that series to find plenty to love here. Trapped between invading entities and a military sect looking to quietly shut everything down, your job is to do your best to stay alive and bring a stop to the supernatural happenings across the GATE’s network of laboratories. It’s got excellent visual design, a wide range of weird and wonderful threats, plenty of robust tools and equipment to build, kit out, and decorate your base, and a charming sense of humor. You don’t earn a 96%-positive Steam rating from almost 30,000 reviews for nothing.
For now, we get to see just the first three of four planned stages on the new roadmap. It all starts with Community Update 5 – Deep Field’s latest iteration of its player-driven overhauls aimed at tackling the biggest and most fun requests. The big headline inclusion this time is the Mod Editor, which will introduce official mod support for Abiotic Factor.
The Mod Editor will be a separate, standalone app provided to players for free, and mods you create can be shared through an in-game mod management menu that will be accessible right from the starting screen. Whether you’re looking to craft entirely new items, weapons, and gadgets, or have more of a mind to build additional enemies, NPCs, pets, and other entities, you’ll be able to do so with ease.
Alongside this, Community Update 5 will also bring “advancements to the quest system,” starting with “its first field tests on existing questlines.” There will be another pet to discover, described as a “foggy friend,” a whole heap of item balancing and damage reworks based on player feedback, and the ability to wear ties around your head like a bandana for the true ‘office worker turned violent combatant’ vibe.
Following that, next on the list is the Winter Update, which will likewise be free for all players. This seasonally themed selection will bring a Brewing Bench to add to your base, a Tree Grow Plot where you can cultivate crops such as apples, and some Festive Feast recipes. Deep Field hints that it has a few more surprises up its sleeve here as well.
After the Winter Update comes the second Abiotic Factor paid DLC, Entropic Break. If you’re feeling a little sick of claustrophobic corridors and the frosty biomes of large sections of the existing base, this tropical adventure is the answer. It’ll take us to the GATE Leaf Test Facility, where you can explore forgotten islands and dive into the crisp ocean waters. Don’t get too relaxed, though, or you might find yourself flung into the Flesh Dimension.
Entropic Break will include at least one more new sector alongside the Leaf Test Facility, and multiple portal worlds, including the game’s biggest yet. There will be fresh enemies, items, quests, and even a special crossover. On top of that, a free update will be launching at the same time as the DLC that will include a bunch of extra additions: “boats, pets, fish, and more.”
Last on the list is one additional item although it’s just listed as ‘Classified’ for the time being. “More info coming soon,” Deep Field teases, “You’ll just have to wait.” That’s fine by me, because there’s already more than enough here to keep me satisfied in the meantime. As I stressed up front, Abiotic Factor is an absolute treat. It’s best with friends, but still a good time running solo, and if you start now you’ll have plenty to look forward to.
