I see why this would be useful, but I also see how it could make some players feel like the DLC becomes a necessary part of the Stellaris experience. Paradox’s logic is that core systems, stuff that will inevitably be expanded on and tweaked, need to be free or the studio would have to support multiple, very different versions of the game. The disparity between the free update and the DLC is even more pronounced than it was in previous DLC, what with 2.0 representing such a massive overhaul of Stellaris’ foundations, and it’s even taken the Ascendency Perks from Utopia and made them free too. One of my bigger gripes with the Paradox approaches to the DLC for their games also applies here, and it lies in how they handle free vs. With a lot of new systems, players will have to adjust or die trying. Fleet and combat balance take center stage as the primary focus.

In terms of gameplay though, Apocalypse and 2.0 frontload a lot of new mechanics. Then again, roleplaying a galactic empire has always been one of the strong draws for Stellaris, at least for me. But with the new fleet mechanics, it feels a bit more realistic. The introduction of the split between building civilian and military ships was something that took some getting used to. Given that combat doesn’t use traditional terrain and its associated modifiers like in other Paradox grand strategy games, they needed a way to create some of that experience in Stellaris.Ī lot of the major changes in the game center around attempts to make combat feel more immersive.

One of the core design mechanics for Apocalypse, at least as I see it, is that Paradox wanted to address a long-term problem with combat and movement in Stellaris.

Stellaris patch 1.9