As we’ve been working on the progression of the early game, one awkward point that kept coming up is the Matter Manipulator. You’re given this all-purpose future tool, but then immediately replace it with stone age pickaxes because of their superior digging ability. So, for the past few days, I’ve been prototyping a system of upgrades for the Matter Manipulator that should keep it useful throughout the course of the game and give players something more futuristic than hand tools. This is all WIP, obviously, but so far it seems to make more sense both aesthetically and mechanically. Here’s a quick look at the current range of upgrades we’re testing:

Players will be able to upgrade the area, digging power, and other numerical aspects of the Matter Manipulator as well as enabling new harvesting options such as liquid collection. Hopefully, this should make it a satisfying tool in your character’s arsenal and even offer a bit of customization to suit your play style.