Summary
Beloved construction and management simulation gameFactoriohas reached a new peak player count following the release of its newSpace AgeDLC. The gamehas long been a staple of base building and automation games on Steam, but its new downloadable content has ushered in a new age of popularity. Alongside an increase in players, the new DLC forFactoriohas been met with exceptionally high praise, something that’s likely not too surprising for longtime fans of the incredibly deep and rewarding sandbox indie game.
Automation and progression are the driving forces behindFactorio, with new gadgets and machines always on the horizon. Lauded for its incredibly addictive gameplay loop,Factoriohas been a staple among the PC gaming community since going public over a decade ago. Over the years,Factoriohas received sizable content updates and changes, all of which have steadily improved the overall experience. Arguably the definition of “easy to learn, hard to master,“Factorioprides itself on the sheer size and scopeit offers players, starting them out with simple conveyor belts. These primitive machines quickly turn more complex and efficient, withFactoriolikely inspiring other similar games likeDyson Sphere Program,Captain of Industry, andSatisfactory. WithFactorio’s new DLC hitting digital shelves, it seems now has never been a better time to dive in.
WhileFactoriohas been popular for quite some time,Space Agehas ushered in a new era for the game, with the expansion receiving high praise among players. Even more impressive,Factoriorecently surpassed its previous player count record, reaching over 91,000 concurrent builders on Steam.Factorio: Space Agewas years in the making, and several changes and tweaks were made to gameplay, allowing players to build even more complex machines. Reviews forSpace Ageare glowing, with the expansion receiving an “overwhelmingly positive” mark on Steam with 98% positive reviews.
Factorio Reaches New Player Count Record
After a lengthy period in Steam Early Access,Factorio1.0 was released back in 2020. The launch ofFactorio1.0 saw the game reach 34,700 concurrent players, a respectable number but low compared to what itsSpace AgeDLC has accomplished.Space AgeisFactorio’s first major follow-up content and was initially announced in 2021. The expansion was built in part by one ofFactorio’s most prominent moddersand adds several new items, machines, and locations for fans to utilize and explore.
Factoriosees players crash-land on an alien planet with the sole task of harvesting resources in order to escape. Similar to other survival games, players will need to scroungefor crafting materials inFactorioin order to build a rocket to get themselves off the alien planet.Space Agetakes place once players successfully escape their originalFactoriofates, allowing them to continue building factories and machine chains across new planets and biomes.
Factorio
WHERE TO PLAY
Factorio is a game in which you build and maintain factories. You will be mining resources, researching technologies, building infrastructure, automating production and fighting enemies. In the beginning you will find yourself chopping trees, mining ores and crafting mechanical arms and transport belts by hand, but in short time you may become an industrial powerhouse, with huge solar fields, oil refining and cracking, manufacture and deployment of construction and logistic robots, all for your resource needs. However this heavy exploitation of the planet’s resources does not sit nicely with the locals, so you will have to be prepared to defend yourself and your machine empire.Join forces with other players in cooperative Multiplayer, create huge factories, collaborate and delegate tasks between you and your friends. While the core gameplay is in the form of the freeplay scenario, there are a range of interesting challenges in the form of Scenarios. If you don’t find any maps or scenarios you enjoy, you can create your own with the in-game Map Editor, place down entities, enemies, and terrain in any way you like.
