Astroneer just went full mega‑builder with $9.99 Megatech DLC — I love it, but there’s a catch

Astroneer’s Megatech finally gives us a real endgame

Astroneer just leapt from chill space sandbox to full-on mega-builder. System Era’s Megatech DLC ($9.99) adds massive, modular projects like an Orbital Platform with free flight, the plant-packed Biodome, and a Museum for your hoarding tendencies-plus a chunky free update for everyone. It’s out now on PC, PS4, PS5 (with a free PS4-to-PS5 upgrade), Xbox One and Series X|S, with a Nintendo Switch release planned. If you’ve ever wished your tidy little base had a reason to become a sprawling interplanetary logistics web, this is that moment.

Key takeaways

• Megatech’s headline toys are truly big: Orbital Platform upgrades with free flight, a Biodome for seven new plant types, and a Museum to flex your finds.
• Automation expands with megastructures like the Distribution Launch System and Intermodal Terminal, pushing Astroneer closer to Satisfactory-style logistics.
• It’s $9.99 for the DLC, but there’s also a substantial free update-so even non-buyers get QoL improvements and new reasons to return.
• Early caveats: multiplayer hiccups, some visual bugs (notably on Xbox HDR), and Switch players have to wait.

Breaking down the Megatech drop (and what’s actually worth your time)

This caught my attention because Astroneer has flirted with automation for years, but always stopped short of a true endgame. Megatech changes that. The Orbital Platform is the lynchpin: upgrade it to unlock the Megastructure Component Printer and, eventually, free flight-handy for laying out construction anchors and snapping on massive modules without playing crane simulator with rovers.

On the ground, the Biodome turns farming into a proper system. Seven new plant varieties slot neatly into base loops, feeding advanced crafting and fueling later builds. The Museum is the opposite vibe—less utility, more celebration. Astroneer’s always been a game where players keep cool stuff “because it’s cool.” Now there’s a place to curate that collection without cluttering your production floor.

Automation fans, the Distribution Launch System and Intermodal Terminal are the real eye-openers. They’re built to shuttle resources and crafted goods between sites and even planets, reducing those manual cargo runs that make late-game Astroneer feel like a space Uber shift. If you’re the type to name your storage pallets and color-code cable lines, this DLC reads like a love letter.

Why this matters now

Astroneer’s loop—explore, gather, craft, expand—has always been cozy and clever, but it plateaued once your base was “done.” Megatech introduces an actual horizon for builders: scalable infrastructure, interplanetary logistics, and orbital construction that rewards efficiency and planning. It nudges the game toward the same headspace as Factorio, Satisfactory, or Dyson Sphere Program, while keeping Astroneer’s tactile play-dough charm intact.

And the price point is smart. At $9.99, this is not a cynical micro-DLC; it’s a chunky toolset that meaningfully changes how you play. System Era’s track record of solid free updates sweetens the deal—there’s a parallel free patch with QoL upgrades and global fixes, so even if you skip the DLC, you’re not left behind.

The catch: stability, performance, and platform gaps

You can’t bolt on megastructures without rattling a few bolts elsewhere. Co-op sessions are reporting some crashy moments—especially when multiple players whip out the Terrain Tool in close quarters—and there are lingering collision quirks on walkways. Xbox folks have flagged HDR-related greying; toggling HDR off is the current band-aid. None of this is game-breaking solo, but if your gang is planning a marathon build night, set expectations and save often.

Performance is the other elephant in orbit. Astroneer scales pretty gracefully, but if you turn your save into a spaghetti junction of conveyors, launchers, and orbital traffic, lower-end hardware will feel it. PS5 and Series X|S fare best in my experience, with PC performance hinging on CPU and storage more than raw GPU. Switch players, you’re in the waiting room anyway—Megatech is planned, but not out yet—so expect some compromises when it lands on handheld.

What gamers need to know (and a few pro tips)

• Rush the Orbital Platform upgrades: Stage 2 gets you the Component Printer, Stage 3 unlocks free flight. Both are game-changers for layout and logistics.
• Lay foundations first: use construction anchors and large platforms to plot traffic lanes, power grids, and shipping clearances before you prettify.
• Build a logistics spine early: a Distribution Launch System feeding an Intermodal Terminal cuts busywork and pays dividends as bases multiply.
• Farm smart in the Biodome: the new plants aren’t just decoration—route them into fuel and composite chains to avoid late-game bottlenecks.
• Chase the set bonuses: completing collections (like LRDs, seeds, and shell sets) grants permanent boosts to soil efficiency, sprint speed, jump height, and rover speed. They add up.
• Co-op sanity check: assign roles (miner, builder, dispatcher) and avoid simultaneous terrain edits in tight spaces until patches smooth things out.

Value check and verdict

For ten bucks, Megatech turns Astroneer from “my cute outpost” into “my interplanetary public works project,” and that’s exactly the endgame the community’s been sketching in Discords for years. The free update means everyone benefits, but builders and automation nerds get the real feast. If you’re on PS4, the free PS5 upgrade is a classy touch; if you’re on Switch, the wait is the worst part. I’m in—just with autosave on and a little patience for patches.

TL;DR

Megatech is the most meaningful evolution Astroneer’s had: orbital construction, serious logistics, and a legit reason to go bigger. It’s a steal at $9.99, but co-op bugs and platform gaps mean you should temper the hype with a backup save and a bit of patience.