Game Options

When starting a new game, a player can choose various options to their liking. Changing some options could disable difficulty-related achievements, and you'll see notification about this.

Scenario

Currently there is only one scenario, which starts in the year 2022.

Solar system

Decides how many stellar bodies will appear in the game. This option changes Mining Productivity Rate too, which affects the amount of space resources deposit in mining sites.

• Full Solar system - 360 Space objects, 100% mining productivity rate
• Medium Solar system - 250 Space objects, 100% mining productivity rate
• Light Solar system - 110 Space objects, 130% mining productivity rate
• Minimum Solar system - 70 Space objects, 210% mining productivity rate

Factions

Decides the number of factions in the game. The default option includes all 8 factions (7 Human factions and The Aliens). Removing a faction increases base cap of the control points by 50.

The minimal number of factions is 3: which will spawn The Aliens, The Resistance and The Servants. The Initiative, Project Exodus, The Academy, Humanity First, and The Protectorate is added by increasing the number of factions, in that order.

Game Difficulty

Chooses the difficulty of the game, which changes various things like AI bonus and alien behaviors.

• 1 = Cinematic
• 2 = Normal
• 3 = Veteran
• 4 = Brutal

Higher Difficulties increase the Control Point and Mission Control bonuses the Human AI receives, makes it easier for the AI to carry out missions while making it harder for the Player. Human AIs will also contribute much less to global techs except when they expect to be the primary contributor (and hence control the next selection) in which case they will aggressively seek to control the slot.

It also makes the Aliens missions easier to achieve, increases the number of mines the Aliens can have, increases the Alien exotics income (while reducing how much you can salvage), and reduces shipbuilding costs for all AI factions. It also increases the rate at which both Human and Alien AIs come to hate the player. (more details on the diplomacy page)

Start Game Buttons

You may start the game without changing advanced options.

Start Long Campaign

Start the game with basic game settings.

Start Accelerated Campaign

Start the game with some changes for more fast-paced game.

• Research Rate: 200%
• Alien Progression Rate: 200%
• Mining Productivity Rate: Double of the base amount set by Solar system setting
• National investment Rate: 200%

Customize Campaign

You may change various options to your liking.

Starting Councilor Profession

You may choose the profession of your starting Councilor(s). Or you may remove a starting councilor or both and get 30 influence for each missing councilor instead.

Variable Project Unlocks

Turning on this setting will cause all Projects to have 100% unlock chance.

Show Triggered Projects

Turning on this setting will cause any project that fails its unlock chance roll for the player faction to show up in a different color in the tech tree, allowing the player to know which projects they have failed to unlock.

Starting Councilor Profession

If selected, your first councilor's home nation will be decided by your PC's regional settings.

Base Control Point Capacity

Decides the number of control point(CP) cap each faction starts with, which decides how many nations you can control before triggering over the CP cap penalty.

AI bonus Control Point Cap

Decides how much CP cap AI factions will receive, in addition to the base CP cap.

Bonus Mission Control

Decides how much bonus Mission Control(MC) cap each faction starts with, which decides how many space assets you can control before triggering the penalty.

AI Bonus Mission Control

Decides how much MC cap AI factions will receive, in addition to the base MC cap and bonus MC.

Research Rate

Decides the cost of technologies and projects. 200% Research rate means half cost for every tech and projects.

Alien Progression Rate

Decides how fast the Aliens get access to more advanced technologies.

See Aliens#Alien_Progression_Rate for details.

Mining Productivity Rate

Decides the amount of space resources deposit in mining sites.

National Investment Rate

Decides the value of Investment Points(IP) required to finish nation priorities, which is used to develop or exploit nations. 200% national investment rate means only the half amount of IP is required to finish nation priorities. Also, the cost of direct investment is multiplied by this option's value. For example, the cost of direct investment on 200% national investment rate is double.

Average Monthly Events

Decides how many events will happen.

Long Campaign Defaults

Change various options to the default settings of Long Campaign. Difficulty-related achievements will be enabled with this setting.

Accelerated Defaults

Change various options to the default settings of Accelerated Campaign. Difficulty-related achievements will be enabled with this setting.

Start Custom Campaign

Start the game with chosen options.