Stellaris version 4.2.3 has been released across Steam, Microsoft Store, and GOG, offering a wide sweep of improvements aimed at refining Infernal focused playthroughs and tightening several core systems. The update brings multiple trait and origin adjustments, improved compatibility across civics, and refined resource outputs. In addition, crisis path mechanics receive substantial tuning, including revised ship stats, edict changes, terraforming logic, and expanded ascension options for Machine Intelligence empires.
The patch also resolves a large number of issues affecting gameplay, events, traits, terraforming, AI behaviors, and special projects. Several stability fixes address late game crashes, out of sync situations, and platform specific problems. Together, these changes strengthen both performance and mechanical consistency while delivering long awaited adjustments to Infernal empires and crisis progression.
Patch Notes
Improvements
- Thermophiles can now pick the Ocean Paradise Origin
- Thermophiles can now pick the Aquatic Trait
- Thermophiles can now pick the Agrarian Trait
- Thermophiles can now pick the Agrarian Idyll Civic
- Thermophiles can now pick the Anglers Civic
- Added conditions to receive alloys when extorting a Spiritualist Thermophile faction
- Pyromanic Instinct now blocks friendly Civics and Origins
- Rogue Servitor empires now receive additional alloys when having an Infernal subspecies
Balance
- Reduced Infernal Livestock base output from 1.5 to 1 alloy and later from 1 to 0.75 alloys
- Adjusted “Distribute Living Metal” decision cost from 500 to 700 Living Metal
- Updated “Thermal Engineer” councilor to provide plus 4 percent Research Station Output instead of Engineering Research Cost reduction
- Adjusted “Pyromanic Priest” councilor Consumer Goods upkeep from minus 3 percent to minus 2 percent
- Adjusted “Galvanic Symbiosis” planetary refund modifier from 1 to 0.75
- Crisis Path adjustments:
- Entropy Conduit ships gain increased hull, armor, and shield
- “Entropy Harnessing” edict adjusted for Energy Credits and Entropy generation
- Volcanic Forge terraforming counts toward crisis objectives
- Entropy Conduit colonies gain increased unity
- Ember Ship upgrades no longer require alloys
- Stellarformed stars gain additional deposits
- Machine Intelligence can now pick the ascension perk
- UI now shows required systems for “Critical Mass”
- Cost of “Life Seeding” changed to 2500 Entropy Crystals
- Conduits ignore systems with Dyson Sphere, Swarm, or Quantum Catapult
- Adjusted alloy upkeep of Spawning Drones from 2.5 to 2
Bug Fixes
- Corrected various issues ranging from missing translations to incorrect trait interactions
- Fixed armor auto upgrades for Galvanic Synthesis builds
- Removed Quantum Catapult targeting graphics from system view
- Fixed Infernal upkeep interactions with Clone Soldier and Necrophage traits
- Subterranean Empires now have uncapped Mining Districts on Volcanic Worlds
- Resolved assimilation issues for gestalt empires and machine individualists
- Fixed ruler clothing for Infernal portrait 5
- Corrected Black Needle Base colonization behavior
- Fixed Augmentation Bazaars lacking access to Loyalty Circuits
- Corrected Broken Shackles starting pop count
- Removed Migrating Forests modifiers when terraforming to Volcanic Worlds
- Required tech now enforced for Thermotechnic Forums
- Fixed stability from Unbreakable Resolve trait
- Fixed assimilation upkeep issues
- Corrected event purge continuation after recolonization
- Multiple fixes to special project logic, purge mechanics, livestock roles, and planet interactions
- Corrected numerous Infernal specific issues, including livestock classification and crisis system logic
- Fixed AI colonization behavior for Infernal empires
- Addressed issues affecting starbase construction, conduit behavior, and stellarforming system deposits
- Fixed anomalies with Fallen Empire buildings, megastructure tooltips, and event scenes
- Addressed job efficiency going negative
- Numerous fixes to fleet orders, jump drive logic, tooltip formatting, and unreachable system behavior
Performance
- Reduced memory allocations in topbar UI updates
Stability
- Fixed Mac crash occurring during late game fleet aura calculations
- Resolved object lifetime issues in resolution failure logic
- Fixed crash related to strike craft damaged by dead fleets
- Resolved out of sync conditions caused by starbase fleet path blocking
- Removed dependency on SetThreadDescription for legacy Windows compatibility
- Fixed CTD related to invalid special project completions
- Improved handling of file read and write operations to prevent crashes
- Game now responds to OS events during GUI loading on DirectX 11
Modding
- Added new system flag to the Entropy Conduit target script to exclude special stars
Stellaris is a sci-fi grand strategy game in which players guide interstellar empires across a procedurally generated galaxy, managing diplomacy, technology, exploration, and complex internal systems. Developed by Paradox Development Studio, it was released for PC on May 9, 2016, with a console edition later adapted for PlayStation and Xbox platforms.
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