Paradox Interactive's space strategy game Stellaris continues to expand its universe with the new Biogenesis DLC, part of the game's ninth season of content. While the expansion itself has been praised for its innovative gameplay features, technical issues with the accompanying 4.0 update have led to surprisingly negative Steam reviews.
The Biogenesis Expansion
The Biogenesis expansion introduces several groundbreaking features to the sci-fi sandbox strategy game. Most notably, it allows players to take control of a sapient planet through the new Wilderness origin, which Paradox has described as the most transformative Origin we have ever added to the game. Instead of managing traditional civilizations, players control a living planet that evolves mega-flora and fauna using a new Biomass resource, eventually spreading influence by launching terraforming spores to other worlds.
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| Experience the awe-inspiring power of a sapient planet in the Biogenesis expansion—where evolution takes on a spectacular form |
New Origins and Gameplay Options
Beyond the Wilderness origin, Biogenesis offers additional starting scenarios. The Evolutionary Predators origin enables advanced bioengineering, allowing players to combine perks from multiple phenotypes to create ultimate species. Meanwhile, the story-focused Starlit Citadel origin challenges players to defend their Deep Space Citadel against hordes of aggressive living ships. For those seeking galactic domination, the expansion introduces a new Player Crisis scenario where you can nurture and unleash your own leviathan—a planet-smashing kaiju—upon unsuspecting civilizations.
Living Ships and Biological Engineering
The expansion significantly enhances the biological aspects of Stellaris, allowing players to create fleets of organic living spacecraft and further bio-engineer their species. New story vignettes involving fractured hive-minds add narrative depth to the experience. These additions have been well-received by players who appreciate the expansion's creative direction and thematic consistency.
The 4.0 Update Controversy
Despite the positive reception of the Biogenesis content, the DLC has received mostly negative reviews on Steam due to issues with the accompanying free 4.0 update. This major overhaul transforms population mechanics, removes trade routes, and adds district specializations. Many players report technical problems including lag, crashes, and bugs that render some empires unplayable. The update's performance issues have overshadowed what many consider to be one of the best DLCs Paradox has created.
Player Feedback Divide
Player feedback shows a clear division between appreciation for the DLC content and frustration with the update's implementation. One reviewer noted, Probably the best DLC so far with sweeping additions to the game, both flavor and mechanics-wise. However, the 4.0 update is currently not enjoyable. Not all experiences have been negative, though—some players report no technical issues at all, suggesting the problems may not be universal.
Pricing and Future Content
The Biogenesis expansion is available on Steam for USD$25 (or £22), or as part of a USD$45 (£38) expansion pass that includes two upcoming content packs. The next expansion, Shadows of the Shroud, is scheduled for Q3 2025 and will overhaul the Psionic ascension path. Before that, the Infernals species pack will arrive in late 2024. Paradox's ambitious content roadmap demonstrates their continued commitment to Stellaris, which remains one of the most popular space 4X games available.
Looking Forward
As Paradox continues to address technical issues with the 4.0 update, the Biogenesis expansion's reception may improve. The contrast between the positive response to the DLC's content and the negative reaction to technical problems highlights the challenges of maintaining complex strategy games while simultaneously expanding their features. For now, Stellaris players can enjoy the biological wonders of Biogenesis—provided they can navigate past the update's technical hurdles.