Foundry’s Future: A Glimpse into the Next Update

Foundry has come a long way since it launched on itch.io three years ago. The voxel-based factory game is now in early access on steam and has garnered a very positive rating on steam - sitting at 83% positive as of writing. 

In Foundry, your main goal being to build, customize, and sell robots. Well… eventually. Currently, you can build and sell robots, but customization is still lacking. Though, the next update plans to change that along with many other additions/QOL changes. 

Robot Revolution

As it stands right now, the robots you can build don’t come until quite late in the game, and selling them isn’t super interesting (more on the in-game economy next). But DevBlog #54 discusses major changes to the way robots work. The plan is to make them available much earlier in the game and tie them into the core progression - along with making progression much less linear. The other thing they want to do is add a ton of customizability to the bots.

All of these changes are meant to address the two biggest complaints Foundry’s player base has had since the game went into early access:

1. Lack of variety in the ways you can progress through the game.

2. Boring endgame.

And by the looks of it, this update should meaningfully address those issues. With bots being introduced much earlier, and exponentially increased options for what parts they’re made of and what materials you can use to make said parts, you’ll be able to navigate the game however you see fit. Those changes are great on their own, but they’ll be even better when combined with the upcoming economy changes.

Exponentially Expanding Commerce

Selling robots is the core of Foundry’s endgame. You build em’, ship them to the space station, and get firmalite in return. But, the bots are sold instantly and at a fixed price, which leaves much to be desired. Luckily, there are ambitious plans to expand this system.

DevBlog #54 outlines several huge changes to how selling bots works. Firstly, the added bot customization will work in tandem with a supply/demand system. You might get more for selling mining robots than cleaning bots. Or the market gets flooded with haulers and makes them worth nothing. But don’t worry, it won’t all be random. 

The post mentions a reputation system that would allow you to increase demand for the bots you make and the price you can sell them for. And if you want really consistent income, you’ll be able to take on contracts allowing you to sell your bots at regular intervals for a consistent price. 

We don’t have many details on how exactly reputation or contracts would work but the concept is promising. However, we do have plenty of information on the content additions and QOL improvements that are slated for this update. 

Gameplay Additions

Fluid Cargo Ships

Pipes have been the only option players have had for transporting fluids over any distance. But the team at Channel 3 heard our cries and tanker ships will be included in the next update. In DevBlog #55 they acknowledge that pipelines weren’t terribly realistic for long-distance fluid transport, especially as factories start to scale up.

Upgraded Escalators

Similar to other first-person factory games, Foundry has its share of mechanics for getting you around your ever-expanding creations. One of those being the escalator. Though, it’s been more of a gimmick so far; completely outpaced by the jetpack and its upgrades. But in this upcoming update, the devs plan to add two more tiers that are - “Fast, really fast.” 

Decor Galore

Since Foundry is a voxel-based game like Minecraft, you can get really creative with the ways you build and decorate your factory. And when this update drops you’ll have even more options to improve the style of your base. To start, the doors have been retouched and can now be painted. You can take a peek at DevBlog #56 if you want to see for yourself. They also teased two new lights in that post. One is a small light pole and the other appears to be a self-powered light that can be placed anywhere (that hasn’t been confirmed, just speculation from the image they shared).

New content is always appreciated in any game, but all the bells and whistles in the world won’t matter if the playability sucks. Luckily, quality of life hasn’t been forgotten.

QOL & Customization

We’ll start with the smaller changes that won’t have a major impact on most player’s experience. Firstly, there are some improvements to rendering with high field-of-view(FOV). Currently, the game gets quite distorted when you max out your FOV but that will be rectified in this update - and should allow you to up your FOV even more if you want. 

Next, there are some general balance updates on the horizon. Primarily changes to fuel rods and their energy values not being as high as they should be. But, the devs said they’re keeping a close eye on other recipes to make sure they’re tuned right. 

Ore Customization

After this update rolls out, you’ll be able to adjust the richness and frequency of the ores in new worlds like you can in Factorio. This will allow you to customize your experience for each game. So you can make a world where all the ore is super far apart because you enjoy the logistical challenge it brings or you can make it super close and basically infinite if you don’t have the time to set up a bunch of outposts. They also said they’re planning to add more tuning options in the future but want to keep it simple for now. 

Panel Accessibility

One of the more interesting features of Foundry is the machine control panels. They’re always visible and you can interact with them without opening a separate menu. It’s something that not many games do for performance reasons, but in Foundry’s case, it’s also led to some accessibility/usability issues. 

The idea is super cool, just being able to look at a machine, see what it’s doing, and change the settings without having to open a separate menu. While neat in theory, the devs have recognized that it can’t be the only option. Because super dense factory layouts or small screens can make these panels almost unusable. The solution? What every other factory game does. When you press [E] on a machine it opens up a menu that’s wayy easier to read.

These accessibility improvements, along with the other changes discussed, demonstrate Channel 3’s commitment to enhancing both the gameplay experience and user interface of Foundry.

Conclusion

From robot customization and a revamped economy to fluid tankers and improved escalators, this upcoming update is shaping up to be a game-changer for Foundry. The devs at Channel 3 have clearly been paying attention to their community, addressing long-standing concerns like progression variety and endgame content. It’s refreshing to see a development team so in tune with their players’ needs and wants.

With all these exciting changes on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to dive into Foundry - or to take your factory-building addiction to the next level. If you’re itching to share your robotic creations with friends (or show off your escalator-based transportation network), why not set up a dedicated server? AleForge offers Foundry server hosting that’s as reliable as a well-oiled assembly line. So grab your friends, fire up a server, and get ready to revolutionize the robot-building industry together!