Imagine combining the silence of space with the crushing, seemingly never-ending weight and darkness of the ocean floor. That's the elevator pitch for Barotrauma, a co-op submarine simulator filled with multiple warring factions and gigantic sea creatures. You've got to manage your vessel, complete missions, and work with others to make sure your sub can keep functioning. It's a simulation game with a focus on horror, and it is now set to get even better, as the new Home and Harbor DLC is coming to the game sometime next year.
In the near future, humanity has fled the Earth and wound up on Jupiter's moon of Europa. The celestial body's surface is icy, heavily irradiated, and unlivable, though, so we've all wound up in space submarines below the surface. Picking from six classes with up to 16 players on board your sub, it's your job to work together to haul cargo, recover alien artifacts, or hunt Lovecraftian-looking undersea creatures. Barotrauma is like if FTL's spaceship management and Dwarf Fortress' in-depth simulation had a baby, and it came out looking like Cthulhu.
If that sounds like it's for you, Barotrauma's Home and Harbor DLC has just been announced, and it promises to bring even more challenges to the submarine game. First up, the new release will give you the chance to assume control of your own deep-sea outpost, or conquer another by force. You can add new modules, manage NPCs, build workshops, and improve your operations with a dedicated research and unlock tree. Your outpost can also be turned into a real home, too, with customization options that'll bring a sense of normalcy to life under the unforgiving ocean waves.
The DLC will also introduce a new faction called The Descendants. This technocratic group has been messing around with alien technology, modifying their bodies and minds into something frightening. The Descendants will also come with loads of new items, so you'll want to interact with them even if they seem a bit… fishy.
Barotrauma's entire faction system is also undergoing a revamp, as roaming submarines will contribute to the NPC outpost economy. You can trade with ing allies, fight your enemies, or choose to let them just sail on by. NPC factions will also interact with each other independently of you, making Europa feel even more alive.
Barotrauma's Home and Harbor expansion is currently set for launch in 2026, while the base game is 50% off until Tuesday June 10. You can find it on Steam here.
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