“You will not be using belts”: Satisfactory’s first expansion isn’t the same game set underground - there’s a whole new set of resource-moving toys to master
Satisfactory, the factory automation game, is getting its first expansion called Core Values. Rather than simply relocating the game to a new surface location, the expansion takes players into an entirely new underground biome with fundamentally different gameplay mechanics and challenges.
The expansion focuses on building a mining operation in a subterranean environment characterized by limited space and reduced lighting, creating a distinct gameplay experience from the base game. Navigation through the underground tunnels presents its own unique challenges that players will need to overcome.
One of the most significant changes in Core Values is the introduction of new logistics tools specifically designed for underground resource management. The developers emphasize that the expansion isn’t merely Satisfactory with the lights dimmed—the new tools and systems create substantially different gameplay than transporting resources in the surface world. These new logistics mechanics represent a core pillar of the expansion’s design, requiring players to master a different approach to resource moving and factory construction.
The emphasis on “you will not be using belts” suggests that traditional conveyor belt systems, a staple of the base game, may not be the primary or optimal resource transport solution in the underground environment. Instead, players will need to adapt to the new tools available, fundamentally changing how they approach factory layout and optimization.