Inspect Weapon Research After Your Opening Shift
After your opening shift, check weapon research in the ship's Research Lab and inspect the Research Point and material requirements for the unlock you want. A research node can be visible while the purchase remains unavailable because you do not have enough of a required resource.
Find the Requirement Blocking Your Purchase
- Return from the opening mission to bring the ship's Research Lab online. The next tutorial instruction directs you toward unlocking a new Turret design.
- Complete the prompted Turret research unlock when you are still following the tutorial. An affordable design advances this introduction to research and prepares you to choose another destination.
- Inspect the weapon research entry you want to pursue. Use its displayed name to keep track of the intended unlock when comparing progression choices.
- Compare the selected entry's Research Point cost and additional material requirements with what you have. This identifies the shortage that can keep a visible upgrade unavailable.
- Check destination information at Master Control before your next deployment. The available resource and remaining Blueprint information help you plan what to gather or investigate.
- Revisit the desired research entry after gathering what it requires. Compare its cost again before spending on another upgrade that might use the same accumulated resources.
What You Unlock, Collect, and Choose
| Progression item or reward | Purpose and how to obtain or use it |
|---|---|
| Weapon research unlocks | Provide lasting weapon progression for future expeditions. Inspect the desired research entry and meet its displayed requirements; Early Access includes four upgradeable weapon platforms with different combat styles and critical-hit mechanics. |
| Turret Blueprints | Collectible discoveries with progress tracked through planetary selection. Find a Blueprint while exploring, pick it up, and complete its Scan interaction; the successful scan message confirms collection. |
| Research Points | Contribute to persistent research purchases. The demo's progression changes awarded them through stat milestones, expedition completion, and time played; check the selected research entry for the cost of the upgrade you want. |
| Biomass | A planetary resource used in skill-tree progression. Gather it on planets that offer it; the demo specifically introduced Biomass requirements alongside Research Points for Mod upgrades. |
| Mod research unlocks | Expand the library of choices available when planning future expeditions. Unlock Mods through progression, then review your Mod Deck selection before deploying so the rewards you want are included. |
| Build funds from delivered resources | Fund defenses purchased through the Fabricator during the operation. Earn them by successfully delivering mined resources into the Collector's collection system. |
| Expedition Mod upgrades | Temporary choices that strengthen the build used during the current expedition. Select them from Reward Pods as the shift progresses; possible improvements include faster reloads and stronger critical shots. |
Make Sure a Blueprint Scan Registers
Blueprint collection has its own interaction. Finding the object or moving it toward the Collector does not mean the scan has registered. Complete the Scan prompt before leaving the discovery behind.
- Pick up the Blueprint using its available interaction. In early missions, holding it gives you access to the Scan prompt.
- Activate Scan while holding the Blueprint. Let the interaction complete so the discovery is registered.
- Check for the successful Turret Blueprint scan message. That confirms the scan worked before you move on.
- Review the destination's Blueprint progress when you return to mission selection. This helps you track discoveries still remaining on that planet.
Use Research Requirements to Plan Your Next Shift
Read the requirements for the specific weapon entry you want, especially when several upgrades compete for your resources. A visible node still needs its listed costs met. If you are tracking an unlock by a red icon or appearance, make a note of the displayed item name before choosing what to collect.
Choose research that addresses the problem you encountered on the previous mission. More weapon options are useful when your own damage is holding you back, while a lost Collector or Fuel Pump may call for better defensive coverage. Repeated trouble reaching objectives can make survivability or movement research more useful than another weapon purchase.
Understand the Demo's Starting Weapon Change
The demo changes made the initial Reward Pod offer all weapons the player had already unlocked. That describes choosing an available weapon for an expedition after earning its unlock. Keep that selection separate from the research purchase and from the temporary Mod upgrades chosen as the current shift develops.