Afterdepth 0.1.9 — Research, base building, exploration

Version 0.1.9 greatly expands what you can do both inside and outside the base. The map is now wider, opening up more room for horizontal exploration, mining, and alternate routes through the cave. At the same time, this update starts pushing the game further into research-based progression, construction, and infrastructure, with a new Research Tree, portable power, new machines, oxygen production, acid refining, and structures that help you bring resources beyond the bunker walls.

This update also brings important new survival and exploration features: Mach1, a companion robot that follows you and can carry items; the scanner, now tied more closely to research progression; and acid, a new environmental hazard that can also become a useful resource when processed correctly. Bunker 07 received a major overhaul as well, with new atmosphere, more detailed interior areas, oxygen points, toxicity, and a stronger narrative role in the journey.

Update Highlights

Research Tree

This update introduces a more complete Research Tree, with categories such as energy, structures, equipment, and exploration. Research uses research points, and some nodes may require previous research, available power-grid margin, or story progress before they can be unlocked. Steam post image

Highlights include research tied to energy efficiency, energy distribution, LSU capacity and output, inventory/carry upgrades, manufacturing progression, Mach1 upgrades, and new scanner stages. The goal is for progression to feel less like simply finding recipes and more like technological development happening inside your own base.

Scanner and Exploration

The scanner is now more connected to the Research Tree. It starts as an exploration tool, but can be improved through research such as Basic Scanner and Advanced Scanner, increasing its usefulness as the base evolves. Steam post image

When used on relevant points, the scanner gives feedback and can register certain deposits or objects found in the world. This reinforces the idea of turning exploration into knowledge: you descend, scan, catalog, and use that data to progress.

Mach1, the Expedition Companion

Mach1 is a new companion drone that follows the player through the cave. Besides accompanying you during exploration, it can carry items, making long trips, heavy mining runs, and returns to base much easier. It also has its own hover sound, making it feel more present when nearby.

The Research Tree also creates room for Mach1-related upgrades, such as expanding its capacity, reinforcing the robot’s role as part of the progression.

Acid: Hazard and Resource

Acid is now part of the world as a dangerous liquid: touching it causes damage, and items dropped into it are destroyed. But it is not only a threat. With the new Acid Refinery, you can extract and turn this material into a crafting resource, including for battery production. Steam post image

When acid comes into contact with water, it also creates polluted water, with its own visual style and contamination that slowly spreads through the liquid. This makes the depths more dangerous, but also more interesting for players who want to explore and build production chains.

Early Steps Toward Building

The building system is still in an early stage, but this version already gives it a clearer foundation. New structures include the portable chest, water-powered O₂ generator, acid refinery, and portable energy poles.

Placing structures is also easier to understand: before confirming placement, the game shows a grid-aligned preview; canceling does not consume the item; and confirming placement consumes the correct item from your inventory. It is still an early system, but it already points toward more functional and customizable bases.

Power Network Outside the Bunker

One of the most important parts of this update is the ability to extend power beyond the base. Portable energy poles let you bring power from the bunker to structures placed in the world, creating an external network to feed machines and support points. Steam post image

Wires are also easier to read visually and now handle obstacles better, making infrastructure clearer and more useful during exploration. With energy-related research, this network also has more room to grow over the course of progression.

A More Complete Bunker 07

Bunker 07 has been heavily reworked. It now has new art, more defined interior rooms, stronger lighting, reactive lights, oxygen points, and a toxic area with progressive damage. The goal is for the bunker to have more identity, more tension, and a stronger role in both the story and the exploration balance.

Wider Map

The map is now wider horizontally, giving you more room to dig, explore, and get lost in the cave’s branching paths. This should make exploration feel less cramped and open up more route possibilities, especially for players who like building paths and structures around the base.

Changelog

New Content

• AddedResearch Treenew progression with research points, requirements, categories, and unlocks for energy, structures, equipment, and exploration.

• Scanner: now connected to the Research Tree, with improvements such as Basic Scanner and Advanced Scanner.

• AddedMach1new companion drone that follows the player and can carry items.
• AddedAcidnew dangerous liquid that deals damage, destroys items, and can be refined for crafting.
• AddedAcid Refinerynew structure that extracts acid from the terrain using power.
• AddedBatterynew item crafted with acid and other components.
• AddedBuilding systemnew structures such as portable chest, water-powered O₂ generator, refinery, and energy poles.

• Portable power network: poles with up to four outputs to bring power outside the bunker.

• AdjustedBunker 07reworked with new art, rooms, lighting, oxygen, and toxic areas.

• Larger map: wider horizontal play area.

• Polluted water: created when water and acid come into contact.

• Marker beacon: craftable item with a local map in the terminal, types, reclaiming, proximity beep, and save persistence.

• AddedControls helpnew pause-menu panel for keyboard, mouse, Xbox, and PlayStation layouts.

• Placement mode: preview before building, cancel without spending the item, and confirmation that consumes the correct slot.

• Dynamite: larger radius, stronger knockback, and more dangerous damage near the explosion.

• AddedMining and audionew sound and ore-yield adjustments while digging.

Changes and Improvements

• Hook and scanner now share the secondary tool slot.

• Hook aiming adjusted for keyboard, mouse, and controller.

• Base energy can now improve through research, including efficiency, distribution, capacity, and output.

• Wires and cables are clearer and easier to follow.

• Liquids disturb nearby sand less often, reducing unwanted collapses.

• Hotkeys, pause, inventory, and menus received behavior and alignment improvements.

• Text and localization updated to better reflect controls, weapons, research, and actions.

• Collision and terrain physics received optimizations and fixes.

Fixes

• Fixed crashes related to structure placement, energy/radar, scaffolds, and closing the configuration window.

• Fixed alignment issues in menus and with the difficulty selector.

• Reduced telemetry spam from some numeric options.

Save Notice

• Saves from version 0.1.8.x are not compatible with 0.1.9. A new save is required to play this version.