Satisfactory has announced a brand-new upcoming DLC called the Core Values Expansion. This will be the game's first paid DLC, and while that might worry some at first, the new content seems to be well worth it! Here we'll cover everything we know about the Satisfactory Core Values expansion, including some of its new content, the general direction, and even see some of it in action with the first teaser trailer. We'll also speculate at details we don't have just yet, including its release date and price. So let's dive in!

Satisfactory Core Values Expansion: Release Date Window

Unfortunately, we still don't know an exact release date for Core Values. The developers have confirmed that it will not release in 2026, but there's no firm window for 2027 either. Based on the most recent interview with Coffee Stain Studios, Satisfactory Core Values won't release in 2026, and it is still only a possible inclusion for 2027, with 2028 also on the table. While this might be a bit of bad news for players looking to dive underground soon, it shows the level of commitment the studio has to ensuring all new content added to Satisfactory maintains its high standard, especially its first paid DLC. Overall, based on the interview and previous development, we expect the Satisfactory Core Values Expansion release date to land in late 2027, either in late Q3 or early Q4.

What Will Be Included in the Satisfactory Core Values Expansion?

While Core Values is a long way from release, we know a bit about what we can expect from the DLC when it arrives.

The biggest feature of Core Values will be the underground. Players will venture into a giant cave system beneath the planet MASSAGE 2(A-B)b, creating factories in an environment completely different from the surface.

According to Coffee Stain, the decision to go underground was partly about expanding Satisfactory's world without disrupting the existing surface ecosystem. It also fits naturally with the game's focus on exploration, mining, and, of course, resource extraction. Additionally, the underground has long been one of the most frequently requested locations from the Satisfactory community.

With the lack of sunlight, Coffee Stain is planning a strange, alien ecosystem that functions very differently from the planet's surface. The developers also want the underground to have a rougher industrial aesthetic, with players crushing enormous rocks to supply their foundries and smelters. This will include new factory buildings, equipment, biomes, a new power system, more resources, and more recipes. Essentially, Core Values will bring a whole lot of new stuff and more of what Satisfactory players know and love.

According to the interview, you also won't need to complete the base game story of Satisfactory before you can access Core Values content. All you need is to reach Tier 3 when both Coal and Steel are unlocked. When the expansion arrives, you can even jump into Core Values content on a preexisting world. No new files will be required.

Naturally, Core Values will also bring a healthy helping of fine-tuning. More bug fixes, more tech updates, more quality-of-life features, and further optimization tweaks. While the expansion is a long way out, the developers have confirmed that smaller updates will arrive before Core Values.

What Else is Coming for Satisfactory?

Core Values isn't the only thing Coffee Stain is working on. During the interview, the developers also discussed the work that went into Satisfactory's revamped vehicle system. Truck pathfinding has been completely overhauled which makes trucks a more practical transportation option.

The team also revealed that a Satisfactory board game is in development with Copenhagen-based Mood Publishing. The project has been in development for nearly two years, with Coffee Stain participating in internal playtests. A crowdfunding campaign will take place later in 2026. There may be a long wait ahead, but Satisfactory isn't showing any sign of slowing down!