Earlier this month, developer Ludeon announced the upcoming RimWorld Ideology expansion and accompanying 1.3 update. Of course, being the RimWorld community — die-hard fans to the end — we’re all extremely excited for new content and, even better, the ability to form a religion down to the clothing our pawns wear.
So, what’s new in RimWorld Ideology and the 1.3 update? Quite a bit, as it were.
About the RimWorld 1.3 Update
First off, let’s explore the free update launching alongside the expansion. Update 1.3 spent 15 months in development, and it includes enough new features and game mechanics to warrant the extended development time.
For starters, we’re seeing big changes coming to animals in the game. You can now build pens and fences to better corral your livestock, plus these animals are more productive overall, allowing you to actually built a farming colony on the rim.
Some new construction additions, alongside the pens and fencing system, comes in the form of egg boxes for egg-laying creatures, and straw mattering terrain for that all-too-real farm appearance.
Construction is fun but what about quality of life? Ludeon included search bar functionality in key spots throughout the interface, allowing players to quickly find the appropriate piece of furniture or, for another example, a specific material in your stockpile.
Next, we have significant changes to how enemies function and act. There are new wall-breaking tools that allow sappers easier access to your colony, and mechanoids come with their own wall-breaching toolset in the form of the termite.
For more information on what’s coming in the RimWorld 1.3 update, we cannot recommend the interesting post from Ludeon enough.
What About RimWorld Ideology?
Let’s get to the meat of the new content. RimWorld Ideology is the second expansion to the much-beloved colony sim game, following the success of Royalty.
In Ideology, players will have a chance to enhance their role-playing capabilities by creating unique colonies with ideological themes. You can build a group of technologically advanced nomads, or cannibals, or Cthulu worshipping cultists. It’s completely up to you!
Ludeon gives us the tools, and we destroy planets and cultures along the rim.
By allowing us to create a brand-new belief system, and spread our influence far and wide, Ideology allows players to delve into the lore of their colony further. You can mix and match, customizing individual precepts, rituals, social roles, weapon choices, culture, style, unique architecture, tattoos, gods, and even beards.
On top of the ideology system, Ideology brings us the dryads. Dryads have a symbiotic relationship with unique new trees in the game world, which players can control and cultivate.
Lastly, we have a new game ending. No longer must you build a spaceship and escape the planet. Now, the archonexus ending allows a different type of playthrough altogether.
RimWorld Ideology releases on July 20th, 2021, and you can get your copy from Steam or directly through Ludeon Studios.
What Do You Think About Ideology?
I want to hear from you! Leave a comment below telling me why you’re excited about the Ideology expansion, and what your first colony is going to be like!
If Ideology is your first foray into RimWorld, welcome! We have a guide on How to Survive Your First Day in RimWorld!