Greetings Pioneers,
Today we're taking a look at a brand-new resource type that we’re introducing in the playtest: Liquids. This blog covers how to collect, transport, store and process them.
Side Note: We’re very pleased with how the playtest has progressed so far. A lot of bugs have been fixed, optimisation has come a long way and playtesters have played the current version for hundreds of hours!
We will soon be shifting our focus to multiplayer interactions and content like corporations and the player-driven market. To help test these new features we will send out a new wave of invitations in January.
We're introducing a brand-new category of materials in the SpaceCraft Playtest: Liquid resources. The first two you’ll encounter are Water and Sulfuric Acid.
Geyser. 1. in-game screenshot 2. concept art
Right now, these Liquids can be found in geysers scattered across planetary surfaces. Just like with any other resource, the first step is to scan the geyser to identify it. Once scanned, you’ll need to wait for the eruption and position yourself directly in the geyser’s jet. From there, you can use a ship module called the Hose Pump to collect the Liquid during the brief eruption window.
Using the Hose Pump. 1. concept art 2. concept art
In future updates, you’ll also be able to immerse your ship into lakes of Liquid and use the Hose Pump to extract much larger volumes more quickly. But beware of damaging your ship! We’re also planning to introduce a structure called the Deep Geo Pump (the name is subject to change), which will behave similarly to extractors for solid resources by automatically collecting Liquids from underground deposits that can be identified from the surface.
Hose Pump module. 1. 3D render 2. concept art 3. concept art
Unlike solid resources, Liquids require dedicated storage solutions. On ships, they’re stored in tanks, while on bases, they’re kept in large cisterns. Managing Liquids adds an extra layer of management: you can store multiple types of solids together in a cargo bay or warehouse, but each tank or cistern can only hold one specific type of Liquid. That means if you want to collect both Water and Sulfuric Acid during the same expedition, your ship needs to be equipped with at least two separate tanks.
Cistern. 1. in-game screenshot 2. 3D render 3. concept art
There is, however, a workaround. Liquids can be bottled using a structure called the Bottling Plant. This lets you store and transport Liquids using solid storage containers. To do this, you’ll first need to craft empty bottles, then fill them with the desired Liquid. While this method adds flexibility, especially for logistics, it’s less system-efficient, meaning it takes up more module capacity compared to using dedicated tanks.
Bottling Plant. 1. in-game screenshot 2. 3D render 3. cconcept art
Within a base, Liquid logistics are fairly straightforward. All cisterns are automatically connected, allowing Liquid to flow between them as needed. The Landing Pad handles the transfer between a ship’s tanks and the base’s cisterns.
Landing Pad. 1. in-game screenshot 2. 3D render 3. concept art 4. concept art
However, transporting Liquids between different bases is more difficult. Automated shuttles can’t transport Liquids at all. The only options are to either bottle the Liquids for shuttle delivery or manually fly them using one of your ships fitted with the proper tanks.
To make use of Liquids in crafting, you’ll need to build a Chemical Factory. Though, for now, only a handful of crafting recipes use them.
Chemical Factory. 1. in-game screenshot 2. 3D render 3. concept art
One of the most useful is a Vanadium Battery that combines Sulfuric Acid, Vanadium, and Graphite. This advanced battery module significantly increases battery life in dark environments, like deep-space or dark-sides of planets, where solar panels are unable to recharge your ship's battery.
You can also create Sulfuric Acid by combining Water and Sulfur, or extract Sulfur from Sulfuric Acid to use in crafting explosives and other advanced materials.
As development progresses, we’ll be expanding both the range of available Liquids and the number of recipes that require them.
As the end of the year approaches, the team will be taking a short break to rest and recharge. The office will be closed for a couple of days over the holidays, and we’ll be back in early 2026 with more updates to share.
Until then, we wish you a peaceful, and positive end of year Pioneers.