After a few days of having some fun in the sun exploring the Sinking Reef, Astroneers should be feeling nice and recharged. So, isn't it great timing for Ensign Carl to suddenly make it back to the station with a bundle of rowdy Carrotlings!?
Get the lowdown on this new Community Challenge so you can come in nice and prepared for some Carrotling mayhem.
Ensign Carl could use some help
Hiya! Mr. Jupiter wants us to make buds with Carota, and that's one thing I know heaps about. I could handle it on my own, but the Cap doesn’t think I can do it solo, so I guess we're partners.
For the duration of this new Community Challenge, Ensign Carl will be present on the Starseeker along with a few troublesome Carrotlings, namely the Carrotling warlord himself, Lord Carota! You'll be able to find them to the left side, facing the bridge where Captain Jupiter is, next to JAM-BX.
Speaking of Captain Jupiter, he may have his doubts about allowing these creatures on the station (as well as a fair share of blame to place on Carl), but something good may yet come out of all this. Lord Carota has been babbling an awful lot about "Marbles" and may turn out to be a goldmine of intel. You've proven to be very reliable, so you're being tasked with helping establish a diplomatic relationship with him and his Warbundle.
Lord Carota will recognize your efforts by rewarding you with Barcodes of Honor, earned by completing his Missions or any of the new Tasks added for this event. Each one of Lord Carota's Tasks will earn you 1 Barcode of Honor. In addition, as you earn his trust, his Missions will progressively grant more and more Barcodes of Honor.
There are some nice rewards for all who participate, so make sure you contribute at least a few Barcodes of Honor.
Start Date: Wednesday, August 12th, 2026. Starting at 10 AM PST.
End Date: Sunday, August 23rd, 2026. Ending at midnight PST.
Open the DAD menu and under "Objectives," look for the "Event" tab to track your progress.
The more progress the crew makes toward completing the Community Challenge, the more reward tiers will be unlocked for all participating Astroneers! Please note that it can take a few minutes after reaching a milestone for the reward to show in your Inbox.
Tier 1 at 20% of the Goal – Sticker Shock Visor
Tier 2 at 50% of the Goal – Carotene Spirit Palette
Tier 3 at 100% of the Goal – Loose Leaf Hat
Edit 2: The blog copy has been corrected to reflect the actual order these items will be awarded in. The in-game Objectives menu tab still shows rewards in an inaccurate order.
Repeatable Stretch Goal Rewards: These will award all participants with a Frequent Shopper's Pack each time a stretch goal is reached. This pack includes: 1x Super Fire Canister, 5x Stim Packs, and 25 Credits.
Can you befriend Lord Carota?
THE LORD CAROTA offers DISCOUNT ALLIANCE. But you, PITIFUL SHOPPER, must prove your worth to earn Fearsome LOYALTY REWARDS. Bring merciless diplomacies! LIQUIDATE CARROTLINGS! No refunds, no remorse.
A new Mission Chain is available for the duration of this Community Challenge. Start by going to Captain Jupiter to be debriefed, and you'll be pointed to where Ensign Carl and Lord Carota can be found with a few Carrotlings from his Warbundle. Complete their Missions before the end of the Community Challenge to befriend the Carrotlings and earn the Warcry Emote on the final Mission!
Lord Carota has also issued a wide array of violent new Tasks to be completed for the duration of this Community Challenge. They're all aimed at helping Lord Carota secure more power for his Warbundle (and granting an outlet for his hatred of Shroomlings), each rewarding you with 1 Barcode of Honor. Just like regular Tasks, they also have Credit bonuses for the first time you complete each one, so make sure to try different ones!
If you're the kind of Astroneer who likes tossing Carrotlings around like footballs, then hey, at least now you have a reason for it! But don't worry, you still get to try and be friends with some of them.
– Honourael.