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Roadside ResearchNewsAbduction Update Going Live on August 18th!
Community

Abduction Update Going Live on August 18th!

Roadside Research · published 11 Aug 2026, 12:59 UTC

All newsPlayers around this dateRead on Steam

Calling all glow heads, 

Your efforts have paid off! Alien HQ is finally convinced that you will able to handle the next grade of alien tech very well: abductions! This means that it's almost time to brain hack those humans and charge the tractor beam for an involuntary trip to the stars... Because nothing feels better than seeing your specimen float away into the heavens.Brain hack and abduct up to 4 humans at a time to gain Research Points.

As the update nears completion this summer, a release date has been generated:  

The Abduction Update will go online on August 18th! 

 
In line with intergalactic protocols, the first of four Invasion Stages will then become available. The stages will lead up until the game’s grand finale and will be released update by update. 

Each Invasion Stage comes with a range of tasks for you to complete.

The bad news about tasks: the required resources on Earth cannot live up to our superterrestrial standards.  
The good news: Shlorp appears remarkably skilled at creating complex constructions out of food packaging, other questionable materials, and blind confidence.
We intend to exploit this talent to its max.

More new features include a Distractor Tool (and even more alien tech), summer decorations, placeable walls, and the Goopster Fridge. 

Based on your intel, we understand that certain actions can be made more fun. Accordingly, we will deploy measures that will put a smile on your paper mask: 

  • A Fully Automated Restocking Technician (code name F.A.R.T.) will help you keep your shelves and gas pumps fully equipped.

  • A reworked probing and blinking minigame including updated mechanics will make it all more fun and feel more... natural.  

  • Stacking products on shelves will make your life as an ordinary gas station owner much easier!

  • Sales will be more predictable thanks to improved customer behavior.

This new robot will help you restock the store, storage shelves, and refuel gas pumps. 

Your feedback has been viable when assembling this next phase of undercover ops. Thank you for playing and sharing your suggestions with us! The Abduction Update will be taking things to new heights. Literally.

Upcoming price update

A quick note: Roadside Research will increase its price to $14.99 USD on August 27th.

Since launch earlier this year, we have deployed three large updates, bringing automation, shop expansions, and extra alien technology to your humble research facility.

And there is so much more being synthesized in our labs as we speak. Future updates will beam down even more extraterrestrial chaos and handy upgrades, including cross-play.

Stay tuned.

Are you ready to arm your Distractors? Because the next update is going to be mind-blowing!  

Stay stellar,

Alien HQ
(Known on Earth as the Cybernetic Walrus Team) 

More from Roadside Research

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Game update2 Sep 2026Patch 3 ─ F.A.R.T., fireworks & moreYour input on the Abduction Update has resulted in extremely useful data for tweaking systems, finding the right balance, and maximizing the fun output. After carefully processing your transmissions, we’ve synthesized this patch that makes your lives as undercover aliens a whole lot easier. Here's what's new: The F.A.R.T. got a bit of rework based on your suggestions: · If the player puts a box…Game update21 Aug 2026Hotfix 14 ─ NPCs, shelves & moreYou pointed out anomalies. We investigated and zapped them! This hotfix applies the following changes: · Fixed NPCs not buying products from certain shelves, fridges and freezers. · Battery tutorial now pops up when the charger is picked up the first time but only if the popup hasn't been shown before. · NPC won't get stuck anymore if they fell while following an abduction. · Added extra lights…Game update20 Aug 2026Hotfix 13 — Rocket launch, walls & moreGreetings, very average Terran gas station owners, A new hotfix has materialized. After the previous one addressed the battery system and F.A.R.T., this one answers a couple of other reports that have kept our alien engineer busy. Here are the patch notes: · Fixed objects that were floating. · Fixed walls that had offset collisions. · Fixed the rocket not launching and you being unable to buy a…