Stellaris is an incredible grand-strategy sci-fi game that has only gotten better at time goes on. This improvement is thanks to both the DLC and expansions, as well as free updates. The next update, known as 3.1 Lem, aims to add further role-playing opportunities to the game by giving Empires the chance to be more diverse, while increasing the longevity of a session without it getting stale at a certain point.

Aside from these exciting additions, Lem will also feature some minor bug fixes, balancing and quality-of-life improvements. These include changes to Void Dwellers and Empires with Ecumenopolis worlds, as well as adjusting the Shattered Ring Origin to decrease the initial power of the Origin, which prior to the patch is capable of dominating other Empires early in a session. Here's everything coming in Stellaris' next update, which is currently planned to drop in September.

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Selectable Traditions

The Traditions system will no longer lock players to the same set of seven traditions (with some swaps), and players will be able to pick which Tradition Tree they want to go into one of seven slots. Other than allowing players to select their own Traditions trees, some of the Traditions within existing Trees have been changed. The update is also adding three new Tradition Trees to the game: Mercantile, Unyielding and Subterfuge.

The Mercantile tree is similar to Prosperity in the sense that it focuses on improving the economy and infrastructure of your Empire. Unyielding is similar to Supremacy by helping to focus on the military might of Empires, though it's better suited to Empires that may find themselves on the defensive in wars. Finally, Subterfuge will focus on improving the intelligence gathering and black-ops capabilities of your Empires.

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Plantoids Species Pack

After years of begging Paradox to rework the Humanoid and Plantoid Species Packs, fans are finally getting their wish. Plantoids will be given three new species traits, which include Phototrophic (which makes these plant pops equal parts dependent on food and energy), Radiotrophic (which allows for increased habitability on irradiated tomb worlds) and Budding (which allows for some pop assembly rather than just procreation).

Plantoids will also be given two new traits that include Catalytic Processing (which allows you to produce alloys with food rather than minerals) and Idyllic Bloom (which lets you transform planets into Gaia Worlds by building Gaia Seeders and upgrading them, gradually transforming it after four phases).

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Humanoid Species Pack

While no new traits for Humanoids have been announced, this Species Pack is getting three new Civics that offer incredible opportunities for role-play. Masterful Crafters replace Artisans with a new job type called Artificers, which still produce consumer goods. However, they also produces extra trade value and engineering research. Pleasure Seekers grants access to the Decadent Lifestyle Living Standard, which increases happiness and consumer goods upkeep for all affected pops.

Finally, the Clone Army Civic means that your Empire was created rather than born -- and that it somehow outlived your creators. Not unlike the famous Clone Army of the Star Wars prequels, this Civic makes an Empire perfectly suited for warfare, though with significantly shorter lifespans and an inability to reproduce naturally. Your lives and continued existence will depend on your Ancient Clone Vat buildings, which support your population. Whether players wish to simply wage war as designed or dive into the secrets of their own history, forging their own destinies in the process, is up to them.

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