Satisfactory
{{Short description|2024 video game}}
{{For|pages relating to "satisfaction"|Satisfaction (disambiguation){{!}}Satisfaction}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Satisfactory
| image = Satifactory video game cover art.jpg
| developer = Coffee Stain Studios
| publisher = Coffee Stain Publishing
| engine = Unreal Engine 5{{cite web |url=https://www.dsogaming.com/news/satisfactory-will-be-now-using-unreal-engine-5-1-key-features-detailed/|title=Satisfactory will be now using Unreal Engine 5.1, key features detailed|first=John|last=Papadopoulos|date=March 14, 2023 |website=DSOGaming}}{{efn|Used Unreal Engine 4 prior to the release of Update 8 on 14 November 2023}}
| platforms = Windows
| released = 10 September 2024
| genre = Factory simulation, Sandbox
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Satisfactory is a 2024 factory simulation game by Coffee Stain Studios for Windows. The player (a "Pioneer") is dropped onto an alien planet with a handful of tools and must use the planet's natural resources to construct increasingly complex factories. The initial goal is to construct a space elevator, through which the Pioneer begins supplying the megacorp the player works for (FICSIT Inc.) with increasingly numerous and complex components for their unknown, but stated to be prudent, purposes. These exports unlock access to new technology that in turn unlocks a new tier of manufacturing and refinement machines to support the production of the next phase of parts to be delivered to FICSIT.
Satisfactory was made available for early access on 19 March 2019. By January 2024, the game had sold 5.5 million copies.{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/satisfactory-has-sold-55m-copies-after-five-years-of-early-access-10-is-due-this-year | title =Satisfactory hits 5.5m sales after five years of early access, 1.0 due "this year" | first = Matt | last = Wales | date = 2 February 2024 | accessdate = 2 February 2024 | work =Eurogamer}} The full version of the game was released on 10 September 2024.{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/07/satisfactory-launches-september-10 |title=Satisfactory launches September 10 |work=Gematsu |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=5 July 2024}} With the full release, Coffee Stain has also announced plans for a console version.{{Cite web |last=Koch |first=Cameron |date=10 September 2024 |title=Satisfactory Is Now In The Works For Consoles Following 1.0 Launch On PC |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/satisfactory-is-now-in-the-works-for-consoles-following-1-0-launch-on-pc/1100-6526360/ |access-date=10 September 2024 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}
Gameplay
Satisfactory is played from the first-person perspective and features cooperative multiplayer. The player takes the role of a FICSIT{{efn|FICSIT Inc. is a phonetic play on "Fix It Inc".}} Pioneer who is sent to a resource-rich planet to collect and refine resources. They must build out an automated factory and supporting infrastructure. The ultimate goal is the mass-manufacture of unknown components, which are sent to FICSIT using a space elevator.{{cite web | url = https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/planet-smelting-sim-satisfactory-is-now-satisfactory-enough-to-leave-early-access | title = Planet-smelting sim Satisfactory is now satisfactory enough to leave early access | first = Edwin | last = Evans-Thirlwell | date = September 10, 2024 | accessdate = September 14, 2024 | work = Rock Paper Shotgun }} The player spawns on a pre-designed map in one of four locations, and must explore on foot to find resources and lift the fog of war on their map. FICSIT guides the player through a series of tiers, each completed by collecting resources and crafting a specified number of components. Each tier unlocks new equipment, blueprints, and technologies, allowing the player to expand and upgrade their factory. As players advance through tiers, automation becomes necessary to produce the large quantities of complex items that FICSIT requires. Conveyor belts, pipelines, trucks, trains, and drones are unlocked at various stages and are used to transport resources and components. The player must also build and upgrade a power grid to run their factory.{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamer.com/satisfactory-may-get-a-tier-9-in-a-future-update-to-wrap-up-its-tech-tree/ | title = Satisfactory may get a final tech tier in a future update to wrap up its endgame | first = Wes | last = Fenlon | date = March 16, 2021 | accessdate = September 14, 2024 | work = PC Gamer }}
Development and release
Satisfactory was first announced at E3 2018.{{cite web | url = https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/satisfactory-looks-like-first-person-factorio | title = Satisfactory looks a lot like first-person Factorio | first = Alice | last = O'Connor | date = June 12, 2018 | accessdate = September 14, 2024 | work = Rock Paper Shotgun }} Coffee Stain Studios tested the game through closed alpha test in mid-2018, before releasing it into open early access release in March 2019, initially with a year-long period of exclusivity on the Epic Games Store.{{cite web | url = https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/satisfactory-early-access-preview | title = Mega-building game Satisfactory is shaping up to be far, far more than satisfactory | first = Alec | last =Meer | date = March 12, 2019 | accessdate = September 14, 2024 | work = Rock Paper Shotgun }}{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/goat-simulator-devs-promising-new-game-satisfactory-hits-early-access-very-soon | title = Goat Simulator dev's promising new game Satisfactory hits early access very soon | first = Robert | last = Purchase | date = March 9, 2019 | accessdate= September 14, 2024 | work = Eurogamer }} The game was originally built using Unreal Engine 4 as the studio had past experience with it for their previous titles of Sanctum and Goat Simulator.{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamesn.com/satisfactory/making-it-in-unreal-satisfactory | title = Making it in Unreal: the smooth science behind Satisfactory | date = September 9, 2019 | accessdate = September 14, 2024 | work = PCGamesN }} By November 2023, Coffee Stain migrated the game to Unreal Engine 5, which provided improved performance and a more stable foundation for future updates.{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/satisfactory-upgrades-to-unreal-engine-5 | title = Satisfactory upgrades to Unreal Engine 5 | first = Ed | last = Nightengale | date = November 14, 2023 | accessdate = September 14, 2024 | work = Eurogamer }} The game's world is not procedurally generated, and is instead a number of manually-created biomes covering an estimated {{convert|30|km2|mi2}} area. The map is far larger than the open worlds that Coffee Stain has created in previous games.{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamesn.com/satisfactory/satisfactory-gameplay | title = Goat Sim's creators are swapping chaos for order with Satisfactory's industrial empires | first = Rachel | last = Watts | date = March 8, 2019 | accessdate = September 14, 2024 | work = PCGamesN }}{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/satisfactory-looks-like-a-cross-between-factorio-and-no-mans-sky | title = Satisfactory looks like a cross between Factorio and No Man's Sky | first = Robert | last = Purchase | date = March 6, 2019 | accessdate= September 14, 2024 | work = Eurogamer }}
Reception
= Critical response =
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 90/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/satisfactory/ |title=Satisfactory |website=Metacritic |access-date=September 11, 2024}}
| PCGUS = 90/100{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/satisfactory-review/ |title=Satisfactory review |last=Bolding |first=Jonathan |date=September 10, 2024 |website=PC Gamer |access-date=September 11, 2024}}
| SN = 9/10{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/141372/satisfactory-reivew-score |title=Satisfactory review: It's right there in the name, pal |last=Denzer |first=TJ |date=September 10, 2024 |website=Shacknews |access-date=September 11, 2024}}
| IGN = 9/10{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/satisfactory-review |title=Satisfactory 1.0 review |last=Northup |first=Travis |date=September 10, 2024 |website=IGN |access-date=September 11, 2024}}
}}
Satisfactory received "universal acclaim" from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.
Rock Paper Shotgun compared the building element of Satisfactory to Wube Software's Factorio.{{Cite news |date=12 June 2018 |title=Satisfactory looks a lot like first-person Factorio |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/12/satisfactory-looks-like-first-person-factorio/ |accessdate=12 May 2021 |work=Rock Paper Shotgun}}
=Sales=
Within three months of its early-access release, over 500,000 copies had been sold.{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamesn.com/satisfactory/sales | title = Epic exclusive Satisfactory has sold 500,000 copies in under three months | first= Dustin | last =Bailey | date = June 7, 2019 | accessdate = June 7, 2019 | work = PCGamesN}} By July 2020, more than 1.3 million copies had been sold,{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-how-many-copies-satisfactory-has-sold-on-steam-and-epic/|title=Here's how many copies Satisfactory has sold on Steam and Epic|first=Jody|last=MacGregor|work=PC Gamer|date=July 5, 2020|accessdate=July 5, 2020}} while reaching 5.5 million sales by January 2024. Based on data collected by Simon Carless in mid-2021, Satisfactory had made at least {{USD|11.5 million}} in revenue, surpassing the amount that Epic Games had assured as a minimum payout to Coffee Stain.{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamer.com/only-one-of-epics-first-wave-of-exclusives-made-money-and-it-wasnt-metro/ | title = Only one of Epic's 'first wave' of exclusives made money, and it wasn't Metro | first = Andy | last = Chalk | date = August 5, 2021 | accessdate = August 5, 2021 | work = PC Gamer }}
=Awards=
Satisfactory was named the PC Game of the Year at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Ali |title=Here are all the Golden Joystick Awards 2024 winners |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/satisfactory-snags-pc-game-of-the-year-at-the-golden-joystick-awards-2024/ar-AA1uwm3v |website=GamesRadar |access-date=25 November 2024}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
- {{Official website|url=https://satisfactory.wiki.gg/wiki/Satisfactory_Wiki|name=Official wiki}}
{{Coffee Stain Studios}}
Category:Coffee Stain Studios games
Category:Factory simulation games
Category:First-person video games
Category:Golden Joystick Award winners
Category:Open-world video games
Category:Video games developed in Sweden
Category:Video games set on fictional planets
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Unreal Engine 5 games