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The mobile base inThe Altersis powered by the Quantum Computer, or QC, a sci-fi marvel capable of extrapolating vast amounts of real and theoretical data. However, the botched landing on the planet means that it’s missing some components, so you don’t have access to its full capabilities from the start of the game.
Upgrading the Quantum Computer is the only way to access advanced branches of the tech tree and more divergent lifepaths for Alters, so recovering those lost components is essential to escaping the deadly planet. Here is everything you need to know about enhancing the QC’s capabilities.
How To Increase The Quantum Computer’s Qubit Level
Upgrading the Quantum Computer requiresfinding and repairing a Qubit Chip. There’s one in Act 1 and two more in Act 2, hidden inlost cargo podsstrewn about the map. Unless you’re about to run out of time before Sunrise, youshouldn’t leave a map until you’ve found its chips.
Qubit Chips aredamaged from the crash landingand need to be repaired in the Workshop. This requires20 Metals, 20 Minerals, and of course the Chip itself. Once you’ve finished fixing the Qubit Chip, it’sautomatically installed the next time you interact with the Quantum Computer.
The first damaged Chip you findmust be identified by talking to the Technicianbefore you can repair it.
Each installed Qubit Chip increases the Quantum Computer’s Qubit Level by one. Since it starts at Level 1 and there are three Chips to find,the maximum Qubit Level is 4.
All three are important for surviving and completing the mission.
New Alters
The total number of Alters you can have isshown at the bottom of the lifepath screenin the Quantum Computer interface. A filled-in diamond represents an Alter that’s been created, while an empty one is an available slot for a new Alter.
The farther from Jan Prime’s life an Alter’s story is,the higher the Qubit level required to create them.For example, the Refiner can be created at Qubit Level 1, but the Worker requires Qubit Level 2 and the Guard requires Level 3.
Requiring a higher Qubit Level doesn’t necessarily mean that an Alter is better or more useful to the mission; rather, it means that their specialization is less likely to come into play until later in the game. The requirement exists more to prevent you from creating an Alter earlier than they’ll be useful than to gate an overpowered character.
Research Tiers
The Scientist can research technologiesup to the same tier as the QC’s current Qubit Level.If he runs out of things to research, he won’t be able to study anything else until you repair and install a new Qubit Chip.
Even once you upgrade the Quantum Computer,most higher-tier technologies have prerequisites from lower tiers.
Besides getting new rooms, tools, and suit upgrades that will make the mission easier, unlocking new research tiers also allows you toresearch Base Expansion, giving you more room to build and a bigger Organics tank. This is critical, as you’ll quickly outgrow the base’s mass limit and grid size even if you perfectly optimize your layout.
Many higher-tier technologies alsorequire Planet Samplesto research, which you’ll need to find by using the Luminator to explore Anomalies on the map.
