The Xenobiology update in Astroneer has enriched the game with fascinating new content, most notably the Xenobiology Lab and the adorable Galastropods. To delve into this exciting research, gaining access to the Xenobiology Lab is your first crucial step. This guide will walk you through the process of unlocking and utilizing this lab, with a special focus on how to tackle the “Jumper Cables” challenge to bring it online.
This update is available to all Astroneer players across PC, Xbox, PS4, and Nintendo Switch platforms for free. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or new to the wonders of Astroneer, the Xenobiology Lab offers a compelling new layer of gameplay. Let’s begin by outlining the missions you’ll need to complete to access this intriguing facility.
Laying the Foundation: Completing the Tutorial Missions
Before you can embark on the ‘Bait & Switch’ mission, which ultimately rewards you with the Xenobiology Lab, you must first establish your base and understand the fundamentals of Astroneer. This is achieved by completing a series of introductory tutorial missions. These missions are designed to familiarize you with the core mechanics of the game and are essential prerequisites for unlocking the Xenobiology content. Here are the tutorial missions you need to complete:
- Planetfall: Your initial landing and setup on a new planet.
- Astroneering Bas(e)ics: Learning the essential base building and tool usage.
- Breathing Space: Establishing oxygen supply for survival and base operations.
- Resourcing: Gathering basic resources and understanding resource management.
- Printing Up: Utilizing the printer to create essential items and modules.
- Smeltering Hot: Processing raw resources in the smelter to create advanced materials.
Upon successfully completing these tutorial missions, the ‘Bait & Switch’ mission will automatically become available in your mission log, paving the way for you to acquire the Xenobiology Lab.
The Bait & Switch Mission: Gathering Sphalerite
The ‘Bait & Switch’ mission is your key to unlocking the Xenobiology Lab. This mission is straightforward and tasks you with collecting three pieces of Sphalerite. Sphalerite is a naturally occurring resource recognizable by its shiny purple appearance. It can be reliably found in several locations:
- Caves on Sylva: Explore the cave systems beneath Sylva, the starting planet, to locate Sphalerite deposits.
- Mountains of Desolo: Ascend the mountains on Desolo, the desolate moon, where Sphalerite can be found on the surface and in shallow caves.
- Mantle of Desolo: Venture into the deeper mantle layers of Desolo for more concentrated Sphalerite deposits.
Alternatively, if you have established a Trade Platform, you can efficiently acquire Sphalerite by trading scrap. Exchanging just one piece of scrap will net you two pieces of Sphalerite, offering a quicker route to completing the mission if you have a surplus of scrap. Once you have successfully gathered three Sphalerite, the mission reward, the Strange Object, will be granted to you.
Placing the Strange Object: Summoning the Lab
With the Strange Object now in your possession, the next step is to place it strategically to summon the Xenobiology Lab. While the Strange Object itself appears compact, when you select it in your inventory, a large holographic outline will appear, indicating the space required for placement and any placement restrictions.
To proceed, locate a relatively flat and open area at your base or exploration site. Ensure the area is clear of obstructions to accommodate the lab’s footprint. Once you’ve found a suitable location, place the Strange Object. Interacting with the placed object will trigger the dramatic arrival of the Xenobiology Lab, materializing in front of you and ready for activation.
Activating the Xenobiology Lab: The “Jumper Cables” Challenge
Upon summoning the Xenobiology Lab, it will be in a dormant state. To bring it online and begin your research, you need to fulfill two essential activation quests. One of these crucial quests is “Jumper Cables,” which requires you to provide power to the newly deployed lab.
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A Breath of Fresh Air: This initial quest requires you to place an Oxygenator within the Xenobiology Lab structure. Conveniently, an Oxygenator is typically provided nearby, eliminating the need to print one. Simply locate it and place it within the designated slot in the lab.
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Jumper Cables: This is where the “jumper cables” concept comes into play. In Astroneer terms, “jumper cables” represent the means to supply electrical power. You need to connect a power source to the Xenobiology Lab to activate it. This can be achieved using various power generation methods available in Astroneer, such as:
- Small Generator: A basic generator fueled by organic material.
- Solar Panel: Generates power from sunlight.
- Wind Turbine: Harnesses wind energy to produce power.
- RTG (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator): Provides constant, reliable power without fuel.
Attach any of these power sources to the Xenobiology Lab using cables, effectively acting as “Astroneer Jumper Cables” to transmit energy. Once a stable power supply is established, and the Oxygenator is in place, the Xenobiology Lab will spring to life, fully operational and ready for research.
With both power and oxygen flowing, the Xenobiology Lab is now functional! Interact with the Data Log terminal inside the lab to receive new missions specifically related to Xenobiology and the intriguing Galastropods.
Unveiling Galastropods: Location and Benefits
The Xenobiology Lab unlocks access to a fascinating aspect of Astroneer: the Galastropods, often referred to as space snails. There are seven unique Galastropods to discover and collect, each residing on a different planet and offering distinct player buffs. Each Galastropod can be acquired by undertaking a short mission chain initiated from the Data Log in the Xenobiology Lab. Here’s a breakdown of each Galastropod, their location, and the unique buff they provide:
| Gastropod Type | Location | Buff Provided |
|---|---|---|
| Sylvie | Sylva | Illuminates the surrounding area, acting as a portable light source. |
| Usagi | Desolo | Causes curiosities (research items) to appear on your compass, aiding exploration. |
| Stilgar | Calidor | Generates oxygen that gradually fills your oxygen tanks, enhancing survivability. |
| Princess | Vesnia | When carried in your backpack, it grants near-invulnerability, preventing all damage except for suffocation. |
| Rogal | Novus | Produces power, serving as a portable, albeit small, power generator. |
| Bestefar | Glacio | When attached to the Terrain Tool, it significantly enhances terrain manipulation capabilities, improving width, boost, and drilling efficiency. |
| Enoki | Atrox | When placed in your backpack, it dramatically increases jump height, sprint speed, and reduces movement penalty while carrying items, improving mobility. |
The duration of these buffs depends on the snail’s diet. Feeding a Galastropod its preferred seed type will extend the buff duration to 30 minutes, while feeding it any other seed type will provide a 10-minute buff. The repeatable nature of these quests allows multiple players in a cooperative game to each acquire their own Galastropods, ensuring everyone can benefit from these unique companions.
By completing the ‘Jumper Cables’ mission and activating your Xenobiology Lab, you unlock a wealth of new content in Astroneer, from unraveling the mysteries of the Galastropods to enhancing your exploration and resource gathering with their unique abilities. Power up your lab, embark on these new missions, and discover all that the Xenobiology update has to offer!
