The Alters free update lands today, includes photo mode, easier difficulty, and more

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Colorful space suits, photo mode, and more

The original Jan looking down at the wheelie space base from above in The Alters.

The Alters is not only one of the best games of the year, but one of the most stressful. Keeping all the Jans from staging a mutiny and surviving an irradiated world is stressful, to say the least, but a new update looks to make the game a little bit less stressful. During its digital showcase stream on Monday, 11 Bit Studios announced a free content update for The Alters, and it's out today.

The update is headlined by a new storyline for players to investigate, a "shadowy mystery only a Jan could solve. Or complicate. Or both," according to a news release. It also includes a mix of quality-of-life improvements and new customizable content.

After previously only being able to save at the end of a day, a new save system gives you more control over your decisions, allowing you to save "during key gameplay moments." The Relax Mode difficulty option offers the ability to focus on The Alters' story without the survival mechanics and time pressure becoming too stressful.

The Jans' wheel-shaped space base is getting a makeover. You can customize the exterior paint job of each base section, and Jan's spacesuit gets new fashionable options, with one each inspired by 11 Bit's Frostpunk games and Death Howl.

Here's everything landing in the update, as detailed by a news release:

Gamer’s Den – Because even a stranded workforce of Jans needs somewhere to unwind.
Fully playable Card Game – Challenge your other selves to something not involving existential dread.
Custom Base Skins – Dress your digs the way you want.
Custom Spacesuit Skins – Style points matter. Even on a dying star.
Photo Mode – Capture your best (or worst) Jan moments.
Relax Mode – For when you want the story without the stress.
A New Save System – More control over your branching decisions.
A New Noir-Styled Storyline – A shadowy mystery only a Jan could solve. Or complicate. Or both.

The Alters finds Jan Dolski stranded and alone on a hostile planet. To get off, he must make alternate versions of himself with different skill sets and personalities. It's up to you to make sure they get alone and stay focused on getting off this barren rock alive. Polygon was drawn to its engaging stressors, calling The Alters "a test of how you handle stress and how well you can manage decision-making under pressure." Its lead star Alex Jordan delivered one of the year's best performances, voicing 12 different Jans in total.

The Alters is out now on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.

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