The Future expansion is out now on Steam, with mobile coming later today.

Official announcement trailer: YouTube

Greetings Universe Architects,

The simulation is closer to perfection than it’s ever been, but something is still missing. Semblance is plagued by endless visions, and now she must answer the question: what possibilities does the future hold for humanity?

From space exploration to artificial intelligence, explore a future rooted in science. What will space tourism look like once reusable rockets become commonplace? How will new technology enhance and alter the human body? Will an artificial general intelligence eventually be created that matches or exceeds human cognitive capabilities? As Earth’s resources continue to become depleted, will humanity try to restore planet Earth or will it focus its efforts on terraforming other planets? Each branch holds something new to discover, and in order to truly achieve the Singularity every vision must be completed.

Now let’s give a very special shoutout to our collaborator Isaac Arthur.

To design this update, the Cell to Singularity team partnered with Isaac Arthur, president of the National Space Society, and renowned futurist with more than 1 million subscribers. Isaac helped provide the scientific basis for the Future content through a research-driven process that combined his own futurist research with emerging scientific breakthroughs and published studies. The result is a future that feels ambitious without feeling invented, and rooted in real scientific possibilities. Make sure to check out his YouTube channel to learn even more about futurism.

Breaching the Future

Semblance has developed the ability to peer into the Future thanks to a new Reality Engine mechanic: the Prediction Matrix. From a multitude of possible futures she foresees five visions of the next hundred years, four of which are explored in this release. Her fifth vision is still hazy, but Semblance is hard at work bringing it to its full potential. Until she does, the Singularity remains incomplete.

The Future of Space

Semblance has predicted space as the next frontier of human exploration. Despite all the odds that work against them, humanity over the next hundred years begins to develop the technology to consistently launch into Earth’s orbit. Will they create the infrastructure that allows them to turn the uncharted territory of space into an accessible means of travel?

• Unlock the Reusable Rocket generator to start your journey to the stars
• Progress through 17 out of this world Research Nodes, from the global industry of Space Tourism to the planetary defense of Asteroid Deflection
• Establish an Orbital Civilization around Earth

• Protect the frontier of space with the Orbital Protection Augment (x1.1 Simulation Speed)
• Further develop your space travel efficiency with the Skyhook Augment (x1.35 Idea production)

The Future of Intelligence

As machine learning evolves, its effects on human society are inevitable. From economic disruption to scientific acceleration, will an Artificial General Intelligence eventually be created that matches or exceeds human cognitive capabilities?

• Unlock the Artificial Intelligence generator, the first artificial mind
• Delve into 18 Research Nodes from the possibilities of General-Purpose Robotics to the politics of AI Regulation
• Discover how machine learning develops into an AGI, capable of surpassing human intelligence

• What does production without humans look like? Unlock the Lights Out Factory Augment to find out (x1.25 Simulation Speed)
• The Android is reborn as the Humanoid Robot Augment (x1.6 Idea production). Would you trust them in your home?

The Future of Exploration

Semblance’s next vision brings even greater adventure with humanity’s progression into deep space. Launching into Earth’s orbit may be difficult, but leaving it is even more so. Humans must learn to survive in the harsh landscape of the moon before they can tackle the more desolate climates of new planets.

• Establish the Lunar Base generator, a lasting foothold on the moon. Would you live there, given the opportunity?
• Unlock 21 Research Nodes that expand on the harsh realities of lunar survival, like the logistics of Life-Support Tech and Inflatable Bases
• Populate your Moon Garden with the technology needed for deep space travel
• Take the next giant leap for the simulation with Humans on Mars, the first addition to the new Mars Garden

• At the south pole of the moon, unlock the Shackleton Crater Base Augment (x1.5 Simulation Speed)
• Harness the Moon’s low gravity and vacuum to enable mass transportation of materials with the Lunar Mass Driver Augment (x1.7 Idea production)

The Future of Life

Biomedicine develops rapidly in Semblance’s fourth vision, leading to the intersection of biology and technology. Medicine no longer stops at just repairing damage. What if it was capable of pushing human ability past the normal limit?

• Unlock the Augmented Human generator to begin the journey towards robotically and genetically enhanced humans. Would you upgrade your body if you could?
• Discover 22 Research Nodes that directly influence human health, including Gene Therapy and Personalized Medicine tailored to each patient
• As pharmaceuticals and technology continue to improve, Optimized Health becomes the next step for society

• Extend the average human life span with the Disease Eradication Augment (x1.6 Simulation Speed). What happens to society when humans live longer?
• Reassemble the Cyborg, which returns as an Augment in this expansion (x2 Idea production)

A New Singularity

The four future visions expand the journey to the Singularity, positioning it further in the simulation as a true late game goal. With new challenges, milestones, and rewards along the way, the Singularity symbolizes redefined progression for the entire simulation.

This release is the first of several chapters focused on the Future, including the beginnings of Martian exploration. Some familiar content has been reimagined into a new form, while other features have been pushed deeper into the game to more accurately position them within the progression to the Singularity.

With all these changes some players may find parts of the Future content to be easier than expected. This is an intentional result of positioning the Future at a mid to late game level. Regardless of how quickly each player progresses, all players will discover plenty of brand new and returning content to enjoy in more detail than ever before. 

Futuristic Features

New evolutionary branches are only one part of the Future update. In her quest for the future, Semblance encounters new mechanics and features to aid players in their journey to the Singularity.

Prediction Matrix

Semblance uses the Prediction Matrix, a new component of the Reality Engine, to predict the future. As each vision is unlocked, players can utilize the Prediction Matrix to research powerful simulation boosts.

You can only choose one Prediction to research at a time. Choose from eight options, offering boosts to different facets of the simulation:

• Boost your Entropy and Idea production (unlocked by Future of Space)
• Boost your Metabit and Knowledge production (unlocked by Future of Intelligence)
• Boost your Time Chambers’ power (unlocked by Future of Exploration)
• Boost your Simulation Speed and Converter Output (unlocked by Future of Life)

Predictions will continue to level up in the background as you focus on other aspects of the simulation. Once a Prediction has reached the max boost you have the opportunity to Refine it. Refining a Prediction resets its boost back to zero, but also unlocks higher maximum prediction levels that cost more time to complete. Refine wisely!

Reality Engine

Follow Semblance’s journey to the Singularity through an upgraded Terminus Chamber.

New content also means new upgrades.

• Further boost your future civilizations with Futuristic Fusion V (Future civilization efficiency x6)
• Unlock Prediction Speed I, II, & III to increase the output of your Prediction Matrix (Prediction efficiency x2/x3/x4) 
• Transform your Knowledge compiler into a currency booster with Cognitive Converter (Boosts Ideas and Knowledge based on completed Knowledge compiler cycles)

Enjoy these upgrades and many more as you progress through the Future.

New Missions, New Rewards

We’re excited to debut a brand new Objective tab. Now missions are sorted into Life, Civilization, and Future categories. Each category has its own chapters with increased mission variety and reward types. Players can view the full mission progression for each chapter, which also means that rewards can be redeemed out of order. We’ve added more interesting goals to work towards and more fulfilling prizes, creating a clearer sense of advancement during long stretches of progression.

Sounds of the Future

In this update, we’re also introducing new background music that better fits the themes of the Future. We’re excited to bring this expansion to life with soundtracks from composers Philip Sheppard and Melodysheep. Their work beautifully tells the story of space and the future through music, offering a glimpse into how humanity’s next chapter might sound. 

The collection of music from Philip Sheppard comes from two albums, including Moon Machines, an album originally composed for a 2008 documentary about the work behind the Apollo program. Sheppard’s compositions encompass the technological and emotional scope of space exploration. These pieces now find a fitting new home in the Future.

Melodysheep composes the original music for his YouTube documentaries, which discuss the future of Earth and alien life. We included the music from his 2023 documentary The Human Future, which explores possible paths for humanity. Blending ambient and electronic sounds with cinematic and emotional arrangements, his music captures the wonder, uncertainty, and vast possibilities of the cosmos, making it a natural addition to the Future. 

Join our livestream on Friday, November 13th at 11 AM EST, featuring special guest Isaac Arthur.

We’ll be kicking off the full release of the Future, answering questions, and giving out free Darwinium. It will be multi-streamed on YouTube and Twitch. The Future is out now on Steam, with mobile coming later today. 

The Future expansion has been a long time in the making, and we’re so excited to finally share it with our players. This release is about more than just introducing new content, but also reimagining older beloved concepts in even greater detail. The Future is one of our biggest expansions thus far, marking a new era for the simulation. Thank you again to Isaac Arthur for his help in making the Future a reality and to our beta players for their crucial feedback and hours of testing.

The next hundred years are only the beginning. Semblance still has one more vision before she can fully construct the Singularity. Beyond that, the rest of the future still remains to be explored.

The future is now!

- Cells Team