The Astroneer Megatech DLC makes my favorite space sandbox a lot bigger, but its best feature is free for everyone

Astroneer's Megatech DLC has just arrived, and in case the name didn't give it away, it's all about building colossal megastructures. The expansion brings a new level of scale to one of the best sandbox games I've ever played, with several new building types that expand your endgame potential and let you put all those gathered resources somewhere useful (or, at the very least, pretty). Perhaps best of all, the most valuable addition is actually available for free, whether you buy the DLC or not.

Costing just $10, the new Astroneer DLC comes at a price I'll happily pay for a game that's given me dozens of hours of joy. But if you're a little unsure whether you're ready to put that cash down for it, you can try the free Megatech update first, which walks you through the opening missions and grants you access to one such structure: the Intermodal Terminal. While all of the additions are strong, this is definitely the best one, and you don't even have to pay for it.

The Intermodal Terminal acts as a means of interplanetary transportation, allowing you to automate the process of transferring resources between your bases across the galaxy. It holds three launch pads with connected rail stations, allowing you to set up multiple supply lines to suit your needs, and can even auto-refuel its shuttles. In fact, it's so good at handling the process that there's also a new Mega-Mini Training Shuttle you can use for personal flights, which drops the cargo capacity for more fuel efficiency.

Naturally, you'll also get access to the Distribution Launch System, which is used to deploy Construction Anchors that enable the building of megastructures. You'll also get a tool for deconstructing them, although be warned that your resources won't be refunded. There are plenty of other additions in the free update, too: an automatic tether-dropper; icon-based signs; large canisters for gas, fluid, and soil; extending walkways that can transfer power and oxygen; seven more plants; and seven new decorative items.

If you do buy the Megatech expansion, you'll get three more megastructures to add to your interstellar empire. The Biodome is your new home for flora generation, letting you grow plants, harvest seeds, and even extract rare drops from some. Once it's been expanded, it can even support a Mega Oxygenator, which slows down the suffocation rate across the entire planet it's on in case you get stranded without a tether.

The Museum is the place to show off all your hard work, featuring a range of displays to show off everything you've gathered and built over the course of your journey. If you're a hoarder, or just like to look back on your achievements with pride, you'll want to plop this down somewhere prominent. Finally, the Orbital Platform is a one-off megastructure that you can set into orbit around the planet of your choice, acting as a standalone space base. You can only have one, however, so be careful where you put it.

This is all great news, although there's a note of caution. Early Megatech players have reported some fresh crashes and performance issues after beginning to build the new megastructures, and the launch build had an awkward problem with people unable to connect for multiplayer. Fortunately, SES has already deployed a patch to fix this latter issue, and says it's continuing to work on other feedback. You'll need to wait for the update to pass certification on consoles before you join any cross-play servers, however.

The team also notes, "We do not officially support mods, so if you have used them on any of your old saves, you are likely going to crash." It explains, "We are a small team and will not be able to fix that for you, so please don't inundate the support line with reports on modded saves. We recommend installing fresh and starting a new save if you want to enjoy the content, and use mods at your own risk."

Astroneer Megatech is out now, priced at $9.99 / £8.99. You can also get it in a bundle with the base game and deluxe pack for $24.27 / £21.12, or as an ultimate edition including the Glitchwalkers DLC for $33.07 / £28.99. Head here if you're ready to build bigger than you've ever built before.