Satisfactory just dropped its 1.1 Experimental Update, and calling it a “patch” is underselling it harder than a broken productivity line. This is factory firmware 2.0. From controller support to builder’s quality-of-life goldmines, Coffee Stain Studios has delivered a buffet of features that makes even the most hardened factory foreman squeal with glee.
Steam Deck Players, Rejoice
Let’s cut straight to the juicy bit: Steam Deck support is finally legit. We’re talking full controller remapping, dynamic UI, and a smoother-than-silk navigation system tailored for gamepad warriors. Whether you’re laying out conveyors on the couch or optimizing pipe throughput in the tub (no judgment), the Deck experience is now a viable, dare we say optimal, way to play.
“It will make navigating through menus and the UI, as well as general control over your character and placing buildings, become significantly easier.” – Steam Deck HQ
Sure, you’ll want to tweak some deadzones—out of the box, it’s more “early access” than “Valve certified”—but it’s a quantum leap in playability. If you’ve been waiting to build a mega-factory from bed, your time is now.
Game-Changing Builder Tools
This isn’t just a UI and controller patch—this is a straight-up build revolution:
- Hypertube Branching: Now your transport tubes are more spaghetti than ever. Take detours, loop around, or set up a first-class route for your engineers.
- Vertical Splitters/Mergers: No more janky 3D belt puzzles. Clean vertical logistics are here.
- Priority Mergers: Make sure your critical resources never get blocked again.
- Curved Conveyors & Analyzer Displays: You can now see items per minute right on the belts—hello, optimization porn.
- Straight Pipes + Personnel Elevators: Up your architectural game with elevators that feature customizable floor stops and sleek design.
- Railway Buffer Stops: Because no one likes derailed trains crashing through their coal lines.
Add a metric ton of new building materials, decorative elements, and blueprint-friendly upgrades, and you’ve got yourself a build-crafter’s dream update.
New Photo Mode Features
Say cheese, engineers. Photo mode now includes:
- Camera pathing tools
- Clip recording options
- Advanced lighting and focus controls
Whether you’re making machinima, showing off your sparkplug-infested superfactory, or flexing on Reddit, Photo Mode just went pro.
When Can You Play?
- Experimental Branch launched April 1, 2025 (not a joke)
- Full release? TBD—but given the scale, Coffee Stain is probably squashing bugs like they’re Tier 1 biomass.
They’re playing the long game here, ensuring stability before giving the greenlight. But if you’re brave (or just impatient), dive into Experimental and be part of the testing force.
What the Community’s Saying
Reddit and Steam forums are buzzing:
“Proper controller support? Looks like I’m reinstalling.”
“Deadzones are too high by default, but once you tweak them… it slaps.”
Some players are even comparing the freedom in this update to the leap from Factorio’s trains to blueprints—high praise in factory-sim circles.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just a patch. It’s a refinement of the core experience:
- Accessibility: More input options = more players
- Design Freedom: Builders have more tools, more polish, and fewer frustrations
- Player Expression: Between Photo Mode and vertical splitters, Satisfactory is now a flex machine
TL;DR
Satisfactory 1.1 is the kind of update that redefines a game’s trajectory. If you’ve been on hiatus waiting for smoother controls or more elegant construction, welcome back. Your factory missed you.
So, are you hopping into Experimental, or waiting for stable? And what’s the first thing you’re going to build—hypertube rollercoaster or vertical item spaghetti?
