Version

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This article is for the PC version of Stellaris only.

The launcher's DLC management section.

Downloadable content (DLC) is content built by Paradox Development Studio (PDS) as an extension or add-on to Stellaris. They are modular in nature, which means that a player can choose to play with or without a given DLC by checking them out at the launch menu. An expansion DLC is normally accompanied by a free patch that gives players most of the new content as not to hinder the playability of the game. As such, most DLCs are seen as optional content for players who wish to have a better gaming experience in exchange for some monetary support.

Multiplayer games also benefit from this compatibility, that is to say if the host has a gameplay DLC (expansions and flavor packs) the player does not, the game acts as if the player has it.

Notes:

1. Further details on a specific title may be available by clicking on its banner or icon.
2. Table sorting can done via the main column for alphabetical order or the column for chronological order.

Base game editions

The base game is required for any and all DLC relating to the game. While cosmetic/music DLCs can be used with any game version, content DLCs can't be used prior to the version they were released with.

Title and Quick description
Stellaris Paradox Steam Released on 2016-05-09. Customize your Empire!: The characters you choose, be it a murderous mushroom society or an engineering reptile race, can be customized with traits like ethics, type of technology, type of habitat, philosophies and more. The direction of the game is based on your choices. Enormous procedural galaxies: Grow and expand your empire with thousands of randomly generated planet types, galaxies, quests and monsters lurking in space. Deep and varied exploration: Every game begins with a civilization that has just discovered the means to travel between stars and is ready to explore the galaxy. Have your science ships survey and explore anomalies, leading you into a myriad of quests, introducing strange worlds with even stranger stories and discoveries that may completely change your outcome. Infinite variation of species and advanced diplomacy: Through customization and procedural generation, you will encounter infinitely varied races. Choose positive or negative traits, specific ideologies, limitations, evolutions or anything you can imagine. Interact with others through the advanced diplomacy system. Diplomacy is key in a proper grand strategy adventure. Adjust your strategy to your situation through negotiation and skill. Interstellar warfare: An eternal cycle of war, diplomacy, suspicions and alliances await you. Defend or attack with fully customizable war fleets, where adaptation is the key to victory. Choose from an array of complex technologies when designing and customizing your ships with the complex ship designer. You have a multitude of capabilities to choose from to meet the unknown quests that await. Stunning space visuals: With characteristically complex unique planets and celestial bodies, you will enter a whirlwind of spectacles in a highly detailed universe.
Stellaris: Galaxy Edition Paradox Steam Released on 2016-05-09. Includes the following content: Complete Soundtrack Arachnoid Portrait Pack Digital Collector's Book (e-book) Stellaris: Infinite Frontiers (e-book)
Stellaris: Ascension Pack Steam Includes the following expansions and cosmetic packs: Utopia Apocalypse MegaCorp Leviathans Synthetic Dawn Distant Stars Plantoids Species Pack Humanoids Species Pack

Expansions

Expansions change the game considerably; introducing new and improved gameplay mechanics as well as many kinds of flavor and various balance tweaks (included in the accompanying free patch).

Title and Quick description
Utopia Paradox Steam Released on 2017-04-06. Megastructures: Build wondrous structures in your systems including Dyson Spheres and ringworlds, bringing both prestige and major advantages. Habitat Stations: Build "tall" and establish space stations that will house more population, serving the role of planets in a small and confined empire. Ascension Perks: Complete tradition trees to unlock Ascension Perks for your empire. Follow one of the three Ascension Paths and achieve Biological Mastery, give up your biological forms in a Synthetic Evolution, or become a fully psionic species through Transcendence. Indoctrination: Influence primitive civilizations to adopt your ethics through the use of observation stations, preparing them for enlightenment or annexation. Advanced Slavery: Maximize the benefits of slavery by choosing specific roles for enthralled species -- as Domestic Servants, Battle Thralls, or Livestock. Advanced Governments: Adopt unique civics and authorities for your government. Play as a Fanatic Purifier and shun all diplomacy, become a Hive Mind to avoid political strife or create a multi-species empire born of Syncretic Evolution. New music: Featuring 5 new tracks (~24 minutes) from composer Andreas Waldetoft.
Apocalypse Paradox Steam Released on 2018-02-22. Planet Destroyers: Keep the local systems in line with fear of the new "Colossus" planet-killer weapon – a technological terror that eliminates entire worlds from the universe. "Titan" class ships: New enormous capital ships can lead fleets to conquest, offering tremendous bonuses to the vessels under their command. Meanwhile, fortify key systems with massive orbital installations and secure your homeworld as an impenetrable bastion among the stars. Pirates of the Constellation: Watch out for Marauders – space nomads who raid settled empires on the fringe of civilization. Hire them as mercenaries, but take care that they don't unify and trigger a new mid-game crisis! Some non-violent Features: New Ascension Perks and Civics are added in the expansion providing new ways to further customize your inter-stellar empire. Sounds of Destruction: Featuring 3 new tracks (~14 minutes) from composer Andreas Waldetoft for a pleasurable planet-shattering expedition.
MegaCorp Paradox Steam Released on 2018-12-06. Corporate Culture: CEOs of a MegaCorp can conduct business on a galaxy-wide scale with a host of new civics. By building Branch Offices on planets within empires they have trade agreements with, the MegaCorp can add a portion of the planet's Trade Value to their own network. Using the new Corporate Authority, construct an economic powerhouse and dominate galactic trade. City World: With Ecumenopolis, players can increase the population density of core worlds to truly epic proportions, eventually creating a planet-spanning megacity. Caravaneer Fleets: Keep an eye out for the Caravaneers, nomadic interstellar wheelers-and-dealers who stay aloof from galactic politics, and always have a bargain up their sleeve. Expect surprises when these master traders wander through your space or when you visit their home systems. More Megastructures: Build a glorious Matter Decompressor, Mega-Art Installation or Strategic Coordination Center to acquire new scaling capabilities for your megalopolis. Galactic Slave Market: Buy and sell pops on an industrial scale, set them free or keep them as livestock. New Ascension perks: Keep an economy competitive in a cutthroat galaxy with additional Ascension perks! New music: Featuring 4 new tracks (~16 minutes) from composer Meyer.
Federations Paradox Steam Released on 2020-03-17. Expanded Federations: With expanded diplomacy capabilities, players can build up the internal cohesion of their Federations and unlock powerful rewards for all members. Whether you join a Trade League, Martial Alliance, or Hegemony, membership can be extremely advantageous. Galactic Community: Unite the space empires with a galactic senate that can vote on a wide range of resolutions to drive legislative agendas. For example, players can pass a resolution to increase commitments to collective defense or funnel profit towards wealthy elites. Members can also sanction those who defy the community, and enact a single galactic focus. Sway the senate to position yourself as a leader, trading favors and maneuvering, doing whatever it takes to gain influence among schemers. Origins: Each empire has a story that shapes its path. Give your civilization deeper roots with the new system of Origins. By choosing an Origin, players can flesh out their empire’s background and alter its starting conditions. Whether it’s Void Dwellers who have abandoned their homeworld to live in perpetual orbit, or a society that worships and protects a powerful Tree of Life, you can lay the groundwork wisely for the seeds of your empire. New constructions: Construct glorious new projects for your empire like the Juggernaut, a massive mobile starbase that provides a moveable repair base even in enemy territory, or the Mega Shipyard, a new megastructure that can churn out fleets with incredible speed. Offering both tactical advantages and a good dose of shock and/or awe, these are sure to be an asset to any space empire.
Nemesis Paradox Steam Released on 2021-04-15. In Nemesis the player will be able to determine the fate of a destabilizing galaxy. Adding espionage tools, a path to power as the Galactic Custodian to combat endgame crises - or the Menace option to BECOME the endgame crisis - Nemesis gives you the most powerful tools ever available in Stellaris. Ultimately you will have to make the choice between chaos or control, to take charge of a galaxy spiraling into crisis. Will you find a way to take power through diplomacy or subterfuge, or will you watch the stars go out one by one? Become the Crisis: You are the fire that spreads across the galaxy, threatening its very existence. As your empire becomes more and more menacing, you’ll unlock powerful bonuses to finish a hopeless galactic stalemate on your own terms. If the rest of the galaxy can’t stop you in time, you can unleash enough power to end all of existence! Galactic Custodian: It’s up to you to campaign for the Galactic Community to declare you a Custodian, granting you emergency powers to combat the Crisis. Use them to bring the galaxy back from the edge of destruction and restore order. When the crisis is defeated you may choose to relinquish your powers...or keep them, and form a new Galactic Imperium. Espionage: Knowledge is power; use new tools to spy on your enemies (or friends). Deploy Envoys to lead covert Operations and counterintelligence behind enemy borders. Lies and deceit will throw your enemies off your scent while you learn their deepest secrets. As your Infiltration Level grows you’ll unlock new operations, such as Sabotage Starbase, Acquire Assets or Steal Tech. Turn allies against each other through the use of smear campaigns and by instigating diplomatic incidents. Play your cards right, and they’ll be none the wiser: what they don’t know will hurt them. New Ship Set: Nemesis includes new ships inspired by some of the most imposing empires in science fiction. Whether you’re taking control of the galaxy or wiping it out, you’ll look as powerful as you feel.
Overlord Paradox Steam Released on 2022-05-12. Gain access to new features designed to unlock the next level of your empire. Guide a galaxy full of potential subjects to glory - or subjugation. New mechanics provide many ways to specialize your vassals' roles within your empire, bring new planets and subjects under your reign, and new magnificent megastructures to project your power further, faster. Whether you're ruling the galaxy from the bridge of your flagship or from the opulent capital of your magnificent homeworld, Overlord will grant you the following perks of leadership: Rulers Make the Rules New vassalization mechanics let you define the role of your new subjects - create new Specialist Empires to grow into economic superpowers, military specialists, and technological creators. Negotiate or demand contracts and agreements between your vassals to define the future of dozens of worlds, and reap the benefits! A Galaxy United (Under You) Seek out and unite scattered empires across the stars! As you explore the vast galaxy you'll encounter more unique enclaves of people, from mysterious shroudwalkers to militaristic mercenaries and crafty salvagers. Will you forge a mutually beneficial relationship and earn their unique services, or will they submit to your rule by force? Five New Origins to Lord Over Imperial Fiefdom - You may be just a Specialist Empire now, but some day, the galaxy may need a new ruler… shouldn’t it be you? Slingshot to the Stars - The ruined remains of a Quantum Catapult have been discovered near your homeworld - what secrets might it unlock if your people are clever enough to bring it back online? Subterranean - Your species adapted to life underground, excelling in mining and archaeology. See what awaits you far, far above the surface! Teachers of the Shroud - Developing in contact with the curious psions known as the Shroudwalkers, your empire has learned a thing or two about expanding their minds! Progenitor Hive - Under your leadership, this hivemind empire can achieve more than ever before… but without your guidance, the hive will fall to ruin! Engineer the Future and Showcase Your Power New feats of technology will give your empire the edge it needs to become the dominant force across the galaxy. Orbital Rings will elevate your influence (and defense) in grand displays of power from your planets further into space. Hyper Relays will give your fleets the ability to enforce your will across the stars faster than ever before. Quantum Catapults enable new ways to react quicker in the galaxy while projecting your might - but it’s a daring one-way trip for your fleet! Four new music tracks to inspire your rise to greatness.

Story packs

Story packs are expansions of a smaller scale. Unlike regular expansions which focus on adding new gameplay mechanics story packs main focal point is on adding more flavor to the game (in addition to the accompanying free patch).

Title and Quick description
Leviathans Paradox Steam Released on 2016-10-20. Guardians: Fight or investigate mysterious powerful space entities to unlock technologies and gain access to great treasures. Enclaves: Independent outposts of traders or mercenaries who are willing to make a deal. Exchange resources or hire a small fleet to supplement your own. War in Heaven: Ancient Fallen Empires decide to renew old grievances in a War in Heaven. Pick a side to support or strike at both whilst they are occupied with their own titanic struggle. Cuties Portraits Pack: Adds 5 additional species portraits: Gecko, Butterfly, Starfish, Snailien, and Prettyshroom. New music: Featuring 5 new tracks (~25 minutes) from composer Andreas Waldetoft. Adds new events and encounters.
Synthetic Dawn Paradox Steam Released on 2017-09-21. You, Robot: Play Stellaris as a customized robotic civilization, complete with a series of robotic portraits for science robots, worker robots, and more. AI, eh?: Follow new event chains and story features to lead your robot race to greatness as an intergalactic AI empire. Rise of the Machines: Oppressed synths may rebel against their masters and form new empires -- or you may even discover a fallen synthetic civilization deep in space. Digital enhancements: New synthetic race portraits and expanded voice packs for VIR. New music: Featuring 3 new tracks (~17 minutes) from composer Andreas Waldetoft expressing the high-tech theme of the story pack.
Distant Stars Paradox Steam Released on 2018-05-22. Behind Closed Doors: Discover hidden traces of an ancient gateway network unlocking a sealed path to a constellation outside our own galaxy. Sensors are Picking up...: Encounter dozens of new anomalies and events for your intrepid scientists to observe and analyze. Brave New Worlds: Plot unexplored unique solar systems, each with their own story to tell. Gain technology, resources, and valuable worlds to colonize. There's Always a Bigger Fish: Meet a number of unique gargantuan creatures in the vacuum of space. But approach with caution, because whether gentle or something more sinister, that is yet to be discovered. New music: Featuring 3 new tracks (~13 minutes) from composer Meyer.
Ancient Relics Paradox Steam Released on 2019-06-04. Said Ancient Relics: Collect and acquire valuable relics in your adventures as rewards for overcoming major crises or after completing a dig at an archaeological site and solving the chapters. Each relic gives significant benefits to your empire to aid in your interstellar escapades Those Who Came Before: Encounter two new extinct Precursor civilizations, each with their own anomalies. Players can investigate these to understand who they were and, more importantly, what one can learn from their demise. Relic Worlds: Once teeming with life, these Relic worlds now lie dead, covered with desolate ruins and dormant mysteries. Players can create archaeological sites to explore these remains and bring to light powerful relics and artifacts. Matter of Artifacts: Utilizing archaeological research, discover Minor Artifacts, a new resource type which can help empower one's empire. Dig In: Hit the dirt on a variety of enigmatic and alien worlds with more archaeology sites available for your empire to study... or plunder. Each site begins a story with between one and six chapters to investigate. Retrace the history to discover artifacts and relics that can be boons to your empire. New music: Featuring 4 new tracks (~17 minutes) from composer Meyer.

Species packs

Species packs focuses on adding new or enhancing existing phenotypes in the game.

Title and Quick description
Plantoids Species Pack Paradox Steam Released on 2016-08-04. Plantoids gives players the ability to play as a plant-like species that has gained sentience and begun to spread its tendrils across the galaxy, planting the roots of new civilizations on new planets. 2 New Civics: Catalytic Processing: Produce alloys with food instead of minerals. Idyllic Bloom: Transform planets into Gaia Worlds by building Gaia Seeders and upgrading them. 3 New species traits: Phototrophic: Changes some of your food upkeep into energy upkeep. Radiotrophic: Changes some of your food upkeep into energy upkeep. It also makes it more beneficial for your Pops to live on Tomb Worlds, as their energy upkeep is removed. Budding: Allows you to produce some pop assembly. Multiple Species with this trait can help provide pop assembly on potentially another species. 15 Plantoids portraits Ship-set models for civilian and military Plantoid ships A Plantoid cityscape art
Humanoids Species Pack Paradox Steam Released on 2017-12-07. Humanoids, the most-played phenotype, adds new gameplay options and variety while allowing players to design a species that resembles humans to some degree. 3 New civics: Master Artificers: Replaces your Artisans with Artificiers which also produce some extra Trade Value and Engineering Research. Pleasure Seekers: This civic grants access to the Decadent Lifestyle living standard, which increases happiness and consumer goods upkeep for all affected pops. Pompous Purists: Allows for a diplomatic playstyle for Xenophobes. Negotiate with other species, but only as long as it's on your own terms. Clone Army origin: As Clone Soldiers, your empire will be perfectly suited for warfare, even though you may not currently have any enemies. Your lives and continued existence will depend on your Ancient Clone Vat buildings (5 in total!!), which support your population. 10 New portraits of Humanoids with a broad variety of hairstyles and clothing Humanoid ship-set models inspired by classic western sci-fi A pre-scripted empire, the Fanatic Authoritarian/Materialist Voor Technocracy. A Humanoid cityscape art. 3 Alternative VIR voiceover sets: Dignified xenophile, Disciplined militarist, and Ruthless materialist. 3 Remixed tracks of classic Stellaris songs
Lithoids Species Pack Paradox Steam Released on 2019-10-24. Players can look forward to trying out the entirely new Lithoid play style that focuses on mineral production, relentless colonization of even the most marginal worlds, and refusing to cede an inch of your empire - for sedimental value. Unique Mechanics for Lithoid Empires: Lithoids are a bigger and boulder species type made entirely of sapient rock who eat minerals for sustenance, are long-lived, and can colonize in almost any environment. 15 New Portraits of Lithoids and 1 of a Lithoid robot: A selection of new rock-based species portraits and ship models for players who take nothing for granite and are looking to unearth a more grounded civilization. New Mineral-based Ship Models New voice pack
Necroids Species Pack Paradox Steam Released on 2020-10-29. Necroids, an intelligent undead species that live death to the fullest, will allow players to form empires that thrive where others might perish - and perish that others might thrive! New origin - Necrophage: The origin offers players a powerful primary species which consumes others within its grasp, blurring the line between cult and empire. 3 New civics: Death Cult: enables powerful edicts which require the sacrificing of pops. Reanimated Armies: allows the deployment of morality-immune, undead armies. Memorialists: erect monuments to the galaxy’s past, improving planetary stability and honouring tomb world. 16 new portraits (15 organic, 1 robotic) New ship set New advisor voiceover New city set & diplomacy room New name lists New building appearances
Aquatics Species Pack Paradox Steam Released on 2021-11-22. Dive into the Stellaris galaxy with a sea of new choices, and discover new life where you least expect it. Let a wave of new customizable options for your empire crash into Stellaris, with a treasure trove of features: 2 new origins: Here Be Dragons: Start off in a unique symbiotic relationship with an Ether Drake as a guardian ally, as long as you keep it happy. Ocean Paradise: The ultimate watery start. Allows you to start on a chonky size 30 planet filled with a plentiful bounty of resources. Anglers civic: Harvest the bounty of the ocean, by replacing your Farmer jobs with Anglers and Pearl Divers on your Agricultural Districts. Hydrocentric ascension perk: Unlocks Ice Mining stations which allows you to mine ice and bring it back to your Ocean Worlds, to make them larger. Unlocks Deluge colossus weapon which can be unleashed to create a watery grave for your enemies! Aquatic species trait: Allows more freedom of choice for your species portraits while still keeping the aquatic theme intact. 15 new Aquatic portraits + 1 aquatic-themed Robotic Portrait. Water themed Ship Set. Aquatic advisor, inspired by high seas adventure fiction. 4 Aquatic name lists.

Music packs

Music packs add new music created after the game's release to the game's soundtrack.

Title and Quick description

Complete Soundtrack Paradox Steam Released on 2016-05-09. A growing, living set of music – more tracks to be added as Stellaris continues to expand in the future. Adds tracks composed by Andreas Waldetoft and Bert Meyer. Performed by Brandenburg State Orchestra, Budapest Film Orchestra with vocals by Mia Stegmar and more. Contains 60 tracks (to date), with over five hours of music. Fuses melodic orchestral performance with synthetic creations. Includes bonus tracks and alternate versions of in-game tracks (available in MP3 and lossless FLAC).

Cosmetic packs

Cosmetic packs add graphical enhancements to the game.

Title and Quick description
Arachnoid Portrait Pack (part of Galaxy Edition) Paradox Steam Released on 2016-05-09. Adds an Arachnoid species portrait.
Sign-Up Campaign (A free DLC) Released on 2016-05-09. Project Augustus: Adds a Platypus species portrait and Paradox empire symbol. Symbols of Domination: Adds empire symbols.
Anniversary Portraits (A free DLC) Steam Released on 2017-12-07. Anniversary Portraits: Adds 3 additional species portraits - Fairy Dragon, Larvae, Peacock Avian. Creatures of the Void: Adds 5 additional species portraits: Dinosaur Bird Evil Porcupine Fungoid Infected Mammalian Hydra/Xenomorph Shadowy Anthropoid

E-books

E-books are books written based on the Stellaris universe. These, however, do not impact the actual game in any way whatsoever.

Title and Quick description
Digital Collector's Book (part of Galaxy Edition) Paradox Steam Released on 2016-05-09. This 130-page book on Stellaris's aesthetic design includes a collection of game art unavailable anywhere else. Learn of the thoughts and research that drove these designs, the problems encountered along the way, and the ways they were finally brought to life.
Stellaris: Infinite Frontiers Paradox Steam Released on 2016-05-09. Written by Steven Savile: An original novel based on the science-fiction setting of Paradox's Stellaris. When the Commonwealth of Man receives proof that they are not alone in the universe, humanity is divided: should our species seek salvation in potential friends among the stars, or prepare for an inevitable war? What discoveries await the colony ship as they journey into the unknown to find the source of a mysterious alien signal?

File names

List of DLC files in the Stellaris/dlc folder (bold names are expansions):

• dlc001 – Symbols of Domination
• dlc002 – Arachnoid Portrait Pack
• dlc003 – Paradox Account Sign-up Bonus
• dlc004 – Plantoid
• dlc010 – Creatures of the Void Portrait Pack
• dlc012 – Leviathans Story Pack
• dlc013 – Horizon Signal
• dlc014 – Utopia
• dlc015 – Anniversary Portraits
• dlc016 - Synthetic Dawn Story Pack
• dlc017 - Apocalypse
• dlc018 - Humanoids Species Pack
• dlc019 - Distant Stars Story Pack
• dlc020 - MegaCorp
• dlc021 - Ancient Relics Story Pack
• dlc022 - Lithoids Species Pack
• dlc023 - Federations
• dlc024 - Necroids Species Pack
• dlc025 - Nemesis