update · July 11, 2025
RimWorld Odyssey Expansion and Update v1.6 Launch Details
RimWorld expands beyond a single map with the Odyssey expansion and free v1.6 update, adding mobile gravships, new biomes, and major performance upgrades.
Ludeon Studios has launched the RimWorld Odyssey expansion alongside the free version 1.6 update. Odyssey introduces interplanetary and planetary exploration via custom-built gravships, new biomes, space exploration, and mechanoid threats. Update 1.6 revamps base game performance, building design tools, map generation, and caravan mechanics for all players.
The Odyssey Expansion and Space Travel
Odyssey lets players construct flyable gravships using engines, thrusters, and chemfuel. Colonists can travel across the planet, land anywhere, or venture into low orbit to scavenge wrecked space stations, mine ore-rich asteroids, and raid orbital platforms. The expansion adds biomes like the permanent darkness of the glowforest, toxic scarlands, and lava fields, alongside dangerous wildlife, a fishing system, and a confrontation with the mechhive mind.
Performance and Multithreading
Update 1.6 brings performance optimizations aimed at late-game colonies. Pathfinding is fully multithreaded and batched, and the lighting system operates on multiple threads. Developers optimized caravan foraging, egg-laying checks, hauling, and animal pen calculations while patching memory leaks. These changes reduce game launch times compared to version 1.5.
Base Design and Caravan Upgrades
Building and planning tools receive substantial expansions. Players can use nine different colors for base planning, copy and paste layouts, and rename plans. Designator tools feature new shapes like angled lines and ovals. Upgrading existing structures is simplified by placing blueprints directly over old walls, conduits, and doors without manual deconstruction. Caravans can pitch temporary camps to stabilize injured pawns before enemies close in.
Combat, Animals, and Quality of Life
Chickens, ducks, and geese can now fly over obstacles and fences. The scaria status effect is revamped, causing visible mangled mutations and spreading infections that turn humans and animals. Combat gear is rebalanced so plate armor scales better with high-end materials, sniper rifles fire faster, and charge weapons deal more damage. Quality-of-life adjustments include a world map jump-to gizmo and improved search bar functionality.
Why this patch matters
Odyssey and update 1.6 change how RimWorld is played, offering a suite of building tools alongside an entirely new travel paradigm.