"I always see it kind of like a triangle": The surprising challenge of making the perfectly-sized cave in Satisfactory expansion Core Values
Coffee Stain’s *Core Values* expansion for *Satisfactory* forces players to build compact factories inside caves, reshaping logistics and design constraints.
The *Core Values* expansion shifts *Satisfactory*’s open-world factory building into confined cave environments, where conveyor belts become less practical and new logistics tools are required to connect structures. Players must now design factories that fit within predetermined cave spaces, a stark contrast to the game’s traditional sprawling layouts.
Level designers at Coffee Stain faced a unique challenge: crafting caves that balance exploration with functional space for factories. Game director Emmet Burke noted the need to ensure caves feel immersive while providing enough room for creative builds without allowing unconstrained expansion.
To test cave sizes, developers mapped out factory layouts across different progression stages, accounting for resource availability and building sizes. Art director Torsten Gunst described the process as balancing cave dimensions with factory demands, aiming for a shape that optimizes resource exploitation while maintaining gameplay integrity.
Producer Julio Mendez hinted at challenges tied to the new environment, suggesting the cave setting will push players toward adopting unfamiliar logistics tools. Despite meticulous planning, developers acknowledge players may find unintended solutions, prompting a 25% buffer in cave space for less optimized builders.