RimWorld's biggest-ever expansion brings mech armies, gene-splicing, and bouncing babies

pcgamer.com:

Rimworld will shortly receive its third major expansion, called Biotech, and it's going all Crusader Kings on our ass. Biotech introduces three new features to the already pretty wonderful space colony simulator: controllable mechanoids, genetic modification, and good old human reproduction. Yep: time to make space babies.

Colonists (and for the adventurous, outsiders) can now become pregnant and give birth. How about this for a classic patch note(opens in new tab): «Pregnancy can begin naturally, or via technological means, and can be controlled by a variety of methods.»

Babies will make colonists happy, for the most part, but also mean a boatload of extra work. Players will have to build lovely safe nurseries for them, with plentiful food and constant care, or the babies will not be little bundles of joy. And they grow up fast, so soon need a classroom, and a lesson plan, and will begin tagging along with adults to learn about Rimworld's important skills.

Essentially, though, there's a moral choice. You don't have to give these babies a good life, rich in creative pursuits and emotionally rewarding. You might just want worker drones. «Every few years, you choose which traits and passions a child will develop,» read the notes. «The better-raised a child is, with smarter education and more attention, the more choices you’ll have, and the better their chances are to become a happy and talented adult. Some colonies will sacrifice everything to give a child the best upbringing, while others will use growth vats to pump out cheap workers and soldiers.»

The mechanoid side perhaps alleviates the need for such tactics, though is pretty dystopian itself. These mechs are semi-living machines that have been in Rimworld previously