The Alters Gameplay Video
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The Alters Key Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | Unreal Engine |
| Genre | Sci-Fi Survival, Base Building |
| Initial Release | 2025-06-13 |
| Developer | 11 bit studios |
| Publisher | 11 bit studios |
| Setting | A desolate, alien planet |
| Perspective | Third-Person |
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass |
| Multiplayer | Single-Player Only |
| Unique Feature | A unique blend of base-building survival with a deep, psychological narrative about managing alternate versions of oneself, each with distinct personalities and skills. |
The Alters System Requirements
1080p
tune Minimum (Targets 1080p, Low/Medium settings, ~30-60 FPS) – Low to Medium settings at 1080p resolution.
tune Recommended (Targets 1080p, High settings, ~60 FPS) – High settings at 1080p resolution, aiming for a consistent 60 FPS.
1440p
tune High (Targets 1440p, High settings, ~60 FPS) – High settings at 1440p resolution with a target of 60 FPS.
2160p
tune Ultra (Targets 2160p/4K, High/Ultra settings, ~60 FPS) – High to Ultra settings at 2160p (4K) resolution, aiming for 60 FPS. Upscaling technology is highly recommended.
The Alters Laptop Recommendations
memory Intel Core I7 12700 H
developer_board NVIDIA RTX 3070 140W
storage 32GB DDR4-3200MHz
1349
Model: MSI Pulse GL66 with RTX 3070 and i7 12th Gen
memory CPU: Intel Core I7 12700 H (Score: 900)
developer_board GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3070 (Score: 6600) @ 140W TGP
storage RAM: 32GB DDR4-3200MHz
save Storage: 1000GB NVMe
desktop_windows Display: 1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low to Medium settings at 1080p resolution.).
memory Intel Core I9 13900 H
developer_board NVIDIA RTX 4060 140W
storage 16GB DDR5-5200MHz
999
Model: Acer Nitro V with RTX 4060 and i9 13th Gen
memory CPU: Intel Core I9 13900 H (Score: 1058)
developer_board GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 (Score: 6700) @ 140W TGP
storage RAM: 16GB DDR5-5200MHz
save Storage: 512GB NVMe
desktop_windows Display: 1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low to Medium settings at 1080p resolution.).
memory Intel Core I9 14900 H
developer_board NVIDIA RTX 4060 140W
storage 32GB DDR5-5600MHz
1749
Model: Lenovo Legion Pro 5i (i9-14900HX, RTX 4060)
memory CPU: Intel Core I9 14900 H (Score: 1200)
developer_board GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 (Score: 6700) @ 140W TGP
storage RAM: 32GB DDR5-5600MHz
save Storage: 2000GB NVMe
desktop_windows Display: 2560 x 1600 (WQXGA)
Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low to Medium settings at 1080p resolution.).
memory Intel Core I9 12900 H
developer_board NVIDIA RTX 3070 TI 150W
storage 16GB DDR5-4800MHz
1397
Model: Asus Rog Strix Scar 15 with RTX 3070 Ti and i9 12th Gen
memory CPU: Intel Core I9 12900 H (Score: 1030)
developer_board GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3070 TI (Score: 7100) @ 150W TGP
storage RAM: 16GB DDR5-4800MHz
save Storage: 1000GB NVMe
desktop_windows Display: 2560 x 1440 (QHD)
Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low to Medium settings at 1080p resolution.).
memory Intel Core I5 12450 H
developer_board NVIDIA RTX 3050 75W
storage 16GB DDR4-3200MHz
645
Model: HP Victus 15 with RTX 3050 and i5 12th Gen
memory CPU: Intel Core I5 12450 H (Score: 628)
developer_board GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3050 (Score: 7220) @ 75W TGP
storage RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200MHz
save Storage: 1000GB NVMe
desktop_windows Display: 1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low to Medium settings at 1080p resolution.).
memory Intel Core I5 12500 H
developer_board NVIDIA RTX 3050 TI 80W
storage 16GB DDR4-3200MHz
710
Model: Acer Nitro 5 with RTX 3050 Ti and i5 12th Gen
memory CPU: Intel Core I5 12500 H (Score: 633)
developer_board GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3050 TI (Score: 7220) @ 80W TGP
storage RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200MHz
save Storage: 512GB NVMe
desktop_windows Display: 1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low to Medium settings at 1080p resolution.).
memory AMD Ryzen 7 7435 HS
developer_board NVIDIA RTX 3050 75W
storage 32GB DDR5-4800MHz
799
Model: ASUS TUF A15 with RTX 3050 and Ryzen 7
memory CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7435 HS (Score: 1655)
developer_board GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3050 (Score: 7220) @ 75W TGP
storage RAM: 32GB DDR5-4800MHz
save Storage: 1000GB NVMe
desktop_windows Display: 1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low to Medium settings at 1080p resolution.).
memory AMD Ryzen 7 680 H
developer_board NVIDIA RTX 3060 140W
storage 16GB DDR5-4800MHz
1299
Model: ASUS ROG Strix G15 with RTX 3060 and Ryzen 7
memory CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 680 H (Score: 880)
developer_board GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3060 (Score: 7448) @ 140W TGP
storage RAM: 16GB DDR5-4800MHz
save Storage: 1000GB NVMe
desktop_windows Display: 1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low to Medium settings at 1080p resolution.).
memory AMD Ryzen 9 590 HS
developer_board NVIDIA RTX 3080 100W
storage 16GB DDR4-3200MHz
1489
Model: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 Ultra with RTX 3080 and Ryzen 9
memory CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 590 HS (Score: 820)
developer_board GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3080 (Score: 7904) @ 100W TGP
storage RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200MHz
save Storage: 1000GB NVMe
desktop_windows Display: 2560 x 1440 (QHD)
Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low to Medium settings at 1080p resolution.).
memory Intel Core I7 13620 H
developer_board NVIDIA RTX 4070
storage 16GB DDR5-4800MHz
1350
Model: MSI Katana 15 with RTX 4070
memory CPU: Intel Core I7 13620 H (Score: 843)
developer_board GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 (Score: 8700)
storage RAM: 16GB DDR5-4800MHz
save Storage: 1000GB NVMe
desktop_windows Display: 2560 x 1440 (QHD)
Meets criteria for tier: 1080p - Minimum (Low to Medium settings at 1080p resolution.).
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Core Requirements
- desktop_windowsOperating System: Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11 (64-bit)
A 64-bit version of Windows 10 is the minimum requirement. Windows 11 is also fully supported and recommended for newer hardware like the 40 and 50 series GPUs to take full advantage of features like DirectStorage.
- memoryDirectX: DirectX 12
The game requires a DirectX 12 compatible GPU. This is a common requirement for modern games, enabling features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.
- save_altStorage Note: 50 GB available space (SSD Recommended)
An SSD is strongly recommended for faster loading times and a smoother overall experience. Ensure at least 50 GB of free space on your drive.
settings_applications Optimization Notes:
Upscaling: The game supports upscaling technologies including NVIDIA DLSS 3 (with Frame Generation for 40/50 series) and AMD FSR. These can significantly boost performance, especially at higher resolutions.
Key Settings: Performance will be most affected by settings such as shadow quality, texture quality, effects detail, and anti-aliasing. Adjusting these settings can help achieve a balance between visual quality and framerate.
The Alters: Map Size and Regions
The game is structured across several large, distinct maps that Jan must traverse in sequence. Each map represents a different biome of the alien planet, presenting unique environmental hazards, resources, and exploration challenges. The gameplay is not a seamless open world but a series of large, explorable zones that the mobile base travels between.
The Alters: Post-Launch Content / DLC
The Deluxe Edition includes one planned paid DLC to be released post-launch. Details about the content of this DLC have not yet been announced by 11 bit studios.
The Alters Skills & Upgrades Overview
Progression is tied to base expansion and research. Creating Alters with specific skills (e.g., Scientist, Technician, Miner) unlocks new capabilities. The Scientist Alter can work in the Research Lab to unlock new technologies, base modules, and crafting recipes. The Technician can repair the base more efficiently. Upgrades focus on improving the base's efficiency, resource production, and survivability against environmental threats.
The Alters: Game Editions
The game was released with a Standard Edition and a Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition includes the base game, a digital artbook, and the original soundtrack. A physical Signature Edition with collectibles like a 'Pierogi Press' was also available from specific retailers.
The Alters: Cross-Platform / Crossplay
The Alters is a strictly single-player experience, so cross-platform play and cross-progression are not applicable.
The Alters Specific Game Elements
The Alters Weapons
- securityNone (N/A)
The Alters is a non-combat survival game. There are no weapons, and the primary threats are environmental hazards (like solar radiation), resource scarcity, and the psychological and social challenges of managing the Alters.
The Alters Vehicles
- directions_carThe Mobile Base (Base / Vehicle)
The primary 'vehicle' is the massive, wheeled base itself. It is not directly controlled like a car but must be maintained and fueled to automatically move across the planet at the end of each major story beat, keeping ahead of the deadly sun.
The Alters Characters
- personJan Botanist - Alter / Biologist
An Alter with a green thumb, skilled in cultivating food within the base. He is crucial for upgrading the crew's diet from nutrient mush to proper meals, significantly boosting morale.
- personJan Doctor - Alter / Medic
An Alter with medical expertise who can work in the Infirmary to drastically speed up the healing of injured or irradiated Alters.
- personJan Dolski (The Player) - Protagonist / Base Leader (playable)
The original Jan, a simple worker whose choices led him to this mission. He is the player character and is responsible for creating and managing his alternate selves.
- personJan Miner - Alter / Resource Gatherer
A hardy Alter with skills in geology and mining, making him more efficient at extracting resources from the planet's surface.
- personJan Scientist - Alter / Researcher
A career-driven and ambitious Alter who excels at research, unlocking new technologies for the base. His ambition can lead to friction with the other Jans.
- personJan Technician - Alter / Engineer
The first Alter created. Pragmatic and skilled with machinery, he is essential for base repairs but has a cynical and sometimes abrasive personality.
Top 3 Characters:
Dolski (The Player): The original Jan, a simple worker filled with regret. As the leader, his decisions and interactions shape the relationships and survival of the entire group. 2. Jan Technician: The first Alter players create. He is pragmatic and skilled at repairs but can be cynical and difficult to get along with, creating early interpersonal conflict. 3. Jan Scientist: A critical Alter for progression. He is career-driven and ambitious, able to unlock vital technologies but may also undermine the player's leadership if his needs aren't met.
The Alters Missions / Objectives
- flagAlter Storylines
Objective: Each Alter has their own personal storyline and emotional needs. These manifest as side tasks and dialogue encounters where the player must make choices to resolve conflicts, improve morale, or deal with the consequences of their past decisions.
- flagMain Story Acts
Objective: The game is structured in a prologue and three main acts. The primary objective is to survive, expand the base, create the necessary Alters, and successfully move the mobile base across the planet's surface to escape the encroaching, lethal sunrise.
- flagResource Expeditions
Objective: A core gameplay loop that involves sending Jan outside the base during safe periods to explore the environment, locate resource deposits (metals, organics, Rapidium), and set up mining rigs to gather materials needed for crafting and base expansion.
Top 3 Missions/Objectives:
the Sun: The overarching objective of the game. Players must gather enough resources and keep the mobile base operational to constantly move it across the planet's surface, staying ahead of the lethal sunrise. 2. Manage Alter Relationships: A continuous objective involving dialogue choices, fulfilling Alters' needs (like better food or a place to relax), and resolving conflicts between them to maintain crew morale and efficiency. 3. Explore and Exploit the Planet: The core gameplay loop of venturing outside the base during safe periods to mine for metals, gather organics, and find deposits of the crucial Rapidium element needed to create more Alters.
The Alters Companions / Summons
- groupThe Alters (Human (Alternate Versions))
Ability: The Alters are the core companions and crew. They are not passive followers but fully interactive characters with their own skills, needs, and personalities. They perform tasks assigned by the player, such as mining, cooking, researching, and repairing, but also require social interaction and management to prevent conflicts and maintain morale.
The Alters Collectibles
- collections_bookmarkGeological Samples
Location/Use: Unique mineral or organic samples found during exploration. These can be analyzed in the Research Lab to unlock new technologies or provide insight into the planet's ecosystem.
- collections_bookmarkPersonal Logs
Location/Use: Datapads and audio logs left behind by the original, deceased crew members of the crashed ship. These provide backstory on the mission and the events leading to the crash.
The Alters Armor
- shieldWorker Suit
Focus/Stats: Jan and his Alters wear a standard worker suit. While not 'armor' in a combat sense, it is essential for survival outside the base. It has a limited energy supply that powers tools and must be recharged with batteries. Upgrades likely focus on improving its efficiency or radiation resistance.
The Alters Clothing / Appearance
- checkroomExclusive In-Game Outfit
Details: The Deluxe Edition of the game includes one exclusive, purely cosmetic outfit for Jan and his Alters.
The Alters Other Features & Info
- labelMultiplayer Modes
The Alters does not feature any multiplayer or co-operative modes.
- labelUser Interface
The UI features a time bar at the top of the screen, indicating the safe daylight hours for exploration. Menus on the left side show the status and mood of each Alter and current tasks. A resource counter is displayed at the bottom. The interface is designed to provide critical survival and management information at a glance.
- labelSound and Music
The game features a full voice cast for Jan and all his Alters, with the same actor (Alex Jordan) delivering nuanced performances for each personality. The soundtrack is atmospheric and emotional, emphasizing the themes of isolation and introspection. The launch trailer notably featured the song 'We Might Be Dead by Tomorrow' by Soko.
- labelGraphics and Visuals
Built on Unreal Engine, the game features a distinct visual style with a striking, alien planet filled with bizarre, physics-defying anomalies and beautiful yet menacing landscapes. The mobile base is highly detailed, with a modular, industrial aesthetic.
- labelAccessibility Features
Includes standard accessibility options such as customizable subtitles, difficulty settings (particularly for the economy and survival elements), and remappable controls on PC.
- labelStory and Setting
The game follows Jan Dolski, a worker on a high-stakes mining mission on a distant, alien planet. After his ship crashes and the rest of the crew perishes, Jan is left alone. To operate his massive, wheeled mobile base and escape the planet's deadly sun, he must use a quantum computer and a rare element called Rapidium to manifest 'Alters'—alternate versions of himself who made different life choices and thus possess different skills and personalities.
- labelTop 3 Gameplay Mechanics
- 1. Creating and Managing Alters: The core mechanic involves using a quantum computer to explore Jan's life path and manifest alternate versions of himself. Each Alter has a unique personality, skills, and emotional needs that must be managed. 2. Mobile Base Management: The game is centered around a massive, wheeled base that must be constantly maintained, upgraded, and moved. Players build new modules (like a kitchen, infirmary, or research lab), manage power, and assign Alters to tasks, similar to games like This War of Mine or Fallout Shelter. 3. Time-Sensitive Exploration: The planet has a harsh day/night cycle. A deadly sun forces players to carefully plan their expeditions outside the base to gather resources, as staying out too long results in lethal radiation exposure. This creates a constant race against time.
The Alters Frequently Asked Questions
- help_outline What kind of game is The Alters?It's a unique sci-fi game that blends base-building and resource management with a deep, psychological narrative about survival and identity. It has been described as a mix of 'This War of Mine', 'Fallout Shelter', and a narrative adventure game.
- help_outline Is there combat in The Alters?No, the game is non-violent. The primary challenges come from survival against the harsh environment, managing resources, and navigating the complex social dynamics between the different versions of Jan.
- help_outline How do you 'create' an Alter?Using a quantum computer, the player explores a branching tree of Jan's past life choices. By selecting a different path (e.g., 'What if Jan became a scientist?'), a new Alter with the corresponding skills and personality is manifested using a rare resource called Rapidium.
- help_outline Is The Alters on Game Pass?Yes, The Alters was available on day one on both Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.