Sci-fi open-world survival game Icarus has just launched its new Great Hunts DLC, and there’s also a free update packed with extra gear available for all. Built by RocketWerkz, the studio founded by DayZ creator Dean ‘Rocket’ Hall, Icarus has carved itself out a spot as a more realistic take on sci-fi space survival than the likes of Once Human, while leaning a little more fantastical than Rust and Sons of the Forest. Now, its latest expansion is here, and it’s joined by the arrival of the free Copernicus update, which improves boss battles alongside an all-new tier of legendary weapons.
Set on the eponymous planet, Icarus tells the tale of terraforming gone terribly awry. It was meant to be humanity’s greatest work, an entire world honed to our exact needs, but instead became a deadly and hostile wasteland. The atmosphere is toxic, storms and forest fires rage, and predators roam in the shadows. A resounding failure, by its original intent, but an excellent setup for the best survival games. Its new DLC, Great Hunts, introduces three separate campaigns where you’ll be tracking down a trio of mythical creatures across a total of 34 missions.
Managing to successfully uncover and defeat each of these beasts will reward you with new legendary weapons, but RocketWerkz has also taken this moment to overhaul the way that base-game boss fights work, alongside the Great Hunt targets. Existing foes such as the Black Wolf, Sandworm, and Scorpion have been reworked, and there are a total of five legendary weapons to be discovered in the Copernicus update. You’ll need to build these in the orbital Biolab, and each comes with four upgrade slots.
That’s just the beginning; the free overhaul also includes eight new Workshop consumables, 36 crafted items, an armor set, a building set, and an epoxy recipe. Overcoming world bosses earns you a new resource called Legendary Biomass, used to enhance the new class of weaponry. You’ll need to choose wisely; there are three unique options to pick between in each of the four slots, and upgrades are locked in permanently once applied.
Want to try another build? You can, but you’ll need to head out and earn a fresh copy of the weapon, then start from scratch. Using this new gear also requires you to rack up enough Ren to buy a license, but It’ll all be worth it, “These weapons don’t just hit hard,” RocketWerkz teases, “they represent the apex of Icarus gear and bring a new level of endgame depth and experimentation to your loadout.”
The free Icarus Copernicus update is out now. The Great Hunts DLC is also available, with a 10% launch discount meaning it’s priced at $22.49 / £18.89 until Thursday July 31. You can read a full rundown of both courtesy of RocketWerkz.
We’ve got even more of the best open-world games to explore, so you won’t be short on options. Or, if you’re eager for something you can play with friends, take a look through the best co-op games in 2025.
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