Altered Orbit Studios has confirmed that Selaco Chapter 2: The Machines of War will launch on November 13, 2026, as a free update for the retro-inspired first-person shooter on Steam. The expansion introduces 19 new campaign maps, approximately six to eight hours of additional gameplay, new weapons and enemies, and substantial improvements to the existing campaign.
The developer announced the release date in an official Steam update on October 30, outlining changes that extend well beyond the new story content. Chapter 2 has been in development for more than two years and represents a major expansion of Selaco’s Early Access experience, which originally launched in May 2024.
The Machines of War expands the conflict between the game’s opposing factions while introducing a powerful mechanical enemy that relentlessly pursues protagonist Dawn Collins. The new campaign also features additional voiced characters, including Dawn herself, and environments designed around faster, more intense encounters.
For part of the campaign, players will be accompanied by an allied character who can participate in combat. Those who prefer fighting alone can instruct the companion to remain stationary, making the assistance optional.
Combat receives several additions, including a Minigun, an explosive Heavy Machine Gun and a jetpack. A new Heavy Ordnance system allows players to pick up powerful battlefield weapons, use their limited ammunition and discard them afterward.
New deployable equipment includes Sentinel Drones, Mini-Turrets and Mobile Cover. Weapon Kits are also expanding with additions such as Dragon’s Breath, Storm Shield and Cluster Grenades, while existing kits receive adjustments. Players will be able to equip two Weapon Kits on individual weapons and switch between them during combat.
The enemy roster grows with Skirmishers, Tanks and Incinerators, supported by a substantial overhaul of the game’s artificial intelligence. Altered Orbit Studios says it has rewritten most of the enemy AI, introducing improved pathfinding, tactical decisions and a new Rally system.
Enemies will also patrol their territory rather than relying as heavily on scripted ambushes. This gives players more opportunities to observe enemy movement, avoid encounters or decide when to initiate combat.
Chapter 1 is receiving a remaster alongside the expansion, with updated lighting, revised setpieces, additional surprises and improvements throughout existing environments. The developer recommends replaying the original campaign because some changes provide additional context for later events.
On the technical side, a new baked-lighting system introduces improved shadows while targeting better performance. The second version of Selaco’s particle system is designed to reduce the frame-rate impact of effects-heavy combat sequences.
A new asset-streaming system is another significant addition. According to Altered Orbit Studios, the changes have reduced general VRAM consumption by 19%, allowing the game to support increasingly complex environments without proportionally increasing graphics memory requirements. The figure is a developer-reported improvement rather than an independently verified benchmark.
These optimizations are particularly relevant to players using lower-memory graphics cards and portable gaming PCs. Selaco already supports native Linux and carries Steam Deck Verified status, making the update relevant to the handheld audience alongside traditional desktop players.
Several quality-of-life improvements are also included. Navigation guidance has been refined, previously missed Weapon Kits can generally be purchased in Safe Rooms, and optional gameplay modifiers are expanding with Companion Mode and Random Encounters. Ultra-secret Weapon Kits remain excluded from the new purchasing system.
Campaign completion requirements are changing as well. Discovering every secret will no longer be necessary for 100% completion, which will instead focus on upgrades, Weapon Kits and Datapads. Players who prefer the original requirements can enable a Completionist modifier.
The update also introduces passive upgrades through collectible Supplements, improved movement responsiveness, reworked Safe Rooms and additional music. Owners of the official soundtrack DLC will receive the new Chapter 2 tracks without an additional purchase.
One important consideration for returning players is save compatibility. Altered Orbit Studios has confirmed that existing save files will not work with the updated version because of the extensive changes to the campaign and underlying systems.
Players who have already completed Chapter 1 can begin directly at the Chapter 2 levels without replaying the original campaign. Those with unfinished playthroughs can complete them before November 13, start again after the update or access the previous game build through Steam’s beta settings.
To continue an existing save, players can open Selaco’s Steam Properties, select Betas and choose the CHAPTER1 branch. Weapon Kit unlock progression will be preserved even when starting a new campaign.
Selaco’s upcoming expansion joins other November releases aimed at fans of retro-inspired first-person games, including Derelikt's November 13 launch on PS5 and PC, although the two titles take different approaches to their classic shooter influences.
Altered Orbit Studios plans to release the complete Chapter 2 patch notes and a new trailer when The Machines of War arrives on November 13. The expansion will be available to existing Selaco owners at no additional cost.
