In the ever-evolving survival terraforming game The Planet Crafter, the Blueprint Microchip plays a vital role in unlocking new technologies that can make the difference between surviving and thriving. As players transform a hostile alien planet into a habitable world, access to new gear, utilities, and facilities becomes essential. The Blueprint Microchip is at the center of this technological progression. Knowing how to acquire, craft, and utilize this microchip efficiently can significantly accelerate your development and ensure you unlock the tools needed to shape the environment in your favor.
Understanding the Blueprint Microchip
The Blueprint Microchip is an in-game item used to unlock random new blueprints. These blueprints can range from basic utilities like lockers and lighting, to advanced structures that greatly enhance your terraforming capabilities. Each microchip can be exchanged at a specific terminal located in the standard crafting station or inside your starting shelter. Once used, the microchip disappears, and a new blueprint is added to your list of unlockables.
Why It Matters
In The Planet Crafter, progression isn’t always linear. Unlocking essential gear like agility boots, exoskeleton upgrades, or tiered crafting stations often depends on obtaining a Blueprint Microchip. Without these chips, you might find yourself stuck with inefficient tools and missing out on vital upgrades that could make survival easier and faster. Because the items unlocked through microchips are random, every game session offers a unique path to progression.
How to Craft a Blueprint Microchip
Blueprint Microchips are not found lying around in the environment. Instead, players must craft them using materials collected throughout the world. The standard recipe for crafting a microchip involves:
- 1 Silicon
- 1 Magnesium
- 1 Microchip: Construction
This recipe may vary depending on the version or future updates of the game, but generally, the core materials include common minerals found early in the game world. Silicon and magnesium are abundant near your initial landing zone, often on open rock surfaces or within nearby caves. The Microchip: Construction is an early item that can be crafted once you’ve set up the basic tier 1 crafting station.
Where to Craft
Blueprint Microchips must be crafted using the Tier 1 or Tier 2 crafting station. These stations can be built inside your base and are relatively inexpensive to construct. Once placed, interact with the terminal to view craftable items, and scroll to find the microchip option.
Using the Blueprint Microchip
Once you’ve crafted a microchip, the next step is to use it at the appropriate decoding terminal. The decoding station is usually found within the starting drop pod or can be built later as a standalone structure. Here’s how to use it:
- Approach the decoding terminal.
- Insert the microchip into the terminal interface.
- The game will automatically decode the chip and unlock a random blueprint.
You will immediately receive a notification about what has been unlocked, and the new item will appear in your building or crafting menus. This system encourages regular exploration and crafting, since each chip brings you one step closer to full self-sufficiency and advanced terraforming.
Types of Unlockables
The blueprints unlocked with the Blueprint Microchip vary, but often include:
- Exoskeleton upgrades
- Agility or oxygen tanks
- Crafting stations (Tier 2 or 3)
- Storage lockers and advanced furniture
- Communication antennas
- Mapping screens
Some of these items are purely for convenience or aesthetics, while others drastically change how you play. For example, unlocking the mapping screen allows you to better navigate and plan your exploration routes. The agility boots increase movement speed, saving time and reducing the risk of oxygen depletion during long treks.
Finding Blueprint Microchips in the World
Aside from crafting, players can sometimes find pre-made Blueprint Microchips inside wrecks, crashed ships, and abandoned containers. These are scattered across the map and often require a bit of exploration to reach. Bringing extra oxygen tanks and water supplies is advised when setting out on a long search mission. These found chips can be used just like the crafted ones.
Best Locations to Search
Here are a few notable areas where Blueprint Microchips are commonly found:
- The Wreck near the Aluminum Field: One of the first major wrecks you can access. Look inside containers and near the walls.
- The Canyon Wreck: A hidden area within a narrow canyon, often containing multiple loot boxes and at least one chip.
- Old Satellite Sites: These are rare, but occasionally yield microchips among other high-value items.
These looted chips can give you a head start before you need to rely solely on crafting. They are especially useful early in the game when crafting materials may be limited.
Tips for Efficient Progression
To make the most out of Blueprint Microchips and streamline your development, consider the following tips:
- Always keep a small stockpile of crafting materials.This ensures you can craft microchips as soon as the need arises.
- Explore early and often.The sooner you gather found microchips, the faster you’ll unlock key blueprints.
- Upgrade your backpack and oxygen tank early.This will allow you to explore farther and carry more resources back to base.
- Build multiple decoding terminals if necessary.Once your base grows, having multiple access points to blueprint terminals can save time.
What to Prioritize Unlocking
Although blueprint unlocks are randomized, certain items are more useful in the early to mid-game. Prioritize blueprints that increase storage capacity, movement speed, or resource efficiency. These include:
- Locker Storage
- Agility Boots
- Exoskeleton upgrades
- Advanced crafting stations
Once you’ve acquired the essentials, you can focus on unlocking aesthetic or specialized items like mapping tools, display monitors, and terraforming scoreboards.
Future Updates and Blueprint Expansion
The Planet Crafter is an actively developed game, and future updates are expected to expand the blueprint system. New items, more dynamic unlock paths, and additional uses for Blueprint Microchips are likely to appear. Players should keep an eye on patch notes and community updates to stay informed on new features that may affect how microchips are used.
The Blueprint Microchip is a cornerstone of progression in The Planet Crafter. Whether you are unlocking essential survival tools or advanced technology for planetary transformation, each chip represents a step forward in your journey to create a livable world. Understanding how to craft, use, and prioritize these microchips will not only improve your efficiency but also make your experience richer and more rewarding. With exploration, planning, and a little luck, the microchip system will become your key to mastering the alien frontier.