Core Keeper’s next major update is getting close, and it’s shaping up to be one of the game’s biggest changes so far! And boy, are we excited! Void & Voltage is expected to arrive in February 2026 and focuses heavily on players who are ready for tougher fights, bigger systems, and new ways to build. Instead of adding just one new feature, the update moves in two directions at once. One introduces a brand-new mechanical biome filled with robotic enemies and high-value resources. The other reshapes familiar areas through strange corruption that can appear where players least expect it.
The result feels less like an expansion of the map and more like an evolution of how the underground works.
Breaker’s Reach
If you thought you had explored everything Core Keeper had to offer, Breaker’s Reach says otherwise. This new biome sits beyond the outer regions and leans heavily into a constructed, mechanical theme rather than natural cave environments. Enemies here include fast, aggressive robotic threats like Chargers, Patrollers, and Swarmers. Fights are designed to feel more intense, rewarding preparation and punishing rushed exploration. The biome also introduces new progression opportunities through tools, armor, crafting materials, and weapon options tied to its technology-focused setting.
A standout addition is a new boss encounter. The massive machine known as S.A.H.A.B.A.R brings large-scale combat built around timing, positioning, and reacting to powerful abilities, making it a clear late-game milestone. There's still a lot unknown about S.A.H.A.B.A.R but we are looking forward to a new challenge!
The Void
While Breaker’s Reach adds something new, the Void focuses on changing what we already know. Void corruption can appear inside existing biomes, twisting environments and transforming enemies into stronger variants. Familiar creatures return with new abilities, including explosive attacks, arcane beams, and electrical hazards that make encounters less predictable.
Because these corrupted zones can show up in places players have already explored, they remove the comfort of routine exploration. Even well-known areas can suddenly demand more attention and preparation. Larger threats tied to these anomalies reinforce the idea that the Void is an ongoing system of.... something.
Automation Is Getting a Major Upgrade
One of the biggest long-term changes coming with Void & Voltage is the expansion of automation. The Advanced Automation Table introduces systems meant to reduce repetitive tasks. Players can streamline farming, manage resources more efficiently, and experiment with new ways to handle salvaging and item disposal. New electronic components like generators and sensors suggest base building is moving toward functional systems rather than purely decorative setups. For players who enjoy optimizing their worlds, this could become one of the update’s most impactful changes ever made.
New Weapons Mean Bigger Fights
Combat variety is expanding alongside the new biome. Heavy weapons, explosives, and fire-based tools add more ways to control space and handle groups of enemies. The update also brings new armor sets, accessories, off-hand items, and improvements to minions. Instead of pushing players toward a single “best” setup, it looks like the goal is broader build experimentation.
Exploration Improvements and Extra Features
Void & Voltage also includes several quality-of-life additions that support long-term play. New mapping tools help locate important world areas, while additional crafting statues and waypoints make navigating large saves easier. Players can expect new achievements, decorative items, scene variations, and expanded item interaction, including the ability to break objects that were previously permanent.
Conclusion
Void & Voltage looks like the kind of update that sneaks up on you. On the surface, it’s a new biome, new enemies, new gear. But the more you look at it, the more it feels like the game is pushing players out of their comfort zone a bit.
Breaker’s Reach gives late-game players something fresh to chase, especially if you’ve been sitting around wondering what’s next. At the same time, the Void showing up in places you already know means you probably won’t be able to autopilot your way through runs anymore. That alone changes the vibe of exploration in a big way.
The automation stuff is honestly just nice to see. Anything that cuts down on busywork and lets you focus on building cool setups is a win, and it looks like this update leans into that pretty hard. Same goes for the new weapons and gear. It feels less like there’s one “right” way to play and more room to experiment.
There’s still a lot we don’t know yet, which is part of the fun. New boss, weird corruption mechanics, a biome that looks completely different from what we’re used to… it’s the kind of update that makes you want to jump back in just to see how it actually feels. Which is exactly what we'll be doing the second it drops.