To see probes off to find new systems, access the fleet menu and click the explorer or hero ship, then select the Launch Probe button (the icon pretty clearly looks like a probe or a satellite moving towards the right). For instance, researching Machine Bacteria on the Science and Exploration technology tree gives access to Titanium and Hyperium probes.

Like most technologies in the game, probe modules can be upgraded later on for better results and longer vision range. To launch probes, you first have to add them as a module to an explorer ship. What's the point of probes instead of just sending a fleet off to find locations? Probes can head into unexplored areas that haven't been revealed yet, bypassing normal movement paths and unveiling anomalies or even new systems. Some players totally miss probes in the early stages of the game because only exploration ships ( marked with the magnifying glass) and hero ships are capable of launching probes. Below, we cover everything you need to know about gaining access to probes, using them to explore and find anomalies, and replenishing your depleted probe stock.

Probes are one of those elements that are easy to miss or just simply misunderstand if you did manage to notice them sitting there.

While the in-depth nature of the game makes it a must-try for the 4X fans, it can also turn off more casual gamers not familiar with the style, as there's a steep learning curve here. As with many of these futuristic 4X-style games, there's a staggering number of elements to juggle and a whole lot of gameplay options you might not even realize you can use on the first playthrough.

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