# Dawn of the Freighter: Expanding the Boundaries of SAGE Labs Gameplay

Published December 11, 2024 by Star Atlas. Original article: https://medium.com/star-atlas/dawn-of-the-freighter-expanding-the-boundaries-of-sage-labs-gameplay-7d4d5e7cb6a1

![](https://assets.aephia.com/wp-assets/8f5f5daca27b646cfd1b9ac66e120d44dd5d79219809d27cbe1dd16c0a12df73.png)

The latest update to Star Atlas’ SAGE Labs, titled **Dawn of The Freighter**, brings two transformative mechanics to the forefront:**Local Marketplaces** and**Faction Infrastructure Contracts**. These features are set to redefine how players interact with in-game economies and mechanics, opening up a wealth of new opportunities and expanding the gameplay experience.

## Local Marketplaces: Trade Where You Play

![](https://assets.aephia.com/wp-assets/5eccccbe53162c824ebe5a90cc9430a0c7490810b181f38f20645e3e25902594.png)

Local Marketplaces introduce an entirely new layer of commerce to Star Atlas. With this update, each starbase in the Galia Expanse is now an insulated, independent market. Players can**buy and sell items directly at a given starbase** without the need to take assets out of the game for trading. This means that every starbase becomes a localized economy, and the prices of goods will vary depending on the supply and demand at that particular location.

The introduction of Local Marketplaces opens up exciting new career paths for players, such as**freighting**, where players can transport goods from one starbase to another to capitalize on price differences. Additionally, players can transport their**crew** through Galia and use them to craft jobs in order to seize the opportunity for manufactured goods across the various space stations of Galia. The dynamics of trading, transporting, and strategizing have never been more engaging.

## Faction Infrastructure Contracts: Investing in the Future

![](https://assets.aephia.com/wp-assets/9a018625e932212e130621732f58b834e443af566c0408d8b231d9a01ba04f64.png)

The new**Faction Infrastructure Contracts** are an evolution of the RFR mechanics, offering players a new strategic way to participate in the Star Atlas economy with predictable earning mechanics.

Unlike the LP system (whose emissions are now 4.5M daily ATLAS to accommodate the Infrastructure Contract emissions), where players would receive ATLAS for their proportional contribution towards the faction objectives during a given epoch, players can now**craft Factions Infrastructure Contracts at starbases** and redeem them for a**fixed amount of ATLAS (2)**. The catch? Contracts can only be redeemed at specific starbases and during designated time windows.

There are three different species of contracts, one for each faction, and they will be redeemable in three different starbases at a given time, rotating amongst a selection of six key starbases in each faction territory:

- **MUD Faction:** MUD-2, MUD-5, MRZ-7, MRZ-8, MRZ-9, MRZ-12
- **ONI Faction:** ONI-2, ONI-3, MRZ-36, MRZ-26, MRZ-31, MRZ-30
- **USTUR Faction:** UST-2, UST-5, MRZ-17, MRZ-28, MRZ-32, MRZ-33

All starbases in each faction will allow you to craft the Infrastructure Contracts, providing another reason for players to explore and extract resources across the galaxy. Timing and strategic movement will be crucial for maximizing the value of those contracts, pushing players to engage deeply with their faction’s infrastructure and economic landscape.

So get ready to craft! Every faction has a different Infrastructure Contract, so make sure to find the materials for your faction recipe! Check out each faction contract recipe below:

**MUD Infrastructure Contract Recipe:**

**Frameworks**: 234 units

**Energy Substrate:** 78 units

**Survey Data Units (SDU):** 5 units

**ONI Infrastructure Contract Recipe:**

**Frameworks**: 234 units

**Strange Emitter:** 64 units

**Survey Data Units (SDU):** 5 units

**Ustur Infrastructure Contract Recipe:**

**Frameworks**: 234 units

**Electronics:** 157 units

**Survey Data Units (SDU):** 5 units

## A New Depth of Exploration and Strategy

![](https://assets.aephia.com/wp-assets/c9e554fe146e20ca29003698452247d72b5f54c6030392fae50ed8598f878aa0.png)

With**Dawn of the Freighter**, every starbase is becoming its own economic ecosystem, creating new dynamics of supply, demand, and player interaction. The introduction of Local Marketplaces and Infrastructure Contracts adds a whole new level of depth to the Star Atlas universe, encouraging players to explore, trade, and invest as they develop the galaxy’s infrastructure.

Now is the time to become a pivotal force in shaping the future of the Galia Expanse. Explore, connect, and**build the galaxy’s future** in this new Star Atlas Golden Era patch!

## ABOUT STAR ATLAS

Star Atlas is a next-gen gaming metaverse emerging from the confluence of state-of-the-art blockchain technologies, real-time graphics and multiplayer video games.

Using Unreal Engine 5’s Nanite real-time graphics technology allows for cinematic quality video game visuals. In addition, blockchain technology using[ Solana](http://solana.com/) establishes a largely serverless and secured gameplay experience. Player assets obtained and traded within Star Atlas create an economy that replicates tangible world assets and ownership.

To learn more, join a faction at[ Play.StarAtlas.com](http://play.staratlas.com/?utm_medium=medium&utm_campaign=G23B), get a spaceship in the[ Galactic Marketplace](http://play.staratlas.com/market/?utm_medium=medium&utm_campaign=G23B), and start playing the[ SAGE Labs browser game](http://labs.staratlas.com/?utm_medium=medium&utm_campaign=G23B) to explore, gather, craft and prosper on the galactic frontier.

Then,[ download the UE5 PC Game](https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/star-atlas-bead34) from the Epic Games Store.

Participate in governance of the[ Star Atlas DAO](https://govern.staratlas.com/?utm_medium=medium&utm_campaign=G23B). Send your spaceships on a deep space mission by enrolling them in a[ Faction Fleet](https://play.staratlas.com/fleet/?utm_medium=medium&utm_campaign=G23B) and harvest resources with[ Faction Claims](https://play.staratlas.com/claims/?utm_medium=medium&utm_campaign=G23B).

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