Introducing the Kaos Buggy and Vehicle Upgrades in Phoenix Point: Kaos Engines

Headlining the newest DLC, Kaos Engines, is the Kaos Syndicate, a new neutral sub-faction with its own Haven that has survived through scavenging. Its leader, the Maker, has been tinkering away creating his own inventive weapons of war. Now, Phoenix can take on missions for the Kaos Syndicate and acquire some of their devastating machines and upgrades for their campaign.

In Kaos Engines, players can take a brand new vehicle out for a spin on the battlefield: the Kaos Buggy. The Kaos Buggy boasts both a minigun and a grenade launcher, allowing players to swap between armaments on the fly, and while it may be made of scrap parts, the Buggy can take a beating while dishing out its own damage. And if the situation turns for the worse, the Buggy can hit the Redline and jet out of danger.

As players progress in Kaos Engines, new technology will allow further upgrades for the Buggy, making it a formidable new addition for players to leverage. Its biggest drawback? Players cannot make one of their own and they will need to be purchased directly from the Kaos Syndicate when available, so save those materials.

But the Kaos Buggy is not the only vehicular addition to the game. All-new upgrades from research are in place for all existing vehicles (the Armadillo, the Aspida, and the Scarab) that will let players swap different types of weapons and equipment based on need. Prefer a flamethrowing Armadillo or maybe an Aspida to shoot enemies from a distance? With multiple options for each vehicle, there’s plenty of choice for a particular weapon of war in Kaos Engines.

Not everything is offensive though, with hull and engine improvements that allow tougher armor (or spiked armor to damage melee attackers), increased speed, or even new abilities such as the Aspida hitting its experimental thrusters to hover to higher ground, or yes, outfitting Scarabs with caterpillar tracks to run over those pesky worms. With custom modules for weapons, engines, and hulls for every vehicle, players can tailor their machines to best fit their playstyle.

Each vehicle now also sports its own inventory, assisting operatives in the field more efficiently and making scavenging runs a bit smoother. And players can not just name, but customize their wheels in a variety of colors and armor patterns to make their rides truly unique. Plus, toggle the bonus ‘fancy’ option for some more extreme makeovers! With Kaos Engines, we hope vehicles can become more of a viable option for those that prefer to use them, but let’s get this out of the way: None of these upgrades are covered under warranty!

Kaos Engines arrives on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Stadia on March 1st, and next time, we’ll talk more about the new Kaos Tech weapons for operatives that are coming to the game, and what the Kaos Syndicate marketplace means for Phoenix Point players!