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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteBuy Caves of Qud and the Diaspora DLC together if you are new and want the expansion. If you already own the Steam base game, buy Diaspora alone. Diaspora is an expansion, not a standalone game, and the Steam listing says it requires Caves of Qud on Steam.
The planned desktop Steam Early Access release is December 9, 2026. The regular Early Access price is listed as $14.99 USD, although the developers say the final price could stay at $14.99 or rise slightly. Check the live Steam page before paying.
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What Diaspora is—and what it is not
Caves of Qud: Diaspora is a downloadable expansion for Caves of Qud. You cannot play it as a separate game: the Steam edition requires ownership of the base game. The expansion adds playable lineages, character options, weapons, creatures, items, world-generation changes and new story material to the existing game.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThat requirement determines the purchase decision. A new player needs both products, while someone who already owns the Steam base game needs only the DLC. Buying Diaspora by itself without the base game will not provide a playable standalone experience.
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Early Access also changes what “included” means. The launch build contains the features described below, but it is explicitly unfinished and may change. Freehold Games and Kitfox Games describe the expected development period as “roughly, though — on the order of one year.” Their announcement summarizes the trade-off as: “Expect some instability, but also a lot of vitality.”
What is included at the Early Access launch?
Animal and plant character stocks
Diaspora broadens character creation beyond the base game’s Mutated Human and True Kin genotypes. The current Early Access description lists nine animal stocks and three plant stocks. These are playable animal and plant choices, with associated traits and progression options rather than merely cosmetic species selections.
Animal and plant characters can use new mutation families, including body-part traits such as claws, a muzzle and a tail. The expansion’s progression systems are designed around these new stocks, so the choice affects how a run develops, not just its opening statistics.
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True Kin receive a new arcology setting and castes on the Ocean of Iber. The launch castes are:
- Propeller
- Starsteer
- Man of Kelp
- Delphine
These characters are residents of the Great Rondure and provide a distinct True Kin angle on the expansion’s setting and stories.
Animal and plant mutations
New mutations support the playable animal and plant stocks. The announced examples include physical body-part adaptations such as claws, muzzle and tail traits. Diaspora also adds new progression systems, giving these characters development paths that differ from simply applying existing options to a new visual form.
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Spear weapon skill tree
Spears receive their own skill tree. A spear attack can reach two tiles away, creating a deliberate spacing option for characters who want to engage enemies without standing directly adjacent to them. The skill tree gives spear users a progression route rather than treating the weapon as a one-off equipment novelty.
Creatures, migrants and artifacts
New creatures and items appear in surface and subterranean habitats. Migrants and artifacts draw on disparate cultures, adding encounters and equipment to the generated world. Because these additions are distributed through the game’s environments, they are part of exploration and discovery rather than a single isolated scenario.
Reworked dromad caravans and mountable saltbacks
Dromad caravans receive a major makeover. Saltbacks can be mounted, making them usable as mounts rather than only as environmental wildlife or background creatures. The caravan changes and mount system reinforce travel as an active part of a run.
More sophisticated roads and rivers
New worldbuilding algorithms produce more sophisticated road and river networks. These are systemic map-generation changes: they affect how routes and waterways are laid out across the world rather than adding one hand-built map.
Interface and performance improvements
The Steam FAQ also lists numerous user-interface and performance improvements for the current Early Access version. The listing does not reduce these changes to one headline feature, so players should treat them as a broad set of technical and usability work accompanying the content additions.
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The roadmap describes intended development, not guaranteed content at the December 9 launch or at final release. Features can be reordered, revised or dropped as development proceeds.
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The migrant questline
A multi-step migrant questline involving Je’ome the Bounty is planned. This is presented as a continuing story arc rather than a single launch encounter.
More stocks, factions and species
Future updates are expected to add more animal and plant stocks, along with Foxen and Snailfolk factions. The full version is also planned to add new humanoid species and factions. These announced groups should not be counted among the nine animal and three plant stocks confirmed for the current Early Access state.
Caravans, villages and large spaces
Planned systems include roaming or seasonal mega-caravans and underground villages. The developers also list large multi-zone dungeons or arcological spaces, described in some materials as mega-dungeons or large arcological areas. These would extend exploration beyond the smaller, more localized spaces a run may currently contain.
Dynamic quests and a larger diaspora arc
Dynamic quests and a large diaspora questline are planned feature arcs. Together with the Je’ome material, they indicate that the expansion’s narrative scope is intended to grow over Early Access rather than arrive as one complete campaign on day one.
Additional systems and content
The announced future list also includes:
- More mutations and cybernetic implants
- Additional creatures, skills, equipment and item modifications
- More elaboration for dromad caravans
- New biomes and ingredients
- Diseases and fungal infections
- New music
The developers describe the full version as an expansion of the Early Access features plus several new feature arcs. None of these roadmap items should be treated as a promise that a particular update will arrive on a particular date.
Which purchase should you make?
| Your situation | What to buy | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| You do not own Caves of Qud and want Diaspora | Base game plus Diaspora DLC on Steam | Diaspora requires the base game and is not standalone. |
| You already own the Steam base game | Diaspora DLC only | The expansion is sold as downloadable content for the base game. |
| You want only the original game | Caves of Qud alone | Diaspora is optional content; the base game remains the product you need to play without the expansion. |
| You prefer finished, stable content | Wait for the full expansion | Early Access is incomplete and subject to change. |
If you are new to Caves of Qud
Choose the base game and Diaspora together if the expansion’s animal and plant stocks, Great Rondure castes, spear system, caravans and other launch features are part of what attracts you. Confirm that both items are being added to your Steam account; the DLC alone does not replace the base game.
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If you already own the base game
Purchase Diaspora by itself. You do not need a second copy of Caves of Qud. The DLC is the correct upgrade path for an existing Steam owner.
If you dislike unfinished releases
Wait for the full version. The store warning says Early Access games are incomplete and may change, and the developers anticipate development on the order of one year. Waiting avoids the instability and balancing changes that come with following an active expansion.
If you want only the base-game experience
Buy Caves of Qud alone. Diaspora is optional downloadable content, not a prerequisite for playing the original game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Price, release timing and Early Access risk
The regular Early Access price announced by Freehold Games and Kitfox Games is $14.99 USD. The press materials list the same amount. The developers have said the final price may remain $14.99 or increase slightly, so the amount shown on the live Steam store page is the authoritative figure at the time you purchase.
The planned desktop Steam release date is December 9, 2026. Because that date and the price are forward-looking store information, verify both on Steam before buying; regional taxes, currency conversion and later price changes can affect what you are charged.
Early Access carries two separate uncertainties. First, the current build can contain instability and performance or interface issues while it is being developed. Second, the roadmap is aspirational: a listed faction, quest, biome or system may be changed or arrive later than expected. Buy now if you value playing new builds and providing feedback through the development period, not because every planned feature is already present.
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How the launch feature set changes a run
Character planning
The animal and plant stocks create more starting identities to evaluate, while their mutations and body-part traits influence later choices. A player deciding between a claw-focused animal build, a plant-oriented mutation plan and one of the Great Rondure True Kin castes is making a mechanical choice about progression, not selecting a simple character skin.
Combat spacing
The spear skill tree adds a two-tile attack pattern. That range can matter when positioning around dangerous creatures, narrow corridors or hazards, although the expansion’s final balance may change during Early Access.
Travel and discovery
Road and river generation, redesigned dromad caravans and mountable saltbacks all affect movement through the world. New migrants, artifacts and creatures give both surface and underground areas additional reasons to explore.
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What to check before you buy
- Platform: Diaspora’s stated requirement is the Steam version of Caves of Qud.
- Ownership: New players need the base game and DLC; existing Steam owners need only Diaspora.
- Current contents: Count the nine animal stocks, three plant stocks, four Great Rondure castes, spear tree, creatures, items, caravan changes, saltbacks and world-generation work as the launch feature set.
- Roadmap expectations: Treat Je’ome’s questline, Foxen and Snailfolk, mega-caravans, underground villages, dynamic quests, large dungeons, diseases, fungal infections and other listed additions as planned.
- Price and date: Recheck the live Steam listing for the $14.99 reference price, regional total and release status.
- Stability tolerance: Choose Early Access only if unfinished, changing software is acceptable to you.
Bottom line for each type of buyer
New player who wants Diaspora: buy the Steam base game and Diaspora together.
Existing Steam owner: buy Diaspora alone.
Player who wants a finished expansion: wait until full release rather than paying for Early Access now.
Player interested only in Caves of Qud: buy the base game and skip the optional DLC.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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