Scrap Mechanic is moving out of early access. Chapter 2, called “Drilling Thunder!”, is the update that pushes the multiplayer building sandbox to version 1.0 and brings a full underground world, new enemy robots, and a stack of mining machinery to the survival mode.
Quick answer: Drilling Thunder (Chapter 2) launches on July 24th, 2026 and takes Scrap Mechanic from early access to 1.0. You get it through the existing Scrap Mechanic Steam page; owners update to the new version, no separate purchase.
Release date and how to update
Axolot Games set the launch for July 24th, 2026. No separate storefront listing is required. The update installs on top of the current game, so anyone who already owns Scrap Mechanic on Steam moves from the beta build to the 1.0 client once the patch is live. If Steam does not pull it automatically, trigger a manual update from your library.
The reveal trailer sets the tone with a stormy night, a mechanic sprinting from a giant flying bot with a red searchlight, and a chaotic desert battle. It ends on the Drilling Thunder logo and the July 24 date.
The Underground and new locations
The headline addition is The Underground, a large cave network reached by an elevator on the surface. It comes packed with its own points of interest and regions, alongside a Mining Island built around a collapsed mine and the Grow Labs, which are underground dungeons.
The surface survival terrain is also overhauled, with forest roads, bridges, mountain formations, and ruins. Farming raids now start the moment they trigger, and the attacking bots use smarter pathfinding.
New enemy robots
Most of the new threats live underground or arrive during raids. The Trash Bot is the standout, a boss found on the Warehouse rooftop that gets an updated fight inside a large, dynamic arena.
| Robot | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Trash Bot | Rooftop boss that collects junk; fought in a large arena |
| Cablebot | Small clipper bot that latches onto builds and drains battery and fuel |
| Minerbot | Overworked flying bot that sprays rocks, attacks in groups, and may ram you |
| Red Totebot | Head canisters explode on contact |
| Yellow Totebot | Autonomous power trowel that stomps to flatten mechanics |
| Blue Totebot | Underwater torpedo bot that also moves fast on land |
| Green Tapebot | Fires weaponized bubble wrap |
| Yellow Tapebot | Uses sorting ink to hurt and slow you down |
Drill Spawners round out the enemies. They burrow up from the ground and release Totebot capsules, giving raids a fresh source of pressure.
New tools and mining machinery
Mining is the core loop of the underground content, and the toolset reflects that. The Plasma Drill bores through tough bedrock and can extend its reach, while the Plasma Saw cuts trees and crystal rock quickly.
| Tool or part | Function |
|---|---|
| Plasma Drill | Bores through tough underground bedrock |
| Plasma Saw | Chops trees and cuts crystal rocks |
| Ore Collector & Crusher | Gathers rocks and crushes them into powder to extract materials like gold |
| Ore Prospector | Filters crushed gravel to retrieve rare materials |
| Battery Generator | Makes batteries by spinning a valve manually or with an engine |
| Turret Seat | Aims mounted weapons and drills with the mouse (pitch and yaw) |
| Sawbot | Cuts blocks into scalable wedges |
| Baby Craftbot | Portable crafter for basic blocks and parts on the go |
| Multi-component kit | Upgrades gear to top-tier quality |
| UV Grow Bed | Grows crops on moving vehicles using battery power |
| Freezer | Produces low-friction ice blocks |
| Ladder | Lets you climb vertically, including on moving vehicles |
Weapons expand too. The Spud Launcher throws flaming spuds to set trees and creations alight, the Scrap Spudgun is a lower-tier early-game option with shorter range and more drop, and the Cornade is a corn-shaped grenade. The Fire Extinguisher puts fires out. Sticky wheels let vehicles dig and drive in any direction, and other new parts include the Boombox, Digital clock, Digital sign, Cable Roll, and Sticky grenade.
Survival changes and new systems
Several long-standing systems get reworked or added outright. Fire is the biggest shift. It now burns through blocks and parts and can spread if you leave it, so it is a real hazard rather than decoration.
- Quests are properly implemented, with interactive NPCs and a dialogue system.
- More Builder Quests are added, up from the single one that existed before.
- The Schematicbot scans objects and decorative blocks you find so the Craftbot can build them.
- Weather is added.
- A better graphics engine improves lighting and glass, with new glass shaders and cinematic lighting.
- Warehouses are improved and modding support is expanded.
An endgame is included as well, giving survival a clearer sense of progression than the open-ended beta offered.
Balancing changes
Balance work touches crafting, survival meters, and difficulty. Warehouses become harder and darker. Item schematics gate crafting, and the farming raid system is reworked. Hunger and hydration are reworked as well, with a possible full removal of the hunger and thirst bars.
New outfits
Cosmetics arrive through outfit crates and quest rewards. The lineup includes a Fancy Tuxedo, Farmer and Farmhand backpacks, a Miner outfit, a Welder outfit, a Woc outfit, and a Duckie outfit.
You will know the update landed when the game version at the bottom of the main menu no longer reads “BETA Ver 0.7.4” and the new elevator, underground caves, and quest NPCs appear in survival. If Steam still shows the old build, close the client fully and let it re-check for the patch before launching.
