Stellaris 4.0 fixes the space game’s performance problems with population rework

Paradox has big plans for Stellaris 4.0. The next major update for the space game is giving it a hefty rework for its ninth birthday. Currently targeted for May, the Phoenix update aims to act as a reigniting spark, and one of the biggest focuses for the strategy game giant is tackling the performance issues that have cropped up as Stellaris continues to grow ever larger and more complex. As part of this process, game director Stephen ‘Eladrin’ Muray explains how Paradox is dramatically rescaling populations, and what that means for your next game.