First expansion for Galactic Civilizations 3 launches next month

The first expansion to Galactic Civilizations 3 is in development and will launch next month.

Called Mercenaries, the content will add an all-new campaign, Galactic Bazaars, new races, and the ability to recruit elite units with special abilities and more to the 4X space strategy game.

Players will be able to visit Intergalactic Bazaars where mercenaries are available for hire. There will be multiple Bazaars on each map, and each mercenary sets their own hiring price, so be sure you have plenty of money or other resources available to pay them.

Over 70 mercenary ships have been added and there are two new factions: the Arceans and the Torians.

The campaign centers on the latter race who are a peaceful lot which have "long been enslaved and farmed for their meat" by the Drengin.

Players will need to discover mercenaries, hire them, and help the Torians escape from their horrid fate and rebuild their civilization.

Along with the Mercenaries expansion, Stardock will release v1.6 update to the base game for all Galactic Civilizations 3 owners.

The update will include more detailed match results, AI improvements, visual updates and balance improvements.

Galactic Civilizations 3: Mercenaries will release on February 18 for $19.99.