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Bytes are a virtual currency added in the Research Update. Bytes are used to purchase/unlock new schematics. Bytes are gained by researching various objects in the Research Chamber ranging from Research Items (high output but rare) to Resources (cheap but low output), or by collecting Research Samples from various plants, rocks or Astroneer bodies. Bytes are shared between all players in a multiplayer game, along with any schematic unlocks.

Byte Outputs[]

Research Sample[]

Research Samples spawn on various plants and rocks around the planets, as well inside of the EXO Dynamics Research Aids scattered on the planets. Organic and mineral samples respawn within a few minutes of being gathered. They can be a valuable source of bytes, with the amount gained increasing based on which planet and how deep the player goes. However, the game is able to glitch and organic/mineral samples may completely disappear from all planets .

Research Item[]

Research Items grant a slow, steady stream of bytes when placed in a Research Chamber. The amount gained per item increases based on the depth and which planet the item was found on.

Resources[]

Resources are able to be researched for bytes, and, running the Research Chamber at full power, each takes 2 minutes 30 seconds to complete. Soil and Hydrazine cannot be researched.

Natural Resources[]

Resource Byte Value Bytes per Minute
Icon Compound Compound 50 20
Icon Resin Resin 50 20
Icon Organic Organic 50 20
Icon Ammonium Ammonium 75 30
Icon Clay Clay 75 30
Icon Quartz Quartz 75 30
Icon Graphite Graphite 75 30
Icon Laterite Laterite 75 30
Icon Malachite Malachite 100 40
Icon Sphalerite Sphalerite 100 40
Icon Wolframite Wolframite 100 40
Icon Hematite Hematite 200 80
Icon Titanite Titanite 200 80
Icon Lithium Lithium 200 80
Icon Astronium Astronium 500 200

Refined Resources[]

Resource Byte Value Bytes per Minute
Icon Carbon Carbon 75 30
Icon Ceramic Ceramic 125 50
Icon Glass Glass 125 50
Icon Aluminum Aluminum 125 50
Icon Copper Copper 200 80
Icon Zinc Zinc 200 80
Icon Tungsten Tungsten 200 80
Icon Iron Iron 250 100
Icon Titanium Titanium 250 100

Atmospheric Resources[]

Resource Byte Value Bytes per Minute
Icon Hydrogen Hydrogen 100 40
Icon Nitrogen Nitrogen 200 80
Icon Argon Argon 300 120
Icon Sulfur Sulfur 300 120
Icon Methane Methane 400 160
Icon Helium Helium 500 200

Composite Resources[]

Resource Byte Value Bytes per Minute
Icon Rubber Rubber 150 60
Icon Plastic Plastic 250 100
Icon Aluminum Alloy Aluminum Alloy 450 180
Icon Tungsten Carbide Tungsten Carbide 350 140
Icon Graphene Graphene 350 140
Icon Diamond Diamond 850 340
Icon Silicone Silicone 600 240
Icon Explosive Powder Explosive Powder 600 240
Icon Steel Steel 700 280
Icon Titanium Alloy Titanium Alloy 850 280
Icon Nanocarbon Alloy Nanocarbon Alloy 1000 400

Other Resources[]

Resource Byte Value Bytes per Minute
Icon EXO Chip EXO Chip 500 200
Icon Scrap Scrap 300 120

Soil Centrifuge[]

Since soil is readily available on all planets, the soil centrifuge provides an almost unlimited supply of resources that can be researched. This potentially offers virtually free bytes. However, each canister yields only a modest amount of resources and, thus, also bytes.

The table below compares the yield of bytes per canister across the different resources available at the soil centrifuge. Evidently, clay is the most efficient choice in terms of byte output per canister.

Name Bytes Resource Per Centrifuge Tank Bytes Per Canister
Icon Compound Compound 50 8 200
Icon Resin Resin 50 8 200
Icon Organic Organic 50 8 200
Icon Clay Clay 100 6 300
Icon Quartz Quartz 100 4 200
Icon Graphite Graphite 100 2 100
Icon Ammonium Ammonium 100 1 50

Trivia[]

  • A total of 284,050 bytes are needed to research every Schematic in the game.
  • Small items can be researched until they have 1 byte left and then consumed/used as usual.
  • Medium Resource Canister and Large Resource Canister don't store the value of research bytes left for each item. Thus, by utilizing Automation items, players can create an infinite bytes production flow as follows:
  1. Switch resource canister to dispensing mode and place dispenced item for researching.
  2. Detect if item has a negligible amount of bytes left to research. While there is no direct way to do that, a timing mechanism can be constructed which is tied to day/night cycles of specific planets and/or to batteries charge level.
  3. Switch resource canister to holding mode and store an item.
  4. Repeat.
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