The “Going Underground” downloadable content for Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids has officially launched, bringing a substantial and exciting expansion to the acclaimed action-strategy game. Developed by Snapshot Games and published by Arc Games, this DLC adds a brand-new subterranean campaign, introduces a hostile alien bug faction, and offers players the unprecedented opportunity to play from the perspective of the Brainioids. Available now for $6.99 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, “Going Underground” significantly deepens the game’s lore, mechanics, and replayability.
What is the “Going Underground” DLC?
“Going Underground” is a major story expansion for Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids. It centers on a new crisis: the heroes’ headquarters has plummeted into a vast, treacherous underground cave system teeming with a hostile alien insect army. This army is commanded by a powerful telepathic entity known as The Overseer, who directly threatens Chip and Clawz. Simultaneously, two Brainioid super-soldiers are dispatched on a mission to eliminate an ancient enemy within the same labyrinth. The DLC explores whether these four characters can unite against this common threat or remain adversaries.
The New Campaign Structure and Access
The DLC features a standalone side-campaign consisting of 11 new missions with its own distinct narrative and gameplay twists. Importantly, this content is integrated into the main game progression. It becomes accessible to players after they complete mission 5, “Stating the Blobb-viou,” from the original campaign. This design allows players to experience “Going Underground” as a separate adventure or to interweave its missions between those of the main story. All progress and unlocked items from the DLC carry over seamlessly, meaning new weapons, upgrades, and mods can be used in any preferred level, enhancing flexibility and strategic options.
Key Features and New Content
A Brand New Campaign
The heart of the DLC is its subterranean campaign, which introduces several core innovations.
- New Faction: The alien bug faction comes with its own unique buildings, army units, and combat strategies, forcing players to adapt their tactical approach.
- Unique Environments: The cave system boasts distinctive mechanics and visual design, offering a fresh exploratory experience compared to the game’s surface levels.
- Area Control Missions: A new objective type that challenges players’ fundamental tactics, requiring them to secure and hold territory against the insect onslaught.
- Play as the Brainioids: For the first time, players can control Brainioid super-soldiers and experience the game world and story from their perspective, adding depth to the game’s narrative.
Expanded Gameplay Content
Beyond the campaign, “Going Underground” adds a wealth of new gameplay elements.
- Seven New Enemy Types: These enemies employ diverse attack methods including clawing, biting, and explosive attacks. Notably, they also possess the ability to construct their own bases, increasing the tactical complexity.
- The Overseer Boss: This telepathic alien commander serves as the most formidable boss encounter Chip ‘n Clawz have faced, presenting a significant end-game challenge.
- New Equipment: Two new guns and four new HQ Mods are introduced, providing fresh tools for customization and combat.
- New Status Effects: The Rust and Charm statuses add new dynamics to battles, with “Rust” likely degrading equipment or performance and “Charm” potentially offering beneficial or controlling effects.
- Collectibles: Complete new comic book and info card collections are available for players to discover.
- Multiplayer Maps: Three new player-versus-player and Skirmish maps are added and made available to all players, free of charge.
Strategic Implications and Player Benefits
Mix ‘n Match Design Philosophy
The DLC is designed with a high degree of interoperability. Once unlocked, the new weapons, HQ Mods, and other gameplay-affecting content are not siloed within the underground campaign. Players can deploy these new tools in any mission from the original game, allowing for creative new strategies in familiar scenarios. This “mix ‘n match” philosophy greatly extends the game’s longevity and encourages experimentation.
Free Multiplayer Enhancements
A critically important aspect of “Going Underground” is its approach to multiplayer balance. All DLC content that affects player-versus-player and Skirmish modes—specifically the new weapons and HQ Mods—is provided free to all players, regardless of whether they purchase the DLC. This ensures the competitive multiplayer environment remains fair and accessible, preventing a divide between DLC owners and non-owners, while still rewarding purchasers with the exclusive story campaign and cosmetic collectibles.
Adapting to the New Faction
The introduction of the alien bug faction requires a strategic pivot. Their ability to build bases means players cannot rely solely on aggressive pushes; they must now incorporate defensive and area-denial tactics. The Area Control mission type further emphasizes this, training players to think about securing key locations and managing resources over extended engagements. Mastering these new mechanics will be essential for success in the DLC and will refine a player’s overall strategic aptitude for the entire game.
Platform Availability and Pricing
“Going Underground” is available on all platforms where Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids is sold: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. On PC, it is purchasable through both the Steam and Epic Games Store digital marketplaces. The DLC is priced at $6.99, representing a value-driven expansion given the volume of new content, including a full campaign with 11 missions, a new faction, multiple enemy types, a boss, equipment, and multiplayer maps.
How “Going Underground” Enhances the Core Game
Narrative Expansion
The DLC does not merely add levels; it expands the game’s universe. By allowing players to see events from the Brainioids’ perspective, it adds moral complexity and depth to the overarching conflict. The story of The Overseer and the ancient enemy provides a richer backstory and connects the surface and subterranean worlds in a cohesive lore framework.
Mechanical Depth
The new status effects (Rust and Charm), the base-building enemy behaviors, and the Area Control objective inject fresh mechanical layers into the game. These elements force players to consider unit composition, timing, and positional play in new ways, pushing the game beyond its original strategic boundaries.
Replayability and Community Health
The free multiplayer updates ensure the community remains engaged and vibrant. The new PvP and Skirmish maps offer fresh battlegrounds for all players, promoting continued online activity. For solo players, the ability to blend DLC content with the main campaign creates countless replay possibilities for challenge runs or optimized playthroughs.
The release of “Going Underground” marks a significant evolution for Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids, solidifying its position as a deeply strategic and narrative-rich action game. By offering a substantial new campaign, a hostile new faction, and meaningful gameplay additions while maintaining fairness in multiplayer, this DLC provides both immediate enjoyment and long-term value. For fans of the base game, it is an essential next chapter, and for newcomers, it represents a compelling reason to dive into the full experience, knowing the game’s world and mechanics are continually growing and refining.
