Beta - Difference synthetic and cybernetic?

[Sedmeister]

Is this new? I'm not quite sure I understand the difference between cybernetic and synthetic Ascension in the beta. Can someone kindly explain the difference and/or point me to relevant links? TIA.

[HappySack]

Yes it's new. They split up Synthetic Ascension so cybernetic isn't just a stepping-stone anymore.

One is half-machine and the other is full machine, I'm not sure what else I can tell you about this.

If you want more information on this then dev diary #270 has the Ascension changes in detail otherwise every big Stellaris YouTuber covered them as well.

[Sedmeister]

I read somewhere that one of them will allow you to be more like replicants from Blade Runner than skinless droids. I think you could choose a non robot portrait. Does that sound right? (I read through the dev diary 270 and couldn't find a reference to it.)

[Bandit_6]

So synthetics is what you research if you're a bio empire trying to become machines, whereas cybernetics is used by machine empires to convert bios into machines. Theres a separate ascension path for assimilators to convert cyborg pops into full machines.

[Sedmeister]

Originally posted by Bandit_6:

So synthetics is what you research if you're a bio empire trying to become machines, whereas cybernetics is used by machine empires to convert bios into machines. Theres a separate ascension path for assimilators to convert cyborg pops into full machines.

Thanks. Helpful.

Anyone know if synthetics gives you the option to choose a portrait other than robotics ones? IE: can you choose a human looking human robot these days?