Mining

Pre-alpha mining

Mining is the process of extracting resources from a planetary body, whether it be a planet, moon, or asteroid. Virtually all resources in Dual Universe are obtained through mining. All mining is done using the scanning tool to find deposits of valuable resources, and the nanoformer tool to extract those resources. Every character posses both of these tools by default on their suit.

Novaquark has declared that it will never be possible to automate or expedite the mining process. This decision is purely for the sake of game balance, because extra tools, such as robots, mining ships, and automated drilling could easily replace players, making it difficult for new players to get into the game world. However, at a later time after the full game release, it is possible that other methods of mining will be introduced, such as specialized hand tools or even special elements. Even if wiping out an entire planet by mining will be in theory possible, but extremely time consuming (several years for a large organization), it will remain practically impossible due to the cost in energy and time it will require. Furthermore, NovarQuark repeatedly explained that the core of a planet will always be untouchable .

Mining is intended to come after scanning, once a desired resource is located. The amount of time it takes to mine a specific volume depends the type of resource and the mining skill level of the player. Technically, every voxel in the game can be considered a material, so mining even the basic rock of an asteroid is still considered mining, and follows the same parameters and rules as every resource.