Since 1.0, non-production devices no longer unlock from the Tech Tree — they unlock at the Workbench instead. Quote from the official 1.0 patch notes: “Removed all non-production devices from the Tech Tree. These devices must now be unlocked at the Workbench.” If a building or decoration you used to research is missing, open the Workbench unlock UI — that is where it moved.
Why it changed
1.0 re-architected unlocking. The Tech Tree now focuses on production devices; everything else (buildings, decorations, service items) was moved to the Workbench. The same patch also merged shop-sales- and purchase-contract upgrades into the Shop Recognition system, so parts of the old tree genuinely disappeared rather than moving.
What moved where
| Used to be in the Tech Tree | Now (1.0) |
|---|---|
| Non-production devices (buildings, decorations…) | Workbench unlocks |
| Production devices | Tech Tree (unchanged role) |
| Shop sales upgrades | Shop Recognition system |
| Purchase contract upgrades | Removed — integrated into Shop Recognitions |
Old-save notes
- Hotfix 1.0.4917 fixed an issue where old save files could refund skill points multiple times after the update.
- If something feels missing from your pre-1.0 save, check hotfix notes first — several “missing” systems were addressed in 1.0.4917/4930/4940.
- Workbench-related UI had a bug fixed in 1.0.4917: “the building panel would remain visible when building an item.”
Confirm the device is a production device (Tech Tree) or not (Workbench). Community reports of “vanished” items after 1.0 usually trace to this split, not data loss.
Related 1.0 changes
Unlocking changed broadly at launch — see Research for the tree, Catapult unlock for that specific device, and 1.0 systems for the Shop Recognition merge.
The Workbench move and upgrade merge: OFFICIAL (1.0 patch notes). In-UI placement details of the Workbench itself: PENDING direct observation.
Independent fan reference for Alchemy Factory. Game data refers to the current official 1.0 build (Steam, PC). Field-level evidence is flagged on each page with OFFICIAL / OBSERVED / COMMUNITY badges; amounts shown without a badge come from the official 1.0 patch notes or store descriptions.