What the Advanced Upgrade Gives You
The Active Matter upgrade edition matters because it adds a substantial starting reserve without changing the game modes, maps, or long-term content you can access. It is best viewed as a progression and equipment boost for players moving up from Standard, rather than a separate version of the shooter.
Active Matter is a tactical extraction shooter set across unstable fragments of reality. Operatives raid alone or in squads, collect active matter and loot, survive anomalies and hostile creatures, then extract before the zone collapses. The Advanced Upgrade gives players more resources to prepare for those raids, including storage and crafting-related benefits that remain useful beyond the initial gear package.
The upgrade is available for players who own the base game. On PC storefronts, it may be listed as an upgrade add-on; console storefronts also describe it as an Advanced Upgrade. The Advanced Edition bundle includes the game plus its Advanced benefits.
| Feature | Advanced Upgrade benefit | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Credits | 60,000 total Advanced Edition allocation | Buys weapons, ammunition, and raid equipment |
| Prime | 1,300 one-time total allocation | Can be spent on useful account resources and special items |
| Storage | First storage expansion | Creates more room for gear and loot |
| Replicator | First queue expansion | Supports more convenient item production |
| Personal weapon | Bouncer brass knuckles | A personal backup melee weapon |
| Crafting | Harpy scout drone recipe | Unlocks production of scout drones |
If upgrading from Standard, the store may show the additional portion rather than the full Advanced Edition total. The PC upgrade pack is listed with 35,000 Credits and 1,000 one-time Prime, reflecting the difference from Standard's included resources.
Included Raid Gear and Resources
The Advanced package contains more than currency. It provides a wide selection of weapons, attachments, equipment, and ammunition that can help a new or returning operative start raids with more options.
The listed Advanced Edition loadout includes eight weapon categories, three modification groups, 17 equipment groups, and 13 ammunition groups. Exact quantities are important because most raid gear is at risk: if an operative dies, weapons and equipment not protected in a safe container or marked as personal can be lost.
| Category | Examples included with Advanced Edition |
|---|---|
| Weapons | SV-98 sniper rifles, M4A1 rifles, Vepr carbines, MB590 shotguns, UMP45s, MP5s, M9 pistols, combat knives |
| Weapon modifications | 1P69 1-10x scopes, PSO AK scopes, EXPS3 collimators |
| Utility and protection | Harpy drones, safe containers, respawn beacons, backpacks, pouches, helmets, armor plates, flashlights, medical supplies |
| Ammunition and explosives | F-1 grenades, magazines for included weapons, and ammo boxes for several calibers |
The Harpy recipe is especially different from a consumable reward. The package also supplies scout drones to use immediately, but the recipe gives a continuing crafting option through the replicator. Likewise, the storage and replicator queue expansions improve the Shelter rather than merely filling the inventory once.
Credits are the standard spending currency. They can be earned through raid contracts and by processing recovered active matter and loot, then used for weapons, ammunition, and essential equipment. Prime is earned through daily contracts and does not reset after Harmonization, making the one-time Prime grant a potentially flexible progression resource.
Standard, Advanced, and Deluxe Compared
All purchasable editions provide access to the same core Active Matter content. The choice is about starting inventory, currencies, cosmetics, Shelter conveniences, and crafting options—not exclusive maps or gameplay modes.
| Edition | Credits | One-time Prime | Notable extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 25,000 | 300 | Starter weapons, attachments, equipment, and ammunition |
| Advanced | 60,000 | 1,300 | Storage and replicator expansions, Bouncer, Harpy recipe, expanded gear |
| Deluxe | 185,000 | 5,500 | Multiple expansions, character shells, cosmetics, additional recipes, more equipment |
For a Standard owner, Advanced is the practical middle option. It adds more breathing room for early progression while avoiding the larger Deluxe package. Its added safe containers, backpacks, armor, medical supplies, and weapon selection can reduce the need to immediately purchase or scavenge every basic raid tool.
Choose the upgrade if these priorities match how you play:
- You want a larger initial armory for PvE, PvPvE, or PvP raids.
- You value extra storage because you intend to keep loot, equipment, and crafting materials.
- You plan to use drones and want the Harpy recipe available.
- You want more Prime for later decisions involving Credits, Monolith access levels, secure containers, or respawn beacons.
- You already own Standard and do not need Deluxe cosmetics, character shells, or its additional recipes.
Do not select Advanced expecting easier opponents, exclusive locations, or a different campaign. Active Matter’s main modes remain extraction raids, including dedicated PvE options and PvPvE raids with other players. The upgrade changes readiness and inventory depth, not the underlying challenge.
Upgrade Rules and Best Use
The contents displayed for the Advanced Edition apply in full when it is the first edition purchased. If you previously bought Standard, storefronts state that you receive the additional currency and equipment after subtracting items already included in the lower edition. This prevents duplicate edition rewards from being granted as though both editions had been purchased separately.
Prime from editions is granted once. It is also excluded from the edition-content return after a self-wipe, while the other edition contents return to the stash. Players considering a wipe should therefore spend or preserve Prime with care rather than treating it as a repeatable starter reward.
A sensible way to use the Advanced rewards is to protect the most valuable equipment first and avoid taking everything into a single dangerous raid.
- Store backup guns, armor, medical items, and ammunition instead of equipping every reward immediately.
- Put high-value items in safe containers whenever possible.
- Use basic weapons and cheaper kits while learning routes, anomalies, and extraction points.
- Save some Credits for replacing consumables after unsuccessful raids.
- Consider spending Prime on the option that best supports your current progression, such as Monolith access advancement or secure-container utility.
This approach matters because raids can contain monsters, environmental hazards, and rival operatives. The game’s unstable zones can alter gravity and space, while loot-based extraction creates a real penalty for taking unnecessary risks. Advanced gear gives more recovery capacity after losses, but it does not remove the consequences of dying with unsecured equipment.
Players can continue upgrading beyond Advanced. Standard and Advanced owners can move to Deluxe, while editions can also be upgraded toward the Elite Squad offering through the applicable store. Existing Premium Edition owners were automatically moved to the renamed and expanded Deluxe Edition at launch, but that historical change does not alter the Advanced package itself.
FAQ
What is the active matter upgrade edition?
The active matter upgrade edition is the Advanced Upgrade for Active Matter. It is an add-on for base-game owners that improves their edition benefits with additional currency, gear, storage, replicator capacity, a personal melee weapon, and a Harpy drone recipe.
Does the Advanced Upgrade include the base game?
The upgrade add-on requires ownership of Active Matter. A separately sold Advanced Edition bundle includes both base-game access and the Advanced benefits.
How much currency does the Advanced Edition provide?
The full Advanced Edition allocation is 60,000 Credits and 1,300 one-time Prime. A Standard owner upgrading may see the added difference listed as 35,000 Credits and 1,000 one-time Prime.
Will I receive duplicate Standard rewards when I upgrade?
No. If you previously purchased Standard, the upgrade provides the additional rewards after accounting for benefits already included with Standard.
Is Prime awarded every time I upgrade or reset?
No. Prime included with editions or upgrades is a one-time grant. It does not reset after Harmonization, and it is not returned with other edition items after a self-wipe.
Does Advanced unlock exclusive game content?
No. Standard, Advanced, and Deluxe owners access the same core game content. Advanced primarily provides stronger starting resources, equipment, and Shelter-related conveniences.