Exobiology Scan Progress Now Preserved Between Lifeforms?

[Sarah The Conner]

I noticed a change in Exobiology behavior that I haven’t seen mentioned in recent patch notes.

Historically, if you began scanning a biological sample (e.g., Tubus), and then scanned a different lifeform (e.g., Stratum) before completing the first set of 3 samples, it would wipe the initial scan progress. Going back to the original would restart at 1/3.

But yesterday (July 31, 2025), while playing in Odyssey, I scanned one Tubus sample, then a Stratum, then went back to scanning for more Tubus—and the scan resumed at 2/3 instead of starting over. This is new behavior.

Is this an intentional update? I didn’t see anything about it in the 4.1.3 notes. If it’s a bug, it’s a welcome one, but I’d like to understand whether we should rely on this mechanic going forward.

Anyone else notice the same? (This was on PC)

 

[Vardaugas]

Did it play the 'burn sample' animation? If yes, it's a bug, if no, it's probably a feature.

 

[Sarah The Conner]

Did it play the 'burn sample' animation? If yes, it's a bug, if no, it's probably a feature.

I'm going to test it more today but I do recall a message when I aborted the first scan but quickly ignored it because I meant to do it. Come to think of it, a single click on a new lifeform dumped the first sample with ease, I seem to remember on the past there was more effort needed to abort a sample sequence. I'll record it and get screenshots.

 

[DrakeAurum]

Wow, could they have finally given the tool the unprecedented upgrade of being able to carry a spare tin can to plug into it?

 

[aRJay]

More testing required before grabbing a sample of bacteria while looking for the third Stratum Tectonicas.

 

[Vardaugas]

So I tested it out and it both played the 'burn sample' animation and restarted the count. So whatever it was, it must have been a rare bug or human error.

 

[Neilski]

But yesterday (July 31, 2025), while playing in Odyssey, I scanned one Tubus sample, then a Stratum, then went back to scanning for more Tubus—and the scan resumed at 2/3 instead of starting over. This is new behavior.

Does the journal record this sequence of events? I can't remember what it does and doesn't log for exobiology.

 

[Nidoboros]

Honestly surprised that 'multiple samples' wasn't an engineering option.