As empires expand into the Starry Rift, they encounter the Xenos, a violent xenophobic race. Historians scour the Alien Archives for how to defeat them. Meanwhile, a flexible Uplift race develops Bio-Terraforming technology. Welcome to The Starry Rift, the first New Frontiers expansion.

New start colonies, developments, worlds, and goals provide lots of variety. Xeno colonies once explored must be conquered by game end, adding risk to military paths. 6 solo campaigns supply a new play experience.