Deep Rock Galactic - Lore of the Rivals

[@sniss]

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[@CoolJguy.]

No way, i didnt know youtube sponsored youtubers to promote premium lmao

[@unluckycatfish6866]

Or I can just use an adblocker

[@memelord2073]

i would totally support you but im broke and ublock origin is free

[@amazingnoo9935]

It says I’m not eligible for your offer, wth?

[@kadenkingery]

@@unluckycatfish6866 It takes guts to say that to a person who makes money off of adds. I have to respect that alright.

[@AntiThotPatrol]

If the rivals were made to protect Hoxxes from Drg….then they must care about the environment in some way. Who else cares about the environment? Elves!

[@finnie4394]

Hold up, let him cook

[@randomnerd5807]

I KNEW IT

[@nosalgodemiPC]

Also dwarves always refer to them as if they were all cowards, and if they're sending robots instead of going to the caves themselves, dwarves would have a reason to call them all those names

[@marcustomlinson9080]

But they left a bunch of robot trash imbedded on the planet (that being a form of pollution it's hard to imagine it being the elves)

[@dendec]

Fuck em elves, all my homies rock and stone

[@thewanderers97]

Before watching the video, I'd like to say that my personal headcanon is that the Rivals have been completely misidentified by Deep Rock as a company, and DRG has accidentally and unknowingly become embroiled in a first contact war with a fully alien civilisation

[@ultmateragnarok8376]

This is my favorite theory on them. We've already encountered so many seeminly sentient alien phenomena on this planet, from the lithophage to the ommorans to whatever the real extent of the bugs' own minds are, what's one more?

[@bleepin]

Would explain the whole no response when DRG attempted to contact them

[@carniflora6914]

Yeah, this was pretty much my immediate assumption when they were first introduced. Always found it surprising how few people seem to consider it as a likely possibility.

[@cassgaming2383]

This is golden, I love this theory

[@MetalMephiles9000]

Maybe that explains why the Glyphids and other bugs never go after the Rivals? It's implied from the Season 4 trailer that the Stingtail and Septic Spreader evolved to contain Rockpox, and the company doesn't seem to have anything to gain lying about that. But I haven't seen anything of the Rivals and bugs going after each other unless the Patrol Bot gets hacked.

[@dombelly3343]

Bro I was JUST explaining rival lore to an imaginary person in my head who happened to have an interest in what I'm interested in

[@dombelly3343]

He was asking all the questions I hoped he would ask too, that guy was so chill

[@mattvin2503]

Glad to know im not the only one doing that

[@bluenightfury4365]

Tulpas, they're a real thing. I have a female Wyvern I talk to and she happily listens.

[@dombelly3343]

@bluenightfury4365 no it's not that, it's more of the concept of someone who listens to me ramble, I'm not talking to anyone in particular

[@penglings9247]

I feel this comment on a personal level

[@TheDarkwill777]

One thing I don't think was mentioned is that Hoxxes has always had some crazy unexplainable anomalies. Giant fossilized DNA? Strange fields of weird energy in the Azure Wield? Unexplainable cube shape artifacts that feel warm to the touch? ACTUAL GHOSTS?!!

[@M50A1]

Where can I see the giant DNA?

[@Surkk2960]

@@M50A1 Radioactive Exclusion Zone, they are rare, but are very easy to find if they are on the map. They don't give anything though, they just have a weird signal if you scan it.

[@M50A1]

​@@Surkk2960 I gotta look then!

[@blecis74]

What about the DNA looking structures that can appear in certain biomes, what’s up with them, what does them being on Hoxxes mean?

[@Surkk2960]

@@blecis74 My theory is that it's a hint to Hoxxes IV being a living (or once living) planet, that or just a weird formation caused by the extreme radiation of the R.E.Z. similar to all the tumor stones.

[@TheStygian]

I just want the rivals to be secretly elfs. Being too delicate to actually mine themselves down there. Only dwarfs are tough enough for Hoxxes - So they focus on building remote robots to work on the planet.

[@SYNTHSTREL]

I think gnomes would be funnier

[@megawl2086]

@@SYNTHSTREL that would in fact be way funnier

[@dombelly3343]

This kind of behaviour doesn't sound like elf, gnome, however

[@AdroSlice]

I just dont really think a tech theme suits elfs, but who knows where they take the lore in the future.

[@masterzoroark6664]

My thinking was other Dwarven rival- Goblins or Kobolds. They are far more mechanically crafty than Elves, and are usually another set of undeground races that fight Dwarves over the territory and minerals.

[@delsin1126]

“My god, it’s full of stars!” Always leaves me unsettled when the Nemesis dies

[@Franklineast]

Same. Like why tf is a robot having an epiphany about mortaility like he just hit a DMT cart. It’s so out of nowhere and leaves you asking questions, i love it so much

[@danishmuffin988]

I'll love 2001 references wherever they show up

[@CaptainCurly_pillhater]

@@Franklineastit was made sentient for better efficiency probably and only realizes what is happening after its dying or idk

[@bugjams]

Most of the lines are just movie or show references.

[@grantsrants665]

Beautiful line

[@T-P-M_405]

Its gotta be those damn gnomes Edit: thats a lotta likes, also my statement still stands

[@sniss]

so true

[@alaiziarobin2318]

Itssss me, a gnome

[@MackBananas]

The natural opps to both the plants AND zombies

[@armintor2826]

I would love it if this whole time it was alluded that they were elves, but in reality theyre just a bunch of tech-bro hobbits or something

[@cirgo4879]

I’m a gnome, and you’ve been…

[@Blu_Moon_Owl]

Concerning to realize the rival we would face in Season 1 and 2….were merely the scouting teams. There’s something else on the planet and they WILL BE BACK Also I personally think the actual rival group are either elves playing on the whole Dwarf vs. Elf rivalry or Gnomes which in fantasy tropes have been known to be skill tinkerers but this time with robotics

[@dr.cheeze5382]

I'm not too well versed in fantasy stuff, but aren't kobolds and [insert your favorite small green color adjacent horde species here] also famous for tinkering?

[@Blu_Moon_Owl]

@ Goblins yes, kobolds not sure. Kobolds aren’t as used in media as much as I know

[@dr.cheeze5382]

@@Blu_Moon_Owl I think I'm going of the DND interpretation. Players make lots of alchemist kobolds... or at least make a lot of stuff about them. And I think kobolds serve dragons? Which can stockpile knowledge as their horde, so I guess that's where I made the connection?

[@KingNedya]

​@@dr.cheeze5382I think they're all often tinkerers to a degree, but gnomes are probably tinkerers the most often and usually have the highest tech of the three.

[@irregularassassin6380]

​@@dr.cheeze5382 In D&D Kobolds are traditionally very good at making traps to defend themselves and their lairs. They're physically weak, so they make up for that with traps to disable their foe, and strength in numbers (hence the Pack Tactics ability). Kobolds are draconic, as in related to dragons, and many do serve dragons. Not all, though. There are plenty of Kobold tribes and packs out in the wilds that just do their own thing. In fantasy in general, Goblins are ... a lot of different things. They're kind of a catch-all little gremlin creature, usually very atavistic, impulsive, and primitive. They're more often associated with dirt and mushrooms than hammers and gears. Some modern fantasy settings have them as tinkerers, and I suspect this may stem from the Warhammer interpretation of Orks and Goblins as crafting janky impossible tech. I'm definitely not an expert, and haven't done any literary analysis on the subject. I just really like D&D and Goblins.

[@SmappyG]

there's a line from one of the dwarves after hacking that says "HACK-C ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS HIS WAY AROUND A POSITRONIC MATRIX" for those who don't know, positronic matrices are an old sci-fi concept for an extremely efficient form of computing, and was usually used to explain how robots could be sentient despite having a tiny cpu. I think asimov called them positronic "brains" once this, combined with the nemesis' very concerning death lines referencing sentient robots in media and displaying very human emotions, is a pretty big implication that at least the nemesis is completely sentient. maybe moreso than drg's robots, which are usually treated like they have pet-level intelligence so... maybe the rivals aren't a rival corporation, maybe they're just the result of a hyperintelligent ai that went rogue. it makes sense, considering their technology seems a lot more advanced than the dwarves'

[@kalel4everr]

I know most of nemesis' lines are just references, but it really makes me wonder. With the discovery of core stones, hoxxes is as mysterious as ever : what *has* nemesis seen?

[@Silly_FrogRS]

It knows what the error cubes are for…it’s not for the faint of heart

[@RonaldoTheGoat1234]

W pfp fem is fire

[@kalel4everr]

@@RonaldoTheGoat1234 tyyy :3

[@sylvananas7923]

@@Silly_FrogRS I heard at the bar that if we gather all the error cubes it will bring back Kaarl from his mission

[@plaingibberjabber2017]

nemesis foresaw dwarves twerking in season 5 and was never the same again

[@churchofthecylinder7378]

I think the reason that communication failed is because the robots on Hoxxes have no masters to speak with. No way it's elves, they could never resist an opportunity to try and act all high and mighty or be snarky to a band of dwarves. The way the rivals adapt to new threats (like with the Nemesis) more resembles natural evolution instead of the design of any engineers. I think the rivals are actually self-replicating rogue robots looking for an inhospitable hellhole to set up as a base of operations, and more raw material to expand their fleet. Living in the most dangerous planet ever discovered is a great way to hide from intelligent species that actually might pose a threat. The sheer amount of raw metal alone it would take to build the structures that they have implies they harbor a vast well of resources at their disposal. The prospectors we see are just scouts, an omen for a plague of mechanical locusts. The greatest threat in the galaxy may have been discovered, but the company is too greedy and short sighted to recognize what they faced. great video btw love your stuff man

[@GlyphidGuard]

S tier theory But it's smart to not declare that you're the person screwing over a multi trillion space credit company because none wants to have dwarves banging on the doors of their HQ

[@stainlesssteel3162]

I know this is a popular theory in the community but i think everyone forgets one big issue with this theory. If the Rivals are all robots that hover and can communicate remotely, then why do they have data vaults that have removeable batteries on the outside, physically open up with a giant lock, and with build-in staircases. This design implies that it is nessecary for the Rivals to be able to physically access their most priced loot trough a vaulted lock, via a staircase. If the Rivals really are 100% machine, then i seriously see no reason for them to design such an important asset of their operations in such a way, unless if there was something involved in the process that walks on the ground, can’t not receive data remotely, and has to be able to physically extract the dataracks, a likely candidate for this role being, you guessed, an alien personel of some kind, wether it be Elven, Goblin or something entirely else, you be my guest, but my main point is that the autonamous robot army has a big vault shaped hole in it with a staircase leading up to it, lol.

[@notdotuna]

i got genuinely scared at the youtube premium plug i thought they found my adblock

[@Atlas_Tyr]

I don’t care about the motive they’re disrupting profits

[@soupSpoon-k5h]

There disrupting the ROCK AND STONE

[@Broken_valley]

Some driller from a mile away “roooooock annnnd stone to the bone”

[@soupSpoon-k5h]

@@Broken_valley hell yea ROCK AND STONE

[@CaptainCurly_pillhater]

STONE AND ROCK! Oh wait..

[@Draconicfish2679]

We fight, *for ROCK AND STONE!*

[@memoman_yt]

If garden warfare teached me something is that gnomes are time traveling hyper tecnological species and that there no gw3

[@mershere]

three? what's three? all i know is one, two, and Battle For Neighbourville, or Alyx, if you're feeling fun

[@blablabla798]

@@mershere Alyx? Half Life: Alyx?

[@cassgaming2383]

​@mershere nah it's half life 1 2 gmod

[@cassgaming2383]

Or titanfall 1,2 apex legends

[@mershere]

@@blablabla798 yeah! one, two, Alyx!

[@Yeniww]

imagine the error cubes are actually just corrupted data cubes lmao..ofc when the rivals uncover the secret crabby patty recipe, the data gets corrupted for the knowledge is too powerful...

[@marcellvagi8290]

I don't think the rivals had any more knowledge about the planet than us. My theory is that the rivals we saw were only a scouting party. They sent a bunch of drones with light weaponary and armor (which was probably made out of materials on Hoxxes by fabricator drones) and started setting up their operations. This could be only step 1 of their plans, and Karl knows what other technology they might have?

[@sylvananas7923]

My headcanon is that the rivals will be back with more advanced robots built after the dwarves with similiar weapons, just like the robots from TF2 Mann vs Machine

[@marcellvagi8290]

@sylvananas7923 I'd love to see them bring in new rival machines with a season, like mining drones, drones and turrets with reverse engineered DRG tech, maybe even a rival drilldozer. We could get some fun missions and side objectives out of it too.

[@bl8678]

Being that they do in fact seem to be prospecting, I personally think the rivals are preparing to mine Hoxxes, its just that developing equipment to do so requires extensive data that only DRG has. This I think explains why DRG are so upset by the presence of the rivals, because they know they are working on overtaking Hoxxes.

[@masterzoroark6664]

Or rather- they want to come in more prepared than DRG, without needing the boots on the ground to 50/50 get back with the information about acid spitting bugs or weird living stones.

[@LynxxXVI]

@@masterzoroark6664 this seems sensible. they don't seem to like sending people in place of robots like DRG, so they probably need tons of data to develop new machines to mine and extract the minerals, as well as properly protect the equipment from the various threats, as well as repel DRG. seems like AI doesnt exist in this world, so they need to send robots that are fully prepared since they wont be able to adapt. I'm betting they're human. this doesn't seem very elf like.

[@TriforceJedi832]

My main theory is that the Rivals aren't a rival company but a large-scale planetary surveyor system, probably sent out all over the galaxy by a larger galactic power. DRG doesnt want the data getting out because it could lead to other mining companies showing up.

[@stainlesssteel3162]

DRG definitely keeps the location of Hoxxes hidden thats for sure.

[@umcaranainternet6447]

Im a firm beliver that the rivals are dragons. LOOK AT THE DESIGN OF THEIR TECH! THE SCOUT BOTS HAVE THE HEADS SIMILAR TO DRAGON HEADS. Dragons like ritchness and hates dwarfs, it's clear as day why they are here.

[@bazelgeese1283]

kobolds. the rivals are kobolds.

[@RafaCB0987]

My theory is that they do wanted the resources at first, but Hoxxes has a lot of really strange properties, like the error cube and other anomalies, so the data itself about the planet become more valuable than the resources

[@anidiot4801]

I've always liked the idea that the Rivals knew about the Rockpox and its course towards Hoxxes and came there initially to archive things and attempt to preserve the life that lives there.

[@mrlampy]

It’s funny how despite multiple attempts at communication with nothing but failure, that nemesis can form it’s own sentences, not just repeat clips of things dwarves repeatedly say

[@poppy3660]

Something I haven't seen no one else point out; the device you deposit the core stones from the most recent season looks a good amount like the vaults data rack holder

[@PhilipLL]

Absolute Banger Feels like some sort of autonomous survey system. Meant to maybe map the solar system or something

[@interpolchan604]

The biggest waste is not having the bugs attack the bots, such a weird interacition to see patrol bots be there chilling with a preatorian ,hack it and SUDDENLY the bugs care about them, same thing with a tamed steve.

[@gurntsaltta7421]

thank you so much Sniss, i fucking love when people dives in the "lore" and speculations regarding DRG, as niche and nerdy as it is, plus i hadn't actually ever thought about how the rival company might not even be an actual mining company but something else entirely

[@CalmestManOnMars]

Maybe fighting bugs and moving dirt isn't the best way to make a living on Hoxxes?

[@lritzdorf]

Hold on, are we just going to ignore the fact that this video has a duration of 13:37?

[@Duskcosmog]

3:35 "You load 16 tons, and what do you get, another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter, don't you call me cause I can't go. I owe my soul to the company store

[@solomon9655]

I know elves are the popular theory, but I just don’t get much of an elf vibe from the machines. The dwarves seem to hate the elves so you’d think they’d know what the elves are capable of, but the rival tech is a mystery to them. Gnomes would be funnier… but humans would be very interesting IMO. But most of all the mystery is fun, I hope they never directly answer who the rivals are.

[@Incen]

It may be the Warcraft influence talking, but engineering death machines and building giant vaults seem very in-character for a goblin company. That's my guess, anyway!

[@flytrapYTP]

I lean towards the idea that they somehow knew about Expenite and they were in the pre-mining process before they got interrupted. They didn't get to do any mining.

[@saiyaboy85]

The rivals in my opinion based on the "grabby aliens" theory. A race that built self replicating robots on a mission to terraform planets for their builders. But in order to do that they need data on possible terraformable planets, and as well rescource planets, to build more robots to spread. So the rivals were only there to collect data if Hoxxes IV is suitable for any of those objectives. I mean, there's breathable atmosphere there, so both of them is viable.

[@whatarewesomekindofspookysquad]

I've always loved the idea that the robots are made by dragons! Elves would be cool, but keeping with the fantasy theme and making the rival company be a dragon who wanta to add wealth to its horde would be amazing.

[@shadow_king12344]

I personally don't think elves or any other fantasy race is behind the rivals. I think it some rouge AI that was long forgotten by DRG and left on some planet

[@A13_Mk1]

That could make sense, especially considering the connotations of the upcoming game, "Rogue Core" maybe the core actually is the AI?

[@jacobfoxfires9647]

The rivals I do think were there to scan parts of the planet which could have lead to how we can do something similar in Season 5. Sure they also took care of minerals, but the data was the most important parts. Maybe to be used for later with more accurate mining methods. But I do think it’s more related to the core spawn. And their weird outer dimensional tendencies. This does lead to us being able to find Morkite Seeds. Which, BTW, can I say is the weirdest material out there? Like first it’s a normal mineral we can mine out. But then we learned it’s also in a liquid form almost like it was oil. And then in DRG survivor, we have Morkite cores, which is probably morkite that’s been compressed until now it’s this ball of bright energy. And now with season 5, we found Morkite seeds? Like we can grow a material as if it’s a plant? That shouldn’t be possible UNLESS this is related to the spawn. And why we are going even deeper underground. Morkite might not even be a mineral, or a material from this dimension. As for the Rivals, I don’t think this is the last we see of them. The rock pox either. I think both ended up going deeper underground to avoid dwarf presence. And we might see more advance robots and rockpox creatures shambling around where Rogue Core takes place.

[@lucasriddle3431]

Crystal seeds are an actual thing, a small bit of crystal can be used to more efficiently form more of that same crystal, although in reality it's used for growing crystals in a lab, not natural formations underground.

[@affarinoxa]

Here comes Sniss, the man who can never miss. Such a good video I haven't played DRG in awhile and you're making me miss it. Might have to load it up again.

[@skylerfisher4347]

My friend and I have speculated ever since the update that there are two possible options for who or what the Rivals actually are Our first theory was that the rivals are actually a race of cybernetically enhanced elves, who built the robots we see in the caves because they themselves think they are above such dirty groveling work down in the caves nor would they want to encounter their natural enemies (Dwarves) The second theory we had come across later and liked almost as much as the Cyborg Elf idea was that these robots were made by Goblins trying to elbow in on Hoxxes to try and get in on the money to be made. This theory is very fitting since Goblins in media are typically depicted as very technologically inclined and obsessed with gold, but are too small and frail (unlike dwarves) to actually go down into the caves to mine

[@Wulfjager]

i think that they were looking for something in particular. something that they either found, extracted, and completed their work, or didnt find after all that effort and left anyway. by the time season 2 rolled around they didnt complete their objective and were getting annoyed with the dwarves, hence the escalation. im under the impression that they finished their work on hoxxes and what is left is the result of automation, the robots were programmed to do their work and the remainder of those robots are still working on their directive despite the creators getting what they needed

[@ctrlaltrepeat245]

Sniss lore video right as Im eating lunch? Perfect.

[@wingwall7892]

I wish that with each season they could give us a little bit of lore about things like rivals and rockpox. Even something as little as a paper with a couple of new details in one of the dwarves cabins would be neat

[@shadow_king12344]

I agree. I feel like the Rockpox comet just leaving and the rivals not doing anything is just unsatisfying. I hope we get a season to expand the lore a bit

[@scienceme9794]

I think that the robots are like a sci-fi version of the undead and the rival faction is ran by an evil technomancer.

[@ГотаБГ]

I love this concept, even tho I though about some bug based versions of machines we could meet in the future.

[@mitwhitgaming7722]

I want to know more about the Rivals so bad. Personally, I like the fan theory that they are elves, but I think Kobolds or Goblins would be just as fun. Just not dragons. If there's a dragon faction I want them to show up in person. Just a 20 foot tall dragon with a hard hat and mining gear. 😂

[@gogodogodo3283]

It would more likely be goblins, elves wouldn't dare touch iron, because its not wood

[@mitwhitgaming7722]

@gogodogodo3283 Drow, then. They are seemingly interesting in what's going on with the Core.

[@JNJNRobin1337]

wouldnt dragons just send in the kobolds to do the work for them?

[@arthurbarros5189]

@@gogodogodo3283 They use animal mimicking, and at least one phrase of the dwarves destroying their stuff mentions "Go back to trees". I believe it's elves. What I want to known is what they want on hoxxes, because it is not simply for profits.

[@bugjams]

Them being just another fantasy race is kind of boring, if I'm being honest... I like the idea that they're an entirely mechanical race, like the Engi or Lanius from FTL. They're just looking for a home, or a place to begin mining, or, for them, "feeding."

[@thetsarofall8666]

Tbh, i kind of hope if the rivals do return in force we get a sort of "necessary team up" mission where we find out the rivals were in fact sent to help neutralize whatever is going on in the core or maybe even the lithophage. However, it end up being that despite their tech, the rivals dont know enough about the threat to work on it themselves (partially our fault), so they ask for the dwarves assistance. DRG does so, perhaps with a legal contract that afterwards DRG will be left alone when it comes to their business interests.

[@lucasriddle3431]

Hmmm... this would be a cool narrative idea, but if it did happen, it would probably be a temporary truce, and afterwards it would be back to hostilities as usual. Because otherwise the rival missions and events would have to be removed from the game/modified to make sense with the lore, which doesn't seem like something the devs would want to do.

[@thetsarofall8666]

@lucasriddle3431 eh, i could see that issue being solved simply by saying the rivals left and refused to do the work of cleaning up the caves of their original waves of robots/construction nanites, leaving that for the dwarves to deal with.

[@Surkk2960]

The biggest mystery to me is why the bugs don't attack the the tech. The larger machines are pretty noisy, especially active Caretakers and Nemesis with the latter making the exact same ruckus as the Dwarves. Possibly they are emitting something that deters Glypid hostility towards them? Also, as a deterrent to some of the planet protection theory, the bots really didn't seem to care about the Lithophage which actively was more destructive than the Dwarves could ever be, even if a active spike was in the premises of a Data Vault. Maybe they just expected DRG to clean it up so they just kept working while the Dwarves were distracted with foam guns? For me it's either they are studying the planet to drop a mass mining operation drone swarm, or they are interested in something the planet has to offer that us employees (or even management) aren't aware of yet.

[@danolantern6030]

I propose the Glyphids have learned to avoid the Rivals purely because of how efficient they are at dealing with swarms. Patrollers can fly and invalidate 90% of bugs, shredders are flying swarmers, turrets are turrets, and we have Nemesis. Kick someone’s shit in enough and they’ll learn not to cross your path.

[@Surkk2960]

@@danolantern6030 Clearly the bugs have not learned to do that with the Dwarves yet then.

[@saxdraw]

Seeing that Mule Retrieval and Lost Helmets seems to indicate dwarves dying in Hoxxes is not rare, so I like to think they're driven to this points by Glyphids or some similar living creature in there and that's why the Glyphids just don't ignore us, we sure can kill them off quick but they can 100% do that to us too

[@danolantern6030]

@@Surkk2960 Probably because it’s much easier and rewarding to kill a dwarf than a rival robot. When you kill a robot, they explode, and that’s it, not to mention another comes up in its place. Meanwhile, a dime a dozen greenbeard dwarve teams get eaten every other day, and sure, there’s teams that are good at combating Glyphids (look up Haz 6x2), but the ones that aren’t are basically an endless buffet for Glyphids and other bugs to dine in. Plus, the rivals do help to get bugs their dinner, so it’s a win-win for them.

[@Surkk2960]

@@saxdraw Very True.

[@elliottprehn6342]

3:50 I don’t mean to bring the mood down but it’s very important for all generations to recognize these people suffered and died so we could even have a 5 day work week and breaks, workers rights are human rights and many people Had to fight to keep them.

[@scroomergriffin890]

As likely many others are saying I think it's highly likely the rivals are elves. Not only does it make sense since in most fantasy media Dwarves and Elves tend to hate eachother and the fact that as you said it's highly likely they are trying to protect hoxxes enviroment, but it's also worth mentioning that the rival tech is weirdly... organic? The tentacles of the prospector move in such natural ways and I know that even drg makes very personafied robots but the ones the rivals make don't feel quite like robots in the same way. They all feel so alien and strange. When I look at Bosco or Molly I think "cute little robot helper", but when I look at a rival robot I think "What is this? Why does it look like that?" the sounds they make, the ways they move and even how they have "evolved" to try and counter their dwarven threats is very much like animals which elves also tend to have a large connection to as they are part of nature. I think if this kind of tech is to be made by anyone it would be the elves.

[@twodivision]

I think that the rivals are an alien civilization which was in the early stages of surveying the planet for either prospecting or perhaps colonizing. We have only seen robots so far because the robots are here to prepare the planet. It`s essentially just scouts. When the DRG dealed significant damage to them during the first two seasons they retreated, but who knows when and what will return when they will come back to claim the planet... Also, for everyone who`s saying that the rivals are sent by elfs - elfs are the ones who run the DRG, that`s the reason why you have elven beer available at the bar and its description says that it`s company-mandated. This is also why the whole operation is so dangerous and uncaring for the dwarves: dwarves demonstrate comradery, even with their robots (a great example is Torretta). If the company was run by dwarves it would have much more reliable technology and would treat their workers much better.

[@cristodemonte1690]

Possibility that the rival try to protect hoxxes like Commander Cousto protected whale... Because now the theory is that Hoxxes is a giant living space organism.

[@aerothallji6514]

The Rivals being fully mechanized makes one wonder how they haven’t been hyjacked by the same creatures that hyjacked the BET-C prototype mules

[@jackyxd5227]

I think in rogue core, the Rivals are gonna play a huge part. If there isn't some sort of horrifying Rival robot that appears as a boss, I'm going to be sad.

[@Latejune27]

One fun thing to remember, is that DRG did try for more autonomous work earlier on, namelt with the BET-C units, a "autonomous weapons platform [that was] a remnant of the first attempts to tame Hoxxes". It always struck me as strange how these machines were susceptible to being infected and corrupted by Hoxxes wildlife, but no Rival Tech that we encounter ever was...

[@daniel3038]

i love the idea of rivals researching and contain whatever is in the core, at cost of figthin the dwarfs maybe to prevent something much worse, like a pandoras boz in hoxxes maybe thats why nemesis say things like I've seen things you dwarfs wouldn't believe, gives me chills

[@UltimortalMoth]

I always liked the idea of Goblins being behind them ever since they showed up. The protector angle is interesting but I find the mimicking behavior of the Nemesis incredibly sinister and even if the company can't be trusted I don't think I'm willing to root for the bots.

[@timothyt.82]

pfft, what? KZbin is directly supporting one of my favorite creators? Neat!

[@leroysteveson38]

i like the idea of the data cores not being transmitted through a router until way later, makes me think that they had crews similar to drg but to get the data cores and get out. that'd be an awesome spinoff idea

[@angryilys1038]

my version is that "rivals" are actually self-constructed adaptive machines with no distinct markings since they made artificially. they were either sent on this planet before drg, or after. that might explain existence of nemesis...

[@masterzoroark6664]

Many people say elves, but my theory was that they are either otherworldly aliens or one of these two crafty underground fantasy races: goblins or kobolds. The alien theory is as some people in the comment already speculate- Rivals are a outside force, alien invasion of sort. If we suppose to keep DRG in the DnD/Pathfinder Fantasy setting mixed with Sci-Fi a fitting alien invader in those would be the Illithid aka The Mindlyers. In tabletop settings the Illithid are quite technologically advanced, even tho their civilization is in constant decline and their civilization tends to set out incurions to both gather information and gather food. Plus well- if Rivals are sci-fi Illithids the ammount of floating tendrills and mind games of Nemesis would fit. As for Goblins or Kobolds being the Rivals- both of the races in fantasy games are rivals to Dwarves, fighting on the same underground turf for mostly the same resources. They are as crafty as Dwarves, tho sometimes in different ways, and are quite more frail than them, explaining why they only send out machines instead.

[@metawarp7446]

I really like the Illithid theory :) I agree with Sniss, I don't believe they are on Hoxxes 4 for mining... they (well, one of their robot fleets) are after the corestones and want to create corestone tech / weapons.

[@masterzoroark6664]

@@metawarp7446 And if they are sci-fi Illithids then the corestone would be usefull for them- as in DnD and alike Illithid are also known for dimensional travel with their ships

[@_Nykolaii_]

What's concerning me the most is: The rivals are not known by DRG. This is a seriously important thing because theres probably a lot of different factions around in space to which DRG trades with. The fact that they don't know anything about this huge autonomous force means either they are lying to us about not knowing anything or they know something but it would compromise the company just with the data collected. Personally, I believe they are either part of some kind of space government that the DRG upper management knows about and don't want any of them meddling on Hoxxes. Another interesting thing is: the wiki states "Only the mining corporation Deep Rock Galactic, known for a lack of safety precautions, is stubborn enough to continue mining in this sector, offering hefty paychecks and bonuses to those willing to brave the depths of Hoxxes IV." Hoxxes is too dangerous for average companies but not really hidden from others. DRG is probably hiding the actual wealth of the planet somehow but again Rivals aren't here for that. Anyway, i forgor my point but ig we can either theorize the Rivals are known and just labeled rivals by upper management or they're a totally new faction that the known universe wasn't aware of.

[@pilkslayer]

Rivals was collecting so much data all these years . I think they dont care much about resourses but the planet itself . One day we will face something much bigger then turrets and Nemesis .

[@JNJNRobin1337]

elves when the dwarves are constantly saying 'we're rich' and 'mushroom'

[@ThatNerdGuy0]

A theory I’ve heard is that they were there to find ways to protect the planet from rockpox

[@solsoman102]

so cool to see my favourite miner get a big sponsor like this good for you! awesome video too i’ve always wished ghost ship would delve a little deeper into the lore even pre rivals so this really scratches that itch

[@sesimie]

This went Deep! it Rock-ed and it has Galactic implications! finally subscribed. This editing is too good to not want more!

[@ultmateragnarok8376]

One thing that's always interested me is that we don't know where the rivals' teleportation originates from. The trails always just point upwards, as though from some orbital station like our own, or perhaps a relay sending them from some other planet or deep-space station altogether. DRG seems to not care in the slightest about putting things in orbit that aren't the rig itself - we have no relay satellites, no expanded scanner network, no safe storage for the event of a full catastrophic failure (as we saw from one of the lithophage comet's counterattacks) or stations for deploying equipment faster. It's unknown if the rivals' initial incursion was, as speculated by some, dropped off in passing by a notable fleet, or just outright teleported in from somewhere else as we see it. It's difficult to tell with many of their structures as well whether they're assembled on-site or not as well. Either way, nothing seems to stop them from building up more resources on less hostile ground, and doing it all again.

[@flyfly376]

I do have a funny and thematic theory. Rivals are... DRG, just a different branch/wing. Mostly on a basis that this is funny and on-theme - I like the idea that DRG is such a big megacorp that it's different branches can get into firefights with each other and not be noticed. Also, the other reason is the robotic design - it's actually very... dwarfish? With bronze and orange lines, very angular, that's how fantasy Dwarven Ar Deco inspired architecture often looks like. P.S. DRG did try an autonomous attempt to take a crack at Hoxxes - that's what BET-C units were for.

[@titanapd9647]

A friend suggested that elves might have made the robots; there's no evidence to back it up but it's a fun idea seeing how in many stories dwarves hate elves.

[@rattmice]

This video is my only comfort on thanksgiving while I sit alone eating a cold burrito in the dark. Thanks Sniss.

[@benbot0733]

I've heard a theory that dragons are behind the rivals, because their machines have a scorched metal and fiery glow theme, and dragons have a desire to hoard treasure and knowledge. What do the prospectors gather? Treasure and knowledge.

[@GoldenFisher727]

The Rival Machines are weak to fire tho

[@FenekkuKitsune]

Something to note is that the glyphids and other enemies don’t attack rival tech, as well as vice versa. There is no situation - outside of DRG interference - where rival tech and glyphids will fight. Hell, the glyphids actively PROTECT the rival tech when it’s threatened!

[@Meals-sh9fs]

Wait hold on. Could this mean that they are connected in some way? That can't be a coincidence. Especially with the core stones. I think the stones might actually be.. alive? It sounds like they scream in pain when defeated after all.

[@FenekkuKitsune]

@@Meals-sh9fs Well, it could simply be a game limitation and/or choice in that there can't be multiple enemy factions. But the biggest thing, imo, is that when you start hacking any rival tech, GLYPHIDs are called, not rivals. Rivals do spawn in every so often, but it's not a rival wave, it's a glyphid wave. The core stones are different, it's a core stone wave, not a glyphid wave. Glyphids and core spawn don't interact much (but afaik they don't attack each other), but that can be explained away as prior - only one enemy faction. It's interesting though, considering mactera, naedocytes, q'ronor, etc etc. All fight with the glyphids. Rivals too. There's definitely credence to the theory that Hoxxess is a superorganism in some manner.

[@dat_lamp]

I feel they are Elves on some kind of environmental protection mission. But upon finding something very valuable they are now protecting it.

[@spacegoldfish9481]

We do know that Morkite is completely endemic to Hoxxes and is incredibly valuable to the greater galaxy at large, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the origin of Morkite and Morkite Seeds is tied to… something, down there.

[@ZydrunasLeib]

Rival tech Lore: We here to save Hoxxes IV and you will not get in our way. Rival tech gameplay: Nooooooooooo I hate you so much shreder drones, why the patroller have 900hp?! Auuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaagghhhhhhh

[@timelesscatastrophe]

This channel is so chill

[@Jefrejtor]

Great video as always. I am eagerly awaiting your take on the Rockpox - I always felt it was underappreciated in its efforts to fleshen out the DRG universe.

[@herm574]

Very understated moment where Zac pulls the "mic" away from Brennan and Josh makes a mic feedback noise

[@okuzhori]

my favorite video of yours! so haunting

[@Emanig.sumtin]

Damned pointy eared tree hugger also its my headcannon that the calls for help of the nemesis are recordings not mimicking possibly of karl

[@notjoltzdude1397]

Great video as always

[@maslnaa]

just finished the current season pass and now finally playing thru the rival seasons that i missed, im really happy ghost ship lets you return to previous seasons

[@The_pringlr]

would be cool if you made this a series where you talk abt the lore of each season

[@303octavian]

Absolutely love your passion for the subtleties of this game my friend! Know that I share it, wholeheartedly! Can't wait for Rogue Core!

[@tbbbo]

My favourite theory about the Rivals was that what sparked their incursion to hoxxes is that they found Karl, a WEALTH of knowledge on the planet, and used him as the intellectual basis for the bots.

[@owengautreau1233]

Right in time. Just recently the nemesis drought has ended for me and I’ve gotten one of them in two missions back to back. About time I did the deep dive in to the lore.

[@Sinsanatis]

huh wow. that reclaimer looks kinda like the reclaimer from star citizen

[@jasondahfolf4325]

I mean, I am not surprised how weaponized the rival automatons are given how hostile Hoxxes is. The Rivals probably stole some data of the wildlife to prepare their machines

[@Xadhoom]

Super cool video as always! And love hearing your analysis and theories!

[@azemov2847]

A theory I have was around the theme of information. Maybe the Rival Corp was an Intelligence Agency. They were possibly hired by an Organization or Individual to gather information on Hoxxes IV. These rivals even gather data on the dwarves, they’ve used common employee chatter for their Nemesis a Bot designed kill Dwarves not to mention self destruction protocols to prevent data theft and how they seem to value nothing more than those Data Cells. It’s easy to point at the Material Value of Hoxxes But “knowing is half the Battle”

[@Encorous]

I love you sniss. Thank you for uploading.

[@thesharkkiddo8703]

I'm not the only one, but I've always believed the rival robots to be built by elves.

[@2shoes155]

I think DRG is basically the plot to Tom Cruise’s movie Oblivion. A Super AI uses cloned dwarves to mine because even the dwarves comment on it. There isn’t a machine that can best a dwarf. It’s why it doesn’t use a fleet of Boscos. The most valuable resource the AI wants is nitra. It tricks the dwarves to seek it out the most. It’s the only resource whitebeards mine. Weapon upgrades, scrip, cosmetics, overclocks are incentives to keep the dwarves focused on mining.

[@zigzag11875]

The dainty knife ears want Hoxxes? Over my shaved beard!

[@dragondude7165]

I like the theory that the Rivals aren't there as a rival mining company, but to protect the environment. It would explain why every time one of their constructs is there, the cave is the same. Nitra and gold is still there. Crafting minerals are still there.

[@Neo-zc9sf]

Thats Peak sniss content right there

[@TwoManyFoxes]

I thought at length about who might own the Rival company and I think my favorite theory is Elves. elves in fantasy are often known for being nature-adjacent and magic adept. in Deep Rock Galactic, glyphids explicitly DO NOT ATTACK any rival infrastructure at all. that and I kinda always saw the floaty techno gizmos as magic adjacent. just a theory and it would further why management hates them so much (other than stealing business of course.)(also assuming that management is actually dwarves and not humans or a different fantasy race)

[@CallyEmeraldaz]

i think i remember a dev jokingly saying the rivals are gnomes and since in a lot of fantasy settings, dwarfs and gnomes don't always get along and sometimes view each other as rivals, aka why the company is dubbed the rivals it wouldn't surprise me with what we saw was a scouting fleet of sorts, sent that way, and would kinda explain too why the nemesussy says lines which they know dwarfs love to say a lot, wouldn't be far fetched for gnomes to know what dwarfs like

[@cbcumpton6806]

I always assumed that what we see is just a scouting fleet that they send to planets to see if it's worth investing time/resources into setting up a mining operation, and that's why we don't see them doing any actual mining.

[@folgado7424]

I like to think they're looking for the error cubes and other anomalies to discover what they do

[@TristanBakon]

Very cool! Please cover more companies in the future!