To access the massive floating hospitality business introduced in the 1.0 full release, you must reach Station Level 15, max out the new Hospitality branch of the four separate level tracks, and purchase the Sky Tether for 50,000 credits. If you are wondering exactly how to unlock Alien Hotel Alien Market Simulator without wasting hours grinding the wrong skill trees, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know. The May 13, 2026 update transformed the game from a simple retail management loop into a complex multi-tiered business empire, and the sky hotel is the crown jewel of that expansion.
Getting the hotel up and running is only half the battle. Once the doors open, you will have to manage room aesthetics with the new Painter Tool, optimize your staff using the Cleaner Bot & Restocker Overhaul, and even defend your lobby from unruly guests using the newly introduced Light Saber. Here is the definitive, ownership-grade breakdown of the 1.0 update's biggest feature.
Prerequisites for How to Unlock Alien Hotel Alien Market Simulator
Before you can start charging intergalactic tourists premium rates for a bed in the sky, you need to lay the groundwork in your main market. The 1.0 patch completely revamped how players progress, moving away from a linear XP bar to a New Progression System featuring four separate level tracks.
To even see the blueprint for the Alien Hotel on your main terminal, you must meet the following baseline requirements:
- Market Track Level 10: You need a thriving ground-floor business. This means successfully operating at least three different stall types (e.g., food stall, electronics, and bio-organics) with a steady flow of customers. If you are experiencing the common Early Access issue where you have a "food stall but no customers," ensure your stall is properly assigned to a Restocker and that your pricing isn't set above the 120% markup threshold.
- Hospitality Track Level 5: This is the most crucial of the four separate level tracks for aspiring hoteliers. You level this up by placing seating areas, maintaining high station cleanliness, and ensuring customers don't storm out in frustration.
- 50,000 Credits: The initial construction cost for the Sky Tether—the massive space elevator that connects your ground market to the floating hotel—is steep. You will need to save up a significant war chest.
Understanding these prerequisites is the first step in learning how to unlock Alien Hotel Alien Market Simulator. Many players make the mistake of dumping all their points into the Security Track early on, only to find themselves locked out of the lucrative hospitality business until late in the game.
Step-by-Step: How to Unlock Alien Hotel Alien Market Simulator
Once your station meets the prerequisites, the actual unlocking process requires a specific sequence of actions. The 1.0 update doesn't hold your hand, so follow these steps carefully to launch your floating business.
Step 1: Purchase the Sky Tether Blueprint Head to the central management terminal in your main office. Under the newly added "Expansions" tab, you will see the "Alien Hotel — a whole new business, floating in the sky." Pay the 50,000 credits to authorize the construction of the Sky Tether.
Step 2: Clear the Roof Access Sector Before the tether can be built, you must clear the debris from the Roof Access Sector of your station. This requires assigning at least two Cleaner Bots to the upper maintenance level. Thanks to the Cleaner Bot & Restocker Overhaul, bots now prioritize tasks much more efficiently, but you still need to manually set their operational zones.
Step 3: Construct the Reception Desk Once the Sky Tether is built, take the elevator up to the empty hotel shell. The business will not officially "open" until you construct a Reception Desk (cost: 2,500 credits) and hire a dedicated clerk.
Step 4: Build Your First Rooms You start with a massive, empty floor plan. Use the build menu to partition your first three standard rooms. A basic room requires a bed, a lighting fixture, and a functioning door. Once these are placed, the hotel is officially unlocked and alien guests will begin queuing at the Sky Tether.
Designing Rooms with the 1.0 Painter Tool
Unlocking the hotel is just the beginning; maximizing your daily revenue requires deep customization. The 1.0 release introduced the Painter Tool, allowing you to paint every wall, floor, and ceiling with full creative freedom. In the context of the Alien Hotel, this is not just a cosmetic feature—it is a core gameplay mechanic tied directly to your star rating.
Different alien species have distinct environmental preferences that dictate how much they are willing to pay for a night's stay.
- Reptilian Traders: These cold-blooded merchants prefer humid, swamp-like aesthetics. Using the Painter Tool to apply toxic green floors and dark, damp wall textures will increase their satisfaction rating by up to 40%.
- Avian Merchants: Coming from low-gravity worlds, they require high ceilings and bright, airy colors. Neon cyan walls and reflective floor surfaces will ensure they leave a five-star review.
- Cyborg Tourists: These tech-heavy guests care less about color and more about infrastructure, but they show a slight preference for deep space violet accents and metallic finishes.
If you ignore the Painter Tool and leave your rooms with the default sterile white bulkheads, your hotel will never surpass a two-star rating, severely capping your income. Take the time to create dedicated wings for different species, utilizing the creative freedom the update provides to perfectly tailor the aesthetics to your target demographics.
Managing Operations: Cleaner Bot & Restocker Overhaul
If you played during Early Access, you likely remember the frustration of missing cleaning robots or having to manually reset chairs every time you loaded the game so customers wouldn't walk away complaining "no chairs." The 1.0 update delivered the highly anticipated Cleaner Bot & Restocker Overhaul, which fundamentally changes how you manage the Alien Hotel.
In the hotel, cleanliness is tied directly to your daily payout. If a room is left dirty after a guest checks out, the next guest will refuse to enter, creating a bottleneck at your Reception Desk.
To manage this, you must utilize the new zoning mechanics. You can now assign Cleaner Bots to specific floors or even specific wings of the hotel. A standard setup for a mid-sized hotel requires at least three bots dedicated solely to the upper levels.
Furthermore, the Restocker Overhaul allows bots to automatically refill hotel vending machines and in-room mini-fridges. Previously, restockers would only pull from your main warehouse to fill market shelves. Now, you can establish a secondary storage room on the hotel level, and your restockers will seamlessly transport luxury food items and exotic drinks directly to your guests, creating a massive secondary revenue stream.
Defending the Lobby: Alien Combat and the Light Saber
Running a market in space has always been a bit chaotic, but the 1.0 update introduced a dangerous new dynamic: Alien Combat. The patch notes warned us that "they fight back now, and they fight each other too," and nowhere is this more evident than in the crowded lobby of your floating hotel.
When rival species—such as the Reptilian Traders and the Avian Merchants—are forced to wait in the same check-in queue for too long, their stress levels rise. If their patience meters deplete, a brawl can break out. These fights destroy furniture, ruin your cleanliness rating, and terrify other paying guests.
To combat this, the update introduced the Light Saber, a brand new weapon that has entered the galaxy. As the station manager, you can no longer just sit in your office. When an alert flashes that a fight has broken out in the hotel lobby, you must take the Sky Tether elevator up, equip your Light Saber, and physically intervene.
You don't necessarily have to kill the unruly guests (which incurs a massive fine from the Intergalactic Trade Commission); simply brandishing the Light Saber and striking the ground near the combatants is often enough to break up the fight and send them fleeing. Investing points into the Security Track of the new progression system will increase your intimidation radius, making it easier to maintain order in the sky.
Troubleshooting How to Unlock Alien Hotel Alien Market Simulator
Even with a guide, some players run into roadblocks when trying to access the 1.0 content. Here are the most common issues and how to fix them:
- The Sky Tether blueprint isn't showing up: Ensure you are playing on the 1.0 release branch. If your game hasn't updated, the "four separate level tracks" won't be visible in your menu. Force an update through Steam.
- I have the credits, but the terminal says "Sector Blocked": You haven't cleared the Roof Access Sector. Go to your bot management screen and ensure at least one Cleaner Bot is assigned to the roof zone to clear the debris.
- Guests are arriving but not checking in: Double-check that your rooms actually meet the minimum requirements (bed, light, door). Also, ensure you have hired a clerk for the Reception Desk. The desk cannot be unmanned.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need to start a new save to access the Alien Hotel? No, your Early Access save will carry over, and your previous experience will be converted into the New Progression System. However, because the four separate level tracks require specific milestones, you may need to grind the Hospitality Track for a while before the hotel unlocks.
Why are my Cleaner Bots ignoring the hotel rooms? Thanks to the Cleaner Bot & Restocker Overhaul, bots no longer roam randomly. You must open the management UI and explicitly paint a patrol zone inside the hotel for them to recognize the new floor.
How much does the Alien Hotel cost to maintain? Unlike ground market stalls, hotel rooms incur a daily utility fee of 50 credits per room. You must ensure your room rates are set high enough (by utilizing the Painter Tool to boost star ratings) to cover this passive drain on your economy.
Can I use the Light Saber on customers who refuse to pay? While the Light Saber is a brand new weapon designed to break up Alien Combat, attacking a peaceful (albeit stingy) customer will trigger a station lockdown and a massive fine. Use it strictly for breaking up fights or defending your property from actual threats.
Owning the sky in Alien Market Simulator is the ultimate late-game flex. By mastering the new progression tracks, utilizing your bots efficiently, and keeping a firm grip on your Light Saber, your floating hotel will quickly become the most profitable sector of your space station.
Sources
- Alien Market Simulator Official Steam Community Updates (May 13, 2026 1.0 Patch Notes)
- Steam Community Discussion Forums: Bug Reports & Bot Management Overhauls