OGame Intergalactic Research Network: Connecting Labs and Accelerating Research

What is the Intergalactic Research Network?

The Intergalactic Research Network (IRN) is one of the most powerful technologies in OGame. It allows you to connect the research laboratories on your colonies with the lab on your main planet. Instead of only counting the level of one active lab, the levels of all connected labs are combined — the result is a drastically increased effective lab strength and thus significantly shorter research times.

For advanced players pursuing expensive technologies like Graviton Research, high Hyperspace Drive levels or Astrophysics, the IRN is not an option but a necessity. Without a networked laboratory system, these research projects take unrealistically long.

How does the IRN work?

The IRN is itself a technology that you must research. The prerequisite is a Research Lab at level 12. Once you have researched the IRN to level N, you can connect the N best labs from your colonies to your main lab.

The research time for a technology is then calculated not only from the level of your active lab but from the sum of the effective lab levels of all connected planets. A main lab at level 15 plus four colony labs at level 12 each gives an effective lab strength of 63 — compared to 15 without IRN, that's more than four times as fast.

Quick Formula

Effective Lab Level = Main Lab Level + Sum of N highest Colony Lab Levels (N = IRN Level)

Prerequisites and Costs

The research costs for the IRN increase with each additional level. Level 1 is relatively cheap and should be researched as early as possible — even one additional connected colony lab can halve research time in some situations.

IRN Level and Connected Labs

Optimal Colony Strategy for the IRN

The IRN only unfolds its full potential when the connected colony labs are well developed. A colony with a lab at level 3 contributes barely anything to the network. The rule here is: Better to have fewer colonies with high lab levels than many colonies with weak labs.

Recommendation for IRN Optimisation

• Main planet: Build lab as high as possible (Goal: Level 15+)
• All main colonies: Lab at least level 10, goal level 15
• Upgrade IRN level in parallel with colony labs
• Always start research orders from the planet with the highest lab level

IRN and Discoverer Class

The Discoverer class receives a bonus to research speed. Combined with a well-developed IRN and Kaelesh lifeform (research boost), this creates the fastest research setup in OGame. Anyone wanting to quickly research advanced technologies like Graviton should combine all three factors: Discoverer class, high IRN level, Kaelesh lifeform with research technologies.

Graviton Research and the IRN

Graviton Research is the most expensive and exclusive research in OGame — it unlocks the Death Star. The special feature: Graviton requires no resources but 300,000 energy on the researching planet. The IRN helps indirectly: A high effective lab level makes Graviton research completable faster. Anyone wanting to build the Death Star should first build a strong lab network before meeting the energy requirements for Graviton.