What the Guardians of the Galaxy upgrades available message means
Being told there are upgrades available but can't do anything? Here's what's going on
The Guardians of the Galaxy upgrades available message pops up frequently early on as you collect components, but you'll need a workbench to actually use them. The notification is basically pushing you to use a particular system that you don't have access to early on in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, so you can safely ignore it. Below, I've explained exactly what this Guardians of the Galaxy upgrade available message means and how you can eventually use workbenches to spend your components on these upgrades.
What does the Guardians of the Galaxy upgrade available message mean?
It won't take much playing time until you start getting the Guardians of the Galaxy upgrades available message. Almost as soon as you're in the main game, playing as Star-Lord, you'll be able to collect glowing resources scattered around on the ground. These Basic Components and Advanced Components are what you you'll use to upgrade Peter's basic abilities like maximum health and shield, certain combat and gear upgrades, and so on.
However, you can only spend these components by using a workbench, and you won't get to your first one until you reach the 'Install the Last Thumper' part of the mission, and this yellow door you'll need to push aside:
Inside you'll find your first Workbench and suddenly all those upgrades that have been taunting you with their availability will be yours to buy. From this point on you'll regularly find workbenches, as well as having access to one on the Milano, so you can spend components to upgrade Peter's core abilities.
These abilities are mostly basic mechanical upgrades, so things like a charged shot for your guns, or slow-mo after a perfect dodge, and so on. Make sure you poke around in every nook you can find to get all the components you need there. The Abilities menu on the other hand is something you can access anytime once it's introduced, and essentially unlocks special moves for Peter and the Guardians. That uses the XP you win from completing battles so you'll want to mix up you moves and try and be as flashy as possible to upgrade that faster.
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I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for guides, which means I run GamesRadar's guides and tips content. I also write reviews, previews and features, largely about horror, action adventure, FPS and open world games. I previously worked on Kotaku, and the Official PlayStation Magazine and website.