X-Universe News Issue 23 is currently winging its way to subscribers.

News Headlines:

The Deadly Ships Mod: An interview with modders DeadlyDa and Red Spot

Egosoft FAQ's: This edition's Egosoft FAQ - X: The History

Also in this issue: X³ 2.0 Update, additional languages for Steam users and of course the X³ Bonus Package.

Check out the latest edition here: X-Universe News 23

In the great tradition of the X series games, a bonus for fans old and new, a very special X³ update from Egosoft.

In Q4 2006 EGOSOFT will release a final update to X³: Reunion under the title X³: 2.0 Bala Gi Research Missions.

Key features of this update will include:

• An exciting mission to unlock a unique new spacecraft and get hold of the biggest construction in the X universe to-date.
• Get hold of the exclusive (and unique) M7 class prototype battleship, once owned by the Pontifex Maximus Paranidia himself. This ship is lean and mean and can dock two fighter ships.
• The Player Headquarters can only be built once, but will be the most powerful outpost that the player can own. With its massive storage capacity it can hold huge quantities of upgrades, repair and produce ships, and host more ships at its docks than any other station, even shipyards.
• Bala Gi Research Inc. has developed a new M3+ class of ships. You will get the chance to distribute the blueprints for this new masterpiece of ship construction to the various shipyards.

There will also be a number of little extras like a new weapon type, sectors and various other additions and fixes. The update will also no longer require the game media to be present, so you can put your CD or DVD back in its box.

Note: This update will be available free to all owners of X³: Reunion, and will be compatible with existing savegames.

The long wait was worth it! As there was for X²: The Threat, there is also now a Bonus Pack for X³: Reunion available for Download.

Now, you are probably asking yourself "What is this Bonus Pack? And what does it do for me?"

The Pack provides upgrades (scripts) developed by the forum community and given the seal of approval (signed) by Egosoft. These upgrades have been selected because they fit well with the game and do not destroy the game balance. The Script Editor does not have to be activated for these upgrades to work.

The following items are in this Pack:

- Commercial Agent
- Commodity Logistics Software MK1
- Commodity Logistics Software MK2
- Dockware Manager
- Manual Trade Commands
- Missile Defense Mosquito
- Remote Transporter Device
- Station Manager

Simply run the .exe and follow the instructions. Only the plugins you select will be installed.

The first time you run the installer, make sure you have all of the plugins that are currently active in your game checked. It will update all of your installed plugins to the latest version. If you have a plugin installed and you wish to stop it from running, you may unselect it. Note that in this case not all script files associated with the plugin will be removed, but only the ones which will stop the script from running in your game.

General information about the X³ Bonus Pack and the individual upgrades is in the discussion topic for this article.

File format: self-extracting archive
Updated: 06/09/2006
Available languages: English, German, French, Italian (text only) and Russian

A little while ago we reported that X²: The Threat and X³: Reunion were available via Steam. Unfortunately for some both games were only available in English.
After the success of the English versions we are now happy to announce that more language version are now offered on Steam.

Newly available languages are:
- German (Voice and text)
- French (Voice and text for X³, text only for X²)
- Italian (text only)
- Spanish (Voice and text)

If you already have an English version from Steam you can switch to one of these languages free of charge by adjusting the language in your Steam configuration.
New customers will automatically receive the game in their selected language.

The same notes as for the English version apply:
The game is already up to date, you do not need to install any patches!
Game registration is not required. To download bonus content please sign up for a forum account (you need to be logged in in order to download bonus content or manuals)

X-Universe News Issue 22 is currently winging its way to subscribers.

Headlines:

Steam Powered X² & X³: Egosoft enters the age of Steam

X² On Linux: Penguins in space

X Race makeovers: X species up close

On a Mission - DevNet: Missions not so impossible from CBJ

Egosoft Online Shop: Improvements and new prices for X³: Reunion

Egosoft FAQs: What is DevNet?

Check out the latest edition here: X-Universe News 22