We've got some good news to coincide with the Steam Deck's one-year anniversary, which is being celebrated on Steam this week. Having made some changes for the upcoming major 6.00 update of X4: Foundations, the Steam Deck classification of X4 has been upgraded from "playable" to "verified" status. This means that from version 6.00 onwards, X4: Foundations will be fully Steam Deck verified! Yay, X4 on the go!

The changes are already in the 6.00 Public Beta (details below), so you can give them a try today!

How do I take part in the Public Beta?
Every player who owns X4: Foundations has the opportunity to download the new 6.00 beta version. In order to ensure that beta participants are aware of the risks and rules involved, we ask all interested players to visit our forum, where they will find the rules and disclaimers, as well as practical instructions for participating in the beta. Follow this link to our forum (no registration required) to find the relevant information.

Note: If Steam displays an older Beta version rather than "public_beta - 6.00 Beta 6" in the beta drop-down menu, this is just a display error in the Steam client. You can correct this by re-entering the beta password (see forum), but even with the incorrect version displayed in the list, you will still be playing the latest version of the beta if you have selected the public_beta branch.

We have a big surprise for you in our next beta update. Up to now in X4, all factions have used the same builder ship model, but this all changes today in the new public beta. Of course this means that the new ships will also be in the release version, as soon as the 6.00 public beta process has finished.

In the 6.00 update for X4, the existing builder ship model for the Paranid and Teladi will be replaced by the following new models:

HERACLES (Paranid XL builder ship)
ALBATROSS (Teladi XL builder ship)

If you own the X4: Split Vendetta and / or X4: Cradle of Humanity expansions, you can also look forward to the following new models:

ELEPHANT (Split XL builder ship)
KYUSHU (Terran XL builder ship)

And while we're in such a good mood, we're also going to give you a first glimpse of the Boron XL builder ship - which will join your game universe as soon as you've purchased the new upcoming X4: Kingdom End expansion. Be sure to add X4: Kingdom End to your Steam wishlist to be automatically notified upon release.

WALRUS (Boron XL builder Ship)

As well as replacing the models, all of their stats have of course been balanced accordingly, so now they really are completely unique builder ships.

We look forward to your feedback on the new builder ships, as well as the other changes in Beta 5 (see full changelog). Please report any issues as usual in our Public Beta Feedback Forum.

How do I take part in the Public Beta?
Every player who owns X4: Foundations has the opportunity to download the new 6.00 beta version. In order to ensure that beta participants are aware of the risks and rules involved, we ask all interested players to visit our forum, where they will find the rules and disclaimers, as well as practical instructions for participating in the beta. Follow this link to our forum (no registration required) to find the relevant information.

Note: If Steam displays an older Beta version rather than "public_beta - 6.00 Beta 5" in the beta drop-down menu, this is just a display error in the Steam client. You can correct this by re-entering the beta password (see forum), but even with the incorrect version displayed in the list, you will still be playing the latest version of the beta if you have selected the public_beta branch.

Captain Collins interview recording
Egosoft founder and CEO Bernd Lehahn was recently interviewed by Captain Collins. The 90 minute interview primarily focused on the forthcoming 6.00 update and the next expansion - X4: Kingdom End, but it also covered a few more general topics and the broader future of the game series. The recording is now available on YouTube, so feel free to have a look.

Attention, pilots! Get ready for more insight into our upcoming expansion X4: Kingdom End and the massive free 6.00 update. Our Managing Director, Bernd Lehahn, will be appearing as a guest on two live streams this month to give you all the details.

First, join Bernd on February 13 at 7pm CET (6pm UTC / 1pm EST / 10am PST) in the Gamestar "Find Your Next Game" show for a German-language show. Then, on February 24 at 2pm CET (1pm UTC / 8am EST / 5am PST), tune in to Captain Collins on Twitch for an English-language show with Bernd.

Don't miss out on the chance to hear directly from Bernd about these exciting new developments, and ask your questions in chat! Mark your calendars and set your reminders now!

Haven't heard about 6.00 yet? Be sure to check out our news on the 6.00 public beta launch. There you can find out what our new physics engine and our heavily improved graphics engine in 6.00 are all about.

Once our recently announced new X4 expansion, X4: Kingdom End, is ready to be released later this year, it will be accompanied by the most extensive set of improvements to X4: Foundations since the game's original release back in 2018. These major technical changes to the game call for a lot of testing - so please join our 6.00 Public Beta!

How do I take part in the Public Beta?
Every player who owns X4: Foundations has the opportunity to download the new 6.00 beta version. In order to ensure that beta participants are aware of the risks and rules involved, we ask all interested players to visit our forum, where they will find the rules and disclaimers, as well as practical instructions for participating in the beta. Follow this link to our forum (no registration required) to find the relevant information.

X TECH 5
Our past games X Beyond the Frontier, X3: Reunion, X Rebirth and the original 1.00 release of X4: Foundations marked the biggest milestones in the development of our very own X series engine. With the upcoming release of X4: Foundations 6.00, we're taking the next step and introducing X TECH 5.

While integrating the next generation of our graphics engine with several big visual improvements (details below), as well as a new, more powerful physics engine with performance and feature improvements, we're also maintaining savegame compatibility for X4.

We would like to give you a first impression of some of the highlights of X TECH 5 that are in the first Public Beta of 6.00. We are still working on additional features that may be added in later public beta releases. We will talk about those additional features in due course.

New physics engine
Experience the thrill of space more than ever before in X4: Foundations, with the integration of Jolt Physics into X TECH 5. Whether you're navigating an asteroid field, docking at a space station, or engaging in combat, Jolt Physics adds a new level of realism and immersion to every moment of gameplay. You'll feel the full force of acceleration and deceleration as you pilot your ship, and every collision will have a tangible impact. In addition to enhancing the overall gameplay experience, the integration of Jolt Physics also brings about performance and feature improvements to X TECH 5, which you'll find listed in the full 6.00 Public Beta 1 changelog.

Massively improved graphics engine
A big part of what makes us very proud of the upcoming 6.00 Update to X4: Foundations is the radical improvements included in our graphics engine. Here are some of the highlights from this area of development:

? Improved lighting
The main goal with the new lighting engine in X TECH 5 is to improve natural-looking sunlight in space. More vibrant colours, higher intensity suns, and a wider range of interesting lighting moods. X TECH 5 gives us many new tools to achieve this. Reflection probes greatly improve lighting situations inside cockpits, bridges and on stations, and seamlessly integrates with the screen space reflections introduced in a previous version of X4. You will also note that the shadow-casting in X TECH 5 has massively improved. This greatly helps in producing more realistic visuals at greater distances.

? Introduction of parallax occlusion mapping
With the inclusion of parallax occlusion mapping, X TECH 5 features a technique that allows us to add extra detail and depth to surfaces in the game. This is achieved by using a special type of texture that encodes information about the height and shape of a surface, which is then used to create the illusion of 3D depth and detail. As a player, you can expect to see a noticeable improvement in the realism and immersion of surfaces in the game, as parallax occlusion mapping allows us to add subtle details and depth that were not previously possible.

Wide range of gameplay improvements
Apart from the serious technological improvements, we have of course also added gameplay refinements and new features in Update 6.00. Please take a look at the complete changelog for version 6.00 Public Beta 1. Today, we would like to put the spotlight on the following two highlights:

? Position Defence
The new Position Defence feature in Update 6.00 allows players to have a single carrier-led fleet defend multiple locations while maintaining its streamlined support structure. Individual subordinate groups within the fleet can be assigned to protect specific locations, and will patrol the area until they need to return to the carrier for repairs or resupply. Additionally, these subordinate groups can be set to support other groups in the fleet if they come into contact with threats. This allows for flexible and dynamic defence of multiple locations with a single fleet. We can't wait for you to try out this new feature and see how it enhances your gameplay experience.

? Live Stream camera mode
Live Stream is a brand-new camera mode in X4: Foundations that brings you closer to the action. Once activated, by hitting F6, Live Stream mode allows you to watch interesting events and scenes unfold in your game in real-time. Whether it's an epic space battle, a bustling space station, or a beautiful nebula, this new mode has you covered. One of the best things about Live Stream mode is that it automatically switches between scenes, so you never have to worry about missing out on the action. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy the show, as our new camera mode takes you on a tour of the most interesting moments in your game.

We have lots more ideas on how to refine and improve this new camera mode further, and we will keep working on it during the 6.00 Public Beta phase and beyond. But please do try it out in its current form, and share your feedback with us.

We encourage all players to participate in the beta and provide feedback on the new features in our Public Beta Feedback forum. This is just the start of the 6.00 Public Beta for X4: Foundations. The beta will be updated regularly over the next few weeks, so keep an eye on our news channels to avoid missing anything.

We can't wait for you to try out all the new content in Update 6.00 and look forward to hearing your thoughts. --> Full 6.00 Public Beta 1 Changelog

? Note to the modding community
As mentioned in our survey summary a few months ago, X4 modders are super important to us and we are very grateful for their work. While we can't go into too much detail on this topic today, we wanted to at least briefly mention that we are working on some new modding tools for X4 and will also be improving the information available to modders in the future. For example, we plan to provide a modding equivalent to the X4 update changelog. As soon as the tools can be tested, we will inform you separately about this, and provide you with further details.

X4: Kingdom End – Wishlist now!
Enjoy a long-awaited reunion with the Boron in X4: Kingdom End, the fourth expansion for X4: Foundations, which completes the collection of the main factions in the X Universe. Discover the unique Boron ships, and fly them through distinctive systems, on a journey of discovery. Visit fascinating places, uncover old secrets and make new acquaintances. Embark on an immersive new chapter of X4!

We've got a somewhat unusual campaign for you this year, which we hope will be to your taste. After several months of collaboration with the plushie professionals at Makeship, we are turning a long-cherished idea into reality.

Introducing… Baby Boron Plushie! We are excited to announce that our crowdfunding campaign, for the cutest, cuddliest plushie you've ever seen, is starting soon. This plushie is the perfect companion for any X4 fan, with its soft, huggable body and adorable features.

Baby Boron will watch your back while you enjoy the long-awaited reunion with the Boron in X4: Kingdom End, the fourth expansion for X4: Foundations, later this year.

Please note that all Makeship plushies are unique editions. This specific Baby Boron Plushie will no longer be available after the end of this campaign.

How can I get one?
The Baby Boron Plushie crowdfunding campaign starts on January 23rd, 2023, at 6pm GMT (10am PST / 1pm EST / 7pm CET) over at makeship.com. Once the campaign goes live, you will be able to purchase your very own limited Baby Boron Plushie at Makeship ($29.99).

The campaign will run for 21 days. If the campaign reaches the minimum order goal, Makeship will start production of the Baby Boron Plushie. If the minimum goal is not met, all customers will be refunded for their orders.

If the campaign is successful and the Baby Boron Plushies are produced, they will be shipped 2-3 months after the campaign end date. Shipping typically takes 7-15 business days depending on the destination country and city. Delivery to some areas may take 10-30 business days.

Visit the Makeship Help Center if you have any further questions about the crowdfunding campaign process.

Egosoft today unveils the next chapter in its long-running space simulation franchise. X4: Kingdom End is the fourth expansion for the latest game in the series, X4: Foundations. X4: Foundations was released for PC in November 2018 and has been improved and updated frequently ever since.

The reveal teaser for X4: Kingdom End is now available on YouTube. X4: Kingdom End will be released for PC (Windows, Linux) in 2023 and can already be wishlisted on Steam and GOG.

X4: Kingdom End celebrates the long-awaited reunion with the Boron, and completes the collection of the main factions in the X Universe. Discover the unique Boron ships, and fly them through distinctive systems, on a journey of discovery. Visit fascinating places, uncover old secrets and make new acquaintances. Embark on an immersive new chapter of X4!

An expedition into the unknown
Heretic's End holds a secret to be discovered. Flickering lights on a previously inactive jump gate are causing a stir. Joining forces in the name of cooperation, a multi-factional expedition sets out to investigate the phenomenon. Prepare for an immersive story of collaboration, where many vastly different minds must pull together for the greater good.

Unique new ships will take your breath away
Boron ships are as unconventional as you would expect from such an extraordinary species. X4: Kingdom End introduces a wide variety of Boron ships of different classes, which excel with their fluid designs, their wavelike shell animation, and their distinctive grace and uniqueness. Come aboard and experience what may very well be the most breath-taking ships in the X-Universe.

X4: Foundations 6.00 Update
X4: Kingdom End is being released at the same time as the extensive 6.00 update for X4: Foundations. As is our tradition, we will once again be introducing a number of significant improvements to the base game in this major, free update for all X4 owners. We won't be able to show the full changelog until a later date, but X4 players can already look forward to the following upcoming 6.00 improvements:

• Position Defence, a new feature which allows you to have a carrier-led fleet defend a larger area
  
• A new cinematic camera cutscene mode
  
• Improvements in, among other things, AI combat and fleet behaviour, trade behaviour, boarding, salvaging, docking experience, flight pathing, low attention combat simulation, and the station editor
  
• UI and quality-of-life improvements
  
• Performance improvements
  
• ... and much more

Back in July we invited you to participate in a slightly larger-than-usual player survey. Many of you have expressed a wish for us to publish the results of this survey. So, we are going to do so, at least for the actual game related questions. We will also provide some commentary on some of the survey results to give them better context.

The overall aim of this survey was to get a broad picture of how you see X4 today, what you enjoy about it, what problems you see, and so on, rather than to identify specific potential changes to X4 and put them on our short-term "To Do ASAP" list. It will come as no surprise to you that we still have plenty of plans for the X series, so this survey was about gathering your feedback, analysing it and using it together with our own plans and ideas, to set the course for the future.

Please note that the percentages mentioned only refer to the participants in the survey, not to the total number of buyers or players of X4: Foundations. For information, just under 20,000 of you participated in the survey.

With this in mind, here are the results of the survey:

How many hours have you invested in your most advanced savegame so far?

7% · More than 500 hours
32% · 100 to 500 hours
26% · 50 to 100 hours
24% · 10 to 50 hours
6% · 5 to 10 hours
5% · Less than 5 hours

Long playtime, strong commitment
We are always pleased to see the larger number of hours played by our players, not only those who participated in the survey, but also the ‘average player’ of X4. Clearly the X4 universe manages to keep you entertained for a long time! Almost 40% of survey participants have played the game for over 100 hours. We believe that one of the main reasons for this is also one of X4's greatest strengths: it is played similarly to an MMO, but because it is single-player, it allows for faster and virtually unlimited growth. X4 evidently has a lot to offer in terms of real economy, authentic universe, growth and so on.

How many times have you started a new game?

15% · More than 10 times
25% · 5 to 10 times
45% · 2 to 4 times
15% · Just once

Learn about the budgeted custom gamestart system, and start a new custom game!
Starting a new game in X4 should always be appealing. As the survey results show, 40% of the participants have already restarted at least five times, but we would like to see an even higher number here. In addition to new gamestarts added in previously released expansions, which provide exciting new scenarios that you should definitely check out, we also introduced a "Custom Gamestart" feature in September 2021 as part of the 4.10 Update of X4: Foundations. This has a “points” system, which allows you to change or customise certain starting parameters in the game according to your preferences. You collect points towards the budget for these parameters through your actions in previous play-throughs of the game, such as exploring, playing story missions, etc. You can then spend the points in your new budgeted custom gamestart, giving you things such as available capital, sectors already explored, or relations with other factions. There is nothing to lose by doing this, and the points remain available for future gamestarts, so we recommend you try it out if you haven't already. Rediscovering X4 from a new starting point is definitely worthwhile!

Why not check out this comprehensive video from X4 content creator Captain Collins on the Custom Gamestart feature (July 2021).

Which (gameplay) element of X4 do you enjoy the most?

33% · Trading / Economy
24% · Fighting / Battles
13% · Designing / Building stations
12% · Free exploration
11% · Missions / Storylines

Possibly our biggest challenge: the diversity of X players
The answers to this question highlight one of our biggest opportunities, but at the same time risks, with X4: the diversity of player interests and priorities. The very core of our vision of the X series games is the idea of giving players as much freedom as possible; freedom to make their own decisions about what to do in our games. To achieve this, requires us to include many different types of activity as part of the game, which in turn attracts at least as many different types of players. Not to put too fine a point on it, everyone wants something different from X4!

Perhaps our greatest challenge during our time working on X4, but also for the future of the X series, is to find compromises that "work" for as many as possible of these, sometimes fundamentally different, types of players. At the same time, we have to be realistic and acknowledge that this makes it almost impossible for us to deliver the "perfect” game for any given group of players.

Nevertheless, we have no plans to change our overall mission, which we at Egosoft have been committed to since the development of X - Beyond the Frontier in the late 90s.

Would you like to be able to play X4 with friends?

46% · Yes
16% · No
38% · Wouldn't matter to me

If you are interested in a multiplayer option, what would it ideally look like for you?

14% · MMO
63% · Online Co-Op
16% · Asynchronous Multiplayer

The best of both worlds: a single-player universe with fast progression, and team play in Multiverse online mode
This is a question which has naturally led to many discussions within the community over the years. Before any further discussion, we need to make it clear that, in our opinion, an X series game can only be what it is if it is, at heart, a single-player universe. Without going into too much detail, the issue of rapid and unlimited growth, as mentioned in a previous comment, is key to this.

That said, we definitely see possibilities for more direct cooperation between players of X games in the longer term. The Multiverse online mode, originally announced in 2021, will be a first step in that direction. We are still working on that Multiverse online mode, which is itself a development of the “Ventures" feature that was in some earlier versions of X4. We're making good progress on that, and are hopeful that we'll be able to tell you more about it in 2023.

How satisfied are you with X4 today?
(5 = Completely; 1 = Not at all)

5 = 16%
4 = 61%
3 = 18%
2 = 4%
1 = 1%

High approval rate, but room for improvement
Our survey shows that 77% of participants are at least moderately satisfied with X4 today. This figure is also reflected in our Steam reviews, where around 75% of reviewers have left positive ratings at the time of writing. Given the previously mentioned diversity of our players, and the wide range of gameplay elements within X4, we are very happy to have such a high approval rating. However, this does not mean that we will rest on our laurels. We will continue to set our goals higher, and hope to further improve these ratings and review scores in the future.

How satisfied are you with the game performance on your hardware?
(5 = Completely; 1 = Not at all)

5 = 29%
4 = 36%
3 = 22%
2 = 9%
1 = 3%

Constant work on improving performance
The X series games will always be demanding on hardware. It is in the very nature of the game, and our vision for the series, that the technical requirements will often preclude the use of lower performance systems. The full universe simulation, for example, will always require more CPU and memory than other games in the genre. The fact that 65% of the survey’s participants are reasonably satisfied with the performance of the game on their systems gives us some confidence that we are striking the right balance. However, we are constantly working on improvements, throughout our game engine, to enhance the performance of X4. In the not-too-distant future we hope to be able to start talking about the next big X4 update, 6.00, which will include our latest work in this area.

Do you use game modifications (mods) when playing X4?

53% · Yes
47% · No

If you have used Mods in X4, how many mods are you currently using in your most recent X4 savegame?

48% · More than 5 mods
40% · 2 to 5 mods
8% · 1 mod
4% · None

Why do you use mods in X4?

85% · To improve game elements that bother me (e.g. "quality of life", balancing)
66% · To be able to use more content (e.g. additional ships)
16% · To make the game harder
14% · To make the game easier

Modding community as important to us as ever
We haven't done a survey on the topic of mods for quite a while, and we are pleased to now have an up-to-date overview of mod use. The modding community remains as important to us as ever.

One of the sticking points for modders has been the issue that players cannot send ships into the Multiverse when playing a modified game. This is unavoidable for many types of mods, especially those that add ships or change the fundamental gameplay, but may be something that could be addressed for mods that make purely quality-of-life changes. With the introduction of the Multiverse online mode, hopefully during 2023, we will be taking a closer look at the possibility of “signing” certain popular quality-of-life mods, so that they do not prevent Multiverse access. In the context of this, it is good to see that quality-of-life mods are among the most important to you. However, all of this is still in the future at the moment, and we will go into more detail about it once we have a clearer picture of what will, and will not, be possible.

A small side note on the subject of mods: for many years now, we have been drafting gifted X series modders into the ranks of our team. We're pleased to say that earlier this year, modders Shuul (VRO and many other mods) and kuertee (several gameplay and quality-of-life mods) have started working with us on the future of the X series. Glad to have you on board, guys!

Which type of controls do you use most often in X4?

83% · Mouse and keyboard
9% · HOTAS
5% · Gamepad / Controller

Wide-ranging agreement on controls
When it comes to gameplay features, X4 players are very varied, as discussed in a previous comment, but when it comes to the controls, there is much more agreement. That is not to say, however, that we only focus on the majority’s requirements, and we are especially happy to see the hardcore simulation fans who fly through the X universe using a HOTAS device. With a little effort, even the most rare and complicated HOTAS systems’ control schemes can be fully customised with X4.

Have you bought (at least) one expansion for X4?

93% · Yes
7% · No

We are hugely excited to see the high level of uptake for our X4 expansions, and thank you all for your support.

Which expansion(s) for X4 do you own? (multiple answers possible)

98% · Split Vendetta
97% · Cradle of Humanity
77% · Tides of Avarice

Which expansion do you like the most?

7% · Split Vendetta
40% · Cradle of Humanity
7% · Tides of Avarice
46% · I have no favourite

Nicer ships = higher approval rating?
The results of these survey questions lead us to assume that the popularity of expansions among players of X4 is driven primarily by the ships that we introduce in those expansions. In particular, we interpret this result to mean that the ships from X4: Cradle of Humanity are your favourites, resulting in it receiving the highest rating at 40%. Are we right in our assumptions, or are there other factors that led you to your answers? Feel free to let us know in the comments section for this article.

This is probably also a good opportunity to highlight two specific beauties from the most recent X4 expansion, X4: Tides of Avarice, which you should definitely take the time to check out:

• The Erlking, a terrifying pirate battleship with an experimental and unusual energy source.
  
• The Astrid, an incredibly lavish and luxurious yacht, that is rumoured to be the fastest ship in the galaxy. With its sleek design, the Astrid is a ship unlike anything you've ever come across in the X universe.

How do you feel about the retail price of the X4 expansions?

66% · Just right.
9% · Too expensive.
4% · Too cheap.
21% · I have no opinion on this.

Approval of the value proposition
Getting the pricing right is, of course, an important aspect of our work. Given the great take-up rate of the X4 expansions, we think we have created quite a good pricing structure that is acceptable to a large majority of X4 players. We're pleased about that, of course, and hope that we'll continue to make the right decisions in the future, setting prices that work well for both you and us.

---

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all participants in the survey and, of course, all those who have supported us over the years during the development of X4: Foundations and its expansions. As mentioned in several articles and news items this year, we have not yet reached the end of our journey with X4, and are looking forward to telling you more about the short- and medium-term future of the game as soon as we are ready to do so.

Please keep an eye on our communication channels; you can find an overview of all our channels at linktr.ee/egosoft.

Thank you, and see you soon!

We are pleased to announce that we will be part of the Indie Arena Booth at gamescom in Cologne this year. Indie Arena Booth is a collaborative booth featuring a curated selection of games from around the world.

From Wednesday, 24 August 2022 to Sunday, 28 August 2022 you can find us at the Indie Arena Booth in Hall 10.2 of the Kölnmesse. Each day, various team members will be present and looking forward to chatting with you. If you are not yet familiar with X4, you will of course have the opportunity to try out the game on-site.

A quick word to manage expectations: we will not be making any new announcements at this year's gamescom. It will be a little longer before we are ready to reveal the next chapter of X4.

Here are a few more related links on the topic of gamescom:

• www.gamescom.global
  
• www.indiearenabooth.de

See you in Cologne!

Our latest player survey will ask you questions about your personal progress in X4: Foundations, your satisfaction with the game, your wishes and priorities for the future of the X series, and your feelings about the X series and Egosoft outside of the game. By taking part in our survey, you will be helping us to make the X series even better.

Please visit https://bit.ly/x4-survey-2022 to participate in the survey.

Thank you for your support!