1. X4: Foundations
  2. News

X4: Foundations News

X4 is Steam Deck verified

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.

6.00 Public Beta 6 now available

We're stepping up the pace now, and are pleased to announce the availability of X4 6.00 Beta 6 today, which brings with it the usual assortment of additions, improvements and fixes. As always, you can find the complete changelog at the end of this news. Please report any issues as usual in our Public Beta Feedback Forum. Thank you for your support during this beta test!

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.

[h3]Gamerant.com interview[/h3]
Gamerant.com recently spoke to Egosoft founder and Managing Director Bernd Lehahn about the X series, Egosoft in general and its current developments. Text interviews are a rarity nowadays, but we do still appreciate them. Which is why we wanted to point it out here. You can find the interview on gamerant.com.

We hope you enjoy reading it!
[h3]6.00 Beta 6 Changelog[/h3]
  • Added Civilian and Military channels to Live Stream view (new feature in 6.00).
  • Added support for PageUp/PageDown in menu dropdowns.
  • Added search functionality to Controls menu.
  • Added Cockpit Glass Reflections setting (new feature in 6.00).
  • Added news banner to Start Menu.

  • Removed weapon group HUD indicators if ship has no weapon slots.

  • Improved Argon Federation and Godrealm starting relations with player in The Untested Explorer and The Accomplished Scientist starts.
  • Improved Terran Cadet transition into Defenders of Sol mission.
  • Improved ships fleeing Tide when far from any neutral station.
  • Improved readability of stars for NPC skills.
  • Improved sound occlusion in interiors.

  • Fixed missing relation settings for Xenon and Kha'ak in creative Custom Game Starts (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed Custom Gamestart satellite coverage option resulting in excessively distant satellites (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed Terran Cadet gamestart getting Defenders of Sol mission without having completed intro mission.
  • Fixed signal leak scan activity in Terran Pests mission (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed case of Trade Obstruction mission not starting in Avarice story.
  • Fixed case of Assemble Fleet mission getting stuck.

  • Fixed player-controlled Builder Ships being shown as available for assignment to construction sites.
  • Fixed ships with minimal storage capacity failing to pick up all containers when ordered to collect many full containers of wares.
  • Fixed ships assigned to Mimic commander with default behavior set to Protect Position failing to do so (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed subordinates of subordinates who are docked at commander repeatedly trying to dock when they cannot do so.
  • Fixed subordinate groups assigned to Position Defence not responding to group commands after loading savegame (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed incorrect station storage capacity predictions from ware reservations.
  • Fixed ships sometimes getting stuck at 50m/s (problem introduced in 6.00).

  • Fixed progress bars of repeatable terraforming projects not working after first time.
  • Fixed Ship Information menu not being usable with keyboard or controller under certain circumstances.
  • Fixed ship cockpit reflection probes sometimes showing docking bay features after undocking (new feature in 6.00).

  • Fixed several capital ships being unable to launch subordinates out of launch tubes (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed collision issues in Argon/Terran Wharf (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed Erlking not having collisions on main weapon (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed Elephant bridge clipping into geometry (new feature in 6.00).
  • Fixed several issues with surface elements of Albatross (new feature in 6.00).
  • Fixed visual glitch in Albatross bridge (new feature in 6.00).
  • Fixed Manorina (Gas) paint mod not being applied correctly.
  • Fixed flickering in Turquoise Sea with open comms.
  • Fixed Betty and other voice lines sounding muffled (problem introduced in 6.00).

  • Fixed several causes of crashes.

Gamerant.com Interview with Egosoft founder Bernd Lehahn

Gamerant.com recently spoke to Egosoft founder and Managing Director Bernd Lehahn about the X series, Egosoft in general and its current developments. Text interviews are a rarity nowadays, but we do still appreciate them. Which is why we wanted to point it out here. You can find the interview on gamerant.com.

We hope you enjoy reading it!

New builder ships are here - 6.00 Public Beta 5 now available!

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 below). 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.

[h3]Captain Collins interview recording[/h3]
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:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgNb934dUkk
[h3]6.00 Beta 5[/h3]
  • New Feature: New Construction Vessel designs for Paranid, Teladi, Split and Terran factions.

  • Added Custom Gamestart Editor story states for Tides of Avarice stories.

  • Added ship size information to encyclopedia.
  • Added station construction menu help information when expanding HQ for storage relevant to research.

  • Removed wares required for terraforming from missing resource section in Ship Configuration menu.

  • Improved behavior of missile-armed fighters attacking stations or capital ships.
  • Improved cohesion of travelling fleets in low attention.

  • Improved storage type colours in Logical Station Overview to match module design better.
  • Improved impact and muzzle sounds for various weapons.
  • Improved reflections on cockpit glass.

  • Fixed game not loading when selecting Yaki Characters in Custom Gamestart Editor (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed ships missing signal that Tide has changed to calm phase.
  • Fixed excessive numbers of ships wanting to restock equipment at gamestart.
  • Fixed basic connection modules having incorrect production costs.
  • Fixed ships that cannot collect lockboxes repeatedly attempting to do so.
  • Fixed ships refusing to attack disguised ships that were hostile when attack order was given.
  • Fixed Revisit Known Stations not updating Space if Position changed such that it is no longer in Space.
  • Fixed player being blamed for environmental damage in player-owned sectors.
  • Fixed mining nodes on smaller asteroids hovering above surface (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed miners not using non-turret weapons against certain asteroids (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed subordinates assigned to Position Defence sometimes not resuming previous duties when assignment changes (new feature in 6.00).
  • Fixed sometimes running into invisible wall briefly, immediately after teleporting to new ship.
  • Fixed issues entering spacesuit from ship that is in relative movement to capital ship.
  • Fixed sticky bullets continually adding impulse to hit object.
  • Fixed incorrect direction of impulse added by bullet hits.
  • Fixed laser towers sometimes slowly drifting away.
  • Fixed pushing effect of anomalies being incorrect when approaching from certain angles.
  • Fixed ships sometimes taking much longer to align when player not present due to rotating wrong way.
  • Fixed ware exchange with player's personal ship failing if more than one item queued for exchange.
  • Fixed ships exiting accelerators too far forward then turning around before continuing on path (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed player position after getting up from chair (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed landing gear opening and closing continuously inside dock areas (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed ships sometimes getting stuck with 50m/s speed limit (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed signal leaks generated by EMP bombs being unreliably placed (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed duplicate entries in Custom Gamestart Editor blueprint selection.
  • Fixed hire and work somewhere else menus being available for spacesuits.
  • Fixed mission targets being repeatedly highlighted under certain circumstances.
  • Fixed missing consumables from details of currently edited ship in Ship Configuration menu under certain circumstances.
  • Fixed minor issues with target monitor relation display (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed stretched checkbox in Ship Configuration menu settings (new feature in 6.00).
  • Fixed sun shining through certain station modules (problem introduced in 6.00).
  • Fixed Chthonios E (Mineral) ship ID not being shown correctly on hull.
  • Fixed several causes of crashes.

Interview recording ~ 6.00 / X4: Kingdom End

Recently, Egosoft founder and Managing Director Bernd Lehahn was a guest of Captain Collins. The interview lasted about 90 minutes and was mainly about the upcoming update 6.00, the next expansion X4: Kingdom End, but also about some more general topics and further outlooks into the future. The recording is now available on YouTube, so feel free to have a look:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]