Space Engineers 2 Dev Diary: September 3, 2026
Competition Results Livestream Please join us Friday, September 4th, for the “Masters of Motion” – Mechanical Engineering Video Competition Livestream! Celebrate the creativity of the Space Engineers 1 & 2 communities with us and watch the best mechanical engineering videos f
Competition Results Livestream
Please join us Friday, September 4th, for the “Masters of Motion” – Mechanical Engineering Video Competition Livestream! Celebrate the creativity of the Space Engineers 1 & 2 communities with us and watch the best mechanical engineering videos from both games! 📅 Friday, September 4th, 5 PM UTC Livestream: 🛰️ Twitch: https://twitch.tv/keencommunitynetwork 🛰️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/SpaceEngineersGame
We are tuning NPC behavior more and more, and I am really starting to like how the different systems work together. NPCs can now share alerts with their group – if one of them spots you or takes damage, nearby allies can be alerted even if they never saw you themselves.
[previewyoutube=rVYoF9q3r80;full][/previewyoutube]
They are also learning to recognize hostile grids and fight them directly, which is important because combat in Space Engineers is rarely just character against character. Your ship, rover, or base can become part of the fight as well.
[previewyoutube=EqP5FjWD_Hc;full][/previewyoutube]
Navigation is another area we are pushing further. We are testing NPCs in increasingly complicated interiors with corridors, rooms, doors, and maze-like layouts.
[previewyoutube=0ehpzjk_6xQ;full][/previewyoutube]
We are also working on more situational behavior – NPCs can retreat depending on their health, and if the cover they are using gets destroyed, they can look for a new position instead of simply staying exposed.
[previewyoutube=sywmDYnK3qM;full][/previewyoutube]
For me, this is where NPC combat starts becoming interesting. It is not just about making enemies aim and shoot better, but about giving them enough awareness to react to what you build and what happens during the fight. We are also polishing combat feedback, including player damage indicators, and for those asking about immersion – enemy health bars will be optional, so you will be able to turn them off.
We are also polishing the player damage indicators. This is still work in progress, but it should already give you an idea of where we are heading and how we want combat feedback to feel.
[previewyoutube=bPXvVOJVxP4;full][/previewyoutube]
Cables! Yes – we will be adding cables to Space Engineers 2. You will be able to use them to decorate ships, corridors, and bases, but they are not just decorative. Cables also transfer electricity (as any other grid block), so they are functional as well.
And because this is Space Engineers 2, you can attach buttons, lights, and other parts to the cable system however you like. The 25 cm unified grid system gives you a lot of freedom here, and I think players will do some really creative things with it.
We are also adding more decorative interior parts. Here you can see examples like the Coffee Machine, Recycle Bin, Generic Lab Equipment, Laptop, and Fire Extinguisher.
These blocks should give you a better starting point for decorating the inside of your rooms and bases, so your interiors no longer feel so empty.
Also check out our spotlight of Space Engineers 2 Racing League!
[previewyoutube=Pa0IjTg-btc;full][/previewyoutube]
Question to you: What decorative elements are you missing in Space Engineers 2?
Full Dev Diary: https://blog.marekrosa.org/2026/09/mareks-dev-diary-september-3-2026/
🛠️ Feedback & Support - https://support.keenswh.com/
🗺️ Roadmap: https://2.spaceengineersgame.com/roadmap-2/#current
🛰️ Discord: https://discord.gg/keenswh
📫 Newsletter: https://www.keenswh.com/newsletter
➡️ Connect and find us on your platform of choice: https://www.keenswh.com/connect/
Update 28/08/2026: Hotfix 2.4.0.95 has been released - Added Unstable AMD GPU driver detection.
Thank you for helping us make the game better!
➡️ Changelog: https://kswh.link/se2_ssf
🛠️ Support Portal: https://support.keenswh.com/spaceengineers2/pc
🛰️ Discord: https://discord.gg/keenswh
Stability
Meet the Renegades – hostile NPCs and space pirates who are starting to appear across the Almagest System and make it a much more dangerous place. They are being built to fight back when you cross their path.
In our latest combat test, you can see a player taking on the first few brave Renegades directly. This is an early look at how NPC combat is coming together as we continue developing their behavior, reactions, and combat encounters.
[previewyoutube=9jFppyKLF70;full][/previewyoutube]
NPC speed is the main thing we are solving right now – most likely will end up with a separate animation controller for the NPCs, with variable speeds, and animators will redesign the animations, to feel more grounded, heavy, realistic. The same for shooting animations or death animation.
Alice Vescio, Space Engineers 2 Character Artist: “My goal for Renegades was to create a grounded, threat-focused tactical asset. I focused heavily on material separation (contrasting worn metallic armor plating with heavy-duty fabrics) to give the gear an authentic, battle-tested feel.
While the emissives were originally blue, shifting them to red strongly reinforces the hostile “renegade” faction identity and improves gameplay readability. I love how visual storytelling touches, such as mismatched, scavenged armor pieces, spray-painted details like the skull decal, and etched tally marks, sell that improvised pirate/rebel warrior vibe and help establish character lore at a glance.”
[carousel][/carousel]
Hello, Engineers!
Meet the Renegades - hostile NPCs and space pirates who are starting to appear across the Almagest System and make it a much more dangerous place. They are being built to fight back when you cross their path.
In our latest combat test, you can see a player taking on the first few brave Renegades directly. This is an early look at how NPC combat is coming together as we continue developing their behavior, reactions, and combat encounters.
[previewyoutube=9jFppyKLF70;full][/previewyoutube]
And if you love the music in the teaser, you can find the Space Engineers 2 Soundtrack in the Pioneer Edition:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3365540/Space_Engineers_2_Pioneer_Edition/
Want to get our teasers early and enjoy exclusive content? Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.keenswh.com/newsletter and be the first to get the latest updates, sneak peeks, and more!
Solar Panel 5 m now generates power correctly
Of course, this is not the end of our performance and stability work. For me, this is only the beginning. We already have more work in progress, and we will keep pushing these areas with every update.
[previewyoutube=bRf5xRGahK8;full][/previewyoutube]
This racing league immediately caught my eye. I love canyon runs, so seeing players turn that into an organized competition is right up my alley.
What I enjoy most is the combination of speed, risk, and engineering. You build something fast, throw it into a canyon, and then find out very quickly whether your design was actually a good idea. Can’t wait for multiplayer!
[previewyoutube=pj4deBGPEgI;full][/previewyoutube]
[/carousel]
[previewyoutube=ljLekJm2Ft0;full][/previewyoutube]
And improving boulders and overhangs, and continuing to refine the environments around you!
[carousel]
[/carousel]
Full Dev Diary: 
Hello, Engineers!
The latest Space Engineers 2 update is here, focused on making your experience smoother, clearer, and more reliable. We’ve introduced a new Save Game Screen with better autosave handling, a refined Flight HUD, stronger performance and stability, and a range of quality of life changes across the game.
We’ve also made your first steps into the Almagest System clearer, with updated early contracts, tutorial changes, and more guidance as you begin exploring, building, and surviving.
[previewyoutube=bRf5xRGahK8;full][/previewyoutube]
“Smoother, Stable & Faster” Update expands and deepens the Space Engineers 2 systems across the board. We are building on the cornerstones established in earlier updates, adding more design depth, more functionality, and new layers of interaction. These expansions strengthen existing mechanics and move them closer to the long-term vision for Space Engineers 2.
We’ve updated the 
As Space Engineers 2 continues to evolve, we’ll keep expanding the Pioneer Edition with even more behind-the-scenes materials and digital extras.
Please keep in mind that this update is still an Early Access and Alpha version of Space Engineers 2.
Q: Will we get support for Blueprint Projections with Subgrids?
A: Copy/pasting projections of blueprints with subgrids is not fully supported YET. You can build on pistons and rotors individually, but when you paste a grid that includes connectors, rotors, or pistons, only the main grid will be projected for now. We are definitely planning proper support for subgrid projections in a future update.
Q: Will a New Save be Required to get the new features?
A: Some features introduced require starting a new game to be visible/present: Improved Tutorial.
Q: Where is the feature/block “X”?
A: We’d love to have them in the game right now too! Some features need more time and testing to reach the quality we aim for. You can check our updated roadmap for an overview of what’s coming next and when you can expect your favorite features to arrive.
Q: What about multiplayer?
A: We want multiplayer to arrive when the core survival, progression, contracts, and engineering systems are strong enough to support it properly. That is why we are starting with focused 4-player co-op before moving toward full multiplayer and dedicated servers later.
Q: And NPCs?
A: Development of NPCs is already in progress.
Q: Is water still coming?
A: Yes. Water is still planned, but it has moved further down the roadmap. It is one of the most technically complex systems we are building for Space Engineers 2, and we want to give it the time it needs. Development continues in parallel.
Q: Why does the Almagest system map have sectors you can’t access?
A: More sectors will be added in the future updates. We also plan to introduce new contracts and new contract types.
Q: Will the sector resources differ in the future?
A: Yes, we plan to make resources more dispersed - not every resource will be available in every sector, encouraging exploration and trade between regions. Also the production chains are just a baseline and you can expect more changes as the development progresses.
Q: Can planets be modded?
A: Planet modding is not fully supported at this stage of development - but do not worry, we will bring you modding support for planets in the future updates!
Q: Will the price of Space Engineers 2 rise later down the line?
A: Yes. Space Engineers 2 is still in the playable Alpha stage, and the current price reflects that. As we add more content, systems, and features leading up to the full release, we expect the price to increase.
We do not have exact timing or pricing details to share yet, but if you want to join early and support development, now is the best time to get Space Engineers 2 at the current lower price!
Q: Should I purchase Space Engineers 2 now?
A: If you’ve been waiting for wheels, hinges, warheads, automation, and more reasons to engineer practical vehicles and reactive systems, now is a great time to jump in. Space Engineers 2 is still in playable Alpha stage, so expect an evolving experience - but your feedback now helps shape where the game goes next.
If you prefer to follow development until more features arrive, add Space Engineers 2 to your 
The best way to provide your feedback is through our 
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3763508197 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3708147319 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3767882563 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3616891591 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3742852789 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3718968403 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3718084095 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3771684535 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3766453307
[/carousel]
Why VS2.3 matters
For me, VS2.3 is not just a content update. It is a direction update.
Our vision for Space Engineers 2 has always been straightforward: we want to build a living solar system that gives players concrete engineering objectives, where you advance, explore, build, solve problems, and colonize.
Of course, if players prefer a freeform sandbox, they can have that too. That freedom is part of Space Engineers. But we also want the game to feel like an active world that gives you meaningful reasons to progress.
That is where VS2.3 matters. It gives players more verbs: drive, automate, detonate, repair, survive, travel, connect systems, complete contracts, and make engineering decisions that have consequences.
This is the direction we want to keep strengthening: more connected systems, more reasons to engineer, and more situations where the player says: “I can solve this if I build the right thing.”
[previewyoutube=NW47Clqye7A;full][/previewyoutube]
[previewyoutube=-Gw_saBaNb8;full][/previewyoutube]
[previewyoutube=1qQ0iizqir8;full][/previewyoutube]
[previewyoutube=yC1ajxsJng4;full][/previewyoutube]
Colonization and the active world
The colonization system is important because it gives engineering a larger context.
Space Engineers should not only ask: “What can you build?” It should also ask: “Why are you building it, where will you take it, and how does the world respond?”
Contracts, stations, sectors, mining, trading, exploration, encounters, resources, terrain, weather, vehicles, automation, and survival should all become connected parts of one larger progression loop.
You build vehicles because terrain and distance matter. You automate because bases and ships need to react. You mine and trade because resources are distributed. You complete contracts because sectors grow. You return because the world changes.
That is the long-term promise: a sandbox that remains free, but also becomes more alive for players who want direction, progression, and colonization.
[previewyoutube=EMMoUz_FhkA;full][/previewyoutube]
What first contact taught us
The release also showed us where we need to improve quickly.
The main theme I see is trust and legibility. Powerful systems only feel good when players can understand and trust what is happening.
We are watching and working through reports around terrain/mining issues, G-menu and grid toolbar confusion, Control Panel grouping, hinge placement, Classic Survival resource progression, hydrogen/flight behavior, cockpit interaction, crashes, and other first-contact problems.
Some of these are bugs. Some may be UX or tutorial gaps. Some are expectation mismatches. But all of them matter, because they happen exactly where players are trying to understand the new systems.
So our next focus is clear: reproduce the most trust-breaking issues, hotfix what we can, improve communication where the system is correct but unclear, and keep listening to real player behavior.
Player excitement tells us the direction is right. Player friction tells us where trust and legibility must improve next.
VS2.3 is a big step toward the kind of Space Engineers 2 we want to build: a game about player agency, engineering consequence, colonization, and systems that combine into things we did not script.
Thank you for helping us test that direction. Now we keep improving it.
https://steamcommunity.com/games/1133870/announcements/detail/707775747757970935
https://steamcommunity.com/games/1133870/announcements/detail/707773844292634050
https://steamcommunity.com/games/1133870/announcements/detail/671746315771712225
Hello, Engineers!
Major Update VS2.3: “Drive, Automate & Detonate” is here, bringing the final Mechanical Blocks (Wheels & Hinges), destructive Warheads, and core Automation tools (Timer, Sensor, Event Controller) to the game!
This update also expands exploration with new planetary stations and Endless Encounters, while introducing critical Combat enhancements and foundational Reworks to Survival progression and Ore Distribution.
This Major Update pushes Space Engineers 2 forward in a big way - and we’re excited to finally share it with you!
[previewyoutube=0GPZCXK7aG4;full][/previewyoutube]
In VS2.3, we are delivering key automation, mobility, and combat systems that shape the future of dynamic gameplay in Space Engineers 2. Wheels, Warheads, Hinge blocks, and the core Automation blocks (Timer, Sensor, and Event Controller) are not just standalone features - they are core building blocks that upcoming updates will expand upon. Each system is designed to integrate into the larger vision, allowing us to iterate, deepen mechanics, and layer more complex gameplay over time.
Render, GPU optimizations
We have also improved GPU performance, with a focus on dense vegetation, shadows, and scenes where many objects need to be processed at once.
Foliage-heavy areas should now run more smoothly thanks to better vegetation culling and faster shadow rendering. We also improved how new geometry is prepared for rendering, which helps reduce performance spikes when the game suddenly needs to process a lot of objects.
Our custom shadow system has also been optimized, cutting a significant part of its GPU cost. Combined, these changes give us roughly a 10% improvement to GPU frame performance, with more stable frame times in demanding scenes.
Here is the progression of your colonization journey: 
Endless Colonization & Encounters
Once a sector reaches full colonization, it does not simply become “finished.”
Additional endless contracts and encounters can start to appear, keeping the sector active and giving you more reasons to return, explore, trade, repair, defend, escort, and keep building up the colony!
[table noborder=1 equalcells=1]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Wheels (6 sizes: 100, 150, 250, 500, 750, 1250) - A suspension block and wheel for rovers and other ground vehicles. It provides shock absorption, steering, braking and propulsion support, allowing vehicles to travel across rough terrain while maintaining stability and traction.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Hinge Blocks (Small & Large) - A mechanical block consisting of a fixed base and a detachable head. When powered, it allows 180 degrees of rotation around a single axis.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Event Controller - A block to detect events in the game and automatically react to them.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Timer - A block used to automate sequences of actions by triggering one or more actions either instantly or after a set delay.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Sensor - A block to detect objects in the game.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Control Panel - Standalone access point to a grid’s terminal.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Wind Turbine - Produces electricity on planets with an atmosphere. Power production scales with wind speed.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Rocket Turret (Small & Large) - An automated rocket turret designed for heavy defense, capable of targeting distant threats and delivering high-explosive payloads. [/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Rocket Launcher (Small & Large) - A Rapid fire rocket launcher designed for heavy defense.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Warhead (Small & Large) - A block capable of causing a large explosion if destroyed or otherwise triggered.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Sound Block - A block used to play a sound.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Set of LCD Panels
LCD (Small, Medium, Large)
Wide LCD (Small, Medium, Large)
Narrow LCD (Small & Large)
Corner LCD (Small & Large)[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Interior Wall Cutout & Insert Panels - Insert Panel, Pipes, Vent, Window, Conveyor[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Passage Blocks - Set of 9 Passage Blocks to connect your bases - with windows, junctions and arches.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Half Catwalk Stairs (Wide & Narrow) - Connects different levels of a grid, allowing easy movement between floors.[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]
This update also adds a new music track from 
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3365540/Space_Engineers_2_Pioneer_Edition/
VS4: Coop Multiplayer & NPCs is now planned before VS3: Water, with a current target of November/December 2026.
VS4 is an important milestone because it brings the first cooperative multiplayer experience to Space Engineers 2. The current plan is to start with 4-player co-op, with player hosting only for VS4, not full large-scale multiplayer or dedicated servers yet. Dedicated servers will come later. This first step is about making the core experience work properly when multiple players share the same world, contracts, progression, rewards, GPS markers, respawning, disconnecting, and all the small but important things that suddenly become much more complicated when you are no longer alone.
The other big part of VS4 is NPCs. The first NPC implementation is about making characters move, fight, and behave correctly inside a fully destructible sandbox. Deeper faction identity, story context, and more advanced behavior will be built on top of that foundation in future.
Water is still coming, but it needs more time. We now expect it in 2027, possibly as part of a later major update such as VS5.
Water remains very important to us, but it is one of the most technically demanding systems we are building for Space Engineers 2. We want to release it when it is ready and properly integrated into the rest of the game.
Many of the features and improvements planned for the future have been requested and shaped by the suggestions and ideas shared through our 
Our amazing community creators are releasing preview videos every day as part of our upcoming update celebration.
Commander Exorcist
VS2.3 Preview
Uncle Andy
VS2.3 Preview
Lunar Kolony
Rocket Launcher & Turrets
The_Swack
Warhead Preview
Zaschi
Warhead Preview
BenDoesThings
Wheels Preview
Kanajashi
Wind, Decals & Flight HUD
Engineered Coffee
Hinges, Automation
Uncle Andy
Passage Blocks
Engineered Coffee
Automation
AndrewmanGaming
Buttons & Timers
Qutatron
Colonization
Luca The Guide
Explosive Missiles
SeliG Gaming
New Almagest
ImFoolz
Cinematic Preview
Dread Mechanic
Automation & Mechanical Blocks
Zer0's Legion
Everything New in VS2.3
Zona ProGamers (SPA)
¡Ruedas!
Jan van Pommes (GER)
Wheels and Rovers
Iker IR4 (SPA)
Automation & Hinges
Nerdorbit (GER)
Automation Preview