The 25th anniversary year for the X series is rapidly approaching its end, and it’s been a few months since 7.10, our last major update for X4: Foundations, launched in August. Those familiar with our development journey will already know that this apparently quiet period actually means that behind the scenes we’re working hard on future developments. At such times we’ve always tended to be a bit more cautious in our public communication, to avoid setting expectations that may turn out to be unrealistic. Our highly iterative development process, and the shifting plans that lie behind it, often mean that we can’t predict exactly what will happen and when.
However, we’re now at a point where we believe that we can comfortably share a picture of what lies ahead for X4 in 2025. So, today we’re excited to present a general roadmap, which will provide an insight into our direction and give you an idea of what you can look forward to. Please keep in mind, though, that some of the details of this roadmap may still evolve – so consider this our current vision rather than a finalised plan!
First quarter 2025 – Flight Model Update
Our next major free update for the base game will feature a significant change that’s been in the pipeline for a long time: a complete overhaul of the flight model. Over the past few years, we’ve been working towards making flying in the X4 universe smoother, more realistic, and more natural. This latest update involves substantial changes to ship control and flight pathing, and has required extensive mathematical expertise to execute.
To facilitate this, we’ve partnered with John Pritchett, a former Senior Physics Programmer on the Star Citizen development team, to lead the transformation of X4’s flight model. We’re delighted to be able to incorporate John’s contributions, and we look forward to hearing your feedback once you’ve experienced it first hand. It’s definitely something you’ll need to feel in-game rather than see in screenshots or videos, so stay tuned for a Public Beta (soon™).
As part of these flight model changes, we’re also adjusting the balancing of every ship in X4 to make the most of these improvements. This task involves revisiting engines, thrusters, and other ship components, with our team running extensive iterations to prepare a balanced experience.
Beyond the flight model changes, we’re also adding several new sectors to the game as part of this update, creating additional connections to the Terran and Boron areas of space that were added in their respective expansions, X4: Cradle of Humanity and X4: Kingdom End. These new connections will be paired with some adjustments to the in-game economy – we’ll be giving more details on that once the Public Beta has started.
On the graphical front, this update will introduce yet more significant enhancements to our graphics engine, including DLSS and FSR 3 implementation.
We’re looking forward to launching the Public Beta for this transformative update as soon as possible. However, as you can imagine, these “game-changing” features require a little more time in the internal and private testing phases, so follow our Steam updates or our other communication channels (see Linktree to stay informed).
First quarter 2025 – “Mini DLC 1” (working title)
Alongside the free updates to the base game, we’re planning a smaller-than-usual DLC release early next year. While content specifics are still in the works, this “Mini DLC” will be more compact than previous X4 expansions. A confirmed feature is the re-imagining of a fan-favourite ship from earlier X series games; one which has been eagerly requested by members of the community. The DLC will also feature some activities surrounding the acquisition of this ship, and maybe even its blueprints. Stay tuned, as we may reveal the ship as a Christmas surprise this year!
Third quarter 2025 – Diplomacy Update
Later in 2025, we are planning a free base game update that will focus on Diplomacy gameplay in X4: Foundations. This update will introduce a new room in the player’s headquarters, where faction representatives can gather and offer you strategic options. In addition to this room, players will have access to agents (NPCs) who can be dispatched on independent missions to achieve diplomatic goals in the X universe. The highlight of this update will be Diplomatic Events, giving players the opportunity to manipulate their own relations with other factions, and even in some cases between specific NPC factions. We’ll have more to share regarding further features of the Diplomacy Update as we get closer to its release.
Third quarter 2025 – Additional Mini DLC
Depending on the success of the first Mini DLC, we may follow up with similarly sized DLCs to accompany other free base game updates. As you can see, our focus in 2025 is on consistent, impactful improvements to the base game and, as in the past, those base game updates will be free to existing X4 players, with Mini DLC purchases supporting ongoing development.
2026 – Exploration Update
In early 2026, we aim to release another major update, this time with the focus on Exploration. This update will introduce new anomalies that guide players to unexplored sectors of the X universe, each with unique and exciting discoveries. As development progresses, we’ll refine the details around this overall theme, such as improvements to Long-Range Scanner gameplay, and a range of missions for discovering these anomalies. Although this feature is still fairly early in its development cycle, Exploration will definitely be an essential part of X4’s future vision. We welcome your thoughts on this theme!
2026 – Another Major Update, Too Early To Really Talk About!
Looking further ahead, most likely in the latter part of 2026, we have plans for yet another major update marking another milestone in the game’s development. While we’re keeping details very much under wraps for now, we can assure you that exciting additions and premieres are planned for the series.
We hope this roadmap gives you a clearer, though admittedly still somewhat vague, vision of what’s in store for X4 in the coming year. We can’t wait to kick off the Public Beta for the next update, so be sure to stay connected to our communication channels. If you’re new, then check out our Linktree for a comprehensive overview of our news and community resources.