Ready to explore a bigger universe? The upcoming X4: Cradle of Humanity expansion along with the big free 4.0 update for all players is now confirmed to launch on March 16.
Taking the X series from Egosoft back to Earth, it will significantly increase the size of the game's universe giving you new sectors to explore along with two Terran factions to X4: Foundations, along with their economy, ships, weapons and stations.
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What Cradle of Humanity will include:
- Big expansion of the X4: Foundations universe with new sectors
- Return of Terran factions with economy, ships, weapons and stations
- Thrilling new story missions and adventures to experience
- New game-starts that allow new perspectives on the X4: Foundations story
- Introducing a new terraforming gameplay feature, evolving the endgame
- Visual improvements such as volumetric fog, making the X universe look better than ever
As for the big 4.0 free update, Egosoft continue mentioning it will be the biggest free update in the game's history. You can even try a Beta for it on Steam right now. It does sound pretty expansive with a new coordinated attack system for fleet commanding, volumetric fog graphical feature has been added, a new transaction log to see a good breakdown of your monies, a new message system for important communication with NPCs, new Escorts missions, an option to declare war on a faction and absolutely loads more.
X4: Cradle of Humanity is probably one of the biggest, or perhaps actually the biggest and most in-depth single-player space sim around.
For the full game right now you can buy it on Humble Store, GOG and Steam.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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13 comments
Chuckaluphagus Feb 12, 2021
The reviews for X4 upon its initial release were ... well, bad, frankly. Has it improved enough with updates that it's fun to play?
Since that's a very subjective question, I should give context: Freespace 2 (FS2Open) is still my top space sim of all time; I've recently been playing a ton of the original Everspace in an attempt to beat final ending before delving into Everspace 2; I loved every single Wing Commander game back in the day; and I think I-War and I-War 2 deserved much more acclaim than they got.
Can anyone here currently playing X4 give an opinion?
Since that's a very subjective question, I should give context: Freespace 2 (FS2Open) is still my top space sim of all time; I've recently been playing a ton of the original Everspace in an attempt to beat final ending before delving into Everspace 2; I loved every single Wing Commander game back in the day; and I think I-War and I-War 2 deserved much more acclaim than they got.
Can anyone here currently playing X4 give an opinion?
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EagleDelta Feb 12, 2021
The reviews for X4 upon its initial release were ... well, bad, frankly. Has it improved enough with updates that it's fun to play?
Since that's a very subjective question, I should give context: Freespace 2 (FS2Open) is still my top space sim of all time; I've recently been playing a ton of the original Everspace in an attempt to beat final ending before delving into Everspace 2; I loved every single Wing Commander game back in the day; and I think I-War and I-War 2 deserved much more acclaim than they got.
Can anyone here currently playing X4 give an opinion?
If FS2, Everspace, and Wing Commander are your primary enjoyments in Space Sims (I.E. Combat), you may want to avoid the X Series. The X Series is more "open world" than those games and you generally cannot "one man army" the game, you actually have to build up reputation, funds, etc to build a fleet. The game is more a hybrid Simulation and RTS game. Also, you can pilot every ship you step on from the smallest fighter/scout to the largest capital ship.
I didn't play at launch, I got the game after Split Vendetta (first DLC) launched. The game has been among the most fun I've had in a long time. Add in the extensive amount of mods for the game on Nexus Mods and Steam Workshop - the game has tons of possibilities.
TL;DR - the game is far more expansive and complex than games like FreeSpace 2, Everspace, X-Wing, Wing Commander, etc and is not solely focused on combat.
Last edited by EagleDelta on 12 February 2021 at 3:15 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
The reviews for X4 upon its initial release were ... well, bad, frankly. Has it improved enough with updates that it's fun to play?
Since that's a very subjective question, I should give context: Freespace 2 (FS2Open) is still my top space sim of all time; I've recently been playing a ton of the original Everspace in an attempt to beat final ending before delving into Everspace 2; I loved every single Wing Commander game back in the day; and I think I-War and I-War 2 deserved much more acclaim than they got.
Can anyone here currently playing X4 give an opinion?
X games are not combat oriented. It is a big component, but it is lack luster even if in X4 it is a bit better ( subsystem targetting and destroying, but not as detailed as freespace )
The main component of any X game, is trading, then exploring, then fighting and if you care, a bit of questing.
It's more a space opera manager if you want ^^
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Chuckaluphagus Feb 12, 2021
EagleDelta and ElectroDD, thank you both very much for your replies, that was helpful information. It sounds like X4 may not be for me.
1 Likes, Who?
Been eyeing this one for a while... But reading this, I decided to pull the trigger. Maybe I'll have some time to play this weekend.
I haven't really played any games like this, but the ideas behind sound appealing to me so I'm going to give it a shot.
I haven't really played any games like this, but the ideas behind sound appealing to me so I'm going to give it a shot.
0 Likes
It's more a space opera manager if you want ^^
Now I'm even more intrigued by this game. I've had my eye on it for a while but, like others have said, it has some really bad reviews (at least on Steam). However, some people really seem to love it so it sounds like it might be an issue with misplaced expectations?
It sounds more like Elite: Dangerous in terms of the open world aspect and focus on trading and exploring with combat missions being mostly optional...which is great.
I've been playing Everspace lately and actually really enjoying it which is high praise considering I don't really like combat focused space sims much nor do I like rogue/rouge-lite/Deamon Souls type gameplay where dying over and over is actually a core mechanic.
I often see the previous X games on sale on Steam (X2 and X3) for really cheap. Are those worth picking up or better to just splurge for X4?
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It's more a space opera manager if you want ^^
Now I'm even more intrigued by this game. I've had my eye on it for a while but, like others have said, it has some really bad reviews (at least on Steam). However, some people really seem to love it so it sounds like it might be an issue with misplaced expectations?
Also, probably the game has improved a lot since release. Here's what Steam is currently showing:
RECENT REVIEWS:
Very Positive (144)
ALL REVIEWS:
Mostly Positive (8,296)
Space opera manager? I had no idea about this aspect... Now I'm really curious. What's that all about?
I've only gone into the menu so far to tweak some settings. Looks like there's a beta online play option? I wonder what functionality it supports... Going to have to look into this!
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Loved X2.
If I'm being honest though, IWar2 had the best open world of any space sim. It also nailed the "space pirate" thing better than any other sim.
Elite Dangerous was very immersive. I loved the space stations, but the rest of it seemed.... Empty?
I remember in x2 that managing your company got a little... Frustrating. Is it much better? I did love tangling with pirates and capturing ships. Can you still do that? I'm more small business than business empire. What. Was I tow truck company? Lol
If I'm being honest though, IWar2 had the best open world of any space sim. It also nailed the "space pirate" thing better than any other sim.
Elite Dangerous was very immersive. I loved the space stations, but the rest of it seemed.... Empty?
I remember in x2 that managing your company got a little... Frustrating. Is it much better? I did love tangling with pirates and capturing ships. Can you still do that? I'm more small business than business empire. What. Was I tow truck company? Lol
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I often see the previous X games on sale on Steam (X2 and X3) for really cheap. Are those worth picking up or better to just splurge for X4?
X3:TC and X3:AP are *very* good and very mature games (stability wise), especially if you use mods to improve them (and there are *huge* mods, such as XRM).
That said, as pointed above, X games are part RTS part space simulation. If you enjoy building *huge* empires, having them clash against other empires in epic clashes, X is for you.
If you are looking for a I-Am-Legend style solo games, X is less for you.
That said, get X3:AP / X3:TC, play and see if you enjoy it.
- Gilboa
Last edited by gilboa on 14 February 2021 at 4:33 pm UTC
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That's a great idea.
Since they are complete are there any must have mods (balance, immersion, quality of life, that sorry of thing)?
Since they are complete are there any must have mods (balance, immersion, quality of life, that sorry of thing)?
0 Likes
That's a great idea.
Since they are complete are there any must have mods (balance, immersion, quality of life, that sorry of thing)?
Digging into the list of installed MODs:
X3AP/TCP bonus packs.
XRM (complete rebuild).
MARS fire control.
Race response fleet.
Advanced jump drive.
NPC bailing addon.
Salvage claim software.
Asteroid Relocator.
- Gilboa
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When I said Space opera manager, that's because the game at some point becomes so big, you just become aware that you should sit in a carrier and manage everything from there, and just jump where you want to make something by hand or there's an emergency.
You check if your trade ships are doing there things, if you station complexes are earning money, you then expand your communication network to get real time information, you set patrols...
You manage more than you actually play first hand !
And the best part is, you unroll your plan in a sector, you give your orders, and then you jump in said sector to see how it unfold and chill looking at all that buzz you created in orbit or some planet with a nice tune.
At least, that's how I end up and enjoy the game :D
You check if your trade ships are doing there things, if you station complexes are earning money, you then expand your communication network to get real time information, you set patrols...
You manage more than you actually play first hand !
And the best part is, you unroll your plan in a sector, you give your orders, and then you jump in said sector to see how it unfold and chill looking at all that buzz you created in orbit or some planet with a nice tune.
At least, that's how I end up and enjoy the game :D
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