Action · November 30, 2018
X4: Foundations (2018)
Your universe, your story What does it feel like to step into a universe that is truly alive, where thousands of ships and stations make their own decisions? They trade, mine, fight, produce, and expand, even when you're not there to watch them. This dynamic simulation never stops - but you can step in, change its course, and write your own story . Start as a lone pilot with nothing but your ship. Rise to fleet commander, station architect or corporate magnate. Whether you choose the path of an explorer, pirate, trader, or warrior, the universe will react to your every move. Choose how to begin Every journey starts differently. Select from a variety of gamestarts and characters, each with their own background, relations and technology. Your beginning sets the tone - but never your destiny. From humble trader to feared warlord, your path is entirely yours to shape. Hundreds of unique, flyable ships From nimble scouts to mighty carriers, X4 puts you at the controls. Seamlessly leave your cockpit, walk across a busy station, board another ship and take the pilot's seat. Hand over controls to your crew or teleport across the stars to join the action where it matters most. Build, upgrade, expand Stations and factories are more than structures - they're the backbone of empires. Construct them from modular pieces: docks, living quarters, production lines and more. Use the powerful Station Editor to drag, connect and design your unique creations. Ships can be upgraded with new weapons, engines and visible components. Your fleet grows not just in numbers, but in tactical variety. A universe in motion Factions build and expand stations, develop trade routes, and compete for resources and territory. The balance of power constantly shifts as economies evolve and wars reshape the stars around you. Command with vision Once your empire spans dozens of ships and stations, the tactical map becomes your command centre. Give orders with a few clicks: set trade routes, send explorers into the unknown, or coordinate massive fleet battles. Control the details - or let trusted crew handle them while you focus on the bigger picture. The most detailed X economy ever Every station, ship and piece of equipment is part of a fully simulated economy. Wares are traded, prices rise and fall, resources flow into shipyards, and everything you use - from ammo to carriers - is produced within this network. By trading, producing or disrupting, you don't just play in the economy - you are part of it. Research, innovate, teleport From your headquarters you can invest in research, unlocking new technologies. Chief among them: teleportation. Instantly take control of any of your ships across the galaxy, turning remote commands into first-hand missions. Jump into danger, take over a battle, then leave your crew to continue once you go elsewhere. Trade • Fight • Build • Think X4: Foundations is the deepest and most dynamic space simulation we've ever created. A universe that never stands still. A sandbox where every decision matters. An invitation to lose yourself among the stars. Always growing The journey doesn't end here. X4: Foundations is constantly evolving through regular free updates that add fresh gameplay, refine existing systems and respond to community feedback. When you join today, you step into a universe that keeps getting bigger and better.
Action releases from 2018
175 Action titles launched in 2018 — top 6 by review volume.
Position in Action
| Metric | This title | Genre position |
|---|---|---|
| Review volume | 23.8k Steam reviews | Top 21% in Action |
| Positive rating | 79% positive | Genre average: 83% — this title sits in top 72% |
| Metacritic | 59/100 | Genre average 77 — top 96% of Action titles |
| Concurrent peak | 2.1k players | Top 6% in Action by live player count |
| Engagement hours | 124 h average | Top 3% for session depth among Action |
Peer Action titles
Comparable titles in the same genre and review-volume band — ranked by Steam positive percentage.
Community Tag Signals
Tag weights reflect how many Steam users voted each descriptor — larger pills = stronger consensus.
- Space Sim · 483
- Simulation · 466
- Sandbox · 466
- Economy · 460
- Space · 449
- Flight · 445
- Capitalism · 442
- Trading · 441
- Exploration · 435
- Base-Building · 297
- Grand Strategy · 278
- Open World · 273
- Strategy · 269
- 3D · 264
- First-Person · 263
Localization Coverage
Interface / Subtitles (12)
- English volume_up
- German volume_up
- French volume_up
- Italian
- Simplified Chinese
- Portuguese - Brazil volume_up
- Spanish - Spain
- Traditional Chinese
- Russian volume_up
- Korean
- Japanese
- Spanish - Latin America
Full audio (6)
- English
- German
- French
- Portuguese - Brazil
- Russian
- Czech
Reception Metrics
Steam community
79%Mostly Positive · 23.8k reviews
18.8k positive · 5.0k negative
Metacritic
59/100 critic aggregate
Metacritic user score
6.1/10
Curator recommendations
22.0k
Peak concurrent players
2.1k
Features & Capabilities
Community
- Steam Achievements
- Steam Trading Cards
- Steam Workshop
Accessibility
- Adjustable Text Size
- Color Alternatives
- Playable without Timed Input
Input & Comfort
- Full controller support
- Camera Comfort
- Custom Volume Controls
- Stereo Sound
Other
- Single-player
- Save Anytime
Press Quotes
“X4 - The German Star Citizen” Gamestar “I can’t wait to dive back into my personal galaxy.” destructoid “Fans of ambitious space simulations will encounter an almost unrivalled space opera.” dpa German Press Agency
Engagement Profile
All-time avg
124h
extensive (100+ hours)
Median
14h
Typical completion time
2-week avg
9h
Current engagement
Achievements
172
Steam unlocks available
Release & Availability
| Release date | Nov 30, 2018 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Egosoft |
| Base price | $4.99 -90% |
| DLC / Add-ons | 15 released |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux |
| Estimated owners | 1M–10M |
| External links | Official site · Support · [email protected] |
More from Egosoft
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Editions & Packages
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