X | |
---|---|
Genre(s) | Space trading and combat simulator |
Developer(s) | Egosoft |
Publisher(s) |
|
Platform(s) | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows |
First release | X: Beyond the Frontier
|
Latest release | X4: Foundations
|
X is a science fiction space trading and combat simulator series created by German developer Egosoft. The series is set in the X-Universe where several races populate a number of worlds connected by jumpgates.
Hundreds of millions of years before the plot of the X games, the Ancient races, who have transceded their physical form, built billions of jumpgates throughout the universe. Their purpose, as well as their effect, is to limit the development of faster-than-light transportation, creating a reliance on these jumpgates as human and alien species explore the universe. This enables the Ancients to act as shepherds of life, preventing wars between alien species, and monitoring the development of civilisations. [1] : D1–D18
Unexpectedly for the Ancients, however, mankind would discover jumpgate technology themselves. [1] : D28 Over the course of the 21st century, mankind experimented with wormhole technology and successfully built jumpgates in space between Earth and Mars paving the way for the colonization of the Solar System and interstellar transport. A jumpgate was shuttled to Alpha Centauri in an attempt to claim a foothold in interstellar space. However, in 2041, Earth lost contact with it, and while trying to re-establish the connection, instead locked onto Ancient-made ones, causing them to stumble into the X-Universe. [1] : B4–B6 In response, the Anciets rearranged some gates to isolate humans in a subnetwork devoid of other life. In 2045, humanity began to explore the jumpgate network, finding plenty of suitable planets for terraforming and colonisation. Self-replicating AI ships, the Terraformers, were sent out into the network to find and terraform planets, but in 2145, ships corrupted by a badly-made and sabotaged final update started targeting inhabited worlds, killing billions. Earth was saved by the exploits of Nathan Ridley Gunne, who lured the Terraformer fleet out of the Solar System before the human jumpgate was destroyed. Earth was saved, but the stranded colonists discovered the alien gates now led to a completely different network. [1] : B4–B13
This part of humanity now separated from Earth survived and formed a new civilisation called the Argon Federation, a name coming from the corruption of "R. Gunne". [1] : B14–B15 The Argon gradually lost their cultural connection with Earth, even adopting a new year counting system—NT, for New Time—partly to prevent the remaining Terraformers from finding a new way back to the Solar System. The Goners, a fringe cult in Argon society, kept archives of "Old Earth" and hoped for an eventual reunion. [1] : B17–B19 The new configuration of this network did not leave humans alone however, and Argon first encountered an alien species, the Paranid, in 130 NT. The Boron followed in 323 NT, the Split in 324 NT, and the Teladi in 550 NT. Over the centuries, attacks from Terraformers, now known as the Xenon, would occasionally flare up, and the Argon formed the Community of Planets to try and maintain peace between the various alien factions. [1] : B20–B23
Around 730 NT, during the buildup of a new war with the Xenon, a jumpship from Earth piled by Kyle William Brennan suddenly appeared in the Teladi capital system Seizewell, [1] : B24 kicking off the events of X: Beyond the Frontier .
The X-Universe features several sentient species:
1999 | X: Beyond the Frontier |
---|---|
2000 | X-Tension |
2001 | |
2002 | |
2003 | X2: The Threat |
2004 | |
2005 | X3: Reunion |
2006 | |
2007 | |
2008 | X3: Terran Conflict |
2009 | |
2010 | |
2011 | X3: Albion Prelude |
2012 | |
2013 | X Rebirth |
2014 | X Rebirth: The Teladi Outpost |
2015 | |
2016 | X Rebirth: Home of Light |
2017 | X Rebirth VR Edition |
2018 | X4: Foundations |
2019 | |
2020 | X4: Split Vendetta |
2021 | X4: Cradle of Humanity |
X3: Farnham's Legacy | |
2022 | X4: Tides of Avarice |
2023 | X4: Kingdom End |
2024 | X4: Timelines |
2025 | X4: Hyperion Pack |
The series, which was launched in 1999 on the Windows platform, consists of five base games: X: Beyond the Frontier , X2: The Threat , X3: Reunion , X Rebirth and X4: Foundations . The series games are expanded by sequels that both add features and extend the plot. A plot can be undertaken in all games except X-Tension where the player takes part in missions to unfold events.
In 2010, Egosoft released the X-Superbox, a pack containing all the X series games up to that date: X: Beyond the Frontier , X-Tension , X2: The Threat , X3: Reunion , and X3: Terran Conflict . Included in the pack was extra missions within Terran Conflict. [2] [3] Additionally, owners of the pack also obtained X3: Albion Prelude for free when it was released in 2011. [4]
Title | Date released | Platform(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
X: Beyond the Frontier | 1 July 1999 | Windows | |
X-Tension | 1 June 2000 | Windows | |
X2: The Threat | 3 December 2003 | Linux, macOS, Windows | |
X3: Reunion | 28 October 2005 | Linux, macOS, Windows | |
X3: Terran Conflict | 16 October 2008 | Linux, macOS, Windows | |
X3: Albion Prelude | 15 December 2011 | Linux, macOS, Windows | |
X Rebirth | 15 November 2013 | Linux, macOS, Windows | [5] |
X Rebirth: The Teladi Outpost | 11 December 2014 | Linux, macOS, Windows | [6] |
X Rebirth: Home of Light | 25 February 2016 | Linux, macOS, Windows | [7] |
X Rebirth VR Edition | 15 July 2017 | Windows | |
X4: Foundations | 30 November 2018 | Linux, Windows | [8] |
X4: Split Vendetta | 31 March 2020 | Linux, Windows | [9] |
X4: Cradle of Humanity | 16 March 2021 | Linux, Windows | [10] |
X3: Farnham's Legacy | 4 May 2021 | Linux, macOS, Windows | [11] |
X4: Tides of Avarice | 14 March 2022 | Linux, Windows | [12] |
X4: Kingdom End | 12 April 2023 | Linux, Windows | [13] |
X4: Timelines | 20 June 2024 | Linux, Windows | [14] |
So far, six tie-in books have been written by Helge Kautz , all in German: [15]
Additionally, two English language novels by were published by Trafford Publishing in 2004 as part of an anthology X-Universe Volume One ( ISBN 978-1-4120-1955-2): Dominion by Darren "Steel" Astles and Rogue Testament by Steve Miller. [16] [17]