2025 is proving to be a big year for expansive space simulation X4: Foundations. The bold and intricate sandbox game has already pushed out one major overhaul in recent months, totally transforming the game’s flight model to offer players a more smooth and responsive experience in the cockpit. Now, developer Egosoft is turning its attention to the more grand-scale strategy side of things, and it’s going to completely change the options at your disposal when it comes to dealing with rival factions.
X4: Foundations boasts a level of depth that might prove too much for some, but if its brand of simulation game appeals to you then it’s got a lot to offer. From the ground level of flying a single trade ship out to the big perspective of building space stations and organizing fleets, it offers a vast spectrum of experiences that make it a worthy addition to the best space games. Until now, however, violence has largely been the best answer to most forms of conflict in X4, but that’s all about to change.
“Over the years, more and more players have embraced X4 – not just as a first-person space sim, but as a deep, strategic empire-building experience,” Egosoft founder Bernd Lehahn says. “We are very excited to announce the X4 diplomacy update for later this year. For the first time in the X series’ history, you will be able to negotiate, forge alliances, broker truths, and shape the fate of the universe not just through war, but through diplomacy. Will you seek peace, or power, or total dominance? The choice is finally yours.”
At the heart of the diplomacy update is a new facility, the Embassy. Here, factions can send their diplomats to engage in discussions and negotiations. You’ll also get the ability to deploy agents out on assignments across the galaxy, using them to influence the political and economic balance and nudge alliances and rivalries in whichever direction you believe will benefit you most.
The X4 diplomacy update is set to launch in 2025. Right now, however, you can get the base game at 70% off on Steam through Wednesday April 16, meaning you’ll pay just $14.99 / £11.99. All DLC aside from the most recent Hyperion pack is also available at a discount. Head here to take a look through the deals for yourself.
For more of the best grand strategy games, take a look through our 2025 favorites. Alternatively, if you’ve had enough of talking it out, go all-in with the best war games on PC.
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