X Rebirth Video Game Series
A series of space simulators with elements of economic strategy. The series was created by German development studio Egosoft, which oversees the development of the brand.
The origins of the series X dates back to 1999 and the then-released computer game X: Beyond the frontier. The production of Egosoft studio met with a moderately favorable reception among both critics and players. However, the developers did not give up and decided to develop the idea. The first step towards this was the add-on X: Tension (2000). The full-fledged sequel - X2:The Threat was released in 2003. The third part of the series was released between 2005 and 2011 in the form of a triptych: X3 Reunion, X3 Terran Conflict and X3 Albion Prelude. The latter game is at the same time a prelude to a new chapter in the history of the series, initiated by the X Rebirth.
The story background of the games in the series X are humanity's attempts in the early 22nd century to use space-time wormholes for interstellar travel, which leads to the discovery of the mysterious X Universe. However, the project to colonize a parallel universe ends in failure. The machines that were supposed to prepare planets for colonization turned against humans, and the only salvation for Earth turned out to be the closure of the wormholes. 750 years later, one of the terraforming ships unexpectedly appears in the Milky Way galaxy. It turns out that the vehicle has a new type of propulsion system, allowing space-time travel without the use of wormholes. Engineers try to copy the solution. However, the test flight of the X-Shuttle ship ends in a malfunction, as a result of which the pilot Kyle Brennan gets into an unexplored area of Universe X, inhabited by many alien races.
The gameplay focuses on single-player mode and is maintained in sandbox style. In the course of the game the player can, among other things, explore vast locations, pilot a spaceship and fight enemies, trade, diplomacy or perform tasks related to the plot threads.
Attractive,three-dimensional graphic design of the games in the series X is due to Egosoft studio's proprietary technologies, including, among others, the X Engine used in the first and second installments of the series. The trademark of the brand are, above all, spectacular scenes of duels in space and striking images of the Cosmos.
X Rebirth Series Evolution
2018
X4: Foundations
2013
X Rebirth
2011
X3: Albion Prelude
2008
X3 Terran Conflict
2005
X3 Reunion
2003
X2 The Threat
X4: Foundations
Simulation
November 30, 2018
A sandbox space simulator developed by Egosoft. It is the fourth full-fledged installment of the popular series X. Similarly to its predecessors, X4: Foundations focuses mostly on giving the players a freedom in how they want to play. At the beginning the player takes control of a cheap space ship with weak specifications. He is being thrown into the middle of an open galaxy. Depending on their choices, they can become a space merchant, a pirate, a soldier, a bounty hunter, an assassin, an explorer or a miner. The gameplay mechanics are more faithful to the first games in the series than to the newest installments. Many simplifications were removed in favor of mechanics known from X3: Terran Conflict, now improved and upgraded with some novelties. The player can pilot many types of ships that can be freely upgraded and modified. The dynamical game world is constantly shaped by player’s actions.
- X4: Split Vendetta March 31, 2020
- X4: Cradle of Humanity March 16, 2021
- X4: Tides of Avarice March 14, 2022
- X4: Kingdom End April 12, 2023
- X4: Timelines June 20, 2024
X Rebirth VR Edition
Simulation
December 7, 2017
A special edition of a space simulator that came out in 2013. X Rebirth VR Edition was created by Egosoft, specifically for VR headsets. In similarity to the core game, X Rebirth VR Edition is set many years after the events depicted in the previous installments of the series. The player takes on the role of a space adventurer that gets involved in a complicated political affair, having stumbled on the wrongdoings of one of the factions controlling the region. The player controls a spaceship and completes different assignments requiring them for example to fight enemies, clean away space debris or to transport goods; however, trading is also an option. This version of the game introduces several changes to the mechanics - those involve e.g. the functioning of the galaxy - and brings improvements to the economic system. Additionally, the developer implemented new missions, refreshed the interface, improved the balance of the experience and adjusted its pace to the specifics of VR headsets. The game utilizes a new graphics engine and is the best-looking installment in the series so far.
X Rebirth
Simulation
November 15, 2013
The seventh instalment of the X space simulator series, created and developed by German development studio Egosoft. The action of X Rebirth takes place many years after events presented in previous games from the series. As a result of a gigantic supernova explosion many important centers of civilization in the galaxy were destroyed. The player directs actions of young adventurer Rena Otani who, thanks to her companion - Yisha - gets entangled in an intrigue plotted by one of the most powerful space factions.
- X Rebirth: Home of Light February 25, 2016
X3: Albion Prelude
Simulation
December 15, 2011
X3: Albion Prelude is the next installment of the well-known cycle of space simulators, in which the player's task is to trade, fight and explore dozens of star systems. The title is a fictional introduction to X Rebrith and presents the events preceding the story presented in it.
- X3: Farnham's Legacy May 4, 2021
X3 Terran Conflict
Simulation
October 17, 2008
X3: Terran Conflict is the next installment of a well-known series of space-sims, i.e. simulators whose action takes place in the distant future, and the player's task is to explore space in a broad sense.
X3 Reunion
Simulation
October 28, 2005
X3 Reunion is the third fully-fledged version of the Space Simulator series, launched in 1999 by X-Beyond the Frontier. The plot continues the threads presented in X2 The Threat. The player takes on the role of Captain Jules Brennan, who gets entangled in a conflict with the Kha'ak race and no less dangerous Xenons. As in the previous games from the series, the creators of the series bet on great freedom in exploring the X universe.
X2 The Threat
Simulation
December 1, 2003
X2 The Threat is a continuation of the hit space simulator X Beyond the Frontier, created by German company Egosoft. The action of the game is again set in the X universe, and players have the opportunity to travel faraway galaxies on board futuristic spaceships. The creators took care of the captivating storyline, introducing at the same time more complex options related to fighting, trade and space exploration.
- X2 The Return cancelled
X: Beyond the Frontier
Simulation
January 28, 2000
X-Beyond the Frontier is a futuristic spacecraft flight simulator prepared by Egosoft studio. Players take on the role of Kyle Brennan, a test pilot, who, as a result of the failure of a space-time tunnel, gets into a completely unknown X universe. An earthly man gets entangled in a conflict between foreign races. The game combines elements of a flight simulator and economic strategy.
X Rebirth Series News
Tides of Avarice Expansion And Patch 5.00 for X4 Announced
Tides of Avarice expansion for X4: Foundations has been announced. It will expand the content of the game with new factions, ships and sectors. Patch 5.00 will be released along with it.
video games
Adrian Werner
November 27, 2021