X4: Cradle of Humanity (Release Date March 16, 2021, 6pm CET; Livestream at 5pm CET)

[grapedog]

With CoH coming out, will Ventures be turned back on?

[jlehtone]

Should I restart for the next DLC or should I continue playing my game? Cheers!

Yes.

Aren't there actually four options:
* Never play the game again
* Continue current playthrough
* Start new playthrough
* Archive current playthrough's save for later use and start a new
* Play simultaneously more than one playthrough (old and new)

In other words, your options are not mutually exclusive (in theory).

[Gregory]

The Sounds of X4: Cradle of Humanity

Last week we introduced you to the new launch trailer for X4: Cradle of Humanity. Many comments that we received about the trailer focused on the fantastic music that accompanies it. To further whet your appetite for the new soundtrack to X4: Cradle of Humanity, we are unveiling another preview of it today.

Since 2003, the soundtracks and sound design of our X series games have been in the safe hands of Alexei Zakharov, a familiar name to many of you. With X4: Cradle of Humanity, Alexei has outdone himself once again, delivering a soundtrack that is even more melodic than previous X soundscapes. Choral vocals and Nordic motifs accompany you on your journey through X4: Cradle of Humanity’s new systems.
The teaser below gives you another taste of the expansion's soundtrack:

>> X4: Cradle of Humanity - Soundtrack Preview <<

The soundtrack for X4: Cradle of Humanity is part of the Collector's Edition of X4: Foundations. Those who already own, or buy, the Collector's Edition will automatically receive access to the soundtrack on Steam and GOG with the release on March 16th, 2021. Alternatively, the soundtrack can be purchased separately.

The soundtrack will also be available on the usual streaming and music platforms, including Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and so on. Please note that we have no direct influence over the release process on these platforms, so it is possible that the soundtrack may not be available immediately on all of them on March 16th. Keep an eye open to make sure you don't miss anything.

If you can't get enough of Alexei's phenomenal work, we recommend our X Universe - Soundtrack Collection bundle.

Relax and escape into Alexei's universe of sound!

[mr.WHO]

Great to hear that CoM OST, like SV OST will be ambient heavy.

Base X4 OST was lacking in ambient music area.

[Skeeter]

Greg, long shot but a request, for the new exp pack could u maybe for the main menu track possibly bring back the old xbtf main menu music. Nothing has beaten that in my eyes or er ears since and would be mint to have it back in x4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1EWN2dEgtI

[Gregory]

In case anyone is wondering about the specific release timing for X4: Cradle of Humanity next week

[nemo1887]

the best soundtrack I’ve ever known is Ascendancy game "The Logic Factory"

[Tilen]

Congratulations on the soundtrack. Very well done.

[RedEyedRaven]

In case anyone is wondering about the specific release timing for X4: Cradle of Humanity next week

Don't forget to fit tractor-beams and photon-torpedoes. Remember, it's gonna be released on TUESDAY.

[grapedog]

Do we have a timeline for when Ventures will be re-activated?

[ezra-r]

Should I restart for the next DLC or should I continue playing my game? Cheers!

Yes.

Aren't there actually four options:
* Never play the game again
* Continue current playthrough
* Start new playthrough
* Archive current playthrough's save for later use and start a new
* Play simultaneously more than one playthrough (old and new)

In other words, your options are not mutually exclusive (in theory).

I wish I could have the time for all the options.

I would like to know if the inmersiveness of the new DLC would be wasted with such a late-game save, perhaps I didn't express it properly earlier (happens to me often)

[grapedog]

The DLC are not so tied together that you need to do a fresh start. There are no big storylines tying old to new that you need to do.

Its a sandbox, starting a new save with the terran expanasion, or continuing an old save, you are just making the sandbox bigger. More room to play...

[mr.WHO]

The DLC are not so tied together that you need to do a fresh start. There are no big storylines tying old to new that you need to do.

Terran DLC will add new steps to the finished base game Paranid plot.

[jlehtone]

Terran DLC will add new steps to the finished base game Paranid plot.

Appends? Then it makes no difference whether the previous steps are/were done with or without the DLC.

[Gregory]

Surprise To keep the hypetrain for X4: Cradle Of Humanity going, we've just released the Cradle of Humanity soundtrack early! Those of you who already own the X4 Collector's Edition, or buy it now, will automatically get access to the soundtrack in their Steam and GOG libraries - NOW!

Alternatively, it can be purchased separately on GOG (https://bit.ly/x4coh-ost-gog) and soon on Steam (https://bit.ly/x4coh-ost-steam; currently still missing its 'buy' button, don't ask ). Relax, escape into Alexei's universe of sound and get in the mood for March 16th!

[mr.WHO]

Damn Egosoft - you spoil us with pre-CoH goodies more that with everything else altogether from X-BTF to X4 combined.

Can't say I don't like this new Egosoft marketing approach

Edit:
LoL, I had trouble reminding myself how to download soundtracks via Steam

[Skeeter]

I never got why on steam most games sell soundtracks separate now. I mean u can usually just go in most games find the music folder and play the music, or find a extractor to play em.

Is there a difference between the soundtracks sold separately from ingame music?

I mean isnt the music ingame the same as sold separately, if so why do they charge for this since ppl bought the game and have the music that way.

I have the collectors edition so not fussed either way just curious as to the practice thats been on steam for the last year or so.

[mr.WHO]

I never got why on steam most games sell soundtracks separate now. I mean u can usually just go in most games find the music folder and play the music, or find a extractor to play em.

Is there a difference between the soundtracks sold separately from ingame music?

I think before you had to buy base game, because steam treated OST like a DLC.
Now with separation you can buy it even if you don't own base game.

[mr.WHO]

OK, after previews posted a few days ago I knew CoH OST will be good, but I didn't knew it will be THAT good.

It's like taking best parts of SV OST, making it twice as good, throwing diverse set of instruments and some vocals, then adding spice in form of roots to X3:TC terran sector music and BAM - you have CoH soundtrack.

I think it will sounds even better in game - me standing on Asgard bridge when "Rise of the Protectorate" queue

[Harrison_rus]

I never got why on steam most games sell soundtracks separate now. I mean u can usually just go in most games find the music folder and play the music, or find a extractor to play em.

Is there a difference between the soundtracks sold separately from ingame music?

I mean isnt the music ingame the same as sold separately, if so why do they charge for this since ppl bought the game and have the music that way.

I have the collectors edition so not fussed either way just curious as to the practice thats been on steam for the last year or so.

Because some games have soundtracks with better quality (most usual formats is mp3 or ogg)
Better quality of soundrack is .flac format - fully uncompressed. And it may cost several gigabytes on your harddrive.
But if you want to enjoy it, you need very good headphones...

In case of Egosoft (and mostly indie games) it is additional support for me.