TRAILER -- X4: Foundations Diplomacy Update (8.00)
Public Beta Now AvailableHow Do I Take Part in the Public Beta?
Every player who owns X4: Foundations has the opportunity to download the new 8.00 Public Beta version. In order to ensure that beta participants are aware of the risks and rules involved, we ask all interested players to visit our forum, where they will find the rules and disclaimers, as well as practical instructions for participating in the beta. Follow this link to our forum - no registration required - to find the relevant information.
Introducing Diplomacy - Influence the X Universe Like Never Before
At the core of the 8.00 update for X4: Foundations is the new Diplomacy system, which will make the sandbox and economy simulation elements of X4: Foundations shine in new ways. The Diplomacy system is a deeply integrated new gameplay feature, built around three main components:
Embassy Room - A Convenient Way to Interact
A new embassy facility can be unlocked at your Player Headquarters (PHQ). Once unlocked, this room becomes the hub for your diplomatic endeavours. Here, Diplomats take their seats at a roundtable, offering quick access to faction representatives from across the galaxy.
- Unlockable via research at the PHQ
- Accessible through a new UI tab, alongside Research and Terraforming
- Requires friendly relations to accept faction diplomats
- New “Factions and Relations” menus to give a better overview
Agents - Specialists in Diplomacy and Espionage
Agents are a new class of hireable NPCs who can be specialised in negotiation or espionage. Once recruited and assigned a ship, agents can be sent on a wide range of diplomatic operations - to negotiate player relations, spy on enemy ships, or even sow chaos from the shadows.
Key agent mechanics include:
- Experience system with six ranks, from Recruit to Spymaster
- Specialised missions: improve relations, forge ceasefires, steal blueprints, initiate diplomatic interference, and more
- Resource-driven actions: missions require a mix of credits, influence, and special items such as hacking tools or bribes
- Cooldowns and risks: operations take time and may carry injury or failure risks depending on mission difficulty and agent skill
Diplomatic Interference - Shape Inter-Faction Politics
Perhaps the most game-changing element is that you can now trigger and influence dynamic diplomatic standing between NPC factions. Changes in faction relations can have an extraordinary impact on the galaxy, as alliances, trade partners and supply chains shift.
These events are based on real inter-faction relations (ally, neutral, hostile, etc.) and cover scenarios such as:
- Trade disputes
- Cyber attacks
- Suspicions of espionage
- Peace talks
- Territorial claims
- Influence the event using an agent to steer the result in your favour
- Enable Protocol Null to sow chaos and trigger periodic inter-faction events
- Do nothing and observe the outcome
How can I access the new Diplomacy features and how do I share feedback during the Public Beta?
Once you own your Player Headquarters and have completed the Hatikvah Trade Revolution storyline, Dal Busta will contact you to introduce you to these new opportunities.
As with all new gameplay features in past major X4 updates, this marks the first iteration of the new system. During the Public Beta, we’ll closely monitor your feedback, discuss it within the team, and fine-tune individual elements ahead of the full release of the X4: Foundations Diplomacy Update later this year.
Please share your feedback / bug report in our Public Beta Feedback forum. Before doing so, please make sure you read the Public Beta Rules and Information, which you can find in a sticky thread at the top of that forum.
More about the 8.00 update
NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation Support - A Performance Gamechanger
We’re excited to bring NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation to X4: Foundations, offering a major performance boost for players with supported hardware. DLSS frame generation can generate additional frames, doubling or even quadrupling your current frame rate, especially in situations where the game is limited by CPU speed. X4: Foundations is unusually dependent on the CPU, because it simulates the entire universe in addition to performing AI and physics calculations.
Whether you're commanding a fleet in the middle of a massive battle or overseeing your interstellar trade empire, Frame Generation can dramatically improve the fluidity of your experience, especially at higher resolutions or on modern high-refresh displays.
If you're using a GeForce RTX 40 Series GPU, you’ll now benefit from DLSS 3, which introduces Frame Generation alongside NVIDIA’s AI-powered Super Resolution. For players on RTX 50 Series GPUs, we’re also preparing for DLSS 4, which brings Multi Frame Generation (generating multiple additional frames per rendered frame), as well as improved Super Resolution - all powered by NVIDIA’s fifth-generation Tensor Cores.
To enable Frame Generation in X4, simply turn on NVIDIA DLSS in the graphics settings. On supported hardware, Frame Generation will be activated automatically.
Map Layout
Among many UI improvements, one of the most visible is a change in the layout of the X4 universe map. Sectors are now grouped differently for better readability of the map.
New Connection Modules
Did you ever want to have a nice clean corner on your station, or to neatly top-off a vertical structure? What about a T-Shaped connector? Or maybe you were missing a curved piece to be able to build your dream station. We are happy to announce that in the 8.00 update, Argon architects have shared their blueprints for 5 new connection modules, opening up brand new possibilities for station design aficionados. Let your creativity fly, and if you feel like sharing your station plans then pay a visit to the Construction Community in our forums.
Bem-vindos! Portuguese Voice-Over Support Arrives
With the 8.00 update, we’re proud to introduce Portuguese voice-overs to X4: Foundations for the very first time. This marks an exciting step forward in making the X universe more accessible to even more players around the world. If you're a Portuguese speaker, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this new addition. Please share your impressions and feedback in our Public Beta Feedback forum and help us make the Portuguese version the best it can be!
What's next?
As with previous major updates, development doesn’t stop with the start of the Public Beta. This feedback phase is an essential part of the process, and we’re committed to refining the update further - guided by both our own ideas and, just as importantly, your insights. We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences in the Public Beta Feedback forum, and help us shape the final version of the update together.
Thanks for your support - and best of luck forging alliances, brokering peace, or, well... stirring the pot.
>> X4 8.00 Public Beta 1 Changelog
