Latest updates for X3: Albion Prelude and X3: Terran Conflict - Updated 2017-12-07

[CBJ]

We took the chance to make some changes to X3: Terran Conflict and X3: Albion Prelude again. This time we added a borderless window mode, which allows you to play the game in window mode but without having to deal with an overlapping taskbar. This also fixes some menu display issues (truncated text lines in menus), which previously could appear when using normal windows mode under Microsoft Windows. Furthermore we improved the performance in busy sectors, which will especially be noticeable in larger battles.

X3: Terran Conflict 3.4

• Added Borderless Window mode (fixes menu display, Windows only)
• Added Borderless/Window mode resolution listing for QHD standard 2560x1440
• Improved performance in busy sectors

X3: Albion Prelude 3.3

• Added Borderless Window mode (fixes menu display, Windows only)
• Added Borderless/Window mode resolution listing for QHD standard 2560x1440
• Improved performance in busy sectors



Since their last update, we've taken the opportunity to do a couple of things with these games. Most of these are fixes, and have been applied to both games; those of you with many playing hours will be pleased to note that one of these addresses the performance and memory issues that can occur with certain missions. Modders will find a few small improvements in X3AP, and players who use the Russian and Chinese localisations will hopefully be pleased to see text improvements that had been made in X3AP have now been back-ported to X3TC. Also back-ported to X3TC, though currently only in the Windows version, is the controller support from X3AP.

X3: Terran Conflict 3.3

• Added controller support (Windows only).
• Updated Chinese and Russian localisation files.
• Fixed various crashes and enabled crash dump generation.
• Fixed various issues with joystick control.
• Fixed mission-related memory leaks and performance issues.
• Fixed duration of subtitles and displayed hints in several languages.
• Fixed various user interface issues.
• Fixed "invalid" being displayed instead of date/time in savegame load menu.
• Fixed exploit in return ship mission where boarded ships remained player owned.
• Fixed missions in Pirate or Yaki space not selecting correct enemies.

X3: Albion Prelude 3.2

• Added new script commands and improved modder support.
• Fixed mission-related memory leaks and performance issues.
• Fixed savegame patching incompatibility issue (failing to load savegames if using custom hotkeys with mod scripts that contain delays).
• Fixed exploit in return ship mission where boarded ships remained player owned.
• Fixed dual convoy mission stalling if last ship is killed after one has previously docked.
• Fixed various minor user interface issues.
• Fixed missions in Pirate or Yaki space not selecting correct enemies
• Fixed universe trader not buying any upgrades for their ship
• Removed escort fighters which were left over by convoy missions in earlier versions

[dalin80]

Steam just updated my AP game (it hadn't been opened while I was on holiday for a couple of weeks) to 3.2 and on opening the game all my main saves have gone only the auto slots remain. This has deleted ~110 hours of progress and I can't say I'm particularly delighted at the moment.

Any ideas on what has happened or if it can be reverted?

Auto saves remain but they were done barely after my last new game start.

[CBJ]

Have they actually gone from the save folder, or are they just not listed in the in-game menu? And was your game modified at all?

[dalin80]

Completely stock as it was a simple steam purchase and play. The game save folder contains x11, x12 and x13 which I presume are the autosaves.

[CBJ]

Then it sounds like they are gone. However it won't be the update itself that did this as we don't delete savegames. It would be more likely to be a Steam cloud thing, but quite how it would have happened, or whether it can be undone, I'm not sure. I don't suppose you have more than one Steam account and have logged in using a different one or anything like that?

[dalin80]

No logged in on my main pc (only device I have steam on) after being away on holiday, booted up the game and had a pop up showing an update in progress which completed in seconds. Then clicked play and went into the game as normal but only the autosaves remain. Restarted and resynched through steam but no change.


Sorry about turning this into a tech support thread but quite disappointed.

[CBJ]

I'm not surprised you're disappointed, but I don't think we can help you as nobody else has reported any similar issues with the update and nothing we've done would cause that anyway. Perhaps it would be worth logging a support ticket with Steam support to see if they can help.

[darthboer]

I have also experience some issues concerning the update. I'm have a somewhat heavily modded game and while I know it would be impossible to fix it, I would like to know if it is possible to roll back the update. I was on X3AP, the newest version prior to this update.

[X2-Illuminatus]

You cannot roll back updates.

If you do run a heavily modded game, then for the future you may want to consider creating a second installation by copying the whole X3 Terran Conflict directory (including the X3AP addon folder) elsewhere and using the NoSteam.exe (provided you're using the Steam version). That way you have always a version independent from Steam, which you can mod as you wish without having to fear any unforseen Steam updates.

As for the 3.2 update and its compatibility to scripts and mods, the amount of changes is rather low. An existing cat/dat (no. 4) pair was used too. Therefore most mods should work fine with the new update.

[Klord]

So does that mean the FPS drop as you keep playing is fixed (reduced)?

I gave up playing X3 AP when I found out that my laptop processor cannot withstand the game as it progress (As the game only use a single core). I would like to give another go if the issue is fixed.

Anyway, thank you very much Egosoft for still taking care of this old gem !

[X2-Illuminatus]

So does that mean the FPS drop as you keep playing is fixed (reduced)?

The one caused by generic missions, yes. With increasing gametime you will still experience a game slowdown due to having more ships (or in general objects) running scripts.

That the game itself only uses a single core is an engine limitation, which cannot be fixed by a patch.

[Vector_Gorgoth]

Sure would be nice if some actual important bugs were fixed, like losing your contact if Duke's HQ is destroyed, or FBL not causing AoE damage like it's supposed to, or GoD removing stations that can't be replaced.

Nice effort, I guess.

[BlackArchon]

...
X3: Albion Prelude 3.2
...
• Fixed missions in Pirate or Yaki space not selecting correct enemies
...

Does this mean it fixes the bug that when you are on a Xenon patrol mission through pirate space, the game will spawn Xenon ships, and then wants you to go to the next sector without waiting for the destruction of all Xenon forces?

[Xenon_Slayer]

If I recall, yes.

[BlackArchon]

If I recall, yes.

I'm really glad to hear this, I was always getting a bit annoyed when this happened. Thank you!

[OzWraith]

Pro tip: If your My Documents folder (Or OS equivalent) is in your friendly cloud storage (Google/One Drive, Dropbox etc) like it hopefully should be, you can usually log into the web interface of that cloud service and restore removed/lost files.

If you don't use such a service, then the "Pro Tip" becomes: Synchronise your home folder with a cloud service. They'll handle offsite backups of your files. They all offer a free tier of a few GB, more than enough for most people's basic personal documents.

[CBJ]

A further update has been released for both games. See the initial post in this thread.

[RAVEN.myst]

Sweeeeet

[Pitagora]

Are the nonsteam executables updated as well? I'm playing a AP modded game on alternate folder, I'll be glad to take advantage of the updates in my current playthrough too.

[CBJ]

Yes, the patch for non-Steam X3TC installations and the NoSteam EXE for X3AP should both be available on the Downloads page.