# X4: Foundations X4: Foundations 9.00 "Empire Update" is Out Now! - Product: X4: Foundations (https://whatsnew.fyi/product/x4-foundations) - Vendor: Egosoft - Date: 2026-06-10 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/392160/view/503982156237767751 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/x4-foundations/releases/2026-06-10-x4-foundations-9.00-empire-update-is-out-now What's New is an index, not a publisher: every entry below links to the vendor's own release notes, which are the authoritative source. Entries are labelled where they are hand-curated sample data, pre-releases, or drawn from a secondary source such as a developer blog. Reuse: the summaries, labels and curation here are © What's New. Quote freely with attribution and a link back; wholesale republication of the corpus is not permitted — terms: https://whatsnew.fyi/terms. The vendors' own release notes remain their publishers'. --- - **changed** — Rebalanced hundreds of weapons, turrets, shields, and ships to add tactical depth and make more options viable - **changed** — Improved turret accuracy and AI pilot behavior - **changed** — Reworked capital ship movement - **added** — Kha'ak S and M wrecks can now be recycled to produce Allographyne, a versatile ware usable in ship and equipment production - **added** — Allographyne transmutes to replace any ware in the production process as an alternative to address supply shortages - **added** — NPC factions can now construct specialised recycling stations to utilize Kha'ak resources - **changed** — Integrated engines and shields into S and M ship models to improve appearance and increase module variety - **changed** — Redesigned S and M ship hardpoint locations to allow greater variety in loadout options - **changed** — Boron and Commonwealth ships can now equip each other's modules and smaller weapons and turrets - **added** — Introduced Priority Orders, allowing instantly responsive RTS-style orders that immediately override all other orders - **added** — Added Ship Showroom module that allows players to store and display favourite S and M ships on landing pads - **changed** — Adjusted UI visual style across all game areas with special improvements to map screen menus for better readability - **changed** — Enabled NPC factions to utilize and expand upon predefined station construction plans for more visually coherent and elaborate stations - **changed** — Completely overhauled resource areas to be localized rather than spread across entire regions with improved performance and memory usage - **changed** — Made resource areas dynamic so new resources may emerge at different locations within a region when depleted - **changed** — Removed the influence of resource probes on mining efficiency so they only indicate where miners should focus efforts We're very excited to announce that the X4: Foundations "Empire Update" (9.00) has officially launched! This free major update includes new features and sweeping reworks that improve how you interact with your empire: militarily, strategically, and economically. We'd like to extend our sincere thanks to the community for your invaluable feedback during the 9.00 Public Beta, which has helped us to make even more improvements over the past several weeks. In particular, your feedback has been immensely helpful in fine-tuning our updates to the AI. Below is an overview of the Empire Update's features. For a deeper dive into what's in store, be sure to take a look at the [9.00 Public Beta announcement](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/392160/view/528744981882470468). For a quick rundown of the biggest changes, watch our 9.00 Public Beta Announcement video from March 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDddUWlEe1c ##### What's New In The 9.00 Update ##### Combat Improvements We've made sweeping changes to every aspect of combat in X4: Foundations. This is the largest combat balancing update in X4's history. This update includes a full rebalancing of hundreds of weapons, turrets, shields, and ships to add tactical depth, make more options viable, and address inconsistencies. Additionally, turrets are more accurate, AI pilots behave more organically, capital ship movement has been reworked, and much more. For more information about our extensive changes to weapon and ship balance, you can take a look at the [thread in our Beta Feedback forum](https://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=474216). ##### Kha'ak Recycling S and M Kha'ak wrecks can now be recycled, leading to the production of Allographyne, a versatile new ware usable in ship and equipment production. Allographyne transmutes to replace any ware in the production process, providing an alternative means to address supply shortages. Since Allographyne production requires Nividium, this opens new trade opportunities across the gate network. Some NPC factions will also construct specialised recycling stations to utilise this resource. To hear more about Kha'ak Recycling and other changes to the economy, you can visit the [thread in our Beta Feedback forum](https://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=474213). ##### Ship Visual / Modularity Changes Engines and shields are now integrated into S and M ship models. This change improves their appearance and significantly increases the variety of modules they can equip. This change leads to more deliberate, consistent visual identities for ships throughout the gate network. Additionally, S and M ship hardpoint locations have received a facelift, allowing a greater variety in loadout options. For example, Boron and Commonwealth ships can equip each other's modules, and they can now equip smaller weapons and turrets. ##### Priority Orders By popular demand, this update introduces Priority Orders. This new UI functionality allows instantly responsive "RTS"-style orders to be issued, immediately overriding all other orders. This dramatically improves the flow of fast-paced strategic situations, eliminating the need to configure order lists and making ships act immediately. Orders can be issued and queued from the map using + [Right Click], while Priority Orders can be sent with + [Right Click] and queued using + + [Right Click]. These modifiers can be used in any combination to queue and priority-queue orders in the Order Menu. Need a trader to pick up a nearby lockbox and for its escorts to attack a target near it? Priority Orders allow you to issue those commands swiftly and without disrupting your existing order queues. ##### Ship Showroom Module We've added a new module with the 9.00 update: the Ship Showroom. This module allows players to store and display their favourite S and M ships on stylish landing pads. One or more Ship Showrooms can be attached to existing player-owned stations, or even combined _[Truncated at 4000 characters — full notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/392160/view/503982156237767751]_