X4: Foundations

Single-player space sandbox with a simulated economy and fleet command

Egosoft · Released Nov 30, 2018

Reviews: Mostly Positive; 80% of 30K
Recent reviews: Mostly Positive; 76% of 227 in 30 days
Playing now: 2,236; right now
Steam Deck: Verified
Last update: 3 months ago; Jun 10, 2026

What is X4: Foundations?

This is a single-player, open-world space simulation and strategy sandbox where you begin with one ship. You pilot ships to explore, trade, and fight, then can build modular stations, automate production chains, and command fleets while factions expand and wage war independently.

For you if...

+you enjoy learning complex simulation and management systems
+you want a sandbox without a fixed playstyle
+you like shifting between piloting and strategic command

Not for you if...

−you want an easy-to-learn interface and quick onboarding
−you prefer clear endgame goals over open-ended play
−you dislike managing economies, production chains, and fleets

What players say

80% of 30,240 reviews are positive · 76% of 227 in the last 30 days

Players praise the scale and freedom of the sandbox, especially its simulated economy and progression from piloting one ship to managing stations and fleets. Players commonly complain about the dense interface, steep onboarding, and unreliable ship and fleet AI; some experienced players also find the late game short on goals.

Screenshots and trailer

X4: Foundations system requirements

As published by the developer.

Minimum

OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) or higher
Processor: Intel i5-4590 3.3GHz or AMD equivalent
Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 5300 or equivalent (Vulkan 1.4 support required)
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Storage: 35 GB available space
Notes: Minimum: 8 GB RAM (base game) / 16 GB RAM (with all expansions installed)

PC version details

DRM, required accounts, controller support and Steam features.

DRM: None declared on Steam
Controller: Full controller support
Platforms: Windows, Linux
Achievements: 172
Steam features: Workshop, Cloud saves, Family Sharing, Trading cards

Steam Deck: Verified

All functionality is accessible with the default controller configuration
Shows Steam Deck controller icons
In-game text is legible on Steam Deck
Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck
External controllers are not supported for the primary player

Multiplayer and co-op

Single-player

Languages

Full audio: English, German, French, Portuguese - Brazil, Russian. Text only: Italian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish - Spain, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish - Latin America, Polish, Czech.