Good morning, Spaceman.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Captain, you’re late to the 9.0 party!” And look, you’re right. Between the madness of Terra Invicta and my foray into flight sims, I’ve had a lot on my plate. But here’s the thing: Version 9.0 is still a way off from open beta (aiming for Q1 2026), and this isn’t an update you want to rush.
Egosoft isn’t just adding a new sector and calling it a day. They are going back to the foundations; literally. We’re talking about a massive visual rework of the ships we’ve been flying since 2018 and a combat AI overhaul that might finally stop our Destroyers from having a collective lobotomy. Today, I’m breaking down why 9.0 could be the “Fix-It” update we’ve been waiting for.
The Ship Facelifts: Out with the 2018 Jank
Let’s talk ships. Egosoft has been on a roll with the Envoy and the Hyperion, which, by the way, has become my absolute day-to-day powerhouse. I use it for everything: sniping capital ships, missions, or just getting from A to B fast. The art quality on these is incredible, and 9.0 is bringing that same love to the legacy fleet.
Egosoft confirmed they are using their evolved art pipeline to refresh older small and medium ships that haven’t been touched since the game’s launch.
My Most-Anticipated Reworks:
- S-Class Legends: I’m expecting a total glow-up for the Argon Elite, the Teladi Falcon, and the Paranid Pegasus and Theseus. The Argon Eclipse is also on the must-have list—it’s high time it looked as intimidating as it flies.
- M-Class Frigates: This is where the real meat is. We are looking at potential facelifts for the Cerberus, the Gorgon, and the Osprey.
My hope? Walkable paths to the landing pads. Imagine walking from the bridge of your reworked Cerberus straight to your docked fighter without a loading screen teleport. That is the kind of immersion that 1.0 ships desperately need to match the standard set by Kingdom End and the Hyperion Pack.
The Great Weapon Rebalance: 250+ Weapons Under the Knife
Let’s get into the part that really has the veterans talking: the Combat Balance. In the 2025 Xmas XLOG, Bernd Lehahn dropped a bombshell—9.0 isn’t just about making ships look pretty; it’s about a total re-evaluation of every gun in the game. We are looking at a rebalance of over 250 different weapons.
Over the years, power creep has become a real issue. Some weapons have fallen into total obscurity while others are just “the only choice.” Egosoft is tackling this by updating the technical models of older ships specifically to fix weapon connections. By modernizing how weapons and shields physically fit onto legacy hulls, they can make much more impactful balancing decisions regarding range, damage, and projectile speed.
Visual Upgrades for your Arsenal: It’s not just stats; we’re getting redesigned turrets and weapon models. No more blurry, low-res turrets sticking out like a sore thumb on your beautiful capital ships. They are aiming for a unified, modern look across the entire arsenal to match the high-fidelity style of the latest DLCs.
Fixing the “Lobotomy”: AI & High-Priority Orders
Now, let’s get to the meat: The AI. We’ve all been there—you order a fleet of Destroyers to attack, and instead of staying at range, they decide to ram the station.
Update 9.0 is set to introduce High-Priority Combat Orders via a UI overhaul. I’m hoping for a “React to Biggest Threat” logic. If my Destroyer is shooting a small fighter but a Xenon K jumps in right next to it, I want that ship to pivot immediately without me having to micro-manage the queue.
Egosoft is also promising Improved Combat Behaviors. If they can finally give us a pathfinding logic that makes ships circle a station when relocating—instead of flying in a straight line through the heavy turrets—the endgame of X4 will feel like a completely different, much more competent game.
The Big Question: Do I Need a New Save?
Every Discord, every stream, every comment section—everyone is asking: “Captain, do I need a new save for 9.0?”
The Truth: You don’t need to. Egosoft is great at backward compatibility. Your empire will stay intact. However, if you want to see the universe actually adapt—if you want to see the AI factions flying these brand-new reworked ships and using the rebalanced weapons right off the bat—you’ll want a fresh start.
Personally? I’ll be staying with my current save. I love the idea of the universe slowly evolving around me. It’s like seeing a “new car at the dealership” and watching everyone slowly start driving it.
Gear Spotlight: Beam Eye Tracker
If you’re planning on jumping back in for 9.0, seriously consider the Beam Eye Tracker. I’ve been using it as my primary head tracker lately, and it’s a game-changer.
- Immersion: Being able to naturally look at a target to track it in a dogfight or glance toward the landing bay for a cinematic approach makes a huge difference.
- Ease of Use: It’s software-based—no bulky gear on your head, no IR clips, and it works with a standard webcam or your phone.
- Freedom: It gives you the freedom to look around the cockpit while your hands stay on the HOTAS, which is vital when navigating the massive, detailed new ship interiors.
You can get sorted for the update and support the channel using my link here:
beam.eyeware.tech/?via=captaincollins.
Final Thoughts
Version 9.0 is the “Foundation” refresh we’ve needed for years. It’s making the old world look as good as the new one while finally addressing the tactical frustrations of fleet combat.
I’ll be covering the Open Beta the second it drops (look out for it early this year!), so make sure you’re subscribed. If you want to see the Hyperion in action or talk 9.0 strategies in real-time, come find me on Twitch.tv/CaptainCollins.
Until next time, fly safe, keep your turrets set to “attack all enemies,” and I’ll see you in high orbit.
Captain Collins, signing off.