History VideoGame / XRebirth

Unfortunately - but typical of Egosoft games - [[ObviousBeta the game launched too soon, with a plethora of issues and missing features]], including optimization and a convoluted user-interface reminiscent of ''X3: Reunion's'' "[[Series/XPlay menus buried in menus, buried in menus, buried in more menus]]". However, Egosoft was fast with a response and [[http://steamcommunity.com/app/2870/discussions/0/648811852275929537/ will be fixing the performance issues, followed by adding missing content]]. Many issues in regards to gameplay [[GameMod have been fixed by game mods]], and by the massive 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 updates.

** ''2.0: Secret Service Missions'' was the major update and an attempt to WinBackTheCrowd after the [[ObviousBeta game's disastrous launch]]. It added half a dozen new ships, functionality to interact with people on stations without having to dock, alternate cockpit configurations for the ''Skunk'', autopilot, gravidar, a new highway control system, and an option to replace most of the DiegeticInterface with a traditional HUD.

* GameMod: Mods in ''Rebirth'' have even more control over the engine compared to the previous games. Most of the initial mods were [[ObviousBeta dedicated to fixing the game]] until Egosoft's official fixes came out.

* ObviousBeta: As usual with an Egosoft game. The game launched with some major performance issues, and a wide variety of glitches, such as Teladi [[http://i.imgur.com/2O8pQKG.gif eyes rotating 90 degrees and popping out of their sockets when talking]]. Several features necessary for empire building - especially more ship commands and a report system - are totally absent, though modders have fixed some of this, and Egosoft have stated that they'll be bringing in old features that didn't make it into the release once they've solved performance issues and bugs.
** The 2.0 update works to address most of the issues, including new commands for ships, autopilot, a less gimmicky highway system, and so on.

A UsefulNotes/OculusRift and UsefulNotes/HTCVive compatible re-work, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin creatively titled]] ''X Rebirth VR Edition'' is due for release sometime in 2017, and will feature changes to the economy for VR immersion, additional missions designed to take advantage of the system, a new graphics engine, altered the game pace.

A second expansion ''Home Of Light'', was released February 2016 and coincided with Update 4.0. ''Home Of Light'' adds three new solar systems, new factions, a new 'warehouse' station type, more dangerous Xenon, and 'a forgotten enemy' ([[spoiler:the Kha'ak.]]) Update 4.0 introduces a Bullet Board System to track all offered missions in a zone, new ship upgrades, and weapon modifications.

The game was succeeded by ''X4: Foundations'', which was a return to form, allowing the player once again to fly any ship.

A second expansion ''Home Of Light'', was released February 2016 and coincided with Update 4.0. ''Home Of Light'' adds three new solar systems, new factions, a new 'warehouse' station type, more dangerous Xenon, and a 'a forgotten enemy'. Update 4.0 introduces a Bullet Board System to track all offered missions in a zone, new ship upgrades, and weapon modifications.

* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: The Inertial Hammer deals absurd amounts of damage, has very little scatter and has enough thermal capacity to not OverHeat too frequently. Its only real downside is that the ricocheting projectiles can piss off allies and the relatively low ArbitraryMaximumRange.

* ExpansionPack: Unlike all previous ''X-Universe'' games, expansion packs are compatible with old saves.
** ''The Teladi Outpost'', which was free for all owners to pre-order up til the release date. It adds a new solar system, 3 new Teladi factions, a new full ship set, and two new weapons - a damage-over-time cannon, and a DeathRay.
** ''Home Of Light'', which adds three new solar systems - one of which features unique spatial anomalies - new factions, new weapon variants, and a PlayerHeadquarters-esque storage warehouse.

* MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers: The Mining Laser and Heavy Laser from the first ExpansionPack cannot simultaneously equipped, as they occupy the same weapon mount on the ''Skunk''.

* ScavengerWorld: [[http://www.egosoft.com/games/x_rebirth/screenshots/x_rebirth_screen_027.jpg The Lost Colony]] has a Split Python from ''X3: Reunion'' gutted out for supplies, with power lines leading from the ship to a nearby installation. The Republic of Cantera relies on decades-old Terran equipment, and the majority of their spacestations are simply individual sections from destroyed Terran stations which have been patched up and used as housing and production facilities.

* TimeSkip: Takes place 30 to 40 years after the abrupt end of the Second Terraformer War, which was ended by the Ancients shutting down the gate system ("The Dark") and causing the collapse of the [[TheAlliance Community of Planets]].