"Need to create" - Builder, accelerationist, and Founder/CEO at KeenSWH.com and GoodAI.com - Working on AI People and LTM, Space Engineers 2, VRAGE3 engine and Resilient Civilization
Every Thursday, I will share a dev diary about what we've been working on over the past few weeks. I'll focus on the interesting challenges and solutions that I encountered. I won't be able to cover everything, but I'll share what caught my interest.
Why am I doing it
I want to bring our community along on this journey, and I simply love writing about things I'm passionate about! This is my unfiltered dev journal, so please keep in mind that what I write here are my thoughts and will be outdated by the time you read this, as so many things change quickly. Any plans I mention aren't set in stone and everything is subject to change. Also, if you don't like spoilers, then don't read this.
VS 1.2 was released on Monday and it seems players are happy with our choices: target based grid control, off-center camera, and more!
Dampener curves - A month ago (after we reworked the target based grid control and also the thrusters), I felt that the deceleration/dampening of the gyro and thrusters didn't feel good, the follow (slowing down) was too long and slow, and I wanted something steeper, with stronger end - but at the same time not instant cut and not linear feel. So I scheduled a call with Logan (one of our gameplay programmers), to configure those curves and playtest it, but after a few minutes we realized the curves actually feel quite good (both thrusters and gyros), so we left it as it is (what you have in VS 1.2). I think that they got fixed by designers in the meantime, after configuring gyro and thruster parameters a bit. I was quite relieved because this could have turned into a never-ending battle.
Mike (our concept artist) is finishing the concept of one of the main characters. What do you say? He belongs to the Legion of Engineers faction.
Had a discussion with Mikko (our level designer) and the designers, and we will try to add simple objectives to the Creative Mode, like repair this ship and transfer it to that cave station, or fly through an obstacle course, shoot the target figurines, etc. The reason is to give players some goals, something to do beyond open-ended creation. The plan now is roughly 1 hour of objective-based gameplay, and we will evaluate it later. Most likely in VS 1.6 (PS: everything is subject to change) I am looking forward to this. We already have a prototype of our Mission Scripting Framework done, and it worked on some missions, but now the focus is VS 2, so there wasn't time to develop it further. However, it seems that the objectives for Creative mode can be done with what we currently have.
We want SE2 to be much more goal oriented, with specific measures and progression players will want to strive for. SE1 is more open ended, players make their own goals. SE2 will have a meta loop and progression, with some measures that players can understand and strive for. This week we were finishing discussions on this topic with the designers, and I feel very good about the current direction of it. Will let you know later.
We finished the design of safe speed. Safe speed is already in the game, collisions under 20 m/s don't cause damage. But we need to go further: we need to communicate it well on the HUD, plus there will be an "adaptive cruise control" system for setting up the max speed (so you don't go beyond safe speed), or you match your speed with some other grid, etc.
We set the main principles of the new build planner, block packages, and area welding. It's a huge topic, and it still has to be written as a design doc, but in general:
Players can use assembler to output "block packages" (which is basically a block inside the inventory, so we will rename it to blocks). This will reduce the complexity of thinking, because you will see you have 3 gyros in your inventory, so you know you can weld three gyros. You don't have to go to the lower level of components. Of course, the component system from SE1 will stay as it is. Block packages are here just as another layer on how to simplify things.
We will also keep "backpack building" we already prototyped in SE2: building from raw ore, where the backpack automatically turns the ore into components and you weld the block without worrying what kind of components you need.
Build planner will automatically add blocks you are projecting to the planner queue, and then you can with one click retrieve those queued items from some inventory or order their production. We really want to streamline this process, make it as intuitive as possible, so players can just use it without thinking. This is one of the things that bothered me in SE1.
Area welding: different welders will offer the ability to weld an area (more blocks at the same time) instead of point welding, where only one block at a time is welded and only where you point at.
Vertical Slice 1.2 is here and it brings another round of improvements to Space Engineers 2. This update introduces target-based ship controls, undo/redo for the paint gun, improved visuals for partial copy/paste, and an important improvement of jetpack boost mode.
You'll also find the new off-center third-person camera that gives you clearer visibility by keeping your character's head to the side, so it doesn't block your crosshair and target view. For ships, a similar vertical offset keeps your view unobstructed. And as always - there’s plenty more under the hood. Let’s take a look!
Vertical Slice 1.2 Features
Off-center 3rd Person Camera
The new off-center third-person camera gives you better visibility and more control when piloting ships or moving on foot.
By default, the camera is set to the right side, but you can cycle between right, center, and left using ALT+V.
We’ve also lowered the minimum camera distance, making it easier to see in tight spaces without switching to first-person.
Target-based Grid Control
We've added target-based grid control to make flying ships feel more responsive and intuitive. When you rotate your ship toward a point in space using the mouse, new on-screen UI indicators are showing your current rotation and orientation.
This makes precision piloting and maneuvering easier than ever. Unlike the previous version, which directly translated mouse movement to ship torque (making heavy ships require excessive mouse movement and feeling unresponsive), this new system ensures your ship responds consistently regardless of its mass.
Paint Gun Undo-Redo
The paint gun now supports undo and redo, letting you quickly revert or reapply recent color changes. Whether you're experimenting with new designs or fixing mistakes, this feature makes painting more user friendly.
Improved Visuals for Partial Copy/Paste
Partial copy/paste now has improved visuals, making it easier to see exactly which blocks you're copying and how they'll be placed. This helps with precision building and reduces guesswork when working with complex structures.
Jetpack 2.0
Jetpack 2.0 brings a more refined and responsive feel to movement. Boosting now has a short charge-up time, with a new charging indicator on the hydrogen bar and an orange highlight when ready. We've also added improved visual effects like camera shake and enhanced sound effects to make jetpack movement feel more powerful and immersive.
Additional Improvements
Added Debug Gun model, muzzle effects
Debug gun now damages Voxels
Added scroll through toolbars (CTRL + ALT + Mouse Wheel)
Shifted 3rd person camera view when sitting in the cockpit
Added First Person view character shadows
Added Inverse Kinematics for character model (still work in progress in edge cases)
There are many additional improvements and fixes in Vertical Slice 1.2 - you can explore everything included in the detailed Changelog.
Work in Progress / Ongoing Improvements
While your feedback is invaluable, some features are not yet ready for your input. These systems and mechanics are temporary solutions or placeholders, and we’re already hard at work redesigning and refining them. We ask for your patience while we bring these elements to their full potential.
Features and improvements we are actively working on:
Color picker will be included in undo-redo for paint gun in a future update
Character is not holding a Gun correctly while using the jetpack
After entering a cockpit for the first time after starting the game, the character may peek through the cockpit - this will be fixed in an upcoming update.
Keyboard and mouse controls are not customizable yet, but they will be!
Toolbar block groups and sizes (block selection via R key) are a temporary mechanism and will be redesigned in a near update.
We’re aware of incompatibility at launch of Space Engineers 2 on Intel Arc A-Series and Core Ultra Series 1 built-in Arc GPUs. We are working with Intel to enable the game experience and will provide relevant updates as development progresses.
Performance
Performance optimization is ongoing. For Alpha release, we’re targeting 16x Red Ship grids at 60 FPS on recommended hardware.
Autosave may cause brief lags during gameplay.
Performance optimizations of ship collisions and destruction are ongoing, so it won’t be lag-free at this moment. We will be continuously improving it in the following updates.
PCU values per block may appear higher compared to Space Engineers 1, reflecting SE2's increased detail and more precise performance measurements. While the current total PCU limit is set at 400,000 in VS1, we plan to raise this threshold in future updates as we implement scheduled optimization improvements.
Space Engineers 2 Workshop
In-game Blueprint interface - Additional features and improvements will be introduced based on player feedback.
Displaying Steam Workshop Collections in-game is planned.
Blueprint screen refresh can be slow in some cases - it should be fixed in the next update.
Your owned Private items are not currently visible in the in-game Workshop browser.
We are addressing edge cases where re-publishing, renaming, tag display in the Steam interface, and sorting may not work as intended.
Offline mode improvements - we are working on better handling when Steam is offline.
The current GUI (Graphical User Interface) and HUD (Heads-Up Display) are works in progress. Our team is prioritizing core functionality first. Once we've confirmed all features are working as intended, we'll enhance the visual design and overall aesthetics.
Some blocks are decorative-only for now (for example, the Assembler is present but cannot produce components)
The inventory system will be implemented in a future update
Fracture models will receive additional visual updates in future versions.
The paint tool’s limited palette is temporary; future updates will include RGB/HSV color settings and custom palettes.
Work on enhanced sound effects is ongoing, including jetpack audio
The Alpha releases in English language, more localizations will follow
Tutorials will be added closer to the end of development.
This is just the start of an incredible journey, and we want to thank everyone who’s joining us on it. Your creativity and passion are what make this community so special.
What’s Next
We are now working on Vertical Slice 1.5, which will include modding support and many small features based on your feedback. We’ll be releasing our VRAGE3 tools, and we can’t wait to see what you create with them! After that comes Vertical Slice 1.6, which will be addressing more player feedback and modding improvements.
How to share your feedback?
The best way to provide your feedback is through our Support Portal. You can always find a direct link to the support portal from within the game - just press F1 to access the help screen!
This platform is your direct line to the developers and the Space Engineers community. Here, you can:
Suggest solutions and provide valuable feedback to help shape the future of Space Engineers 2
Suggestions
If you have ideas or suggestions for the game, we want to hear them! Your feedback has been instrumental in shaping the Space Engineers experience, and your contributions will be just as crucial for Space Engineers 2.
Take a moment to share your ideas and help us improve - we value your time and input!
Bug Reports
Encountered a technical issue? Let us know by submitting a bug report.
When reporting bugs, please:
Provide a thorough description of the issue.
Include reliable reproduction steps if possible.
Attach any relevant log files, screenshots, or videos.
Share a save file of your world, if applicable, to help us investigate further.
These details are essential to help us resolve issues effectively. Even if you can’t provide reproduction steps, the more information you include, the better!
Don’t Forget to Vote!
Before submitting new feedback or bug reports, use the search feature to see if a similar topic already exists. If you find one, don’t hesitate to vote for the topic to show it’s important to you!
If you don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to start a new topic. Every vote, suggestion, and report counts and helps us prioritize updates and improvements.
The support portal is the best and most direct way to help shape Space Engineers 2. We’re looking forward to hearing from you
Post-release Support
We will continuously monitor Space Engineers 2 stability after the release and fix any problematic cases that lead to game issues.
Marek’s Dev Diaries
Marek Rosa - Keen Software House founder, CEO, and Game Director shares a weekly Dev Diary every Thursday, offering a behind-the-scenes look at Space Engineers 2 development.
These diaries dive into the latest challenges, solutions, and ideas shaping the game. They are Marek's unfiltered thoughts, meaning details may change as development evolves. If you enjoy insights into game creation (and don’t mind potential spoilers), be sure to check them out!
Best, Marek Rosa CEO, Game Director, Founder at Keen Software House
CEO, CTO, Founder at GoodAI
Personal bio:
Marek Rosa is the founder and CEO of Keen Software House, an independent game development studio, and GoodAI, a research company focused on general artificial intelligence development.
Keen Software House, established in 2010, developed Space Engineers, which has sold over 5 million copies and maintains the 4th largest Workshop community on Steam with over 500K user creations. The studio is now developing Space Engineers 2, built on their new generation in-house VRAGE3 engine.
Following the success of Keen Software House, Marek founded GoodAI in 2014 with a $10 million personal investment. The company develops autonomous agents and AI technologies, including the AI People game featuring LLM-driven NPCs with long-term memory and evolving personalities. Current projects include Groundstation, a multi-drone system.
Both companies, employing over 100 professionals, work toward advancing technology through gaming and artificial intelligence, with GoodAI's specific focus on developing AGI to help humanity understand and explore the universe.
Every Thursday, I will share a dev diary about what we've been working on over the past few weeks. I'll focus on the interesting challenges and solutions that I encountered. I won't be able to cover everything, but I'll share what caught my interest.
Why am I doing it
I want to bring our community along on this journey, and I simply love writing about things I'm passionate about! This is my unfiltered dev journal, so please keep in mind that what I write here are my thoughts and will be outdated by the time you read this, as so many things change quickly. Any plans I mention aren't set in stone and everything is subject to change. Also, if you don't like spoilers, then don't read this.
Space Engineers 2
VS 1.2 will be releasing in a few days, on Monday April 14
In survival, players will build in projection mode (so first as a projection, and then weld it). We need a particle effect for it, so here's one prototype.
The new IK is great, but when you walk up stairs or ramp, in first person mode, the camera goes up and down, and what you stop it continues in the movement for a tiny moment, and this is precisely what we wanted to clean up in first person mode (no secondary movements in first person mode, just clean abstract camera sliding through space). So we will look on this in the future in the polishing phase
This week we had our regular playtest, and things I focused on where:
Consumables - healing via medikit (automatic or manual)
Death - from health damage or collision, and respawn
Caves on the planets - we have a couple of caves but also a CSG merging algorithm, so we can merge (add or cut) many of them one through each other and create unlimited variations. They look good, realistic. What needs to get improved is the voxel material (stone) inside of the mountains (planet), it doesn't look pretty.
Shooting from the debug gun has now correct recoil and camera shake. But I also realized that the way we portray the gun on the screen is not what I am used to in other FPS games - so we will move the hand a bit forward, and more to the center. Right now it's obscuring too much of the screen space and also the angle feels off to me. Here I used new ChatGPT image generation model to illustrate how it could look (the input was the screenshot from game + prompt to move it further from camera and more to the center)
Nobody ever mentioned it but I think there's an audio lag in our GUI mouse over sound effect. Like, when you hover your mouse over buttons, it doesn't cling instantly, it feels laggy. We will be looking at it.
You will be able to switch between the toolbars via ALT + CTRL + Mouse wheel. I hope in future we find some simpler shortcut.
We also wanted to playtest ore detection mechanics, but that one got postponed to the next playtest.
The deco prototyping is going better than I hoped for (these are the blocks that are not our usual big Deco blocks; they more like small things you can use to make your interiors look not so blocky and simple; they are not purely decorative like a painting or vase, because they have structural function). I expect players will use them to create rich looking blueprints!
Equip and unequip animation is coming along nicely as well.
More Flora!
And as always, I'm amazed by the beautiful things our players are creating!
