What is this
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 This is my unfiltered dev journal, so please keep in mind that what I write here are my thoughts and will be outdated by the time you read this, as so many things change quickly.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 1
Some time ago, I was chatting with my friend Dean Hall from RocketWerkz — he’s also a long-time fan of Space Engineers. We talked a lot about what survival really means in the game, and how expanding it could make the whole experience deeper and more immersive.
These discussions eventually sparked the idea of creating an advanced survival system for Space Engineers — and that later grew into what became the Apex update.
Apex Survival
Our next major free update will introduce new survival mechanics to the game, including food, farming, environmental hazards, meaningful death, and a brand-new buff system.
All of these features are optional and fully configurable – you can fine-tune the experience to match your playstyle. Whether you’re looking for a hardcore survival challenge where venturing outside a grid is a constant threat, or a more relaxed farming loop while building your perfect base, Apex Survival lets you decide how to play.
And the best part: you won’t need to start a new world to experience the new features (including the new Space Encounters) – they can all be enabled on your current saves.
Release Livestream
Space Engineers: Apex Survival is launching this Monday, September 8!
Please join our Release Livestream at Youtube or Twitch.
Community Previews
Before the update goes live, enjoy exclusive previews from our amazing community and get ready for the Apex Survival Update!
🌱 Food, New Blocks & Farming Overview
🌩️ Radiation, Weather & New Survival Options:
💀 Meaningful Death & New Buff System
🌾 Collector Farming & Harvesting Tips
👍 Upgrade Your Base for Apex Survival
☢️ Using Radioactivity as a Weapon
🌮 New Survival Playthrough by Splitsie, Capac & Largely Unemployed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at9g2ydiDHk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IDM3L_l6DM
😅 Multiplayer Madness by Beeblebum, SurvivalBob, Kanajashi, AndrewmanGaming, PandemicPlayground & Quantum Chief
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV-vQhe_vAg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPfnOdCu2Hk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of-8CoZGb_M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrzOq_E7oQA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5x92QL7qmo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVMg5RP_HXQ
🛰️ New Space Encounters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMSFVjiXPlY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2k5E7IdnEk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umw_-Nf44Qw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j76ASSHQ8M
⚙️ Amazing Rotary Farm Contraption:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq4FPg4ltEE
🦀 Type II Drill Preview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVXUqWETWOc
🎞️ Apex Survival Cinematic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9xL1KkXl3I
Share your thoughts in the comments below – I read them all, and they’re one of my favorite parts of making our games.
The new food mechanics sound so good, I think this is something SE1 really missed and I can’t wait to build greenhouses.
Two things I really would like to see though are automated planting and blocks to shield from leaking reactor damage (at least for some time at some shielding rate).
Also I wonder if we will get something similar to this update in SE2? Would be a big missed opportunity in my oppinion if it would not be included.