Space Engineers 2: VS2 – Planets & Survival Foundations Live Now!

Hello, Engineers! 

You’ve left the training grounds of Concordia Research Facility behind you – now it’s time to take your first real steps into the Almagest system. A new frontier stretches before you, vast and unexplored, waiting for the first Engineers to shape it.

This is the most important update since SE2 launched. 

With planets, survival foundations, building tools, and the start of the storyline, SE2 is now a full playable slice.

If you join now, you’re supporting development directly and helping us deliver future updates faster.

You are the pioneers of this era, carrying the spark of humanity to untouched worlds. Your mission is simple, yet monumental: to build, expand, and bring life to the silent worlds of Almagest. Every structure you place, every sector you claim, will shape the foundation of humanity’s future among the stars. The age of exploration begins again – and it begins with you!

VS2 is where SE2 turns into a real survival game – planets, progression, story foundations, and the first version of core systems all working together.

Almagest System

The Almagest system, a system 10,000 light years away from Sol, is centered around two main astronomical bodies – the  young main sequence star LRSC  20039 – A, which shares the system’s name of “Almagest”, and LRSC  20039 – B, also known as Delfos, a smaller brown dwarf. The system is often referred to as a binary star system, but due to Delfos’ status as a non-stellar body, that isn’t strictly true.

Delfos is calm – for now. We plan to make the area around it really dangerous in one of the future updates.

Closer to Delfos, the two main planets of note in The Almagest system are Verdure, an Earth-like planet which is extremely accessible for colonization, and Kemik, a harsh Mars-like planet.

 

Verdure, also known as ILS – 93b, is affectionately referred to as “the jewel” of the Almagest system. With a variety of biomes akin to earth in diversity and a flourishing ecosystem of naturally occurring flora, it is no surprise that Verdure has become the the main place of interest for arriving colonists. Verdure is only slightly smaller than the Earth and inhabits a goldilocks zone orbiting Delfos that – in accordance to Delfos’ smaller size and older life cycle – causes temperatures analogous to ones found on Earth.

The most notable trait of Verdure is its abundance of flora, which has puzzled the scientists of the Bering Project since they arrived. The main curiosity with the flora found on Verdure is its uncanny similarity to the plants back on Earth. Some tests have hinted that the Verdure’s lifeforms are descendants of Earth Flora. How plants on Earth and Verdure could be related remains a hotly contested topic

All in all, Verdure is where life flourishes. Things have never been easy in The Almagest, but in Verdure, the Settlers see hope.

Verdure Biomes

Tundra

The tundra stretches across wide, open plains. The surface is covered in layers of snow, interrupted only by scattered rocks and frozen soil. Under the bright sky or the glowing night stars, this landscape feels endless and quiet.

It’s one of the most isolated regions on the planet, where the frozen ground meets the horizon in every direction. Even in its simplicity, the tundra captures a sense of vastness and scale that defines Verdure’s colder regions.

Taiga

You can find the taiga biome across cold lowlands and mountain valleys, where dense conifer forests dominate the landscape. Tall trees form dark green corridors between snowy clearings and frozen rivers, creating sharp contrast against the bright sky.

This is a land caught between two worlds – the silence of the cold and the promise of life. Every ridge and valley tells the story of a planet slowly awakening, where even in the harshest terrain, nature finds a way to shape beauty from endurance.

Temperate Zone

In Verdure’s temperate zones, the landscape softens into rolling hills and forested ridges. Here, conifer and deciduous trees grow side by side, scattered across meadows filled with wildflowers. From above, these regions appear as a patchwork of greens and golds, broken by cliffs and valleys that stretch far into the horizon.

This is Verdure at its most balanced – neither frozen nor dry, but alive with color and variation. It’s a place where life seems to thrive effortlessly, bridging the harsher biomes of the planet and creating a vivid, inviting middle ground.

High Mountains

The mountain biome rises sharply above the surrounding landscape, peaks often reaching above the clouds. Snow and exposed rock dominate the terrain, shaped by steep ridges and narrow valleys. From these heights, the view stretches endlessly in every direction, offering a sense of scale few places can match.

It’s a dramatic and awe-inspiring region, where every sunrise and sunset transforms the slopes into gold and shadow. A perfect place to test your engineering skills against gravity and the limits of construction.

Savanna

The savanna stretches across vast plains dotted with tall, resilient trees and dry grasses. Warm sunlight bathes the landscape in gold, and the long shadows of acacias mark the slow rhythm of the day. At sunset, the entire horizon glows in deep orange and red, turning the terrain into a living painting.

It’s a biome of open space and striking contrasts, where every tree stands like a monument against the sky. The savanna biome captures the feeling of a place that is both timeless and full of quiet energy.

Desert

The deserts are vast areas of sand and stone, shaped by time and heat into endless dunes and ridgelines. The surface glows under the sun, and every shadow reveals the fine texture of the shifting terrain. Few signs of life break the horizon, only small clusters of hardy vegetation clinging to survival.

It’s a landscape defined by silence and scale. The dunes seem to move with the light, forming patterns that change from golden morning to pale dusk. The desert stands as one of the most striking and unforgiving regions on the planet.

Volcanic Wastelands

The volcanic wastelands are a stark reminder of the planet’s raw power. Scorched ground and jagged ridges, marked by layers of dark rock and ash. Every surface is shaped by immense pressure and the slow cooling of a restless world. Vegetation is sparse, clinging to life in cracks and shadows.

Despite its harshness, there’s a quiet beauty in the contrast between the dark ground and the bright sky. Scattered patches of green hint at slow recovery, creating an otherworldly mix of destruction and renewal.

Coast

Our coastal regions may look a bit empty for now, and you’re absolutely right to notice it! Everything is already prepared for the arrival of water, which will come with the VS3 update. 

Once it’s in, these areas will transform into vibrant shorelines and true oceanfront locations.

Water Biomes: Shallow Waters, Deep Ocean & Abyss

More water biomes will arrive in VS3, each with its own atmosphere and visual style. You will explore calm Shallow Waters near the coasts, the vast and shifting Deep Ocean, and the dark, mysterious Abyss hidden far below the water surface. Each will bring new challenges, moods, and opportunities for exploration and engineering.

Verdure Natural Wonders

You may notice that some places on Verdure feel familiar. That’s no coincidence. We used real satellite scans of Earth’s terrain to recreate special locations with distinct atmosphere and topography. From mountain ridges to valleys and plateaus, these areas were shaped using real-world data to give Verdure its natural, believable beauty. Reality, after all, is the best designer.

The natural wonders of Verdure are waiting to be discovered by explorers and pioneers like you. Their names here are intentionally generic – we want you to make your own names for these locations. Chart them, name them and claim them – just like the explorers of old. This is your world to shape.

Echo Canyon

Inspired by the Grand Canyon in Arizona, United States.

A massive rift carved through the desert, the canyon stretches across the landscape like a scar from another world. Its towering cliffs and layered rock formations tell a story written over eons. Light plays across its ridges throughout the day, shifting from deep shadows to glowing gold.

Golden Plateau

Inspired by the Loess Plateau – Northern China

Once you stand at the edge of the plateau, you understand why explorers stopped here to take in the view. This region feels both ancient and alive, shaped by slow, unstoppable forces. Its vast terraces stretch into the distance, a quiet monument to erosion and time. For future settlers, it’s more than a landmark.

Dustspire Desert

Inspired by the Atacama Desert – Northern Chile, South America

One of the most otherworldly places on Verdure. It is the driest nonpolar desert on the planet, with some regions that have not seen measurable rainfall for centuries. The ground is crusted, carved by wind into surreal shapes, and scattered with volcanic rock and mineral formations that glow under the harsh sun.

Table Mountain

Inspired by Table Mountain – Cape Town, South Africa.

Rising abruptly from the surrounding plains, Table Mountain dominates the horizon with its flat summit and steep cliffs. Its silhouette is unmistakable, a natural monument that has guided travelers and inspired settlers for generations. From above, the view stretches endlessly – it is a place that feels both powerful and welcoming – a symbol of arrival and new beginnings.

Cinder Peaks

Inspired by Cederberg Mountains – Western Cape, South Africa.

What makes this natural wonder so special is its raw and wild character. A maze of rugged sandstone peaks and deep, shadowed valleys. Their layered cliffs glow with shades of red and orange, shifting in color as the sun moves across the sky. Hidden among the rocks are narrow passes and plateaus. The terrain is dominated by twisting sandstone cliffs and unusual rock formations. Wind sweeps through deep gorges, over rocky outcrops, with wide skies overhead and a feeling of being very much “on nature’s terms”. 

Inferno Crater

Inspired by a set of famous volcanoes on Earth.

Welcome to a world forged in fire. This is a place where the ground still remembers what it is to boil. The terrain is a mix of jagged basalt flows, black glassy stone, and dust plains that gleam in the morning cold. Every rock here feels recent, like the planet hasn’t finished cooling. You can see the fractures, the stress lines, the moments where the crust fought back and lost.

The Future of Planet Verdure

You already know water is coming – and with it, Verdure is going to transform. In our upcoming VS3 update, oceans will rise, rivers will flow, and coastlines will become living, dynamic environments. That means some of the most striking locations on Verdure are just getting started. What you’re exploring now is only the surface.

Many of Verdure’s landmarks were designed with water in mind from the beginning. Right now, they’re scenic terrain features. But once the VS3 systems arrive, they’ll come fully to life – becoming rich biomes filled with water movement, atmosphere, and new opportunities for engineering. This is just the beginning.

Azure Cliffs

Inspired by Calanques National Park – Near Marseille, southern France.

Here the land splits into a series of deep, narrow inlets carved into pale limestone cliffs. These are the steep-walled coastal fjords that will plunge into the clear, turquoise sea. When the tides rise, this place will become a maze of stone and sea – looking from above like fingers of the sea reaching into the land, hidden between towering rock faces.

Frosty Waterfalls

Inspired by Dettifoss Waterfalls – Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland.

A frozen river carves its way through dark volcanic rock, falling in violent bursts over fractured cliffs. These towering drops stand like ancient gates, waiting for water to return. Once it flows, the cliffs will roar with energy – a cascade of motion and mist crashing into ice-lined canyons below.

Silent Cove

Inspired by Eland Bay – West Coast, South Africa.

A long arc of shoreline curves between low dunes and weathered rock. The sand is pale and windswept, and the terrain opens wide beneath a sky that never seems to end. Right now, it’s dry and quiet – a still frame before the water comes. When it does, this coastline will shift into an edge of the world – waves washing in, wind carving lines through surf and sand, and tidepools flickering in the sun.

The Isles

Inspired by Madeira – Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean

Steep, forested island with dramatic cliffs, winding ridges, and hidden valleys. Its terrain will rise sharply from the future coastline, creating natural terraces and panoramic viewpoints. Once water is added, the surrounding sea will transform The Isles into a true oceanic gem and perfect outpost location – isolated, self-reliant, and stunning.

But wait – there will be more! 

• Skyveil Falls – Inspired by Yosemite Falls – Yosemite National Park, California, United States
• Rivergate – Inspired by Bratislava – Capital of Slovakia, on the Danube River
• Abyssal Trench – Inspired by Mariana Trench – Western Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines
• Harbor Cliffs – Inspired by Hout Bay – Coastal suburb of Cape Town, South Africa

 

Next to the dazzling greens of Verdure, the sandy dunes of Kemik have made it an easy planet to forget about. Kemik, ILS – 93c, is often compared to Mars due to close proximity and size to Verdure and thin atmosphere, but the comparison is not strictly accurate.

Kemik Biomes

Orange Wasteland

Cracked ground stretches to the horizon, broken only by jagged ridges and scattered boulders. The terrain is dry, brittle, and scorched by sun – a place where only the toughest machines and most stubborn engineers will survive. With no vegetation, thin atmosphere, and no obvious shelter, it’s a place that dares you to build, adapt, and endure.

Volcanic Craters

Kemik formed in a crucible of intense tectonic activity. Ancient fault lines once carved through the crust, forcing molten rock to the surface in violent eruptions that shaped its harsh and fractured landscape. Massive calderas and lava plains are silent reminders of a planet that never stopped shifting. Volcanic cones, now dormant, rise like sentinels across the terrain, and layered basalt cliffs hint at centuries of relentless upheaval. Every crater, ridge, and broken mesa tells the story of a world born in fire and pressure.

Kemik Natural Wonders

Skull Formation

Inspired by Cydonia, Mars.

Since it was originally first imaged, the “skull” has been accepted by scientists as an optical illusion, an ideal example of the psychological phenomenon of pareidolia. Nothing, but a trick of light and shadow.

Giant Volcano

Inspired by Olympus Mons, Mars.

Towering over Kemik’s horizon, its largest shield volcano dominates the landscape with a sprawling rise that stretches for kilometers. From orbit, it looks like a wound in the planet’s crust – massive, ancient, and utterly unmissable.

Impact Site

A vast, scarred basin marks the site of a colossal asteroid impact – a physical memory of the moment everything changed. At the center lies a deep depression surrounded by uplifted rock, melted and reshaped by unimaginable force. 

Dust still settles differently here, and the ground bears the unmistakable signature of a world-altering collision.

Planetary Mountain Range

Stretching across entire hemispheres, these mountains rise into the edge of the thin stratosphere. Endless valleys span the size of continents, creating natural barriers that split the world. Seen from space, it coils like the spines of sleeping beasts – impossible to cross without serious engineering. It is one of Kemik’s most awe-inspiring and untamed frontiers.

Main Planetary Features

Dynamic Voxel Hardness

VRAGE3 Voxel terrain now features dynamic hardness, meaning not all ground is created equal. Voxel terrain now reacts based on material hardness during impacts. Crashing into snow or sand results in deep, soft deformation, while hitting rock delivers a brutal, high-resistance collision with minimal give. This system makes every crash feel more physical and realistic – soft terrain absorbs, hard terrain punishes. 

The difference is immediate and game-changing for all planetary maneuvers. Time to get into the habit of looking for soft spots while you perform your emergency landings!

Flora, Destructible Trees & Rocks

Verdure features a wide variety of vegetation designed to fit within the planet’s lore and its more than ten distinct biomes. The flora includes variants of large and medium trees, along with bushes, small plants, and flowers. Just like our mechanical blocks, trees can now be fractured and destroyed. 

There are many new improvements on the technical side. The foliage system is now designed to spawn the flora items in clusters, rather than being randomly scattered as individual trees and bushes. This clustering allows for more natural-looking forests and vegetation groups that feel cohesive and believable. New shaders were also added to support subsurface scattering, accurately simulating light as it passes through leaves and thin plant surfaces. Additionally, a new wind animation system brings greater realism to vegetation movement, allowing each branch to sway independently in slightly different directions and speeds, creating a more lifelike impression.

Because creating such a large number of flora assets by hand would have been extremely time-consuming, we adopted a procedural approach using SpeedTree – an industry-standard tool for populating large-scale worlds with vegetation. This workflow allowed us to efficiently generate and manage diverse plant types while maintaining visual quality and consistency across the planet’s many biomes.

To make the world of Space Engineers 2 feel even more realistic, we introduced small rocks tailored to each biome, complementing the existing boulders and overhangs generated from voxels. Unlike the larger voxel-based formations, these smaller rocks are hand-modeled assets. They are not voxelized, which allows them to fracture into multiple pieces when destroyed by the player, adding an extra layer of physical interaction and visual variety to the terrain.

Caves

All caves were meticulously crafted in Houdini 19 as highly detailed meshes, voxelized inside our own VRAGE3 Editor and then subtracted from the base voxel planetary terrain using various distribution rules to achieve natural and visually diverse shapes. We created five main cave types – Triangle, Oval, Funnel, Round, and Complex Multi-Level systems with interconnected entrances and passages. Houdini’s procedural tools allowed us to efficiently scatter details such as stalactites, stalagmites, and rock formations across surfaces, adding realism and depth. 

Each cave type has its own unique features: Triangle and Round caves include long winding tunnels; Oval caves have a narrow vertical entry leading to a wide dome filled with hanging stalactites; Funnel caves form layered cone-like structures tapering downward; and multi-level caves feature intricate vertical and horizontal networks for players to explore.

Overhangs & Terrain Arches

In Space Engineers 1, terrain was largely restricted to pyramid-shaped hills and simple rock formations. This limitation stemmed from defining the planet surface with a planetary heightmap, allowing only one parameter per voxel: its height. With our new VRAGE3 engine, we can now generate natural-looking overhangs, cliffs, and more complex landscapes.

While we still utilize a planetary heightmap, the game also spawns small voxel storages of overhangs and boulders throughout the environment. The procedural generator ensures these are placed in natural locations, enhancing the shapes of mountains, hills, flat areas, and canyons. The end result is that the surface is no longer merely 2.5D (the maximum achievable with a heightmap) but fully 3D. 

Volumetric Clouds

Volumetric clouds are now fully implemented, adding dynamic, 3D formations that react to light and naturally flow across the sky. They cast shadows, respect biome patterns, and react to time of day. Flying through cloud layers or watching them roll across the horizon completely transforms how Verdure feels from the ground and in the air.

Voxel Decals 

This striking skull formation on the surface of Kemik was created by projecting an actual skull model directly onto the planet’s voxel terrain. The process involved layering and refining the projection with multiple erosional filters to naturally blend it into the surrounding landscape – a fusion of artistic intent and procedural world-building that shows how flexible voxel terrain in Space Engineers 2 can be.

 

Natural Resources & Components 

The production chains in this update serve as a starting point – a baseline tailored specifically for this stage of development. All values, recipes, and balance are part of the initial implementation and will continue to evolve based on player feedback and ongoing development needs.

Nothing here is final. As new systems come online and we keep iterating, you can expect adjustments that bring the manufacturing gameplay closer and closer to our long-term vision for Space Engineers 2.

With area welding and ship tools coming in VS 2.2, production will take another big step forward – toward a deeper, more interconnected engineering experience.

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New Blocks

Survival Kit
A vital block that allows Space Engineers to respawn and heal when powered and activated. It serves as your first lifeline in survival, providing essential medical support and a basic respawn point for continued exploration and construction.

Smelter
Produces the simplest components used in almost all blocks. While it might seem less important with the introduction of backpack building, the Smelter will become a key part of your future manufacturing automation.

Fabricator
An advanced production block capable of crafting the most complex and high-tech components in the game. Essential for building late-stage machinery, ships, and specialized systems that go far beyond the basics of survival engineering.

Gearforge
A versatile production block used for manufacturing character-related personal items such as tools and consumables. In the future, it will also produce ammo and weapons, expanding its role in personal manufacturing.

Batteries
A modular energy storage block built around swappable power cells. Designed for flexibility and easy maintenance, it allows you to manage and distribute power efficiently across your grids.

Atmospheric Thrusters Set
Provides propulsion for ships operating within planetary atmospheres by consuming grid power.

Hydrogen Thruster 7.5m
The largest variant in the Hydrogen Thruster set, providing massive propulsion for ships and grids in both atmosphere and space by consuming hydrogen as fuel.

Hydrogen Tank Set
A storage vessel designed to hold Hydrogen gas, used to power thrusters and other hydrogen-based systems.

Drill 5.25m
A large variant of a ship drill. 

Contract Block
A station terminal used to issue contracts to engineers.

Barrel
A large, standalone storage container without a conveyor access. 

Blocks with added functionality

• Reactor
• Hydrogen Generator
• Medical Bay 
• Ore Detector
• Solar Panels
• Connector – limited functionality, ejector/connector functionality planned
• Conveyor System
• Large O2/H2 Generator (only H2 for now)
• Small O2/H2 Generator (only H2 for now)
• Antenna (works like beacon)
• Crates, lockers, cargo containers
• Animation added to existing blocks (assembler, refinery)

 

Hand Tools

You can upgrade your character gear in the Gearforge.

Welders – Tier 1-4
A handheld tool used to weld projected blocks or repair existing ones, consuming the required materials directly from your backpack. Higher tiers improve welding speed.

Grinders – Tier 1-4
A handheld tool used to deconstruct blocks, returning their materials to your backpack as you grind. Higher tiers increase grinding speed.

Drills – Tier 1-4
A handheld tool used for mining, resource collection, and excavation. It can also detect and locate nearby ore deposits. Higher tiers increase mining speed.

 

Survival System Foundations

With today’s release, we’re laying down one of the most important cornerstones for Space Engineers 2 – the foundation of survival gameplay. VS2 introduces the core survival systems that will define the experience of building, and thriving in the harshness of space.

This release brings together all the essential systems needed to support the future full survival gameplay. It’s a massive step forward, forming the groundwork upon which every future survival mechanic will be built, expanded, and refined. From here, we’ll continue to broaden and iterate on these systems.

This is where SE2 starts feeling like a real game – not just creative mode with physics.

 

Projection Building & Blueprints

In Space Engineers 2 Survival you are placing an holographic projection of a block instead of its lowest build state. This makes planning and building feel much closer to creative mode – more intuitive and accessible for everyone.

And that’s not all. This system opens up a whole new level of creative possibilities in survival mode – including mirroring, copy/paste, modular blueprint building, and even undo & redo!

 

Backpack Building & Manufacturing

Backpack Building lets your backpack auto-process raw ore into Simple Components, so you can build some blocks straight from ore.

Components and progression will continue to change as more and more sectors are added to the Colonization system.

All production systems have been tuned specifically for the early game experience in this update. Recipes, requirements, and balances are designed to support survival, progression, and exploration in this initial phase. As new features, mechanics, and full automation are introduced, the entire production tree will evolve to match – expect major changes and expansions in future updates.

 

Grid Power System & Swappable Power Cells

This update introduces a new grid power system built around Power Cells and Power Modules. Power Cells act as small, portable batteries, while Power Modules serve as medium and large capacity units that move energy across your grids.

Right now, Power Cells and Power Modules aren’t crafted separately, but that will change as the system expands. 

In optimal conditions, a full charge takes about 20 minutes.

 

Setting Base systems for Colonization: Star System & Sectors

This update lays the groundwork for the Colonization system – a long-term progression layer that ties together story, engineering, exploration, and survival aspects of the game.

This is the first draft of the Colonization system – we’re already designing its next evolution and how it will tie into story progression and long-term player progression. Stay tuned, this is just the beginning.

Colonization progression is built around contracts and unlocking new blocks, giving you clear goals and a sense of advancement as you expand your presence across the system. The interactive Colonization Map serves as your overview of the known space, showing current holdings and available missions. For now, it includes two starting sectors to explore and develop.

You can expect regular expansions of contracts and new sectors through smaller updates in the near future, following the same steady approach as our previous block update releases. 

Each addition will bring fresh challenges, opportunities, and new ways to grow your colony and influence in the Almagest system!

For now, we’d love you to play and test the colonization and mission systems, and share your feedback during this foundation phase of the game. Let us know – are we on the right track? Can we start expanding on these systems, or do they need more improvements?

Later on, we’ll add true sandbox experience options to turn off mission-based block progression and start with the full set of building options right from the beginning.

In simple terms: you now have goals, progression, and a reason to keep expanding.

 

Storyline Introduction & Base Contract Systems

The journey of Space Engineers 2’s storyline begins here.

You play as Miro Sokol, arriving in the Almagest system with your brother Ivan as part of the Bering Project, humanity’s first major colonization mission. Your ship suffers critical damage on arrival, pulling you into the first challenges of survival and rebuilding.

For now, contracts are handled through a Contract Block rather than NPCs. The first set of basic engineering contracts focuses on the core gameplay introduced in this update – flying, welding, grinding, and mining.

You can expect new types of contracts (combat and much more) and story content in future vertical slices.

The story gives you a purpose in the world and connects survival, exploration, and colonization.

 

Unknown Signals & Random Encounters

VS2 is also introducing the base systems for random encounters. These are non-dynamic and non-NPC for now – simple handcrafted damaged ships, smaller stations and points of interest to bring more life to the world.

We are already working on a much richer encounter system. You can expect broader themes, combat scenarios, and truly dynamic NPC encounters in updates down the road. Step by step, we’re moving toward a universe that feels less static and more reactive – where every playthrough can surprise you.

 

Station Points & Fast Travel

You can explore and find fast travel lanes between major space stations, allowing you to move across the Almagest system long before you gain access to high-tech jump drive technology.

To use fast travel, simply move inside a jump station’s safe zone, open the map, and select a GPS destination. You don’t even need to be seated – any grids within the safe zone will travel with you.

And of course, the classic way of slow traveling everywhere – with no loading screens and full real-time movement – remains available for those who prefer the long haul and the adventure that comes with it.

 

Additional Survival Cornerstones:

• Block Construction Stages
• Consumables (Hydrogen, Energy, Health)
• Jetpack H2 usage for Boost, Energy for non-boost movement
• HUD Additions & Changes
• New UI Screens (initial implementation of Production Screen, Grid & Player Inventory Screen, Respawn Screen
• G-screen Improvements
• Ore Detection (Drill + Ore Detector blocks)

 

Additional Improvements

• Optimizations & Rendering Improvements
• Destruction LODs
• Tons of new Animations added (welding, grinding, drilling, character movement, and more!)
• Inverse Kinematics
• Added New Particle Effects
• Added New In-game and UI sounds
• ModSDK Tools Updated

There are many additional improvements and fixes in Vertical Slice 2 – you can explore everything included in the detailed Changelog.

 

We’ve updated the Space Engineers 2 Pioneer Edition with brand new content for all early explorers! The latest update includes one new music track, 40 new pages added to the digital art book for a total of 125 pages, and refreshed behind the scenes materials straight from the development team.

And this is just the start. As Space Engineers 2 continues to grow, we’ll keep adding more exclusive materials to the Pioneer Edition – new music tracks, wallpapers, and concept art that evolve alongside the game itself.

Upgrading to Pioneer is also the most direct way to support SE2’s development and help us build the next vertical slices faster.

Celebratory Sale

This update marks a major milestone for our incredible modding community, a true cornerstone of Space Engineers. Their creativity, innovation, and dedication have helped shape the game in extraordinary ways, and we believe that’s something worth celebrating.

We’re deeply grateful for the passion and support of our players whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just joined the journey.

To welcome new engineers and continue growing the community, we’re offering a 20% discount until December 8.

Jump in now and help shape the next chapter of Space Engineers 2.

 

With the release of VS2, we’re updating our roadmap to give you a clearer look at what’s coming next for Space Engineers 2. The foundation is set, and now we can start building on top of it faster and more efficiently.

You can now expect regular expansions of Contracts and new Sectors through smaller updates in the near future, following the same steady approach as our previous block update releases (but probably not on a weekly basis). 

The next large milestone will be VS2.2: Survival Extensions, which focuses on expanding the survival and colonization experience. This update will bring mechanical blocks, functional block tools, weapons, area welding, block wrappers, full GPS System, and much more. Since these features build directly on the systems introduced in VS2, we’ll be able to deliver them at a bit faster pace. 

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After that comes VS3: Water. Planetary-scale volumetric water, along with all the water gameplay systems and blocks. This update will also add a new water planet, Byblos, to the Almagest system.

Following closely will be VS4: NPCs + Cooperative Multiplayer, adding 4-player gameplay and the first iteration of interactive non-player characters. VS5: Full Multiplayer will complete the foundation for large-scale multiplayer sessions.

Two development teams are working in parallel on VS3 and VS4, so the final release order may depend on which reaches completion first. Either way, we’re pushing forward on all fronts to bring you new features and deeper gameplay as quickly as possible!

Many of the features and improvements planned for the future have been requested and shaped by the suggestions and ideas shared through our Support Portal. Your feedback is incredibly valuable, and we appreciate every suggestion you submit.

Check out our full Roadmap.

 

Q: Where is feature/block “X” (Wheels, Weapons, Mechanical Blocks, Oxygen & Airtightness etc.)?
A: We’d love to have them in the game right now too! Some features need more time and testing to reach the quality we aim for. You can check our updated roadmap for an overview of what’s coming next and when you can expect your favorite features to arrive.

 

Q: What about multiplayer?
A: Because multiplayer only works if the core systems are solid first. If we added MP now, you’d have multiplayer but no real gameplay to use it with – and we’d just rewrite everything later. We’re starting with 4-player co-op because it’s easier to stabilize, and full MP will follow once the foundations are ready.

 

Q: And NPCs?
A: NPCs are planned for VS4, alongside the first multiplayer implementation.

 

Q: Why does the Almagest system map have only 2 sectors?
A: More sectors will be added in the future updates. We also plan to introduce new missions and new mission types in regular smaller updates in between big vertical slices. 

 

Q: Will the sector resources differ in the future?
A: Yes, we plan to make resources more dispersed – not every resource will be available in every sector, encouraging exploration and trade between regions. Also the production chains are just a baseline tweaked especially for VS2 and you can expect more changes as the development progresses.

 

Q: Can I skip the block progression? I just want to build!
A: For now, we’d love you to play and test the colonization and contract systems, and share your feedback during this foundation phase of the game. Let us know – are we on the right track? Can we start expanding on these systems, or do they need more improvements?
Later on, we’ll add a true sandbox experience option to turn off mission-based block progression and start with the full set of building options right from the beginning.

 

Q: Can planets be modded? 
A: Planet modding is not fully supported at this stage of development – but do not worry, we will bring you modding support for planets in the future updates!

 

Q: Should I purchase Space Engineers 2 now?
A: If you’re excited about what’s already in the game and want to help shape its future, now is a great time to join. Buying early directly supports development and lets you influence the direction of SE2.

If you’ve been waiting for planets and the first foundations of survival to test and share feedback, this update is for you.

If you prefer to experience the full survival campaign, NPCs, and advanced systems, you may want to wait a bit longer until more features land.

You can also follow development through our weekly dev diaries, subscribe to our newsletter, and add the game to your Steam Wishlist.

 

Please keep in mind that VS2 is still an Early Access and Alpha version of Space Engineers 2. We are planning daily hotfixes after the initial release.

• Starting with this release, we will always keep previous versions of the game available after major updates. This means you can return to an earlier version at any time and, for example, save your blueprints or creations. You will find these builds in the Steam Beta tab.
• We also want to be upfront about one important thing. We already know that water will be such a monumental change for the game that you will need to start a new save when VS3 arrives. We try to minimize situations like this, but during the alpha stage of development they are sometimes unavoidable.
• Planet modding is not fully supported at this stage of development – we will bring you modding support for planets at later stages!
• Customizable Controls are coming in VS2.2!

For full details, visit the VS2 Changelog.

 

 

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:

• Create a Bugreport
• Create a ticket with your Feedback/Idea
• Vote on other ideas or bug reports
• Comment and Interact with fellow players
• Suggest solutions and provide valuable feedback to help shape the future of Space Engineers 2

 

Your First SE2 Crew Member Has Just Docked!

Celebrate Space Engineers 2 with the triumphant return of a fan favorite, the official Space Engineer plushie! 

Now rocking the sleek new SE2 suit, this fuzzy crewmate is ready to float by your side on every build and wild adventure.

Bring the beauty of Kemik and Verdure to your wall with our new Space Engineers posters. Each print captures the atmosphere and character of these two iconic planets, making them perfect for your gaming space, office, or workshop.

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