SUMMARY:
- Target-based Grid ControlOff-center 3rd Person CameraPaint Gun Undo-RedoImproved Visuals for Partial Copy/PasteJetpack 2.0…and much more!
This is our first Vertical Slice update since the Space Engineers 2 Alpha release, and we’re excited to bring you a whole set of new features - and improvements based on your feedback. This update adds in-game UGC Workshop support with Steam Workshop integration, making it easier to share and discover Blueprints and Worlds. We’ve also introduced mouse sensitivity controls, an inverted mouse axis option, and a new grid pasting mode with improved pivot controls.
On top of that, we’ve added advanced world settings for all saves and improved performance when pasting and placing grids. We’re just getting started, and there’s plenty more to come!
Vertical Slice 1.1 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
Work in Progress / Ongoing Improvements
- Color picker will be included in undo-redo for paint gun in a future updateCharacter is not holding a Gun correctly while using the jetpackAfter 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.
- 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.
What’s Next
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 BugreportCreate a ticket with your Feedback/IdeaVote on other ideas or bug reportsComment and Interact with fellow playersSuggest 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
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!
Space Engineers 2 Links
- 🤩 Play Now on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1133870/Space_Engineers_2/🛠️ Feedback & Support - https://support.keenswh.com/🗺️ Roadmap: https://2.spaceengineersgame.com/roadmap-2/#current🛰️ Discord: https://discord.gg/keenswh📫 Newsletter: https://www.keenswh.com/newsletter➡️ Connect and find us on your platform of choice - https://www.keenswh.com/connect/
Thank you for reading this blog!
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.
