The long-running sandbox sequel Space Engineers 2 hits a major milestone with the Vertical Slice 2 update, which adds the Almagest star system, two playable planets, and the first full survival systems for the game. Studio founder Marek Rosa calls VS2 “the first full implementation of planets and lays down the core systems for survival, colonization, and progression,” and the patch delivers on that promise with a named star system, a brown dwarf called Delfos at its center, and the light-giving star Almagest beyond the system’s borders.
Players can now travel to the planets Verdure and Kemik, touch down on surface biomes and explore caves, overhangs, flora and destructible natural features. The update introduces an initial storyline presented via a cutscene and voiceover, plus base contract systems, an interactive system map, and station points that can be used for fast travel. Survival mode changes how building works in practice. Players can craft basic components from gathered resources, but the headline feature is projection building: designers can drop holographic constructions without spending materials, finalize designs, and then commit resources to build them, which aims to make survival building feel closer to creative mode without stripping away progression.
Under the hood, VS2 adds basic production chains and a grid power system with swappable batteries, new consumables, ore detection and drilling, and a raft of new tools and blocks including welders, grinders, drills, fabricators, smelters, gear forges, thrusters, hydrogen tanks and generators, barrels, reactors, solar panels and a conveyor system.
Some features are still flagged for later milestones; Rosa says wheels, weapons and mechanical blocks “need more time and testing to reach the quality we aim for,” and planned additions such as a full GPS system, new contract types and area welding are listed for the next major milestone, VS2.2 Survival Extensions. You can check the studio’s current roadmap on their site for details. For context on how ambitious updates can reshape a game’s scope, see our coverage of Elden Ring Reforged 2.0 adds full multiplayer and a massive new dungeon, which rewired that mod’s multiplayer and content systems in a single release.
The VS2 update launches Monday December 1, and the game is 20% off on Steam until Monday December 8, priced at $23.99 / £19.99 during the sale. Space Engineers 2 on Steam has the live discount and the updated build once the patch goes live. There is also a trailer and developer footage showing parts of the new system and projection building.
Players who want to test survival should be prepared for an evolving experience; VS2 lays the foundation for colonization and progression, but the studio intends to iterate on mobility, combat and mechanical systems in later updates rather than rush them into the first survival milestone. Leave a comment with your first impressions of the new star system and follow us on X, Bluesky, and YouTube for more hands-on coverage and updates.
Space Engineers 2
Developed by Keen Software House
