SpaceEngine — patch notes and updates
Stored observation / content update:
Dated developer announcements recorded from Steam. Open the source for the complete update.
| Update | Date | Excerpt / source |
|---|---|---|
| Build 0.991.50.2140 | 2026-05-04 | Hey folks!The first regular update of the year is now out on the public branch! We've been chipping away at some tricky technical issues, which will be the focus in the patch notes below. The first issue we've resolved is the "function not implemented" issue NVIDIA graphics drivers ran into while trying to record. It ended up being less of a 'fix' and more of an overhaul to our video encoders.SpaceEngine now offers multiple codecs to cover your hardware/needs: AV1, H.264, HEVC (H.265), and SVT/AOM Software AV1. Hardware encoders are divided into NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel. See the deep dive below for more.The second under-the-hood issue resolved |
| 0.991.50.2140 Public Beta Update | 2026-04-27 | Hey folks!Thanks for the feedback and reports from the Beta branch. We’ve made some tweaks to the Beta that, barring any issues, should move to public very soon. The focus of this patch is to iterate on our file path changes and give folks the option to keep the old paths if they experience Windows permission issues.Changelog:The cache is now created in your %LOCALAPPDATA% folder, rather than %APPDATA%. The old cache location can be safely deletedWireframe in the nebula editor now works outside of debug modeFixed a start failure in SteamVR modeThumbnails for Locations now correctly transfer on first launchMore specifically, when SE moves plac |
| 0.991.50.2125 Public Beta | 2026-04-02 | Hey folks!The first regular update of the year is now available on the beta branch. In this update are two major changes: file paths and video encoding. Each is outlined below, and all of this information will be permanently housed on the #guides channel on our Discord. Also in this update are all the fixes and catalog additions/changes since our last update in December, as well as tutorial fixes and new Featured Locations from the 0.991 Locations Contest.Opting into the beta branch looks slightly different now. You still right-click SpaceEngine in your Steam library and hit Properties, but "Betas" is now "Game Versions & Betas", with a more |
| SpaceEngine Merchandise Now Available! | 2026-02-19 | Hey folks!We've been at work behind the scenes on something many have been waiting for: merch! This first collection primarily features the classic blue SpaceEngine logo, as well as iconic scenes, like objects from our Solar System. On offer are display pieces like posters and buttons, and more practical offerings like shirts and drinkware.Browse offerings at https://merch.spaceengine.org/We've chosen Fourthwall as our merch provider to supply quality merchandise options for every price point. We'll be keeping an eye out for your first impressions, feedback, and ideas for future drops! |
| Build 0.991.49.2095 | 2025-12-08 | Hey Folks!With Beta formalities concluded, our tiny patch is now on Public. Just a quick fix, plus the monthly serving of catalog updates~Carrying over the fun fact from the Beta: if you've been wondering where the host stars are in the Catalog Additions, we only include entries not in systems of added exoplanets. If you enjoy browsing new entries, you'll see all the stars on the way!Changelog:Fixed a bug where "NaN" values appeared in the Wiki for some solar system moonsRemoved refuted planets Kapteyn b and cUpdated the exoplanet catalogs with 15 new host stars and 24 new planetsCatalog Additions:Stars:BEBOP-4 AB (binary)Brown Dwarf Candidat |
| 0.991.49.2095 Public Beta | 2025-12-03 | Hey folks!We're squeezing in one more tiny patch before the holidays, with monthly catalog additions and a fix. This Beta window serves as a brief sanity check (To opt in, go to Steam Library, right click SpaceEngine, then click Properties> Betas and select the beta branch).Speaking of sanity checks, if you've been wondering where the host stars are in the Catalog Additions of today and before, they usually get rolled into the planets they host to prevent near-duplicate entries~Changelog:Fixed a bug where "NaN" values appeared in the Wiki for some solar system moonsRemoved refuted planets Kapteyn b and cUpdated the exoplanet catalogs with 15 |
| Build 0.991.49.2090: The Universe Generation Update | 2025-11-19 | Hey folks!Our next major patch, 0.991: The Universe Generation Update, is now live! This update brings major changes to SpaceEngine’s procedural generation systems, elevating all things beyond the known universe and breaking from the dreaded giant-terra-giant-terra pattern.Generation changes like this cause a universe reset— recalculating the 'where' and 'what' of all procedural objects. For established users, this means information like screenshots, saved locations, and procedural object names from 0.990 will likely no longer be accurate*. Fear not for your 0.990 records, however! For posterity, build 0.990.48.2075 has been saved as a legacy |
| 0.991.49.2090 Public Beta Update | 2025-11-12 | Hey folks!Today's Beta update brings you the second (and tentatively final) wave of fixes that affect generation, meaning yes, the universe will be resetting once more! Our focus is on fixing bugs introduced with 0.991, specifically, as well as addressing issues with generation that we can incorporate without overexpanding our scope, and miscellaneous/normal operations items, such as new exoplanets.The goal from here is to clear 0.991 for Public branch release. We still have plenty of ideas for improvements down the line, though, both internally and based on your excellent suggestions!Like with the previous mid-Beta update, the primary place |
| 0.991.49.2085 Public Beta Update | 2025-10-02 | Hey folks!Thanks for all the bug reports and feedback with the 0.991 beta! We're tracking everything coming in and have a first wave of fixes for you for further testing. As we warned with the original beta drop, this update will once again cause a universe reset, and it may not be the last, so don't get attached to locations until the public release!Plenty of other fixes are still in the works, such as overly eccentric orbits and overly dense dwarf moons. We are prioritizing bugs that were introduced with 0.991, but the testing process has revealed (or reminded us of~) multiple pre-existing bugs that are also being logged for future fixes/up |
| 0.991.49.2080 Public Beta | 2025-09-15 | NOTICE: This Beta involves a Universe reset. Many of your saved locations from 0.990 will not work in this version. Use caution, and label your old locations!Hey folks!We're opening the gates on 0.991 with an extended Beta to ensure everything is working before release. We anticipate the Beta to run for at least two weeks, during which we may push further updates and/or fixes, which will further affect generation. We will let you know if this happens.The purpose of this Beta is to ensure the generation improvements are in their best form, and that none of the changes made have broken other aspects of SpaceEngine. Suspected bugs should be repo |
| Overview of the 0.991 Universe Generation Update | 2025-09-11 | Authors: Dr. Megan, Sean, Jonathan, and Brendan Note: you can view the blog full blog post on our website for more images, interactive image comparisons, and more. Hey folks! In preparation for the public release of the Universe Generation Update, we’re highlighting some major changes you can expect to SpaceEngine with this fresh batch of cosmos! Planetary System Architecture One of the biggest frustrations with 0.990’s procedural universe is the sameness between systems. Established users know the pattern: giant-terra-giant-terra, big planet, small planet, etc. With 0.991, this is no longer the case! Planets will now generate in more realist |
| 0.991: The Universe Generation Update is Coming Soon! | 2025-09-08 | Hey folks!We’re heads-down on improvements while we prepare our next major release, 0.991: The Universe Generation Update! The team has been hard at work behind the scenes on all things procedural, bringing you a slew of improvements and fixes that will re-map our procedural Universe! This update will cause a universe reset. Label your saved locations now, as many will break in 0.991. A legacy branch will open with the full release, where you can return to your old locations. We hope to push the update to the Beta branch sometime next week! Stay tuned for details in the coming days~See the full article on our website: https://spaceengine.org/ |
| Build 0.990.48.2075 | 2025-07-22 | Hey folks!Beta has come back stable, so your monthly dose of catalog additions is now on the public branch!This build includes a fix for brown dwarf properties being affected by your display mode (HDR and Auto/Manual exposure settings), and lines up the final line of text in the epilepsy warning. As a reminder, you can disable this warning from your main-user.cfg file by finding ShowSeizureWarning and setting it to false.Changelog:Updated asteroid, asteroid binary, and Kuiper Belt catalogsFixed a bug where brown dwarf luminosity and magnitudes changed with display mode for both isolated brown dwarfs and binary brown dwarfs (This bug still exi |
| 0.990.48.2075 Public Beta | 2025-07-15 | Hey folks!Staying cool? Remember to take breaks and stay hydrated if you live in warmer areas! We have another Beta prepared to keep you inside with the usual helping of fixes and catalog updates.Like with all Betas, you'll need to opt in by going to your Steam library, right-clicking SpaceEngine, followed by Properties> Betas> and selecting the beta branch from the drop-down menu. Feedback and bug reports should be directed to the Official Discord and Steam forums.Changelog:Updated asteroid, asteroid binary, and Kuiper Belt catalogsFixed a bug where brown dwarf luminosity and magnitudes changed with display mode for both isolated brown dwarf |
| Build 0.990.48.2070 | 2025-06-23 | Hey folks!No new bug reports from the Beta branch, so we're pushing to public! This build brings your usual helping of catalog additions/fixes while work continues on larger future updates (when we have more to show, we will!)Some users reported a typo in the recently added exoplanet AT2021ueyL b, but that's actually its correct name! From Dr. Megan: "AT" refers to an Astronomical Transient event, where the brightness of objects briefly changes. 2021 refers to the year of the event, and 'uey' is the identifier for which event during that year the planet was observed. Finally, 'L' refers to the discovery method of gravitational microlensing, w |
| 0.990.48.2070 Public Beta | 2025-06-16 | Hey folks!Any enthusiasts attending CASCA 2025 may have spotted some SE team members in attendance! A big thank you to all the interest in our humble space sim~The team is back now with the next round of catalog updates for the Beta branch. As always, you can help test by right-clicking SpaceEngine in your Library, selecting Properties>Betas, and selecting the public beta branch. Problems and innacuracies can be reported in the Steam forums and our official Discord in their respective Bug Report areas.(Thumbnail inspired by community member Jotap)Changelog:Improved position and properties of 61 Cyg and componentsFixed/expanded data for LP 994 |
| Build 0.990.48.2065 | 2025-05-12 | Hey folks~ The weekend Beta came back clean, so we're pushing to public! We're happy to see an increase in catalog reporting by the community. Please keep it up! In this update, the Galaxy IC 1101 is now a Black Hole host, with its central black hole aptly named 'IC 1101 Central Black Hole'. New additions to the catalogs are below as usual. Changelog: Updated the exoplanet catalogs with 9 new host stars and 13 new planets Added additional basic descriptions to the Info tab of the Wiki for asteroids An assortment of fixes for one-off errors in object properties in the catalogs, including spectral types/distances for 30+ stars. Added 'IC 1101 C |
| Build 0.990.48.2065 Public Beta | 2025-05-08 | Hey folks! Business as usual with fixes and catalog updates for this smaller Beta round. One notable change included with this update is that the Galaxy IC 1101 is being converted into a black hole host thanks to the diligent reporting by the community! We only have so many hands to check the massive list of objects in SE, so community feedback is always welcome! As usual, any problems/inaccuracies with the beta can be reported via Support/Bug-Reports on the Discord or Troubleshooting & Bug Reports on the Steam Discussions. Changelog: Updated the exoplanet catalogs with 9 new host stars and 13 new planets Added additional basic descriptions t |
| Build 0.990.48.2055: Many Mini Moons | 2025-04-10 | No issues detected in the Beta branch, so we're pushing the update to public! Here's the relevant news from the Beta post: This month had a lot of extra catch-up between the usual exoplanet updates, more behind-the-scenes updates (as teased during our anniversary post in case you only read Steam notes), and the very exciting discovery of over a hundred more moons around our very own Saturn! Light reading and a list of the new moons can be found in this short NASA article. The new moons are not easily findable with default settings. You will need to either use the Solar System Browser with Gas giant minor moons enabled (click the Gear in the l |
| 0.990.48.2055 Public Beta | 2025-04-07 | Hey folks! This month had a lot of extra catch-up between the usual exoplanet updates, more behind-the-scenes updates (as teased during our anniversary post in case you only read Steam notes), and the very exciting discovery of over a hundred more moons around our very own Saturn! Light reading and a list of the new moons can be found in this short NASA article. The new moons are not easily findable with default settings. You will need to either use the Solar System Browser with Gas giant minor moons enabled (click the Gear in the left of the window), or use Find Object. Naming conventions are the same as the linked article, except with a spa |