Marek Rosa sets out the studio's performance strategy — gameplay first, optimisation later — and reveals Byblos, a volcanic planet intended for VS3. Also on the slate: the Colonization Authority, the fighter cockpit block in its final form, functional wall inserts in the 25-centimetre conveyor format, and new Mediterranean-looking trees.
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Byblos is a volcanic planet in Space Engineers 2 planned for VS3, revealed in the April 2, 2026 Dev Diary. Its terrain was shaped by relatively recent volcanic activity, producing sharp shapes, jagged rocks and rough silhouettes. Its biomes vary between dark volcanic coasts, moss-covered rocks and snow-covered formations, each area having its own character while keeping Byblos's overall identity.
Marek Rosa clarifies in the April 2, 2026 Dev Diary that Space Engineers 2's priority is finishing core gameplay systems and maintaining stability before the major systemic optimization phase. Ongoing rendering, simulation and memory optimizations are included in each Vertical Slice, but deep optimization will come once major systems are in place — the same approach as Space Engineers 1.
Space Engineers 2's Colonization Authority is an AI system responsible for organizing and coordinating colonization efforts across the Almagest system. It adds narrative logic to the world: why certain infrastructure exists, how settlements were planned, and what went wrong in certain places. Exploring, players encounter traces of its decisions and the consequences they left behind.
