Games Press

Space Engineers 2

Press release

Major Alpha update introduces the first Combat NPCs to Space Engineers 2, alongside expanded character combat, new blocks, improved exploration, and more

Prague, Czech Republic - October 19, 2026 - Keen Software House today released Hostile Encounters, a major Alpha update for Space Engineers 2 that introduces Combat NPCs for the first time. Players can now face the Renegades and their heavier Boatmen leaders - enemies capable of navigating the same fully destructible, player-built sandbox as the Engineer.

Unlike NPCs in a traditional shooter, enemies in Space Engineers 2 must operate in an environment that can change at any moment. Players can destroy their cover, rebuild structures around them, block paths with vehicles, or reshape the terrain itself. Hostile Encounters brings NPC navigation, cover behavior, threat sharing, combat reactions, and more into that unpredictable engineering sandbox.

This update also expands character combat, Almagest exploration, Locations and Contracts, planetary visuals, and building options with 19 new blocks including the Interior Turret, Cables, Pipes, Armor Slabs, and decorative props. Experimental NVIDIA DLSS support has also been added.