When starting the game, the player sits in the cockpit of a cheap, low-performance spacecraft and is thrown into the middle of an open galaxy.
In addition, the authors implemented a new interface that allows you to command large star fleets and freely construct space stations by manually assembling them from individual modules. In this respect, the game offers more possibilities than most competing titles, as it allows you to construct space stations and ship armadas, which are then used to conduct wars with enemy factions.X4 allows you to pilot many different types of spacecraft, and each of them can be improved and modified by replacing parts and installing purchased components. In contrast to X Rebirth from 2014, which offered many simplifications, the X4 released for PC is based on the solutions of the much more complicated and richer X3 Terran Conflict (2008), while introducing numerous improvements and novelties to this formula.