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X3: Albion Prelude being released on PC next week

Leads into X: Rebirth.

X3: Albion Prelude, a standalone expansion for space trading and combat game X3: Terran Conflict, will be released on Steam on 15th December - Thursday next week.

A Mac version will be "available soon" for €19.99, according to publisher Deep Silver and developer Egosoft.

Albion Prelude offers a storyline that will lead up to the release of new game X: Rebirth. It spins some yarn about corporations vying for power. And where have we heard that one before, Sony and Microsoft?

Albion Prelude also brings 30 new spaceships and stations, a new Stock Exchange for advanced investing, improved graphics for muscular computers a better user interface.

Also, crucially, there's support for head tracking.

X3: Albion Prelude won't be compatible with saved X3: Terran Conflict saved games.

If you own X3: Terran Conflict, you can pick-up Albion Prelude for €9.99.

If you own the X3: Superbox, Albion Prelude will be free. And if you want to buy X3: Terran Conflict and X3: Albion Prelude together, you can do so for €19.99.

There's no sign of X3: Albion Prelude on Steam yet. There's an X3: Albion Prelude site should you want more information.