The
X4: Envoy Pack introduced a new stealth-ready frigate, jointly developed by the Argon Federation and the Teladi Ministry of Finance. Beyond its advanced features - the Cloak stance, faction camouflage protocols and a fully explorable interior - the Envoy stands out for how its design blends high-tech efficiency with a sense of real, functional space.
Today we're taking a look behind the scenes at the concept art process for the Envoy, created by Jerzy and Yari, Concept Artists at Egosoft. We sat down with them to hear about the design process and the challenges involved.
Cloak and Dagger
During early exploration, the team developed the idea of the Envoy having two contrasting modes - internally nicknamed "cloak and dagger."
"The sleek cloak mode allows the ship to glide quietly under radar," Jerzy explains.
"When switching to normal mode, the 'jaws' open up - an aggressive, spiky look revealing the weapon systems ready to go guns blazing."
This visual duality became a defining feature of the ship's silhouette: calm and streamlined in stealth, sharp and dangerous in combat.
A Compact World Inside a Ship
The Envoy features one of X4's most fully explorable interiors, designed to feel like a real, self-contained environment. Every room and corridor serves a purpose, reflecting the ship's role as a stealth-ready frigate developed for delicate operations.
"The Envoy's interior was imagined like a submarine environment," explains Yari.
"We pushed the corridors to be narrower, while keeping the main rooms more open."
"That contrast gives you both the claustrophobic and the spacious feel of a real ship," adds Jerzy.
This combination of restricted passageways and more generous living areas creates a rhythm that mirrors the Envoy's stealthy purpose - compact but sophisticated.
From the captain's quarters to the corridors and cockpit, the design emphasises tight proportions and interlocking modules, giving the ship a grounded, functional atmosphere that supports its advanced technology and mission profile.
Designing on the Grid
Behind the scenes, the interior design wasn't just about looks. The team had to reconcile the Envoy's angled, modular shapes with the game's internal grid system.
"We built much of the interior around 30° and 60° angles," Yari recalls.
"It gave the spaces character, but it was tricky - those angles don't align easily to a central grid."
That challenge defined the ship's corridors and junctions, giving them the slightly offset, industrial feel players can sense when walking through.
A Slice of Life
The Envoy's interior was also meant to feel alive - not just a sterile technical space, but a place where people actually live and work.
"For the fully explorable interiors, we wanted a bit of personality," says Yari.
"You can see how the crew works, and passes time - even small touches like a plush toy help make it feel real."
These human details add depth to the ship and help players imagine the daily life aboard.
From Concept to Reality
From the first silhouettes to the final render, the Envoy evolved through countless iterations - balancing stealth and strength, utility and comfort. Many of the shapes and proportions from Jerzy and Yari's early work remain clearly visible in the finished ship.
"The Envoy also pushed us further than before in terms of interior scale and complexity," adds Egosoft's Lead Artist, Lino.
"We always try to raise the bar for what design can make people feel on board our ships."
The Envoy embodies what makes X4: Foundations special: believable, functional design that feels like a world of its own.
If you haven't yet explored it yourself, the
X4: Envoy Pack is available now. And if you already own the
X4: Hyperion Pack, released earlier this year, don't miss the
X4: Ship Pack Bundle - complete your collection and enjoy a 10% bundle discount!
