X3: Albion Prelude (usually shortened to X3AP and trademarked as X3: Albion Prelude), is a space trading and combat simulator from German developer Egosoft and is the fifth game in their X series. An add-on to 2008's X3: Terran Conflict, X3: Albion Prelude features new content, functionality and improvements, including additional ships, stations, and sectors; a new plot line; war scenario sectors, and several stock exchanges. X3: Albion Prelude was announced on 8 December 2011 and released on Steam on 15 December 2011.