A timeline of events that constitute the background to X4 including events from previous X games
| NT | EY | X-Game | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| -128 | 2042 | Earth scientists create Jump Gates | |
| -124 | 2046 | The flight of the Winterblossom | |
| -118 | 2052 | USC established | |
| -104 | 2066 | Terraformer Project begins | |
| -71 | 2099 | Terraformer Project is terminated | |
| -25 | 2145 | The Terraformer Conflict | |
| -23 | 2147 | The Earth Jump Gate is destroyed to protect Earth | |
| -23 | 2147 | The Terraformer Conflict ends | |
| 0 | 2170 | Earth is removed from the history of the conflict's survivors who go on to from the Argon Federation | |
| 130 | 2300 | First contact with the Paranid | |
| 202 | 2372 | Goner Sect is formed on the belief that Earth still exists | |
| 215 | 2385 | Xenon destroy the spaceport "Antigone", The sector Antigone Memorial and The Antigone Republic is named in its honour | |
| 241 | 2491 | Foundation of the Federation | |
| 323 | 2493 | First contact with the Boron | |
| 324 | 2494 | The Boron Campaign | |
| 328 | 2498 | Community of Planets is formed | |
| 514 | 2684 | 200 Years of Cold War | |
| 550 | 2720 | First contact with Teladi | |
| 589 | 2759 | Credits become the currency of the X universe | |
| ~608 | ~2778 | The Hatikvah Free League is established | |
| 735 | 2905 | Xenon ship enters Sol using a Gateless Jumpdrive | |
| 742 | 2912 | Evolution of the Xenon | |
| 742 | 2912 | X:Btf / X:T | Arrival of USC X and Kyle Brennan |
| 763 | 2933 | First contact with the Kha'ak | |
| 763 | 2933 | X2: | The President's End massacre |
| 763 | 2933 | X2: | The Battle of Omicron Lyrae |
| 764 | 2934 | X3:R | The race to find Earth |
| 764 | 2934 | X3:TC | Relations with the Terrans begin to cool |
| 764 | 2934 | X3:TC | Operation: Final Fury |
| 770 | 2940 | Tensions Build over AGI usage | |
| 774 | 2944 | X3:AP* | The Terran Conflict |
| 778 | 2948 | X3:AP* | The Destruction of the Torus Aeternal |
| 778 | 2948 | X3:AP | Plutarch gains influence over the Albion system |
| 780 | 2950 | Warp Instability | |
| 782 | 2952 | The Jump Gate Shutdown | |
| 801 | 2971 | The Alliance of the Word is established | |
| 803 | 2973 | X:R | The Gates Reopen |
| 803 | 2973 | X:R | A treaty is signed between the remnants of the Argon Government, Heart of Albion and Canterran Republic, bringing an end to the Terran Conflict |
| 820 | 2990 | The Gate Network Stabilises | |
| 820 | 2990 | Paranid Civil war begins between the Godrealm of the Paranid and the Holy Order of the Pontifex after each faction establishes their own Pontifex during The Jump Gate Shutdown | |
| 825 | 2995 | X4:F | Boso Ta escapes Split capture |
| 825 | 2995 | X4:F (SV) | The remains of the Free Families Fleet is destroyed by the Zyarth Patriarchy in Fires of Defeat/Victory |
| 825 | 2995 | X4:F | The Hatikvah Free League breaks away from dealing with the Scale Plate Pact with Argon Federation Support |
Legend
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| NT | New Time (years since removing Earth from Argon history) |
| EY | Earth Years /AD/CE |
| X:Btf | X: Beyond the Frontier (1999) |
| X:T | X: Tension (2000) |
| X2 | X2: The Threat (2004) |
| X3:R | X3: Reunion (2005) |
| X3:TC | X3: Terran Conflict (2008) |
| X3:AP* | X3: AP (Prologue) |
| X3:AP | X3: Albion Prelude (2011) |
| X:R | X: Rebirth (2013) |
| X4:F | X4: Foundations (2018) |
| (SV) | X4: Foundations Split Vendetta DLC (2020) |