Foundation Three
SupportJoin the alpha

Play the alpha

Fly the first Foundation Three alpha. It is early, rough in places and changing every week, and your feedback shapes what we build next.

Download for Windows

Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit · a DirectX 12 or Vulkan graphics card

Three steps

  1. Download the zip.
  2. Unzip it anywhere and run f3_client.exe. Keep the data folder next to it. Windows may warn you, see below.
  3. Sign in once as a tester when the game asks, pick a callsign and fly.

Windows protected your PC? Foundation Three is new and not yet signed with a paid certificate, so Windows warns about it. Click More info, then Run anyway.

It installs to its own folder, has no background service, and sends only what the privacy policy lists. Privacy

What you need

  • Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit.
  • A graphics card from the last several years with an up-to-date driver (DirectX 12 or Vulkan support).
  • Keyboard and mouse, a gamepad, or a HOTAS or joystick. All three work, and every control can be remapped in Settings. Menus are best with keyboard and mouse for now.
  • An internet connection to play on a server, or none at all to practise against the bot.

Start flying

  1. Run f3_client.exe. It opens on the main menu.
  2. Choose Quick Fight to be matched into a game, Practice vs bot to fly against the bot, or Find a server to pick one yourself. Foundation Three London is always in the list, and you can start your own with Create a server.
  3. Check Settings, Controls if your stick or pad needs setting up.

The zip also contains a short how-to-play guide with the controls. Controls are also in our Discord, in #how-to-play.

Join a server

From the main menu choose Find a server. Live servers appear in the list with their map, player count and ping. Pick one, choose your ship class, and press Take a seat. Both sides must run the same build, and the game tells you if yours is out of date. In a team match, press Enter in the warm-up when you are ready.

Known issues

  • This is an alpha. Expect rough edges, placeholder art and balance that will change.
  • Only the Fighter has the full modelled cockpit. Other ships use a simpler one for now.
  • Menus do not yet work fully with a gamepad or HOTAS. Use keyboard and mouse there.
  • Windows only for now.
  • The alpha is not yet code-signed, so Windows shows a warning when you first run it.

If something else goes wrong, tell us in Discord and include your game version and graphics card.

Tell us what you think

Fly a few matches, then tell us what felt good, what felt wrong and what you would change. We read everything.

New versions are posted on this page. Our Discord is optional: it is where we share patch notes, take feedback and fly together.

Join the Discord (optional)