A question about the universe update and compatible with the old

[AshWilliams]

So I bought a server and would of course want to have my own starmade server.
I've been looking around and can't seem to find any info about if the new universe update will be compatible with the old universe, so we don't have to start all over.
It's really the only thing that keeps me from running a server and play the game.

Another thing is it possible to host the development builds and go down that route in order to have a compatible universe with the new update.
Sorry if it's stupid questions that I should have found myself, but now I'm asking the community.

 

[Alphajim]

From what I understood the old universe won't be compatible.
It would be a smaller galaxy, flattened a bit like in Stellaris map and with zones of interest.
The actual sector system will be masked and solar systems might be different than now, with more planets and contents.

But Universe Update won't happen this year, or just a dev release to give us an insight of what it looks like.