It seems to me that following DB's Q&A today, this is where we're at:
- Offline mode is definitely out. They tried but the solutions they came up with just didnt cut it. This has upset a few folks for different reasons.
- Some folks are worried about "What if the servers go away? Will I still be able to play it in 30 years?" Given DB's statement in the Q&A about FD taking periodic archives of the game, including server code and galaxy state and their intention to release such an archive if they ever did decide to shut down the servers, I think we're covered here. This is all the resources needed to take over and establish community-run servers and given the community around Elite it's pretty much a no-brainer that this would happen.
So, DB's statement for KS was, there will be an full offline variant, wasn't it? Is it the same "will be", as it's for the release of the dedicated server software? I don't give a clue on it, as long as it's not released! If FD is going to be sold some time, it would be a loss of worth if this server software would get to public domain then, as there would be private servers possible but a new owner maybe would like to sell access to their own servers. Maybe he even doesn't want to and he shuts them down, but he likes to secure his own rights on the software? Never happend yet?
The only reason in my opinion why FD doesn't want to release the server software is the same as above. They want to have full control, unless what will ever happen in future. If they want to sell FD/Elite franchise, they want to have a better position for negotiations. Or if they want to sell access to their servers sometimes, they most likely don't want to have free public servers.
Technically, I see absolutely no reason not being able to run a dedicated server software for Elite Dangerous to connect locally or via public servers. The secrets of the online universe shouldn't be revealed? Lets use other seeds.
Support is not possible for an unlimited number of seeds? Just make only one official seed for downloadable server software.
Offline players could spoil offline secrets to other offline players? Who cares? They play only for themselves. If they have fun spoiling or cheating, just let them have their own decission. It's their game. Fully offline. Only on their hardware, not on official servers hardware. Why do you care? If there is still a need for multiple offline seeds, just make only one official and supported and all the others only unsupported. Shouldn't be a big thing, should it?
If there are still some secrets which are hardcoded and not affected by seeds, these problems could be solved some other way. Sure that will need some more development time then, so it may not be finished until release, but why not delivering as fast as possible after release?
I did my step in with PremiumBeta, and I already had a lot of fun since then, nearly all the time in open universe. Especially I really liked to give FD/DB my money to kick the publishers asses: It had a big part of "morality"-like decission to invest so much money into an unfinished game, just to show publishers what a costumer focused quality game design is being worth! But now I have the feeling, DB and FD isn't any better than the big publisher companies. My trust seems to be abused, because of eliminating a real offline variant which was announced and now it won't be released for some sleazy reason. It won't be a classics in years, that I'm still being able to play and having fun with, just because servers will be shut down some time in the future and there won't be a released dedicated server software then. You say I'm wrong? It's the same "will" as DB/FD has used, let future prove which one is wrong. For now at least DB/FD have broke their announcement for an offline variant.
That's why I must come to my clue, that I have supported the wrong person for the wrong reasons. My concratulations to DB and his team for this achievement.
But they can prove me wrong ... so Frontier, just release a dedicated server software or another form of fully offline variant of Elite Dangerous as soon as possible. Will you be able to get the achievement proving me wrong instead?