Elite Dangerous 2.4... ships fighters?

[VR] Mad Mike · May 17, 2016

Or am I reading too much into the web page?
https://www.elitedangerous.com/en/seasons/

it could be a coincidence that there are 4 key updates listed on the page, and they do not correspond to 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4

because last I heard ships fighers was 2.2 and CMDR creator AND multicrew were both part of 2.3 with 2.4 being the extra stuff which would be a surprise.

I hope this delay has not now meant 2.3 has been split into 2 episodes and 2.4 has been canned.

---------

The Engineers, 2.1

Scheduled for Spring 2016. Everything changes. Introducing an expanded mission system and game-changing loot. Craft exotic weapons and modules for your spacecraft and build a ship unlike any other.

The Guardians, 2.2

Scheduled for Summer 2016. Take what comes and strike back with double. Bring a second ship to every combat encounter with Ship-Launched Fighters and defend your passengers against the deadliest threats in the galaxy.

The Commanders, 2.3

Scheduled for Fall 2016. Team up and stand together. Forge your own identity with the new Commander Creator, then share your bridge with Multi-Crew and fly with friends.

2.4 ?????

Tinman · May 17, 2016

The description has always looked like that on that page.

Colonel Kenney · May 17, 2016

2.4 is finally going to be the unveiling of alien races and exploration.

shadragon · May 17, 2016

I suspect the ??? is to give themselves wiggle room at the end of the year. By not committing to anything they can expand or contract 2.4 without disappointment.

What the FDevs have committed to for 2.1,2,2 & 2.3 is massive in terms of coding, new art assets, game mechanics, etc. With 2.1 being delayed by six weeks it cuts into dev time for the rest.

Even if 2.4 is only game enhancements, a few new ships, skimmers and maybe couple of SRV models, I'll be happy.

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Colonel Kenney said:
2.4 is finally going to be the unveiling of alien races and exploration.

Don't think so. For reasons mentioned above, such a patch would be massive. I think 3.x will do that along with atmo / ELP landable worlds, cities and flora fauna.

Tiranit · May 17, 2016

shadragon said:
I suspect the ??? is to give themselves wiggle room at the end of the year. By not committing to anything they can expand or contract 2.4 without disappointment.

What the FDevs have committed to for 2.1,2,2 & 2.3 is massive in terms of coding, new art assets, game mechanics, etc. With 2.1 being delayed by six weeks it cuts into dev time for the rest.

Even if 2.4 is only game enhancements, a few new ships, skimmers and maybe couple of SRV models, I'll be happy.

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Don't think so. For reasons mentioned above, such a patch would be massive. I think 3.x will do that along with atmo / ELP landable worlds, cities and flora fauna.

I think this guy have a point

Mephane · May 17, 2016

I hereby predict 2.4 is landing on (lifeless) worlds with atmospheres.

Monk · May 17, 2016

Mephane said:
I hereby predict 2.4 is landing on (lifeless) worlds with atmospheres.

Do you think they will have a good atmospheric flight model by then? One that takes into account varying gaseous densities, prevailing winds and storms?

I'm not so sure, sounds like a heck of a lot. If they do add more planets, I suspect it will be limited to volcanic worlds and planets with light atmospheres and dormant weather systems.

I have a feeling 2.4 is going to be rather unexpected and will provide a segway into Season 3.

Arithon · May 17, 2016

2.4 is going to be lifeless planets with atmosphere and volcanism.

That's my bet.

Either that or ship's cats.

Ian Phillips · May 17, 2016

Arithon said:
2.4 is going to be lifeless planets with atmosphere and volcanism.

That's my bet.

Either that or ship's cats.

Sooooo.....2.3 will introduce ships mice ?

Tiranit · May 17, 2016

Well, if im not mistaken, the Thargoids in the older releases of Elite used drones, coming from a "mothership". In this year its planned to have ship docked inside another, and controlled by NPC.

Maybe the "alien" thing isnt that far

Mark Lock · May 17, 2016

I hope 2.4 to be walking around the ship with ship interiors, my character is getting fat sitting all day at cockpit

Lateralus · May 17, 2016

I think 2.4 is under-wraps because it would reveal too much about season 3 (a bit like how 1.5 was a bridging update to 2.0).

Mark Lock said:
I hope 2.4 to be walking around the ship with ship interiors, my character is getting fat sitting all day at cockpit

Yeah, walking around would be the next logical step, considering we are getting the commander creator in 2.3.

Edit: I don't think they will abandon any of these updates, it would be extremely bad press. I think the worst case scenario is that the season falls few weeks behind schedule, but I think the summer/autumn/winter plan is still doable.

frostypaw · May 17, 2016

2.4?

*taps foot impatiently and stares at Gamma velorum* You're late.

Becks · May 17, 2016

Ian Phillips said:
Sooooo.....2.3 will introduce ships mice ?

Fuel Rats are already ingame

Barking_Mad · May 17, 2016

I've thought for a while that it will be walking round ships.

As for schedule, ship launched fighters and multicrew are *potentially* somewhat modular in design, meaning that the delay to 2.1 might not affect them in terms of any delay. But that's a guess, obviously.

clavain · May 17, 2016

Naming ships. That is all.

Tinman · May 17, 2016

shadragon said:
Don't think so. For reasons mentioned above, such a patch would be massive. I think 3.x will do that along with atmo / ELP landable worlds, cities and flora fauna.

Planets with atmosphere in Season 3? Planets similar to Mars/Venus/Titan? Yes, that's rather likely. Maybe even gas giants depending on how flexible the atmosphere simulation is.

Earthlike planets with atmosphere, flora, fauna and full scale cities!? Not a chance.

dannysquid · May 17, 2016

I'd actually take a wild stab that 2.4 will be floating/walking around your ship. They have to start tackling this stuff sooner or later and doing it in simple predictable environments might be a good foundation for testing and expanding.

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Thinking about it again, with passengers (already?) included in the game, there's also the scope for a bit of chat/interaction/shooting people too. Although won't most of the ships be so cramped as to make gameplay rather limited? I'm not sure I'd want to play Call of Duty set inside a Sidewinder.

Monk · May 17, 2016

dannysquid said:
I'd actually take a wild stab that 2.4 will be floating/walking around your ship. They have to start tackling this stuff sooner or later and doing it in simple predictable environments might be a good foundation for testing and expanding.

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Thinking about it again, with passengers (already?) included in the game, there's also the scope for a bit of chat/interaction/shooting people too. Although won't most of the ships be so cramped as to make gameplay rather limited? I'm not sure I'd want to play Call of Duty set inside a Sidewinder.

The ships are not cramped. Zoom out on the Eagle and take a look at the back...that door there...that is for people...yeah...ships in Elite are big.

Actually, it is probably a not so insignificant task to design the levels inside the ships...we'll see

[video=youtube;x08skupb8cc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x08skupb8cc[/video]

frostypaw · May 17, 2016

I really don't want to walk around

It'll just be people running everywhere because what used to take seconds now takes most of minute of getting places and waiting your turn in line.