News Elite Dangerous - 2.4 and beyond

[CMDR Dreamstate]

"Due to the wider and more global nature of this small point update, we will be making the beta open for all and we would welcome your support in joining and spending a few hours playing and helping to ensure the update is as good and stable as it can be."

FINALLY.

No more pay-to-beta farces in the future ever again, please.

Not only is it insulting and elitist, but you end up with less variety of test-bed machines to better manufacture your software.

Thanks for the update - the community needs this and we'll all be looking forward to more at E3. Don't skimp on those promo aliens videos with secret code in them...

 

[Ozram]

If I had to hazard a guess as to how Frontier will monetize the game from here on without "season passes", I'd wager they will be utilizing the Elite Store to charge for certain things other than just cosmetic DLC. They already have the Store in place and it integrates very well with the game, so why not take advantage of that? For example, all of these core and QoL improvements will probably be free updates for everyone to prevent fragmenting the playerbase. However you might start having to pay in the Store for things like:

- Volcanic Planet Landing Permit (new planet type to land on)
- Gas Giant Flight Permit (allows flying into GG atmospheres)
- SRV MkII License (new SRV)
- Panther Clipper License (new ship)
- Imperial Explorer License (new ship)

Ideally these would not be expensive to buy, say $5 or less for each, but over the course of a year or two you might end up paying the same total amount that you would have for a season pass like we did for Horizons. The big difference now being that you can pick and choose what features you want to buy and which ones you don't need at all.

That's my gut feeling for how they'll be handling this going forward. Totally theorizing here though.

Selfishly, I presume if something of that nature does come to fruition it will be included in my LTP.

 

[Ozram]

"Due to the wider and more global nature of this small point update, we will be making the beta open for all and we would welcome your support in joining and spending a few hours playing and helping to ensure the update is as good and stable as it can be."

FINALLY.

No more pay-to-beta farces in the future ever again, please.

Not only is it insulting and elitist, but you end up with less variety of test-bed machines to better manufacture your software.

Thanks for the update - the community needs this and we'll all be looking forward to more at E3. Don't skimp on those promo aliens videos with secret code in them...

Beta access is one of the "exclusives" featured in the LTP, so I'm not sure how they'll balance it out.

 

[Adept]

We’re happy to be able to confirm that the next major updates following 2.4 will focus on core gameplay, existing features, quality of life and other improvements! We’re delighted to be investing a considerable amount of development and effort into making the core gameplay experience even better for our fantastic community or players.

I'm glad to hear you guys are going to do a proper enhancement sprint.

 

[WR3ND]

You know, consumers do have the option of simply not paying for something and then not having it? It's a choice m8. Excercise it.

But I'm not going to dogpile the developer for recognising the breakneck speed has certainly lead to some breaking of necks and perhaps a bit of a stability forcus for an update or two wouldn't go amiss.

It's unfathomable why that would even be logical to challenge given the current state. And they simply aren't just going to not add new stuff along the way.

Most likely "core gameplay" elements will continue to be included in base game updates and not require a separate purchase as they haven't in the past either. Maintaining and hosting different versions of the game with different core gameplay elements is likely more trouble than it's worth and would fragment the player base.

No, what people (that don't have the LEP) will be paying for is largely new content related.

 

[WR3ND]

Selfishly, I presume if something of that nature does come to fruition it will be included in my LTP.

It's not selfish at all. My Lifetime Expansion Pass – back when Horizons was first announced and after already having purchases Elite: Dangerous earlier in the year – covered the equivalent costs of game expansions through the end of season 4, assuming 60 USD per season.

People don't seem to understand mutually beneficial working business relationships here. Frontier isn't our enemy...

 

[amigacooke]

It's not selfish at all. My Lifetime Expansion Pass – back when Horizons was first announced and after already having purchases Elite: Dangerous earlier in the year – covered the equivalent costs of game expansions through the end of season 4, assuming 60 USD per season.

People don't seem to understand mutually beneficial working business relationships here. Frontier isn't our enemy...

Frontier don't seem to understand mutually beneficial working business relationships has been my experience I'm afraid.

 

[Bunkerkind Anni]

Beta access is one of the "exclusives" featured in the LTP, so I'm not sure how they'll balance it out.

its not the first open beta after release.

 

[Ziljan]

I don't think anyone wants stagnation, but no one wants features they hate added to the game either. You've asked for the ADS removed from the game in the past, IINM. I hate telepresence..

Not sure how to find the right balance. Good luck to FD trying to keep everyone happy.

Whoa whoa, hold on there cowboy. I never asked for the ADS to be removed. I asked for BDS and IDS to be remade into Infinite range scanners that revealed stepwise less info than the ADS, so that all 3 groups could each have a scanner they wanted that revealed the desired level of detail. With the status quo remaining in the game as the middle option (IDS) And the ADS being buffed to include surface detail without a DSS (at the cost of increased mass). And the BDS revealing only dark spheres until a DSS was applied.

Hence nothing would be removed, only added, since no one uses the BDS or IDS in their current irrelevant form.

 

[WR3ND]

Try the Civilization Community. Almost a tie for being the biggest mob of whiny cry babies .

I bought Civ5 and all of its content for the game. I got what I paid for and I'm happy with it. I'm not interested in Civ6, the Civ community, etc., nor are they relevant to my enjoyment of the game.

Elite: Dangerous on the other hand is continuing to be developed, so naturally I have a vested interest in it being developed to its full potential, especially after having purchased the Lifetime Expansion Pass, unlike your typical "whiners" which haven't already bought the game.

And the reason I bought this game? Because I like it. Go figure. [haha]

 

[GraXXoR]

I hope they'll make Elite a little more... you know... interesting. Because now (for me) it's soooo boring... To get some large ship or some profitable missions or ship upgrades from engineers you have to do A LOT of boring grinding, and in return you only get an ability to do more boring grinding...

You're joking?

To get a large ship quite literally takes a single afternoon.
You can currently get an Anaconda in 3-6 hours of consolidated gameplay (RNG being the defining factor).

 

[GraXXoR]

I'm glad to hear you guys are going to do a proper enhancement sprint.

Sprint?

2.4 – “????”
I can, however, tell you that this update will be slightly different to previous ones - content will be revealed over time rather than all being available on day one. Additional pieces of exciting content will surface over the coming months as the narrative progresses.

Because you just know that current content is being released much too fast to keep up with.

 

[GG7]

So Good and waiting news really;-

• 2.3.1 - Everyone gets that when the PS4 is released on about the 27th. Apart from the Weapons and Fighter Lock, we don't know what's in it but as we're having a Beta beforehand, I'm going to assume there's going to be a bit more to to 2.3.1 than the weapons lock which is why this was pushed back from Mid M till now. (Hope we get a roll function in the gunner role; It's doing my OCD head in). Although it does look like we'll be locked to whatever the release cycle is for the consoles.
• 2.4 - There's stuff coming and it will be released in stages. This implies a story line which will unfold over time and releases (Bit like the Formidine Rift mystery where new content was added with every point release). As I thoroughly enjoyed keeping track of that mystery, that's a positive. I'm just hoping they add a little bit of fixes and functionality as these releases come out.
• 'Beyond' - The Good news is that is proves that Frontier thinks there's still life in Elite after 2.4 (despite the vast amounts of salt on the Forums and Reddit), The bad news is that any salt mining is delayed until after these Event which Zac mentioned (Official Elite Meet II anyone?)

We knew that they were going to have to do a second pass on most of the features anyway, so here's hoping they increase the social side of the game.

You know Colin...

The argument can be made that this "PIVOT" on the part of Frontier is directly related to the "so-called" SALT from the majority of the community over these last several months.

I seriously doubt we would have seen such an announcement if everyone was praising 2.3 as the second coming.



P.S. What happened to this week's episode of Lave Radio???

 

[Ziljan]

I bought Civ5 and all of its content for the game. I got what I paid for and I'm happy with it. I'm not interested in Civ6, the Civ community, etc., nor are they relevant to my enjoyment of the game.

Elite: Dangerous on the other hand is continuing to be developed, so naturally I have a vested interest in it being developed to its full potential, especially after having purchased the Lifetime Expansion Pass, unlike your typical "whiners" which haven't already bought the game.

And the reason I bought this game? Because I like it. Go figure. [haha]

I hate to tell you, WR3ND, since I know your heart was the right place, but from a purely economic perspective unfortunately by buying the LEP you've given up your right to vote with your money and shortened Elite's lifespan in the process. And that imo, is bad for everyone in the long run in part because it creates a corrupting incentive vacuum. So a vested interest can quickly become a sunk cost depending on what Frontier decides to do with your money. On the positive side, I think that investment will pay off for you personally (in the short term) because Frontier is honorable, but I also hope that they never offer the LEP again. If too big a % of the player base owned the LEP then Frontier would be working on prepaid income. That doesn't look too good on financial statements, and for a very good reason. It effectively gives Elite a shorter "going concern" lifespan (unless they manage to dramatically grow their customer base).

 

[GG7]

You're joking?

To get a large ship quite literally takes a single afternoon.
You can currently get an Anaconda in 3-6 hours of consolidated gameplay (RNG being the defining factor).

Yeah... I have never understood those who claim the work involved in getting into a Python or Anaconda is some over the top grind fest.

In my case, I just played the game the way I felt like playing it at the time and before I knew it, I had the cash to buy my first Python, and not too much later, my first Anaconda.

There is something to be said for exaggerating the task to the point it becomes too daunting in one's mind to even attempt it. Despite the fact that this daunting task is 100% imaginary.

 

[Faybs]

Yeah... I have never understood those who claim the work involved in getting into a Python or Anaconda is some over the top grind fest.

In my case, I just played the game the way I felt like playing it at the time and before I knew it, I had the cash to buy my first Python, and not too much later, my first Anaconda.

There is something to be said for exaggerating the task to the point it becomes too daunting in one's mind to even attempt it. Despite the fact that this daunting task is 100% imaginary.

Heh, back in the day it was not like that at all... people actually bought haulers and adders, and used them for weeks at a time until they could afford the next ship in the progression. Mission payouts were usually in the hundreds or low thousand credits, and traders had to ask themselves whether it made more sense to fit a fuel scoop or pay for fuel. There's been a massive amount of inflation in income, but ships have stayed at the same prices. I hope this is one of the things that gets addressed, because your first hundred hours in the game used to be an epic adventure; these days by the time you're at 20 hours you can already afford any ship that's not rank-locked.

 

[Ozram]

its not the first open beta after release.

Yes and those are special circumstances and announced as such. Aka a deviation from the standard with a purpose given for said deviation.

 

[Adept]

You're joking?

To get a large ship quite literally takes a single afternoon.
You can currently get an Anaconda in 3-6 hours of consolidated gameplay (RNG being the defining factor).

Ok, I'll bite.

Please explain how, as the game is currently, somebody starting from scratch can get an Anaconda in 3 - 6 hours.

 

[Foxiol Eagle]

I just want a massive "pits" in planets, different types/sizes of SRV's for mining and cargo tasks, and that we can load OTHER SHIPS not just ours with them. Racing SRV's with proper paths/circuits to follow and stuff like that.

Make a better use of the world we have, the space itself, the PLANETS!


PS: Yet, I'm glad that at least you finally said something about what we can expect. Be smart by keeping us interested in the game not by adding "experimental" features but to expand in what you already made with better mechanics and interactions. So then players could use that to play our way...tools is what we need IN THE GAME. Just give us that. And thank you very much!

 

[Adept]

Sprint?

It's an Agile term, the development method they are using.