I may very well be wrong but I thought the future was pretty much “Here’s 3.4, enjoy. We’re now off to solely concentrate on the ‘New Era’ of Elite,” (whatever it may be called.)
I’ve got so much still to do and discover in the game that I have no issues at all with what we currently (including the 3.4 update) have in terms of content. On that basis, and it’s admittedly a fairly selfish and personal viewpoint, I’d be very happy to be left with no further updates to the upcoming 3.4 and allow FDev to lock themselves away to reflect on the game’s progression, the positives and negatives. To investigate what technological advances since the game first arrived can be used to change any of the more wayward mechanics and to marry gameplay and lore within that.
I’m, perhaps clearly, not involved in IT professionally but it seems that they’ve possibly stuffed what they can into the framework and foundations of the original game and perhaps now feel that the future is in a complete re-engineering of the game. Keeping some of what works, losing what doesn’t, using inspiration from aspects of other games and pushing newer technologies than their initial structure was designed for.
95% hope, no doubt but I’m good with that. If I’m wrong and there are further additions before the ‘New Era’ then that’s all the better.