4.0 Access on PC: FAQ

[Bruce G]

Thanks for the update.

So the playerbase can now be divided even further? Not between two but three versions?
Not to mention maintaining 3 versions seems inefficient.

From a development perspective, we'll only be actively working one version, 4.0. Some content will be Odyssey exclusive, but that doesn't equate to maintaining an entirely different version. 3.8 will only receive essential updates, meaning we can focus on 4.0.

 

[ferus]

Not really as 3.8 is only critical updates which leaves the 4.0 codebase so only 1 really which is what they have explained before on stream.

I still doubt Horizons 4.0 and Odyssey 4.0 will be 1:1. There will be differences which the devs have to take into consideration.
But that is not my problem, I just hoped devs could finally focus on one code and give it all they have.
I have a bigger issue with the playerbase splitting even further.

Nevermind, Bruce replied and cleared it up.

 

[DaftTree]

Just offer double CQC rewards in 4.0 and feel the crowds come

It may need to be a little more than double. The CQC rewards (outside of unlocking Attilius Orbital) are fairly paltry. FDev already fixed one of the biggest issues imo, by making it easier to matchmake via the main game.

@Bruce G
Introducing some tangible form of 'main-game' reward for participating in CQC would definitely encourage more players to take part. More players at any one time, means better and more enjoyable matches. Even just having two or three matches ongoing would start to separate the newer players from the veterans. Bringing together instances (at least for Horizons 4.0 / Odyssey 4.0) would also go a long way to improving the player count.

Also, it's been a few years:

• How about a couple of new maps? One based around a surface location could be fun, even rehashing a couple of existing maps with different power-up locations would create more variety
• How about bringing the guardian fighters into the Arena as new options?

Personally, I absolutely love CQC even as it is. A lick of paint and a bit of TLC, it could be really, really great.
Thanks,

 

[ferus]

From a development perspective, we'll only be actively working one version, 4.0. Some content will be Odyssey exclusive, but that doesn't equate to maintaining an entirely different version. 3.8 will only receive essential updates, meaning we can focus on 4.0.

Thanks Bruce, that's good to know. Pity about the playerbase splitting though

 

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

When a player get's stuck in Oddysey and their only recourse is to log into Horizons to get back on their ship, will it matter which version of Horizons is used?

 

[Irene_T]

Thank you, Bruce.

IMHO, not instancing Horizons 4.0 and Odyssey not only misses on reuniting the player base, but it splits it apart beyond what it is now. We will have Community Goals where we will barely see the community. Trying to instance together right now is already hard enough, to then have this extra dimension added to it.

If it's at all technically possible, my vote is to instance EDH 4.0 with Odyssey.

I think that's what we want right now, to not seperate the playerbase and to instance ED:H 4.0 with Odyssey

 

[AbslomRob]

Greetings Commanders,

Earlier this month we shared this post which described our plans to make 4.0 available to all PC users. We’d like to take this opportunity reiterate the purpose of this option and answer some of your questions. To that end please, read this FAQ on our website:

Elite Dangerous '4.0' Access on PC: FAQ - Elite Dangerous

Greetings Commanders, Earlier this month we shared this post which described our plans to make 4.0 available to all PC users. We’d like to ...

www.elitedangerous.com

As always, thank you for your feedback and please ask any further questions you may have down below!

O7

So if I understand correctly, there will be now 7 completely independent instances (3.8PS, 4.0PS, 3.8XB, 4.0XB, 3.8PC, 4.0PC, 4.0Ody) ?

 

[Northpin]

So if I understand correctly, there will be now 7 completely independent instances (3.8PS, 4.0PS, 3.8XB, 4.0XB, 3.8PC, 4.0PC, 4.0Ody) ?

You don understand correctly. There is no 4.0 on consoles
So 3.8 PC, 3.8 PS, 3.8 XB (nothing new until now), 4.0 Horizons PC and 4.0 Odyssey PC

Edit: With migration available next month, i would expect the number of players running 3.8 on consoles to be even less relevant than it is now

 

[AbslomRob]

You don understand correctly. There is no 4.0 on consoles
So 3.8 PC, 3.8 PS, 3.8 XB (nothing new until now), 4.0 Horizons PC and 4.0 Odyssey PC

Edit: With migration available next month, i would expect the number of players running 3.8 on consoles to be even less relevant than it is now

Oooh, I misunderstand the line that said "this means Xbox and PlayStation Commanders will have the option to join us on this adventure". What they meant was that Xbox and PlayStation commanders will have the option to no longer be Xbox or PlayStation commanders.

 

[Lithus]

Oooh, I misunderstand the line that said "this means Xbox and PlayStation Commanders will have the option to join us on this adventure". What they meant was that Xbox and PlayStation commanders will have the option to no longer be Xbox or PlayStation commanders.

their servers will still be up, I believe they're receiving a free copy of E: D on PC along with an optional transfer of their CMDRs next month

 

[Rubbernuke]

3.8:

 

[Star Wanderer]

3 way split of playerbase, 4 if we count consoles.
How did it come to this? Is the game engine really not that good? Plenty of games can play together with locked content until you pay to unlock it, so why can't Horizon 4.0 and Odyssey 4.0 too?

 

[Fizzatron]

It is a pity to see it have to be this way but even from when it was first announced back when consoles were part of the plan I couldn't quite see how it would all tie together. Between the OGBG (original base game) and Horizons there was a clear delineation between them, that isn't the case between Odyssey & HorizonsBG. Airless planets can be flown to in normal space and if Frontier wanted to keep all the Odyssey specific like settlements and concourses separate between HorizonsBG & Odyssey then they have to occupy a different instance. The only part where I can imagine common instancing working in theory between them is supercruise, and even then there may be reasons as to why that can't work.

Again, it is a shame to split the user base three ways, but rather than this being 'not the way to go' as some are saying, indicating that its somehow the way forward as a decision based on supporting all three, it's rather a bridge to cross; 3.8 is now a minimally supported legacy code base and 4.0 is the future with Odyssey being the main focus of any new developments.

The truth is that this is the way forward for Elite and the quicker every active and supporting player moves to 4.0 and then onto Odyssey, the sooner everyone can be united again. As a suggestion to Frontier, maybe there could be a time-limited exclusive, and worthwhile, asset in the game that can help smooth the transition.. <cough>Cobra Mk V</cough> or something like that...?

 

[Fizzatron]

3 way split of playerbase, 4 if we count consoles.
How did it come to this? Is the game engine really not that good? Plenty of games can play together with locked content until you pay to unlock it, so why can't Horizon 4.0 and Odyssey 4.0 too?

Those are all not difficult questions to answer if one were inclined to seek the proper answers to them. Console is dead, 3.8 is dead. 4.0 is the future, 4.0 Odyssey is the brighter future that a lot of folks who are critical claim they want to see for Elite. It's not a perfect future, I'll grant you, but when was/is it ever in any situation?

 

[Coppermine]

3 way split of playerbase, 4 if we count consoles.
How did it come to this? Is the game engine really not that good? Plenty of games can play together with locked content until you pay to unlock it, so why can't Horizon 4.0 and Odyssey 4.0 too?

Odyssey is the way forward, you can't instance with H4. If you went down to a settlement in O4, where is the H4 player gonna go? Odyssey is a different game. Stay on H, or obtain O. It's simple. The aim down the line is eventually to be all on Odyssey. Think H4 as the trial bait for people to upgrade their game to Odyssey and receive the extras (and more coming) A ton more Odyssey exclusive will be released.

 

[Cmdr. Gabe Bars]

Sorry, but I don't understand FDev trying to keep things running like that, trying to balance ever more plates. Why just doesn't drop completely 3.8 on pc, move everybody to 4.0 and let only consoles on 3.8? I must be missing something, but right now I can't understand this decision.

 

[Star Wanderer]

Odyssey is the way forward, you can't instance with H4. If you went down to a settlement in O4, where is the H4 player gonna go? Odyssey is a different game. Stay on H, or obtain O. It's simple. The aim down the line is eventually to be all on Odyssey. Think H4 as the trial bait for people to upgrade their game to Odyssey and receive the extras (and more coming) A ton more Odyssey exclusive will be released.

Lock players ability to leave ship, and that's it right? Now everyone can play together. No?

 

[CMDR Vhi]

Sorry, but I don't understand FDev trying to keep things running like that, trying to balance ever more plates. Why just doesn't drop completely 3.8 on pc, move everybody to 4.0 and let only consoles on 3.8? I must be missing something, but right now I can't understand this decision.

I think they're acknowledging that 4.0 is going to affect performance, so they're giving people the option to stay on 3.8 in case 4.0 isn't playable on their machines. That's just my guess.

 

[Quasipoisson]

I cannot understand this decision to fragment the player base further. Why not draw a line under 3.8 as the final Horizons version, and say to get the new story you must be on Odyssey? The Horizons 4.0 option seems to cater to a tiny niche of people who want more content and have PCs that can handle the engine, but refuse to buy Odyssey. Why worry about these people? They have what they paid for with 3.8. Now we will have even more fragmented world as the price.

 

[Crimson Kaim]

Why the seperate versioning in the first place? It's long overdue to merge EDO and EDH players back together in one gameworld where they belong. It's tedious to switch between versions depending on who I want to paly with.
We now have two 4.0 versions of the game. At least these could be merged and at some point, when (if) EDO is in an acceptable state in terms of performance and stability, drop the support for 3.8 and erase it as an option so everyone is back together once again.

It just takes too long, hurry please.