News Community Update (01/05)

[Will Flanagan]

Greetings Commanders,

Today, we wanted to share an update with you all regarding the on-going development of Elite Dangerous.

Despite transitioning as a company to work from home during these challenging times, we're still committed to providing the best possible support, development and updates for the game and for our community. We've launched the first Fleet Carriers beta and are now busy working on the second installment coming in May. This second beta will be opening its hangars not only to PC Commanders, but also those on console for the first time! Everything is still on track to bring Fleet Carriers to the live servers in June.

However, during this uncertain period, we've also had to re-examine our longer term roadmap and make some adjustments. To ensure that we can bring you an incredible new Elite Dangerous experience without compromising the team who work at Frontier, the Next Era release date will move slightly from December 2020 to early 2021.

We haven't made this shift lightly, but it has been made with both the team and the game's best interest at heart. We know that many of you are eager to hear more about the Next Era of Elite Dangerous and, despite this shift in release date, our schedule to bring you news and details about the future hasn't changed, so keep an eye on all of our channels for more information in the coming months!

Thank you everyone for your patience, understanding and generally being an awesome and passionate community!

Stay safe and keep supporting each other,

o7

 

[Taimaru]

Thank you Will for the update and I fully understand the reasons for moving the date slightly. Working from home and therefore separately can and does affect productivity depending on the work one does so it is understandable.

Please pass on my thanks to everyone at Frontier who are working hard on Elite: Dangerous and in particular the new era.

Stay safe! o7

 

[Sir.Tj]

We are living in uncertain times and I hope that even though this is not the news people wanted to hear they understand and appreciate the update.

 

[AveCandido]

It was to be expected the delay of new was a month or two, but it opens the door to criticism from those of always, who are looking for "firewood in the desert"

Era de esperar el retraso de new era un mes o dos, pero abre la puerta a las criticas de los de siempre, que buscan "leña en el desierto"

 

[yianniv]

Keep safe, first of all. I understand, I work from home, too.

 

[Clicker]

Whilst I completely understand, I cannot help being disappointed.
Not just at the delays that just keep on coming, but also the fact that this will no doubt generate a considerable amount of salt in the forums.

FDev Thick skin = Fdev Thick skin + 1000;

In the meantime, stay well, and keep moving forward!

Clicker

 

[Bigmaec]

We are living in uncertain times and I hope that even though this is not the news people wanted to hear they understand and appreciate the update.

You know you get all the blame?

 

[Robert Maynard]

Thanks for the update Will.

While a delay to the release of New Era is unfortunate, the safety and wellbeing of those working on it takes priority.

 

[Night Parrot]

Hang on, since me and my colleges have been working from home productivity has been through the roof. Without the encumbrance of commuting and needless in-office discussions our company has 'seen the future' and are moving to making working from home the norm. I'd take a long hard look at anyone who works sedentary, but isn't 'producing' during this this COVID-19 pandemic...
Seriously FDev, give the workers the equipment and support to work from home and you'll see the rewards!

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Not surprised and expected considering what's going on in the world.

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Hang on, since me and my colleges have been working from home productivity has been through the roof. Without the encumbrance of commuting and needless in-office discussions our company has 'seen the future' and are moving to making working from home the norm. I'd take a long hard look at anyone who works sedentary, but isn't 'producing' during this this COVID-19 pandemic...
Seriously FDev, give the workers the equipment and support to work from home and you'll see the rewards!

Surely that's all dependent on they type of work you do.

 

[FrogsFriend]

Thanks Will, I appreciate the update and some delay due to the current world situation was very much expected. Hope everybody at FD is keeping safe and healthy and please pass on my thanks and best wishes. I look forward to hearing more on the Next Era soon(ish)

 

[Night Parrot]

Surely that's all dependent on they type of work you do.

Ahhhhh, make games using computers!?!? That type of work can be done from home with the right support (equipment), right access to servers, but I must admit it would be limited by the internet and company security policies. With just a little enginuity, much can be achieved working from home...

 

[VR Golgot]

despite this shift in release date, our schedule to bring you news and details about the future hasn't changed

That's good news. The community is ready for some hype for sure

And if we can't be playing it sooner, at least we can be seeing bits and discussing it with y'all while we wait. Good call

 

[Ian Phillips]

Ahhhhh, make games using computers!?!? That type of work can be done from home with the right support (equipment), right access to servers, but I must admit it would be limited by the internet and company security policies. With just a little enginuity, much can be achieved working from home...

True, but to give an example that has literally 5 minutes ago occured in my work, the coordination of all the efforts is made much more difficult because everyone is working in separate physical locations. So yesterday 5 people were busy for some hours investigating and coming up with a solution to a problem. They have communicated the problem, and their solution yesterday afternoon in an email. I've just told them that they are busy solving something that will not happen in the new situation we are working towards, and that the process needs to be adjusted, not a technical solution created.

So, not particularly efficient, and directly down to the current work environment.

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Ahhhhh, make games using computers!?!? That type of work can be done from home with the right support (equipment), right access to servers, but I must admit it would be limited by the internet and company security policies. With just a little enginuity, much can be achieved working from home...

Not as simple as that I'm afraid.

 

[Cmdr Delmonte[VR]]

Why am I not surprised of more delays.... you have gone corporate. We dont even have Galnet anymore. A core feature that had an automatic reader added to it... which is now pretty pointless. I could rant on for page after page. But cant be bothered...... I still play, why ? Cos for now there is no other comparable game... For now..

 

[Ralph Vargr]

True, but to give an example that has literally 5 minutes ago occured in my work, the coordination of all the efforts is made much more difficult because everyone is working in separate physical locations. So yesterday 5 people were busy for some hours investigating and coming up with a solution to a problem. They have communicated the problem, and their solution yesterday afternoon in an email. I've just told them that they are busy solving something that will not happen in the new situation we are working towards, and that the process needs to be adjusted, not a technical solution created.

So, not particularly efficient, and directly down to the current work environment.

This is why military command centers have the staff together. Physical presence is needed.

 

[Night Parrot]

True, but to give an example that has literally 5 minutes ago occured in my work, the coordination of all the efforts is made much more difficult because everyone is working in separate physical locations. So yesterday 5 people were busy for some hours investigating and coming up with a solution to a problem. They have communicated the problem, and their solution yesterday afternoon in an email. I've just told them that they are busy solving something that will not happen in the new situation we are working towards, and that the process needs to be adjusted, not a technical solution created.

So, not particularly efficient, and directly down to the current work environment.

Yes, communication is King.

 

[Javert]

Not really unexpected. Hope it goes well for the rest of the year. From what I can tell, Frontier has deliberately operated in a very localised team environment in recent years. If I remember correctly they closed an office in the US or Canada (?) a few years back because they wanted everyone at the same location.

It's generally possible to work quite productively with remote teams but it requires a different approach and if the company is not used to it, it takes quite a long time to build up that approach.

Therefore this type of delay is probably inevitable in the current situation.