Development Update 4 - September

[LeoBartlet]

Using any of Frontier's statements, I challenge you to quantify 'fixed' (actually they use the word 'stable')

If you're so scathing of Frontiers ability to do its job one wonders why you are so eager for Odyssey to be released on console.

I hear from many that Horizons is perfect as is so why spoil it?

 

[amigacooke]

View attachment 265696

I hope this doesn't meam Rubbbernuke has left the building!

 

[amigacooke]

It's almost as if they need a platform with fixed specifications to target performance improvements on. Does anyone know of such a platform for gamers?

macOS obviously

 

[Rubbernuke]

I hope this doesn't meam Rubbbernuke has left the building!

If this sorry state carries on past Xmas it probably will be. I kind of play games for fun, not to hope I can play them.

 

[tolm]

Perhaps the New SRV, and possibly new ships etc. are Odyssey only... the only EDO content being ported to Horizons that has been mentioned id the planetary tech, although atmospherics remain EDO only. Not impossible that much of the new content being introduced into EDO remains exclusive, it happened with Horizons.

If so, even less reason to add it now when only 1/3 platforms has Odyssey (and even there I’d doesn’t work properly)

 

[[Cancelled Consoleer] boppa_]

Are you a retired DOS programmer? You keep stating the above as fact, but it's not. Devs no longer need to code to specific hardware

In other words, we (PC developers) write to the APIs, not the hardware platform.

it should be agnostic of hardware except for the obvious performance scaling

I'm not retired, or a DOS programmer (wrong platform).

Performance scaling and hardware diversity is exactly what I'm talking about, not having to write programs differently to cater for different hardware architecture.

The question we're all asking in different ways is "when and on what basis will Odyssey be considered stable and performing acceptably?"

I'm suggesting it would be easier to do that initially on console, where specifications are fixed, than try to live-debug performance issues on thousands of different hardware combinations, as they are now.

Of course they were never going to do that, as on PC they have the flexibility to release an unfinished product, call it a DLC, and then fix/add moving forward.

 

[R-Irish]

Fair play, i am hoping some new ships are in the pipeline soon also.

 

[taniwha-qf]

No work on console until PC is stable is abandoning consoles “for now”. They’ll toss us a couple QOL updates maybe, like update 7 to try and appease us, but if there’s no work being done on it and no discussion about a plan to work on it, then it’s abandoned.

No, not abandoned, being worked towards. It's a rather significant difference.

 

[StuartGT]

Confirmed on the Dev stream yesterday: "We have no plans for Cross Play"

The messaging is unclear, and that's why console players keep asking, especially when they see cosmetic MT features now being added.

No plans for current gen, no plans for Cross play, on hold indefinitely, almost a year's delay and counting, no new content since June 2020.... the list goes on... Surely it's understandable that people are wondering what is going on, or whether it's even worth investing any more time in the game?

Meanwhile console players are being kept in the dark indefinitely. Look at what happened to Mac players. There's lots of questions about console in this thread and simply shouting them down isn't very constructive.

Huh, the plans for console were also confirmed multiple times on the dev stream yesterday: console ports are on hold until FDev feel PC Odyssey is in the right place.

The messaging is very clear.

 

[taniwha-qf]

If so, even less reason to add it now when only 1/3 platforms has Odyssey (and even there I’d doesn’t work properly)

At least you'll get these updates when Odyssey releases for console, not four months later.

 

[tolm]

All resources are focused on getting EDO functional on PC. That means, Horizon's may see some odd updates here and there, but there will be nothing substantial because console is not their priority. Whether by choice or necessity, they've had to abandon a segment of their gaming community. I saw the update today and there were several people obviously asking about console updates. They have none to give, so those comments were all but ignored. There was a brief mention of "we have nothing for consoles at the moment". Not mad, but it is what it is and we should accept that.

Except all resources are not focused on just getting EDO “functional” - some are adding more stuff to EDO over-and-above making the current scope of it work properly.

Now, we can all argue for days about how transferable those folks skills might be, whether they could realistically do anything for bug fixes or console work instead, etc, etc but the message that sends is quite stark.

There will be no new content for consoles until EDO can run on consoles.

It’s taken them almost a year from the original slated release date and it’s still not running reliably on PC.

They have repeatedly stated “No Plans” to natively support the consoles that actually have the power to keep up with a mid-spec PC.

So … how long will it take them to optimise it to run on the last-gen PS4 and XBox? Given they haven’t even started trying yet? Another year? Two? I suspect never …

Which means at best, 2022/3 before it comes to consoles and at worst, unless they budge on the “No Plans” position, Elite is essentially sunset on console.

 

[Arthur Spooner]

Everything sounds awesome! Thank you! Although as a german I may be a little worried about the salute emote... just saying.

Same here. Starts out fine, but ends a bit worrying. Really hope this gets looked at so we don't get to see too many "Heil Hitler"-screenshots...

 

[[Cancelled Consoleer] boppa_]

Huh, the plans for console were also confirmed multiple times on the dev stream yesterday: console ports are on hold until FDev feel PC Odyssey is in the right place.

The messaging is very clear.

Define "the right place" please, using statements from Frontier?

Feelings aren't quantifiable. We're asking players to invest thier time in something that may or may not happen, within some unquantifiable timeframe. Essentially to 'buy into hope'.

That's why people keep asking.

 

[StuartGT]

It all depends on where you stand. I now have a pretty powerful gaming PC but, still consider my main account to be on PS5.

I suspect you are the opposite and your main account is PC and Boppa is more like me.

I totally understand and appreciate console owners annoyance on how this is playing out, especially if they don't also have a PC.

Some of the downplaying of console owners feelings on here is a bit disappointing but, not unexpected.

As a moderator and multi-platform CMDR you will also know that FDev have repeatedly made very clear the status of Odyssey Console development: on hold until FDev feel PC Odyssey is in the right state.

Console CMDRs repeating the same questions, post after post all in the same thread, repeatedly ignoring the same FDev answers being given to them, doesn't change the matter.

 

[taniwha-qf]

Define "the right place" please?

For one, running better than a dog's breakfast.

 

[LeoBartlet]

Which means at best, 2022/3 before it comes to consoles and at worst, unless they budge on the “No Plans” position, Elite is essentially sunset on console.

Well I for one am glad that I don't need to wait a year+ to get new EDO content on PC.

 

[StuartGT]

Define "the right place" please?

The point at which FDev are happy to port Odyssey to consoles, obviously. See David Braben's post that's been mentioned multiple times already:

With those things in mind, we have spent a lot of time discussing and re-evaluating our previous plans and we have made the decision to prioritise the core PC experience for Elite Dangerous. Ultimately, we believe it is right to focus our efforts on the core Elite Dangerous Odyssey experience for the platforms that we have released on, before opening up to more. We know that the work that we do to improve players’ experiences of Elite Dangerous Odyssey on PC will benefit other platforms in the future, but the dates and details of the console platforms are going to change. We do not want to rush into confirming any dates or changes this has on our console release, as we must remain fully focused on the core Elite experience. Only when we feel that the foundation of the PC release is solid, will we be able to re-lay our console roadmap on top.

 

[[Cancelled Consoleer] boppa_]

For one, running better than a dog's breakfast.

On who's PC - mine or yours?

The point at which FDev are happy to port Odyssey to consoles, obviously. See David Braben's post that's been mentioned multiple times already:

'Only when we feel that the foundation of the PC release is solid'

Feelings aren't quantifiable, unfortunately. That's why people keep asking, because it is not clear.

 

[LeoBartlet]

On who's PC - mine or yours?



'Only when we feel that the foundation of the PC release is solid'

Feelings aren't quantifiable, unfortunately. That's why people keep asking, because it is not clear.

Actually, it's very clear and you're just not happy with the answer.

 

[Old Duck]

assuming the standard ATC and even my paid ATC treats me like some random CMDR when i approach, i wouldn't hold my breath to it
but i'd love to be proven wrong (and also have this personal touch added to current atc's)

One thing I've learned with Frontier is not to get my hopes up. I will continue to watch with interest, and I congratulate them for at least aiming at the proper targets (fleet carrier interiors, more SRVs, etc), but aiming at a target doesn't mean they'll hit the target. As I've said before (might make this my signature), time will tell.