Elite Dangerous: Horizons free?

[Bingoliath]

Hello, this might sound like (probably is) a stupid question, especially to all you CMDRS that are more experienced, but - is the Horizons Season Pass the beta test for the content or is it like a DLC like in Battlefield or something. Basically, will I be able to experience this for free some time. (cuz tbh 20€ seems a bit too much to pay, that's where the confusion comes from).

P.s Yes, I've read the F.A.Qs, I might have missed something, but I doubt that.

 

[mavrac]

Hello, this might sound like (probably is) a stupid question, especially to all you CMDRS that are more experienced, but - is the Horizons Season Pass the beta test for the content or is it like a DLC like in Battlefield or something. Basically, will I be able to experience this for free some time. (cuz tbh 20€ seems a bit too much to pay, that's where the confusion comes from).

P.s Yes, I've read the F.A.Qs, I might have missed something, but I doubt that.

I would say if the selling price is to much for you. As in you don't think it's worth the asking price maybe elite isn't for you. Not trying to be rude. Very much the opposite, it's just more than your average DLC IMHO. I'm just saying this because horizons and the coming updates to the paid DLC, that is horizons' expands on, and will expand on every part of the game. Horizons literally is the next step of the future of what elite dangerous is all about.

I could understand if it was a matter of not enough funds. It may go on discount one day but will probably not be free anytime soon.

If you enjoy the core game without horizons, you will definitely enjoy horizons. Or you could continue the core game as is. But I think almost everyone here that has horizons will tell you, it is 100% worth the asking price...

 

[Isodyne]

On the Xbox - best way to think of it is an expansion pack or DLC like battlefield but with segmented content (eg: horizons part 1, 2, 3 ,4)

So each expansion is kind of like a season pass in it's own right

On the PC - players are allowed to participate in a pre-release beta but so far this has not been offered to Xbox players and *seems* unlikely they would do this in the near or far future.

Will you be able to experience it for free sometime ? FD would need to answer that bud.

 

[tafkabb]

It won't be free, mate. Even the PC beta is a paid beta.
As said above though, it is 100% worth the asking price. Especially as you'll save money by never playing any other game

 

[Bingoliath]

It won't be free, mate. Even the PC beta is a paid beta.
As said above though, it is 100% worth the asking price. Especially as you'll save money by never playing any other game

On the Xbox - best way to think of it is an expansion pack or DLC like battlefield but with segmented content (eg: horizons part 1, 2, 3 ,4)

So each expansion is kind of like a season pass in it's own right

On the PC - players are allowed to participate in a pre-release beta but so far this has not been offered to Xbox players and *seems* unlikely they would do this in the near or far future.

Will you be able to experience it for free sometime ? FD would need to answer that bud.

I would say if the selling price is to much for you. As in you don't think it's worth the asking price maybe elite isn't for you. Not trying to be rude. Very much the opposite, it's just more than your average DLC IMHO. I'm just saying this because horizons and the coming updates to the paid DLC, that is horizons' expands on, and will expand on every part of the game. Horizons literally is the next step of the future of what elite dangerous is all about.

I could understand if it was a matter of not enough funds. It may go on discount one day but will probably not be free anytime soon.

If you enjoy the core game without horizons, you will definitely enjoy horizons. Or you could continue the core game as is. But I think almost everyone here that has horizons will tell you, it is 100% worth the asking price...

Thank you, guys for clearing up my confusion, now that I look at my question, it makes me laugh! [heart]

 

[CMDR Nef]

And just for future reference, remember that you're paying for a set of DLCs, some of which aren't out yet. The asking price may have been a bit much at the start of season 2, as there was barely any content, since it was just announced, but as the season goes on, they keep releasing new things do to. (Ship launched fighters, passenger missions, multi-crew, planetary landings, commander customization, etc,) The longer you wait to get it, the more content there will be when you finally do. No word on when Season 3 starts. We still have yet to get the promised 2.3 and 2.4 updates. 2.4 is still a secret, and we just got 2.2.

There is also plenty of content for free each update as well! So check in from time to time! Free updates often have hundreds of fixes and sometimes even completely renovate certain aspects of the game. We got some nice quality of life updates with 2.2, and some great UI updates as well! Even got galaxy changes, (like white dwarves and neutron stars actually having tails. Y'know, like pulsars?)

 

[buellpilot]

There is the possibility that Horizons will one day be free... or at least Horizons becomes the new base game.

When season 3 starts those who want to will buy into that and get all that lovely content, but will new players just getting into Elite be expected to buy Elite + Horizons + Season 3 that will get very expensive and very off putting. It also means FD will be managing more and more tiers of the game as they move into season 4 and 5 and the user base becomes fragmented.

To take the Battlefield example DLC is now often offered free after a year on the market which helps to re-unite a fragmented community that is naturally reducing in numbers as time passes.

I think it would be good to upgrade all base games to the previous season when a new season starts.

Those that pay for a season are getting content 12-18 months in advance so shouldn't really have any complaints and those that are late to the party get a better and better game as time goes on.

 

[Requiem Mortis]

There is the possibility that Horizons will one day be free... or at least Horizons becomes the new base game.

When season 3 starts those who want to will buy into that and get all that lovely content, but will new players just getting into Elite be expected to buy Elite + Horizons + Season 3 that will get very expensive and very off putting. It also means FD will be managing more and more tiers of the game as they move into season 4 and 5 and the user base becomes fragmented.

To take the Battlefield example DLC is now often offered free after a year on the market which helps to re-unite a fragmented community that is naturally reducing in numbers as time passes.

I think it would be good to upgrade all base games to the previous season when a new season starts.

Those that pay for a season are getting content 12-18 months in advance so shouldn't really have any complaints and those that are late to the party get a better and better game as time goes on.

I agree with you Buellpilot (you a biker by any chance), and don't forget early adopters of season pass 2.0 Horizons, got access to the Cobra IV. I would imagine something similar being offered for early purchase of Season 3 too.

 

[Freelancer Knux]

There is the possibility that Horizons will one day be free... or at least Horizons becomes the new base game.

When season 3 starts those who want to will buy into that and get all that lovely content, but will new players just getting into Elite be expected to buy Elite + Horizons + Season 3 that will get very expensive and very off putting. It also means FD will be managing more and more tiers of the game as they move into season 4 and 5 and the user base becomes fragmented.

To take the Battlefield example DLC is now often offered free after a year on the market which helps to re-unite a fragmented community that is naturally reducing in numbers as time passes.

I think it would be good to upgrade all base games to the previous season when a new season starts.

Those that pay for a season are getting content 12-18 months in advance so shouldn't really have any complaints and those that are late to the party get a better and better game as time goes on.

I see horizons going down in price but not becoming free. The comparison of battlefield to elite doesn't work as if you dont have the dlc in battlefield you can't play with those that do, while here on elite you can and it really wouldn't be difficult to manage that sort of system through to a season 5, as everyone has the same base game and all the assets are there just not usable without the dlc.

 

[MrWhippy]

Has anyone checked to see if it's currently reduced on Xbox? Horizons etc on PC/MAC is 33% off at the moment.

I know ED itself had some money off in the Xbox store recently, not sure that Horizons did though.

If it isn't....come on FD....throw the new Xbox players a bone and offer a discount on the other editions as well (Horizons & commander).

 

[Endless Zepher]

If it's any help the extra content is well worth the money IMHO.

 

[xondk]

Hello, this might sound like (probably is) a stupid question, especially to all you CMDRS that are more experienced, but - is the Horizons Season Pass the beta test for the content or is it like a DLC like in Battlefield or something. Basically, will I be able to experience this for free some time. (cuz tbh 20€ seems a bit too much to pay, that's where the confusion comes from).

P.s Yes, I've read the F.A.Qs, I might have missed something, but I doubt that.

Horizon is an expansion, you can keep playing as you do, but you will not get access to the new features in horizon.
Think of it as an expansion to world of warcraft, works very similar.
However unlike world of warcraft, there's no subscription, and if you play Elite a lot, you will get a HECK of a lot of game for what you paid, it is significantly better then any of the other games I have, and no it isn't perfect, but I keep playing keep enjoying myself, and in terms of value for buck, its #1.

 

[Bingoliath]

And just for future reference, remember that you're paying for a set of DLCs, some of which aren't out yet. The asking price may have been a bit much at the start of season 2, as there was barely any content, since it was just announced, but as the season goes on, they keep releasing new things do to. (Ship launched fighters, passenger missions, multi-crew, planetary landings, commander customization, etc,) The longer you wait to get it, the more content there will be when you finally do. No word on when Season 3 starts. We still have yet to get the promised 2.3 and 2.4 updates. 2.4 is still a secret, and we just got 2.2.

There is also plenty of content for free each update as well! So check in from time to time! Free updates often have hundreds of fixes and sometimes even completely renovate certain aspects of the game. We got some nice quality of life updates with 2.2, and some great UI updates as well! Even got galaxy changes, (like white dwarves and neutron stars actually having tails. Y'know, like pulsars?)

Oh, a side question, can I with the base pack play with someone with the Horizons pass? As in can we see each other and so on?

 

[Bingoliath]

P.S Does this mean that Season exclusive content will only be available for people playing it? Do you launch it seperately? If so, when the next season comes out, it means you'll have to go into ED: Horizons to use fighter launching from ships, customizing how a CMDR looks and etc? Or does it combine together? Meaning that players with the base version can't play with ones with those season passes (again ). Sorry, my questions might be a bit stupid.

 

[Divine Cerinian]

Oh, a side question, can I with the base pack play with someone with the Horizons pass? As in can we see each other and so on?

Base game players can play and instance together with horizons season owners.
As for your second question, the game launches the same for every one on Xbox, whether or not you have the horizons rights determine whether you can access horizons content, but it's there in everyone's game.