Ok that makes sense, that is why I asked, I noticed that no one really talks about the online version of the game being all that great, most talk about playing in single player or coop mode and I noticed all the videos on youtube didn't have anyone around but npc's.
To bad it looked so good...Thank you for your help.
Point of clarification*
There is no private or group server. It is all one shared server, with a shared environment accross all "modes."
A "mode" [solo, group, or open] does not put you into a different server. You are sharing the same back ground simulation with all other players, all of the time. Your mode choice only changes who is visible to you, and who you are visible to.
In solo, all other players are essentially "blocked," and you will not encounter them directly.
In group, the administrator grants access to individual accounts, all other accounts being blocked.
In open, all players can be seen an encountered.*
*Pending any instancing issues. Elite uses peer-to-peer architecture, which means that each "map" is instance based. Two commanders can be in super-cruise (system travel) together, and then drop out at a specific location into different instances, where they will not be able to see each other. The opposite is also possible. This issue has been significantly mitigated in recent patches.
The "Wing" system is Elite's direct co-op mechanic. Up to four players can group together into a single wing, where-in bounties and combat bonds will be divided among the members equally. Players not in your wing, allied or hostile, can still be seen an interacted with.
An "unlimited" number of players can be present at a single location at any time. That does not guarantee that they will all be instanced together.
Also, the entire game space is so large, that unless you are at a choke point or "hotspot," it's entirely possible to be in open and not encounter any human players.
