Odyssey purchase: Steam or Frontier store?

[JetsonRING]

I want to get Odyssey but am unsure which source I should purchase it from. Purchased my original/first/primary Elite Dangerous account through STEAM, bought the second account direct from Frontier through the Frontier store and received the third account via the recent EGS promotion.

I am not a big STEAM fan and to this day if I want to update the game it has to update via STEAM. It's a PITA. My preference would be to download Odyssey from Frontier and not have to go through STEAM anymore but do not know how logins will be affected that were created using different game providers: STEAM, FDev and EGS.

My questions are:
Must I buy Odyssey through STEAM, since my first/primary account was purchased through STEAM?
Can I instead purchase Odyssey from Frontier, do a clean install and login using any of my three (3) CMDRs?
Follow on: Is an installed Elite Dangerous/Horizons required in order to install Odyssey?
Are my logins/CMDRs tied to their respective provider platforms, i.e.: one CMDR tied to STEAM, another to FDev and another to EGS (am I required to use their launchers?)?
Will my ships, skins, kits, etc. transfer to Odyssey?
TIA o7

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

It could be anything, there's no basis to guess any particular outcome.

Im guessing they issue frontierstore keys for all steam purchases, at least for a while.. because im sure there are hordes of people who bought elite before steam authentication, and there will be riots if those people suddenly have to be converted to steam authentication accounts just to play odysee. I don't imagine frontier would go that far.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

As far as I know:
- all your accounts are separate. So you have one Steam account, one Frontier account, one Epic account. The order you purchased them in isn't relevant, and Frontier doesn't even necessarily know they all belong to the same person.
- Steam and Epic accounts will need Odyssey purchasing through their respective stores, and then always use that store's launcher for it.
- the Frontier account you will be able to purchase Odyssey standalone, and continue using the standalone launcher for it.

 

[Vingtetun]

Frontier store all the way - the money goes to the developer then and doesn't have a pile siphoned off by the publishing platform

 

[JetsonRING]

Never buying another game thru STEAM again. Updates are a hassle, always having to run the STEAM launcher sucks and you should've seen the grief they gave me over returning NMS. Now this crap.

I may have to actually sacrifice an account I put a bunch of time and money into because of STEAM. That only happens once.

 

[JetsonRING]

UPDATE: Turns out my Elite Dangerous was purchased long enough ago that I was able to easily disconnect the game from STEAM, can now play and update the game without going through the STEAM launcher. Now if only I can figure out how to purchase the Odyssey Alpha directly from the FDev store, there does not seem to be any way to do it. The only platforms listed are: STEAM, EPIC, XBox and PS4. Where is "PC"?
UPDATE: Found it.

 

[Sublime]

UPDATE: Turns out my Elite Dangerous was purchased long enough ago that I was able to easily disconnect the game from STEAM, can now play and update the game without going through the STEAM launcher. Now if only I can figure out how to purchase the Odyssey Alpha directly from the FDev store, there does not seem to be any way to do it. The only platforms listed are: STEAM, EPIC, XBox and PS4. Where is "PC"?

Elite Dangerous: Odyssey - Deluxe Alpha Expansion (Pre-Order) - Elite Dangerous - Games - Frontier Store

Disembark, Commander, and leave your mark on the galaxy in Elite Dangerous: Odyssey. Explore distant worlds on foot and expand the frontier of known space. Be the first to step out onto countless unique planets as you discover land untouched since time

www.frontierstore.net

 

[Jrekt]

UPDATE: Turns out my Elite Dangerous was purchased long enough ago that I was able to easily disconnect the game from STEAM, can now play and update the game without going through the STEAM launcher. Now if only I can figure out how to purchase the Odyssey Alpha directly from the FDev store, there does not seem to be any way to do it. The only platforms listed are: STEAM, EPIC, XBox and PS4. Where is "PC"?
UPDATE: Found it.

Hey I purchased ED in 2015 on an old steam acc I gave to my stepson. If I buy Odyssey on my frontier acc that shows ED can I play it without using steam? Thanks

 

[Mr T]

I just have to say to bring some balance to the conversation, I've used Steam since 2013 or something and I've never once had any issues with it. Note that I always open the launcher and start the game I want from within it, rather than use shortcuts. Not sure if that makes a difference.

The Epic launcher on the other hand is a different story....

 

[Jrekt]

I just have to say to bring some balance to the conversation, I've used Steam since 2013 or something and I've never once had any issues with it. Note that I always open the launcher and start the game I want from within it, rather than use shortcuts. Not sure if that makes a difference.

The Epic launcher on the other hand is a different story....

Yea only reason im buying it on frontier is i gave my old steam acc to my stepson. On a plus note I logged in to my old acc to 500 mil and 2 anacondas so im pretty happy! Not sure where to start now though lol. Mostly excited for odyssey

 

[KillSwitch69]

Personally I'm not going to purchase the new expansion as it does not interest me in the least. I bought ED as a space sim and not a FPS. If Frontier decide to develop this game in the direction that plays to their uniqueness then I will gladly continue to trow my money at them. Unfortunately I'm not holding my breath seeing as this game is already 7+ years old and I have been along for the ride from right after the KS campaign finished... Frontier have meant well over the years trying to please everyone, but it would have been more helpful for FD to first know who their customers are before listening the the few vocal ones on the forums regarding... CQC anyone?

A loving and loyal former customer.

 

[Lyvan Kitaen]

Hey I purchased ED in 2015 on an old steam acc I gave to my stepson. If I buy Odyssey on my frontier acc that shows ED can I play it without using steam? Thanks

I have 3 accounts, one Steam, one from FDev, and one from Epic. I can use the Steam-purchased account with just the Frontier launcher with no issues just the same as the one I got directly from FDev. An Epic account is another story though. For that you have to launch via Epic.