I think @Maidor made some good points. particularly this idea:
Although I personally agree with others in the idea that Raxxla has likely been updated at least once, as we saw with the Zurara, I still think it's really valuable to actually list out and see what the possibilities are.
Let's explore some of the plausible Raxxlas that have been put forward here over the years. I've made a start below, and tried to arrange them from "easiest" to "hardest" to implement and maintain in the game - input most welcome in better defining these or adding more versions
Hypothesis 1: Barren Moon
View attachment 334053
Raxxla is a barren non-atmospheric moon or planet. Optionally on the surface is a (Horizons) planetary outpost built to hide the Omphalos Rift by the Elites that have controlled it for centuries. The Rift is inside the station itself, it's inaccessible and not visible. A variant of this would be to replace the human port with a known alien object, like a Thargoid Surface Site or Guardian Ruins using existing assets.
It could be indicated by one or more of the following:
- It's very remote, thousands of lightyears from the bubble, therefore a planet with a large surface port stands out.
- The planet or surface port is literally named 'Raxxla'.
- The surface port has a significant name, i.e. "Omphalos Base".
- The surface port is controlled by a faction with a significant name, i.e. "The Elite Federation of Pilots", or "the Dark Wheel".
- When you approach the port/planet you get a rude/threatening comms message warning you away - you're denied landing permission.
4 (a). As above, unless you're carrying a significant type of cargo and/or meet other criteria (allied/Elite/etc.), in which case you get a significant message of welcome and granted landing permission.- When you approach, a wing of Elite combat ships drop in and attack you, more attack you continually regardless of your criminal status or faction standings.
- Any ships in system or near the base have significant names or pilot details, i.e. All-black ships flown by only Elite pilots, every ship is part of a significant faction (see above), and/or every ship is named in a strange way - '1230RXL'
- Upon approach you get a comms message with a "congratulations you discovered Raxxla" message, i.e. the same style as the rank increase messages.
- There's a beacon in orbit/on surface, when scanned it gives you a text-message that's significant, i.e. A Tourist Beacon containing a message confirming this is Raxxla.
- ??
If Raxxla were some variant of Hypothesis 1, what would it take to put that in-game?
Disclaimer: I'm no game developer so I have no idea. From what little I do know though I can make a start on this and more knowledgeable people can help fill in more detailsAssume all of these are literally just guesses, please do correct/add points to these!
- Some coding that would obfuscate any significant ID tags or text identifiers from data mining or accidental discovery.
1 (a) presumably this would need doing with everything, and so the more complex Raxxla is, the more that needs hiding and the larger and more complex this part is.- Some coding that would obfuscate the presence of factions/stations/trade/population from accidental discovery simply via the Galmap entry
- Placing the base on this planet - it's got to be hand placed??
- Creating the assets for anything unique about the logos, liveries, or decals on any ships or the port itself.
- Coding the necessary systems to create factions/ship spawns in that specific area/system with that specific faction - must surely be hand-coded?
- Coding the necessary comms or beacon messages
6(a). Writing the necessary text - getting it approved and checked for accuracy
6(a). As above, but include voice acting scripting, hiring, recording, integrating into the game.- Coding the necessary 'discovery' triggers for unique comms messages.
- Playtesting, bugfixing.
- ??
Hypothesis 2: Orbital Station
View attachment 334054
Raxxla is a planet of any non-landable type, and orbiting it is an Coriolis station crewed by the Elites that have controlled the secret of Raxxla for centuries. The Omphalos Rift may be on the surface of the inaccessible world below, or it may be inside the station itself. Either way, the rift itself is inaccessible and unseen.
How would you know it was Raxxla?
It could be indicated by one or more of the following:
- It's very remote, thousands of lightyears from the bubble, therefore a planet with a an orbital station stands out.
1(a). The planet may show a population (lights on the dark side, comms chatter from it, Galmap shows it to have a population, etc.)- The station has a significant name, i.e. "Omphalos Orbital".
- The station is controlled by a faction with a significant name, i.e. "The Elite Federation of Pilots", or "the Dark Wheel".
- Features visible on/in the station are unique and significant.
- When you approach the port/planet you get a rude/threatening comms message warning you away - you're denied landing permission.
4 (a). As above, unless you're carrying a significant type of cargo and/or meet other criteria (allied/Elite/etc.), in which case you get a significant message of welcome and granted landing permission.- When you approach, a wing of Elite combat ships drop in and attack you regardless of your criminal status or faction standings.
- Any ships in system or near the station have significant names or pilot details, i.e. All-black ships flown by only Elite pilots, every ship is part of a significant faction (see above), and/or every ship is named in a strange way - '1230RXL'
- Upon approach you get a comms message with a "congratulations you discovered Raxxla" message, i.e. the same style as the rank increase messages.
- There's a beacon in orbit, when scanned it gives you a text-message that's significant, i.e. A Tourist Beacon containing a message confirming this is Raxxla.
- ??
If Raxxla were some variant of Hypothesis 2, what would it take to put that in-game?
Disclaimer: I'm no game developer so I have no idea. From what little I do know though I can make a start on this and more knowledgeable people can help fill in more detailsAssume all of these are literally just guesses, please do correct/add points to these!
- Some coding that would obfuscate any significant ID tags or text identifiers from data mining or accidental discovery.
1 (a) presumably this would need doing with everything, and so the more complex Raxxla is, the more that needs hiding and the larger and more complex this part is.- Some coding that would obfuscate the presence of factions/stations/trade/population from accidental discovery simply via the Galmap entry
- Placing the station around this planet - it's got to be hand placed??
- Placing this particular planet type (assuming it's not simply picked from what Stellar Forge made).
- Creating the assets for anything unique about the logos, liveries, or decals on any ships or the station itself.
4 (a). Creating new station assets if the interior docking bay of the station isn't one of the standard set.- Coding the necessary systems to create factions/ship spawns in that specific area/system with that specific faction - must surely be hand-coded?
- Coding the necessary comms or beacon messages
6(a). Writing the necessary text - getting it approved and checked for accuracy
6(a). As above, but include voice acting scripting, hiring, recording, integrating into the game.- Coding the necessary 'discovery' triggers for unique comms messages.
- Playtesting, bugfixing.
- ??
Hypothesis 3: Celestial Object
View attachment 334055
Raxxla is a black hole, one very specific one. A variant of this could have an Outpost orbiting it crewed by the Elites that have controlled the secret of Raxxla for centuries. Interacting with it does nothing.
How would you know it was Raxxla?
It could be indicated by one or more of the following:
- It's very remote, thousands of lightyears from the bubble, therefore a black hole with a an orbital outpost stands out.
- The outpost has a significant name, i.e. "Omphalos Observatory".
- The outpost is controlled by a faction with a significant name, i.e. "The Elite Federation of Pilots", or "the Dark Wheel".
- Features visible on/in the outpost are unique and significant.
- When you approach the port/planet you get a rude/threatening comms message warning you away - you're denied landing permission.
4 (a). As above, unless you're carrying a significant type of cargo and/or meet other criteria (allied/Elite/etc.), in which case you get a significant message of welcome.- When you approach, a wing of Elite combat ships drop in and attack you regardless of your criminal status or faction standings.
- Any ships in system or near the black hole have significant names or pilot details, i.e. All-black ships flown by only Elite pilots, every ship is part of a significant faction (see above), and/or every ship is named in a strange way - '1230RXL'
- Upon approach you get a comms message with a "congratulations you discovered Raxxla" message, i.e. the same style as the rank increase messages.
- There's a beacon in orbit, when scanned it gives you a text-message that's significant, i.e. A Tourist Beacon containing a message confirming this is Raxxla.
- ??
If Raxxla were some variant of Hypothesis 3, what would it take to put that in-game?
Disclaimer: I'm no game developer so I have no idea. From what little I do know though I can make a start on this and more knowledgeable people can help fill in/correct more detailsAssume all of these are literally just guesses, please do correct/add points to these!
- Some coding that would obfuscate any significant ID tags or text identifiers from data mining or accidental discovery.
1 (a) presumably this would need doing with everything, and so the more complex Raxxla is, the more that needs hiding and the larger and more complex this part is.- Some coding that would obfuscate the presence of factions/stations/trade/population from accidental discovery simply via the Galmap entry
- Placing the outpost around this black hole - it's got to be hand placed??
- Creating the assets for anything unique about the logos, liveries, or decals on any ships or the outpost itself.
4 (a). Creating new assets for the black hole if it's visually distinct in any way at all.- Coding the necessary systems to create factions/ship spawns in that specific area/system with that specific faction - must surely be hand-coded?
- Coding the necessary comms or beacon messages
6(a). Writing the necessary text - getting it approved and checked for accuracy
6(a). As above, but include voice acting scripting, hiring, recording, integrating into the game.- Coding the necessary 'discovery' triggers for unique comms messages.
- Playtesting, bugfixing.
- ??
Hypothesis 4: Alien Structures
View attachment 334058
Raxxla is a planet or an alien artefact of a type similar to the Thargoid Surface Sites, Guardian Ruins, Thargoid probes, etc. There could be ruins or other special indicators on the planet itself. The (non functioning) Omphalos Rift may be in orbit or on the surface, but either way it's a unique object unlike anything else in the game. However: nothing exceeds the scale or accessibility of the Thargoid surface Sites, crashed ships, ancient Guardian Ruins, or known planetary-geological features. E.g.: Nothing like a Niven Ring, Dyson Sphere, planet-sized stargate, etc.
Personally I think this is a less likely overall scenario to have been in-game from near the beginning. I've lumped several lower-probability but similar ideas together. I think these are at least possible* because for all we know the Guardian and Thargoid stuff was prototyped earlier on a small scale with the technologies and techniques necessary to make Raxxla. All these ideas are essentially the same game mechanics, technology and interactions that we experienced with Thargoid and later Guardian content - so it's not unreasonable, although it is much less likely than the other hypothesis'.
* Due to the technology in-game at the time that would be needed to pull this off.
How would you know it was Raxxla?
It could be indicated by one of more of the following list.
- None of the Alien structures match Guardian or Thargoid visual style/naming/etc.
- Approaching the Alien Structure triggers some significant but never before seen effect, i.e. the Guardian Relic pillars rising up when in proximity
- Scanning the Alien structure reveals a significant name, i.e. "Raxxlan Structure".
- When you approach the planet/artefact you get a comms message warning you away, unless you're Elite in which case you get a significant message of welcome from some anonymous person, i.e. the same way Ram Tah 'hacks your comms' to ask for help when you first visit Guardian Ruins..
- When you approach, a wing of Elite combat ships drop in and attack you regardless of your criminal status or faction standings.
- Any human ships in system or near the Alien Structures have significant names or pilot details, i.e. All-black ships flown by only Elite pilots, every ship is part of a significant faction (see above), and/or every ship is named in a strange way - '1230RXL'
- Upon approach you get a comms message with a "congratulations you discovered Raxxla" message, i.e. the same style as the rank increase messages.
- There's a beacon in orbit, when scanned it gives you a text-message that's significant, i.e. A Tourist Beacon containing a message confirming this is Raxxla.
- Scanning or approaching the Alien Structures or planet will generate a previously unseen sound or visual effect, i.e. flashing, moving, or emitting sounds like some of the celestial life forms found in space, or the Thargoid artefacts.
9 (a). The sound or visual effect contains coded information, i.e. the Thargoid items containing coded messages, decoding it reveals significant information- Scanning a discovered alien object gives coded information, the coded information leads to another puzzle, eventually confirming Raxxla as any one or more of the above Hypothesis, i.e. The Thargoid discovery cycle: 'Find strange object >decipher clue >goal reveal' that can be linked together and repeated as long as necessary - Raxxla is confirmed by the clues and methods of discovery, the same way we all knew the 'Unknown Aliens' were most likely Thargoids long before 'the game confirmed it' by meta knowledge and piecing together background storytelling from the clues and discoveries.
- ??
If Raxxla were some variant of Hypothesis 4, what would it take to put that in-game?
Disclaimer: I'm no game developer so I have no idea. From what little I do know though I can make a start on this and more knowledgeable people can help fill in/correct more detailsAssume all of these are literally just guesses, please do correct/add points to these!
- Some coding that would obfuscate any significant ID tags or text identifiers from data mining or accidental discovery.
1 (a) presumably this would need doing with everything, and so the more complex Raxxla is, the more that needs hiding and the larger and more complex this part is.- Some coding that would obfuscate the presence of factions/stations/trade/population from accidental discovery simply via the Galmap entry
- Placing the assets on/around the planet - they are presumably hand-placed?
- Concept artwork and iteration to develop the look and feel of the alien structures.
- Design iteration of the unique interaction processes.
- Creating the assets for anything unique about the logos, liveries, or decals on any ships or any alien artefact itself (like the logo on the barnacles).
- Creating new assets for every pat of the Alien Structure - this includes 3D models, textures, lighting... things...? more technical stuff?
- Coding any 'active' elements in the Alien Structures - moving bits, animated elements, interactable parts.
- Creating unique sounds and vfx for the Alien Structures.
- Developing and implementing any hidden codes into the visuals or sounds of the Alien Structures
- Coding the necessary systems to create factions/ship spawns in that specific area/system with that specific faction - must surely be hand-coded?
- Coding the necessary comms or beacon messages
8(a). Writing the necessary text - getting it approved and checked for accuracy
8(a). As above, but include voice acting scripting, hiring, recording, integrating into the game.- Coding the necessary 'discovery' triggers for unique comms messages.
- Playtesting, bugfixing.
- ??
Hypothesis 5: Distant Exotic
View attachment 334086
Raxxla is an exotic and unique non-landable planet, with a visually unique texture like a plasma world or ecumenopolis, or an artefact of a type similar to a Niven Ring, or full Dyson Sphere, etc.
Personally I think this is another less likely overall scenario to have been in-game from near the beginning*. I've lumped several similar* ones together. The idea of a 'distant object' that's clearly strange, new and different but otherwise unreachable is possible, particularly if the only true interaction is visually at a distance. All of these options could be done with something as relatively simple as a unique texture graphic so long as no interaction is needed. For example jumping into the system containing Raxxla, a binary, and seeing the above Niven Ring image around the distant B star - but due to 'local stellar factors' your Supercruise drive doesn't work so there's no way to get closer, you can jump in-and-out and maybe interact with more conventional systems near the A star (could be any of the above Hypothesis; stations, ships, etc). Similarly a sci-fi variant of a Dyson Sphere could be created by changing the entire skybox of one system to resemble the surface of worlds, again simply disabling supercruise would prevent the illusion from breaking. An exotic planet type that you can only orbit would, again, 'only' require a unique texture that's visible from orbit and is therefore no more complicated than Earth, Luna, or Mars (custom planet textures as opposed to procedural).
* Due to the technology in-game at the dev time that would be needed to pull this off.
How would you know it was Raxxla?
It could be indicated by one of more of the following list.
- A completely unique and previously unseen distant stellar object that's astonishing (i.e. Niven Ring)
1(a). As above, but a unique planet texture
1(b). As above, but a total or partial skybox change- When you approach the planet or jump into the correct system you get a comms message warning you away, unless you're Elite in which case you get a significant message of welcome from some anonymous person, i.e. the same way Ram Tah 'hacks your comms' to ask for help when you first visit Guardian Ruins.
- When nearby the planet or in the system a wing of Elite combat ships drop in and attack you regardless of your criminal status or faction standings.
- Any human ships in system or near the exotic planet have significant names or pilot details, i.e. All-black ships flown by only Elite pilots, every ship is part of a significant faction (see above), and/or every ship is named in a strange way - '1230RXL'
- Upon approach to the exotic planet or arrival in the system you get a comms message with a "congratulations you discovered Raxxla" message, i.e. the same style as the rank increase messages.
- There's a beacon in orbit of the sun or planet, when scanned it gives you a text-message that's significant, i.e. A Tourist Beacon containing a message confirming this is Raxxla.
- Supercruise failure immediately after hyperspace jump to prevent in-system travel.
- ??
If Raxxla were some variant of Hypothesis 5, what would it take to put that in-game?
Disclaimer: I'm no game developer so I have no idea. From what little I do know though I can make a start on this and more knowledgeable people can help fill in/correct more detailsAssume all of these are literally just guesses, please do correct/add points to these!
- Some coding that would obfuscate any significant ID tags or text identifiers from data mining or accidental discovery.
1 (a) presumably this would need doing with everything, and so the more complex Raxxla is, the more that needs hiding and the larger and more complex this part is.- Some coding that would obfuscate the presence of factions/stations/trade/population from accidental discovery simply via the Galmap entry
- Placing the exotic assets in system or in that particular skybox.
- Concept artwork and iteration to develop the look and feel of the planet or distant object or skybox.
- Creating the assets for anything unique about the logos, liveries, or decals on any ships.
- Creating new assets for the distant artefact or exotic planetary texture - this includes 3D models(?), textures, lighting... things...? more technical stuff?
- Creating unique sounds and vfx for the exotic world or sounds for the distant artefact.
- Developing and implementing any hidden codes into the visuals or sounds of the Alien Structures
- Coding the necessary systems to create factions/ship spawns in that specific area/system with that specific faction - must surely be hand-coded?
- Coding the necessary comms or beacon messages
8(a). Writing the necessary text - getting it approved and checked for accuracy
8(a). As above, but include voice acting scripting, hiring, recording, integrating into the game.- Coding the necessary 'discovery' triggers for unique comms messages.
- Coding a conditional disabling of Supercruise mode only, while retaining the Jump function to allow exit.
- Playtesting, bugfixing.
- ??
Hypothesis 6: Exotic Location
View attachment 334088
Raxxla is within Witchspace, or a parallel dimension, or other extreme and exotic environment like the inside of black hole or wormhole.
Personally I think this is another less likely overall scenario to have been in-game from near the beginning*. I've lumped several similar* ones together. Since a hyperspace jump is functionally translating you from one instance to another while displaying the witchspace environment, then there no reason a hypserspace jump can't land you in any environment the devs want to create. Getting 'stuck inside Witchspace' and finding Raxxla could be easily as possible as the above 'distant exotic' hypothesis. Transitioning from one location to another using a similar but visually distinct system to a hyperspace jump is also entirely feasible; from what I know a Thargoid Hyperdiction event is a specific type of witchspace jump environment that's loaded instead of a normal one when certain system flags are met. The game simply loads "hyperdiction" instead of "transfer to next system". To us it looks like a normal hyperspace jump until it goes wrong, but it's actually a different mechanism. Using that same mechanic the Devs could code a transition from anywhere into a custom location. Even something like a certain black hole could force-trigger a custom instance transition and land you in a unique instance. That method could have existed since the first day of the game and been re-used for Hyperdictions.
* Due to the technology in-game at the dev time that would be needed to pull this off.
How would you know it was Raxxla?
It could be indicated by one of more of the following list.
- Using some method or system to trigger a special hyperjump, or entering a specific black hole, etc.
- A completely unique and previously unseen environment, likely reached by a hyperspace jump.
- Some HUD indicator of a non-standard jump - similar to the warnings and visuals of a Hyperdiction.
- Upon arrival in the exotic environment you get a comms message with a "congratulations you discovered Raxxla" message, i.e. the same style as the rank increase messages.
- There's a beacon in the exotic environment, when scanned it gives you a text-message that's significant, i.e. A Tourist Beacon containing a message confirming this is Raxxla.
- Any of the previous Hypothesis components, i.e. there could be a planet in the exotic location that's essentially Hypothesis 1 or 2, with all the associated systems.
- ??
If Raxxla were some variant of Hypothesis 6, what would it take to put that in-game?
Disclaimer: I'm no game developer so I have no idea. From what little I do know though I can make a start on this and more knowledgeable people can help fill in/correct more detailsAssume all of these are literally just guesses, please do correct/add points to these!
- Some coding that would obfuscate any significant ID tags or text identifiers from data mining or accidental discovery.
1 (a) presumably this would need doing with everything, and so the more complex Raxxla is, the more that needs hiding and the larger and more complex this part is.- Some coding that would cause an 'exotic transition' instead of the normal hyperspace jump (similar to trigger conditions for a Hyperdiction)
- Coding the mechanics of the exotic transition (similar to a Hyperdiction where the ship flips around and HUD warnings trigger)
- Coding unique HUD warnings and effects necessary for an exotic environment.
- Placing the exotic assets in the exotic location.
- Concept artwork and iteration to develop the look and feel of the environment.
- Creating the assets for anything unique about the logos, liveries, or decals on any ships.
- Creating new assets for the exotic environment - this includes 3D models(?), textures, lighting... things...? more technical stuff?
- Creating unique sounds and vfx for the exotic environment and/or the exotic transition.
- Developing and implementing any hidden codes into the visuals or sounds of the trigger conditions, or clues to the trigger conditions.
- Coding the necessary 'discovery' triggers for any unique comms messages.
- Anything from any other Hypothesis that relates to Raxxla specifically rather than the location it's in (for example, the planet Raxxla from Hypothesis 1 or 2 is located inside the exotic area, and will therefore need some or all of the requirements of those Hypothetical versions in addition to what's necessary for the location.
- Playtesting, bugfixing.
- ??
As per Maidor's suggestion, it's reasonable to assume that we need to consider not only the effort to implement 'Raxxla' in the first place, and what is feasible technologically, but also what's needed to keep it running across updates, patches, and staff changes. Also consider that there's been no leak, and nothing has been data mined or even accidentally discovered via bugs in 8 years (that we're able to identify as Raxxla related), it's easier to keep smaller and simpler things secret over longer timeframes...
What do you all think?
I used to be convinced that it was hidden in plain sight.
Its in game but not accessible would be the easiest way to keep control of the release of the narrative.
Control is everything with something this important
I had a career in Entertainment deception, getting VIPs and Artists to hotels and venues without the media or fans knowing where they were.
Booking entire hotel floors, employing makeup artists for disguises, using local plated old cars that you would never think wealthy folks would use, all a ruse.
But often it’s the things right in front of people’s noses that attract less scrutiny, I once walked the headliner out of the west Brompton entrance at Earls Court holding my arm like she was my girlfriend, and nobody batted an eyelid.
So for me maybe a hidden moon around Jupiter or a base that everyone visits with a secret pad wouldn’t be so farfetched.
But I am of the opinion that it’s a gateway, for one reason, my dad brought me the original Alien World book back in 1980 and it fascinated me, later seeing it in the Novella (1984??) it made me smile but im still of the opinion that its how it was described – Oisir Raxxla ‘Sector’.
What we are looking for is that gateway to another world which is why in my opinion it has not been discovered yet because until that other destination (which would be a huge task) has been programmed its just a locked door.
With the Mars stuff and everything else im leaning towards a connection with SOL.
I think it’s a great story but as with how I used to control things my guess is it will be found when they want us to find it.
This is why Elite is so unique, i dont think ive ever played a game with a mystery quiet like this with so many people devoting so much time, i really hope when it happens its everything you folks imagined.
O7