What kind of company gatekeeps a part of their game from people who buy DLC?

[tolm]

Unfortunately in Odyssey on stations and Fleet Carriers one cannot buy Kit Kats... or drinks... or Kale...

Kit Kats were an exclusive for those that pre-ordered Odyssey on MacOS.

 

[Sakashiro]

Oh, I can tell you how this will play out. Frontier will continuously update the "demo" because they wouldn't want to maintain yet another separate codebase. So the "demo" will always be the same build as Odyssey, with all the fixes, narrative updates etc. And at some point they will announce that client 3.8 will be retired, and the "demo" will become the actual base game.

This aged well.

 

[StuartGT]

This aged well.

It's also what Frontier said would happen, back in August:

Update 13, Narrative and Access to 4.0. - Elite Dangerous

Greetings Commanders, We’re happy to confirm Update 13 is coming on Tuesday 9 August and will see the highly anticipated conclusion of the Azimu...

www.elitedangerous.com

In our Console Update announcement in March, we mentioned aligning game development by releasing future content on the post-Odyssey codebase (version 4.0). This is essential to modernising the way we deliver content and ensuring various elements such as the interactive storyline continue expanding in scope and quality.

To allow as many players as possible to experience the new narrative and gameplay elements, we intend to give all PC players access to version 4.0, at no additional cost, while keeping the upgrade to Odyssey optional. You will still be able to launch Elite in version 3.8 if you choose. This option is expected to come in the weeks following Update 13 with more details to be shared closer to the time.

With regards to how this affects the conclusion of the Azimuth Saga: delivering on our promise to offer the best possible narrative content requires taking full advantage of version 4.0.

Therefore, Horizons players will be able to witness the final event in the Azimuth Saga and access related gameplay scenarios. Moving forwards, all PC players will have access to content in the next narrative phase given they are using version 4.0, except in cases where on-foot gameplay (and by extension, Odyssey) is required.

Meanwhile from March's Console Update Announcement:

Console Update

Greetings Commanders, Elite Dangerous is a game close to my heart. It’s no secret that Odyssey’s launch was less than ideal, including the need to split the PC/console player base to focus on a PC-only launch. Since Odyssey’s release in May 2021, we have worked tirelessly to improve the...

forums.frontier.co.uk

Over the last several months, we have been wrestling with the best way to move forward, and it is with a heavy heart we have decided to cancel all console development. We need to be able to move forward with the story of the game, and in order for us to do this we need to focus on a single codebase. Elite Dangerous will continue on console as it is now together with critical updates, but we will focus on new content updates on PC on the post-Odyssey codebase.

 

[Sakashiro]

It's also what Frontier said would happen, back in August:

Right, and there was never any argument about it.

 

[Ryox]

This aged well.

Lol, we don't remember anybody arguing with you about the upcoming death of 3.8.
Like if someone would have said in 2021: "I predict that Qatar will not become the champion of their 2022 Football World Cup"

 

[StuartGT]

Right, and there was never any argument about it.

Welcome to the forums

 

[Northpin]

Right, and there was never any argument about it.

Ofc not.
When that discussion started, Bruce said they are selling 3.8 and Odyssey (and NOT selling Horizons 4.0)
That was back then.

That changed last week when they announced that 4.0 will become live and 3.8 legacy
However, we still have no idea what will people buy - will it be obvious that people will buy 4.0? will the minimum requirements be updated? (i got no answer to that last question)

 

[Ryox]

@Sakashiro was right about one thing. They will finally let OD players log in EDH4.0, without using an unofficial work-around.

 

[Ettanin]

@Sakashiro was right about one thing. They will finally let OD players log in EDH4.0, without using an unofficial work-around.

in a way FDev should be grateful because there had been players who had unofficially tested that functionality

 

[Ralph Vargr]

I'm quite sure xzanfr didn't misunderstand. If there are 4 people and 2 have bought Odyssey and 2 haven't, they can all play together by all owning Odyssey. They aren't excluded.

Just blackmailed.

 

[Darrack]

Just blackmailed.

So folks who haven't bought a game expect to be able to play it?

O7

 

[Ralph Vargr]

So folks who haven't bought a game expect to be able to play it?

O7

Ah, no. People who haven't bought a game are being blackmailed into buying it.

 

[Darrack]

Ah, no. People who haven't bought a game are being blackmailed into buying it.

No ones being blackmailed you either buy it or you don't, no one is forcing you.

O7

 

[Ralph Vargr]

No ones being blackmailed you either buy it or you don't, no one is forcing you.

O7

My FC's customers are being split into two groups. I'll have to see which one is larger. I'll have to choose.

 

[StuartGT]

Just blackmailed.

Just behind the times.
Thankfully, they can all play together in Horizons, giving time for the poor ones to catch up

 

[Mr_Foxhound]

talk about dogpiling

 

[Bravo17]

So now people who don't buy the DLC won't be able to play the DLC but will only be able to play the game that they have actually paid for?

Wait a minute, that sounds like how 95% of the games out there actually work.

 

[Sakashiro]

So now people who don't buy the DLC won't be able to play the DLC but will only be able to play the game that they have actually paid for?

Wait a minute, that sounds like how 95% of the games out there actually work.

No.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Ah, no. People who haven't bought a game are being blackmailed into buying it.

I was pretty negative about how oddy players were not allowed to play with horizons 4.0 players.... however imo post 14 release I think FD are doing nothing wrong. surely you can't expect players who have not bought the DLC get free access to the DLC.
unlike the 3.8 / 4.0 shinanegans Horizon 4.0 contains all the content in EDO which isn't a paid extra and as such the new system is completely fair imo.
yes it would be nice if EDO players could join up with H4 instances where the content overlapped but I respect there are challenges which may be insurmountable there due to the DLC having featires meshed into the game in places and could lead to consistency problems.

 

[Ettanin]

yes it would be nice if EDO players could join up with H4 instances where the content overlapped but I respect there are challenges which may be insurmountable there due to the DLC having featires meshed into the game in places and could lead to consistency problems.

it's a mere inconvenience but not a hindrance and as such an acceptable limitation