Elite Dangerous, Frontier Developments long-running space-sim, is getting a huge new update with the Odyssey expansion.
Despite launching in 2014, the game has gone from strength to strength, and the upcoming expansion is going to make it almost an entirely new game.
The update is coming to PC first, but the expansion is expected to release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One family of consoles in Autumn 2021.
Keen to know more? Here's everything we know so far about the Elite Dangerous Odyssey expansion.
Latest News
April 22 - Release Date Confirmed
The Odyssey update will arrive for PC players on the 19th of May.
Find out more here.
April 20 - We've Played The Alpha!
Check out our impressions of the Odyssey update here.
March 29 - Alpha Roadmap announced
Frontier Developments has announced more details about the games upcoming PC Alpha including a roadmap for upcoming content.
The Alpha will be available for Lifetime Expansion Pass owners and players who have pre-ordered the Odyssey Deluxe Alpha expansion pack.
Frontier's Alpha phase is the eagerly awaited first contact with the new "feet-on-the-ground Elite Dangerous gameplay experience".
It's planned that the Elite Dangerous: Odyssey PC Alpha phase will run over several weeks, gradually introducing players to new gameplay features and expanding the amount of content they can access. You'll find a more expansive roadmap further down the page.
March 4 - Alpha Dated, New Playthrough Video
Commanders, you'll be able to jump into the Odyssey Alpha later this month, and you can get a glimpse of what's to come in the new video below.
Console Versions Delayed
In a press release, developer Frontier has confirmed that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have caused the roadmap for the Odyssey update to change.
While PC development is still targeting a spring rollout, console versions have been delayed to autumn of 2021.
"We understand that for many, this additional delay will be frustrating. Once again, we would like to apologise wholeheartedly to our community, especially our console Commanders. However, as mentioned previously, we feel it is vital to ensure that the content being released on consoles meets the highest standards and this will require this additional extension to our roadmap," the statement reads.
Elite Dangerous: What Is The Odyssey Update?
Elite Dangerous lets players fly through the solar system making their fortune as they choose, between bounty hunting, trading, piracy, and more.
The Odyssey update essentially adds an entirely new pillar of the game by adding first-person gameplay on foot, allowing for players to fight through installations and bases.
Players will be able to team up with other Commanders in new social hubs, and the game will allow for stealthy approaches to missions, too.
Elite Dangerous Odyssey Release Date
The Odyssey expansion will arrive on May 19. Check out the release date trailer below:
Alpha Access Date
If you've pre-ordered the Deluxe Alpha and Lifetime Expansion Pass, good news – you'll be able to jump into the expansion's alpha on March 29.
Elite Dangerous Odyssey Trailer
Check out this fantastic trailer from the Game Awards 2020:
Elite Dangerous Odyssey Release Time
Elite Dangerous' servers will go offline at 8am BST on May 19, where maintenance is expected to last for 11 hours. You can find more details here.
Elite Dangerous Odyssey Platforms
The expansion will come to all existing platforms, meaning you'll be able to grab your gun on PS4, Xbox, and PC.
On PC, it'll be available on Epic Games and Steam.
While the game isn't currently enhanced for Xbox Series S/X or PS5, it does run through backwards compatibility and offers improved performance.
Elite Dangerous Odyssey Price
The expansion will cost £29.99/$39.99/€34.99.
It's also available for pre-order now, while the Deluxe Alpha expansion pack will cost £39.99/$54.99/€46.99 and get you alpha and beta access.
Elite Dangerous Odyssey Alpha Roadmap
The Elite Dangerous: Odyssey PC Alpha phases can be viewed below. The development team say they intend to fine-tune the gaming experience ahead of Odyssey’s full PC release in late spring.
- Phase 1: First Steps. Focussing on Odyssey’s core systems and network features, Phase 1 will group all Commanders in a single star system to maximize player interaction. Players can purchase the Remlock Maverick scavenger suit and the Takada and Kinematic weapon sets, and take part in a selection of activities, including salvage, collection and delivery. Players will not have access to spaceships at this stage, but in-system travel will still be possible thanks to the new Apex Interstellar feature.
- Phase 2: Combat. Introducing Elite Dangerous: Odyssey’s first-person combat experience, Commanders will have access to the Manticore Dominator combat suit. Faction conflicts will be enabled, in time for the Frontline Solutions Mercenary Company to start operations in this phase. Additionally, players will be able to travel up to 20 light-years in their own spaceships, and can get involved in an expanded variety of missions, including trading with settlements in neighbouring systems.
- Phase 3: Exploration. Expanding the playable bubble to 50 light-years, this phase shall include unexplored planets and the coveted “First Footfall” experience. Commanders can now don the Supratech Artemis explorer suit and analyse alien organics with the Genetic Sampler tool.
- Phase 4: Compatibility. In the final phase of the Elite Dangerous: Odyssey Alpha, players will have access to their own Commanders, and test the inclusion of existing features in the main game, like Fleet Carriers, ship-launched Fighters and SRVs.
More news to follow. Stay tuned for updates.
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