Elite Dangerous (2014), the popular (and VR supported) sci-fi space-faring simulator, this week saw the launch of the Elite Dangerous: Beyond – Chapter 4 update, the final chapter of the game’s third season of DLC.
Update (December 12, 2018): Elite Dangerous: Beyond – Chapter 4 is available now, and bringing new features along with some minor VR fixes. The full patch change notes are available here, and the article below has been updated to reflect the public release of the update.
Elite Dangerous: Beyond first landed early this year with Chapter One, which directly followed the Thargoids assault on humanity’s starports, the space-faring alien baddies first introduced back in September 2017 with the Horizons update. Beyond then saw two smaller rapid-fire chapter releases this summer, Chapters Two and Three, which included new ship types, weapons, and a number of system improvements.
Chapter 4, available now, is the “largest Elite Dangerous update of the year,” according to developer Frontier Developments, and includes a host of new features that aim to make the game’s expansive universe more detailed and offer more for players to do.
The beta for Chapter Four will be available to all PC Elite Dangerous and Elite Dangerous: Horizons players on October 30th. The beta will roll out in stages, first coming to PC platforms (Rift and Vive included) and then at a later date to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The PC beta is planned to extend over a four-week period.
Frontier Developments lays out a few key updates in an official post:
Exploration [read more]
The Analysis Mode with the improved Exploration Discovery Scanner and Detailed Discovery Scanner, is a game-changing, brand new way for all Commanders to explore the Milky Way galaxy. After the initial scan of the system, you will then be able to tune your scanners to find stellar bodies and other phenomena. Not only is this new system a more realistic, satisfying and engaging exploration experience, but now you will be able to make more informed decisions on where to look next, and you will be more rewarded for your time spent exploring. Commanders will now have probes at their disposal to map the planetary surfaces, and planetary rings, in detail, to locate points of interest and leave your mark on the galaxy in a different way.
Mining [read more]
Asteroid belts and planetary rings are about to get very busy. New tools and mechanics will provide a fresh, exciting and lucrative mining experience for all Elite Dangerous Commanders. Using new exploration mechanics, miners can investigate rings to locate the best spots to start their mining sessions, and then the best specific asteroids to probe and excavate for rewards. With the right amount of skill and expertise, the new Abrasion blaster, Sub-surface displacement missile, and Seismic charge launcher, will provide some exciting and explosive results.
Squadrons [read more]
Squadrons is a new in-game way of uniting like-minded Commanders to support factions of their choice and compete for top spots in seasonal leader boards. New communication tools, including in-game chat channels, will help you blaze trails together, and leave your Squadron’s mark on the galaxy.
More [read more]
There’s a number of additional improvements coming to Elite Dangerous, including visual improvements, background simulation updates, and [two new ships, the Krait Phantom and Mamba] and cockpit interface changes.