The next expansion for Elite: Dangerous will go in an exciting new direction for the space-themed game. Odyssey will allow players to set foot on new planets and explore them, as well as engage in a first-person combat system.
So far, Elite: Dangerous has been a way for players to simulate space travel through a representation of our Milky Way Galaxy, but it hasn't let them explore planets. Odyssey is set to arrive in early 2021 and let players make landings and walk on the planets they've been passing by in their spacecraft. This is the biggest change to the game's exploration system since Fleet Carriers were announced.
The space simulation game has always been known for its huge amount of variety, including hostile aliens called Thargoids. The ability to land on planets and explore them would give players even more things to do in-game, like take part in the new contracts system that will allow diplomacy, commerce, stealth, and first-person combat. Add in NPCs and missions, and the game promises "a near infinite amount of content to enjoy."
Landing on planets will also provide access to social hubs where Commanders can form alliances and find Engineers, weapons, and gear. The new combat system will also allow players to develop complex tactics and strategies both on planets and in the sky. Elite: Dangerous has been listed as one of the top space exploration games, and the added complexity of planet exploration and combat could really take the game to the next level.
The game's last biggest update, Fleet Carriers, cost a fortune: 5 billion credits. So far there isn't much information available about how planet exploration and first-person combat will affect the in-game economy, but landing on a planet and walking around looks more accessible than blowing 5 billion credits (plus maintenance costs) on a Fleet Carrier. With the current info, it looks like planet exploration will be available to everyone, making this a much bigger change to the game as it would have the potential to involve every single player.
The developers' released video and images come with a disclaimer: Odyssey isn't done being developed, as it's not slated for release for over six months. The official website mentions that everything posted "may not be representative of the final release." And the Odyssey expansion isn't Frontier Developments' only focus right now; it's currently developing a real-time strategy game based on Warhammer. Still, the trailer and descriptions on the website look promising and Odyssey definitely has a lot of potential as a real game-changer for the base game.
Elite: Dangerous is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Source: Frontier Developments