Our galaxy.  Its an awe inspiring, beautiful, vast place; with billions of star systems, planets, moons and asteroid fields just waiting to be explored, and exploited. The triumvirate superpowers of the Empire, Federation and Independents dominate their core system volumes and constantly skirmish to outmaneuver one another on their frontiers. Outside their influence, in the vast majority of the galaxy, anarchy reigns supreme and spectacular discoveries await the bold.

Its dog-eat-dog out there – you need to keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

Whether you want to trade for profit between systems, take part in multiplayer co-op mission alliances, free-for-all group battles and team raids to bring down planetary economies, even tip the balance of power in the galaxy (for your own advantage, of course..), or simply explore the wonders of the galaxy (and who knows what you’ll find out there..) is up to you.

Building upon an install base of 12 million Elite owners, Elite Dangerous: Odyssey marks the birth of a new era for the long running definitive space simulation, allowing players to touch down on newly accessible planets with light atmospheres beautifully rendered by stunning new technology; to explore, to engage in combat and trade, take on missions, work together or alone over their surfaces with complete freedom from a first person, feet-on-the-ground perspective.

Taking life on the frontier of space to new depths, Elite Dangerous: Odyssey’s emergent gameplay will let players forge their own path through a wide variety of missions, ranging from diplomacy and commerce to lethal stealth and all-out combat. Diverse settings, objectives, and NPCs will offer endless mission variety and a near infinite amount of content to enjoy.

Frontier Developments concluded Elite Dangerous’ Azimuth Saga storyline and unveiled Aftermath, the next phase of the narrative that’ll lead into content updates for the rest of the year and beyond. The Azimuth Saga finale saw the contentious figure Salvation attempt to stop the Thargoid menace in their tracks with the Proteus Wave, a powerful Anti-Xeno weapon. Ultimately, the activation process ended in catastrophic failure, and the repercussions from the event have now begun. Salvation himself, meanwhile, is nowhere to be found.

The beginning of Aftermath coincides with the release of Update 13 for Elite Dangerous: Odyssey, and sets the stage for the future of humanity’s relationship with the Thargoids. When commanders head to the Anti-Xeno Conflict Zones in the system HIP 22460, where Salvation’s Proteus Wave was activated, they’ll witness the fallout for themselves – the Megaships Bright Sentinel and Heart of Taurus have been destroyed. Wrecks of numerous capital ships and constant Thargoid attacks now await any commanders brave enough to jump into the fray. Commanders with Guardian technology on their ships will also find themselves compromised while in HIP 22460, with modules decaying rapidly or even being destroyed.

Following the Azimuth Saga conclusion, the way players engage with events in Elite Dangerous is changing. Currently, the Elite Dangerous base game and Odyssey exist on different code bases – 3.8 and 4.0 respectively. Going forward, to ensure the storyline can continue to expand in scope and quality, new events and gameplay elements will only be released on the 4.0 code base.

PC players

Anyone who owns a copy of Elite Dangerous on PC will be able to enjoy the benefits of the 4.0 code base, which will include updated graphics and all improvements from post-Odyssey updates around performance, UI/UX and other features. Players won’t need to own a copy of Elite Dangerous: Odyssey to access 4.0 – details on how 4.0 will be made available to all Elite Dangerous players on PC will be revealed at a later date. Players who wish to experience the on-foot content of Odyssey, among other features, will have the option to purchase it separately. 

Console players

Frontier’s goal is to open up the next ambitious phase of Elite Dangerous’ storyline to as many players as possible – including the upcoming option for PlayStation and Xbox console players to benefit from a limited time console profile transfer process so they can start to enjoy the benefits of the 4.0 code base by transitioning to PC – more details on that can be found here.

The option to continue to enjoy all existing Elite Dangerous content in 3.8, rather than transitioning to 4.0, will remain available to players on both PC and console.

The next major narrative phase of Elite Dangerous has now begun, and there’s much more to come – the next instalment, Update 14, will represent a huge moment for the game as the Aftermath storyline kicks into high gear.

Exploration has always been at the core of the Elite Dangerous experience. With the highly anticipated arrival of Elite Dangerous: Odyssey in early 2021, this fundamental aspect of the game takes on a completely new dimension by introducing on-foot exploration of atmospheric planets. Players will leave the protection of their spaceships and venture out and discover the secrets and hazards those new worlds have to offer, experiencing the thrill of leaving their footprints over previously unexplored terrain.  

The Elite Dangerous: Odyssey development team is lavishing great care and attention to detail in the authentic recreation of the ice and rocky planets players will be landing on. Surface pressure, volcanism, atmospheric composition and other geological agents all play a key part on the structure and natural features of each world, capriciously moulding their appearance and making them unique and distinctive.

One of the most stunning changes Elite Dangerous: Odyssey’s on-foot exploration will bring to the game is a completely new perception of scale. When disembarking from their spaceships, players will notice never seen before details, like alien vegetation. This exotic flora can be analysed to obtain genetic information from every new variant encountered, and players can profit from their discoveries by trading in the data.

Conflict will rage as players venture into Elite Dangerous: Odyssey’s intense combat experience. Coordinating with your teammates and selecting the right equipment for the mission at hand will be key to master a multi-layered, tactical sphere of group combat where Commanders, SRVs and starships converge.

Though the Elite Dangerous universe can be a cutthroat, unforgiving place, players can find solace and regroup in social hubs spread throughout the galaxy to plan their next contracts, form new alliances and even procure the coveted services of the Engineers. These public spaces are also the ideal place to acquire and upgrade weapons and gear to suit each Commander’s own gaming style.

Your second-to-second actions could have you taking the roles of trader, pirate, bounty hunter, leader, team player, opportunistic assassin, grand schemer, and more. You are at the centre of the action any time, any place and any way you choose – each action has a consequence, and influences the galaxy around you.

Starting with a few credits and a basic starship, carve your own path through the richest, largest gaming sandbox ever created, set against a backdrop of raw anarchy, galactic powerplays and intrigue.  Do whatever it takes to upgrade your ship’s hull, engines, weapons, defences, cargo hold; constantly improve your capabilities and influence on your journey towards the most coveted rank in the history of gaming - ‘Elite’.

Fight, trade, hunt your way across a giant galaxy of billions of star systems, starting with a basic starship and a few credits. You can make money from trading goods between the many star systems, by destroying pirate ships (and collecting bounty), or even by attacking traders and collecting their cargo (which in turn will get a bounty on your head!). There will be missions too, and exploration. Most people will do some combination of these things. Upgrade your ship and specialize in one activity - have a trader with a huge cargo bay, or use the space for weapons and maneuverability.

• Real Freedom - Go where you like, be what you like - pirate, bounty hunter, trader, assassin, or some mix of all of these.
• Trade - Buy low, cross dangerous space lanes, evade or destroy pirates en route, then sell high, if you make the journey!
• Fight - Take on the pirates or be one yourself
• Progress - Get your pilot rating all the way from "Harmless" to "Elite"
• Explore - Head out to the far reaches of space and discover amazing sights

And the best part - you can do all this online with your friends, or other "Elite" pilots like yourself, or even alone. The choice is yours...  

Elite Dangerous is available for PS4, Xbox One and PC (Steam, the Epic Games Store and FrontierStore.net).