Frontier’s stream on 31 January changed the landscape for Elite Dangerous players. Accustomed to Frontier drip-feeding content, no credible roadmap, and poor financial results, Elite‘s players had resigned themselves to being comfortable with table scraps. Did this stream signal a change?

Frontier has traditionally been famously vague, uncommitted and underwhelming. For example, a “new feature overhaul” was first discussed in 2022 for 2023 and is still undelivered. The content Frontier did release, such as the thargoid titans and spire sites, was visually spectacular. However, it lacked the long-term game loops required from a live service game. 

By contrast, the pleasantly succinct 31 January stream announced four things: a culmination of the thargoid war, a revamp to PowerPlay, an undisclosed major new feature and new ships. The new partnership with Dead Good Media for PR is producing good results.

This announcement exceeded reasonable expectations. It surpassed mine. However, that was not the biggest surprise.

While players have enjoyed the Thargoid War, Elite has always interweaved multiple game loops. Culminating the war allows people to get back to other things. 

Galnet, Elite‘s in-game newsfeed, has strongly hinted at a PowerPlay revamp. PowerPlay, Elite’s macro-political simulation, has devolved into passive-aggressive cargo healing. A rework is welcome.

Delivering four new ships was terrific news. New ships allow players to customize and experiment, re-experiencing existing content through a different lens. Frontier last released new ships in 2018. Five years without new ships is a long time when Elite is essentially a spaceflight simulator. 

The mockup of the Python Mk II, shown above, looks cool. It engages players’ imagination. The new canards, short tail fins and wing tips make it look sleek and modern. Frontier has taken a page from Star Citizen‘s playbook.  

However, the biggest surprise is Frontier’s implied renewed focus on Elite. As my previous post said, most expected Frontier to put Elite into maintenance mode. 

It is essential not to get too excited, though. For example, the PowerPlay revamp and the new feature are not new; Frontier just reannounced them. They have been years in the making. They may get pushed back again or, when delivered, be underwhelming.

From a business model perspective, the promise of new ships is the most lucrative. ARX sales for cosmetics will help the bottom line. Many ex-Elite players are interested in returning to play new ships. Whether it or any of the other announced features brings in new players is yet to be seen.

As my previous post said, games sell on potential and goodwill. Elite has lacked both for some time. Frontier has created an opportunity to hint at a vision or dream. However, it now has to deliver engaging content in a reasonable time frame. If so, Elite may return to the glory days of old. If not, this opportunity was Frontier’s to lose.