Elite Dangerous faced a major Powerplay exploit that was swiftly addressed by Frontier, who temporarily disabled merit gains and reverted affected systems to prevent lasting damage. Meanwhile, Frontier reported strong financial growth driven by Elite Dangerous, highlighted by increased player numbers, upcoming expansions, and continued community engagement including a planned fan meet in August 2025.
The past week has been eventful for Elite Dangerous, marked notably by a significant exploit related to Powerplay. This exploit, which required players to be on foot and involved dumping massive amounts of merits into a target system, nearly resulted in Earth and the solar system changing hands. Frontier intervened to prevent this outcome by temporarily disabling merit gain from the on-foot transfer power data activity until a permanent fix could be implemented. The affected systems, including the Soul system and Alpha Centauri, were reverted to their proper status during maintenance on June 19th, ensuring the exploit did not cause lasting damage.
Frontier Developments also released their financial report for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, revealing a positive turnaround for the company. Their total revenue reached £90.6 million, a modest increase of 1.5% year-on-year, supported by a strong cash reserve of £42.5 million. The company’s confidence in its future is underscored by a planned £10 million share buyback, intended to boost share value and reflect the firm’s optimistic outlook, although this move is pending shareholder approval scheduled for June 27th.
Elite Dangerous itself has been a significant contributor to Frontier’s financial success, with game revenue growing by an impressive 76% year-on-year. This resurgence is attributed to renewed focus on the game, including the introduction of new ships, the Trailblazers colonization update, and upcoming major expansions like Vanguards slated for summer and another undisclosed update later in the year. These developments have reignited player interest and bolstered the game’s standing within Frontier’s portfolio.
Player numbers for Elite Dangerous have seen substantial growth, with Steam charts showing strong average and peak concurrent users. While these figures do not capture the entire player base, Frontier highlighted that the 2024 holiday period recorded the third-highest session numbers in the game’s 11-year history. This sustained increase in player engagement signals a healthy and active community, further validating Frontier’s investment in the title.
Lastly, community engagement remains vibrant with the announcement of the next Elite community meet scheduled for August 16, 2025, in Coventry, UK. Organized by prominent community members and the Hutton Orbital community, the event offers fans an opportunity to connect in person. Tickets are still available, with details accessible via elitecommunitymeet.info, underscoring the ongoing enthusiasm and dedication within the Elite Dangerous player community.