Frontier Developments announced the end of the Trailblazer beta, introduced the new Tier 3 Dodecahedron Starport with a controversial paywall, and revealed the Caspian Explorer ship featuring advanced planetary capabilities. They also teased a 2026 “Operations” feature offering cooperative multi-phase missions on foot and in space, alongside upcoming improvements to on-foot gameplay and NPC AI.
Frontier Developments recently announced major updates for Elite Dangerous, including the official end of the Trailblazer colonisation update beta on November 11th. This update will bring numerous bug fixes and quality of life improvements to the Background Simulation (BGS), Powerplay, and Colonisation features. Alongside this, they revealed the introduction of a new Tier 3 Dodecahedron Starport, a design inspired by classic 1980s Elite games. This advanced starport will enhance system development by increasing population, tech, wealth, and providing the much-needed technology broker service in colonised systems.
However, the Dodecahedron Starport comes with a controversial monetisation model. Players can purchase and deploy one Dodec station outright using 50,000 ARX (around £25), marking a permanent game feature gated behind a paywall. Additional stations require traditional material hauling. While players can still use other players’ Dodec stations without purchase, this move signals a significant shift in Frontier’s monetisation approach, raising concerns within the community.
The video also unveiled the next new ship, the Caspian Explorer by Zorgon Peterson, a large-class vessel with a distinctive design reminiscent of Star Trek’s iconic ships. It features a saucer-shaped bridge, centrally mounted engines, and retractable nacelles. The Caspian promises practical planetary landings with its four robust landing gears and is expected to support an SRV bay, though Ship Launched Fighter compatibility remains unconfirmed. The ship’s hexagonal hull plating hints at potential gameplay involving thicker atmospheres or higher gravity planets, possibly tied to upcoming content in the HIP 87621 system.
Looking ahead, Frontier announced a new feature called “Operations,” set for early 2026. This will introduce multi-phased scenarios that players can engage in both on foot and in space, with up to four commanders cooperating to overcome challenging obstacles. Operations will allow players to board and explore hostile megaships, offering new internal environments and hard-to-obtain rewards. This feature may function similarly to MMORPG-style dungeons or raids, involving instanced gameplay that addresses previous challenges of coordinating multiplayer activities in the vast Elite Dangerous galaxy.
Finally, before Operations launches, a balance pass will improve on-foot gameplay and NPC AI, coinciding with the Caspian Explorer’s early access release in December. This signals Frontier’s renewed focus on enhancing Odyssey’s on-foot experience, a move welcomed by many players. The video concludes by inviting community feedback on the Dodec starport monetisation, the Caspian ship, and the upcoming Operations feature, encouraging viewers to subscribe and support the channel for ongoing Elite Dangerous coverage.