The video explores how Elite Dangerous originally envisioned larger, more diverse ground vehicles like colossal haulers and mobile cities, but only small SRVs like the Scarab and Scorpion have been implemented so far. With ongoing developments in colonization and infrastructure, the presenter suggests that these ambitious vehicle concepts could still be revisited in future updates as the game’s scope continues to expand.
The video explores the history and potential future of Surface Recon Vehicles (SRVs) in Elite Dangerous, highlighting how the game originally considered much larger and more diverse ground vehicles, including colossal haulers and even mobile cities. The presenter explains that early concept art from Frontier’s digital art book reveals plans for industrial rigs, articulated haulers, and city-sized vehicles, which were never implemented in the game. These ideas reflect a much broader vision for ground-based gameplay that could have vastly expanded the scope of exploration and resource gathering.
Since the game’s release, only two SRVs have been introduced: the Scarab in 2015 and the Scorpion in 2020. Despite the initial ambitious designs, larger and more complex vehicles never made it into the game, likely due to gameplay limitations and the current technological constraints. The presenter suggests that the simple, skeletal design of the Scarab indicates that bigger vehicles might not have had a clear purpose within the existing game loops, which could explain their absence. However, with the ongoing focus on colonization and player-driven infrastructure, the potential for larger vehicles remains a possibility.
The concept art and early ideas hint at various roles for these larger vehicles, such as bulk resource gatherers, mobile refineries, or even transporters for deploying infrastructure on planet surfaces. One particularly intriguing design resembles a tracked, wide-based rig capable of handling heavy loads or building structures, which could serve as a mobile base or resource processing facility. The idea of a mobile city on tracks also emerges, drawing parallels to sci-fi franchises like Mortal Engines, although the practicality and purpose of such a massive vehicle in Elite Dangerous remain speculative.
The presenter emphasizes that the game has evolved significantly, especially with the recent emphasis on colonization, station construction, and player-led expansion into remote star systems. These developments suggest that larger ground vehicles could find a purpose in the game’s new direction, supporting resource extraction, infrastructure building, or exploration in distant systems. Although no official confirmation exists, the combination of concept art and current gameplay trends makes the idea of revisiting these old designs plausible, especially as the game’s scope continues to expand.
Finally, the video discusses Frontier’s upcoming updates, including the summer release of Vanguards, which focuses on community and player-driven interactions, and the possibility of new, undisclosed features later in 2025 or early 2026. The presenter expresses optimism about the future of Elite Dangerous, noting that the game’s evolution could bring back some of these ambitious vehicle concepts. They invite viewers to share their thoughts on what they’d like to see in the game’s future, emphasizing that the current trajectory offers exciting opportunities for innovation and expansion in Elite Dangerous.