In the latest episode of “Frontier Unlocked,” Elite Dangerous director Piers Jackson unveiled details about the upcoming system colonization feature, which encourages player collaboration to expand the inhabited galaxy by establishing new systems. Players will engage in a dynamic process involving the purchase of unoccupied claims, deploying nav beacons, and building spaceports, with the feature set to launch in early 2025.
In the recent episode of “Frontier Unlocked,” new details about the system colonization feature in Elite Dangerous were revealed by Piers Jackson, the game’s director. This feature aims to bring together explorers, miners, and power players to shape humanity’s destiny within the game’s universe. The concept revolves around expanding the “bubble,” the inhabited area of the galaxy, and Jackson emphasized that the gameplay will be dynamic, adjusting to player actions and decisions as they engage in colonization efforts.
The colonization process begins with players contacting a system colonization contact in inhabited systems, where they can purchase a claim for an unoccupied area. This claim, bought with credits, grants access to a system colonization nav beacon, which players must deploy within 24 hours. To prevent players from monopolizing the best locations, only one nav beacon can be held by a player at a time. This feature is designed to encourage collaboration and strategic planning among players as they work to establish new systems.
Once the nav beacon is deployed, players must then summon a system colonization ship to their location. This ship will require various materials to build a spaceport, which will be determined by the economic conditions of the chosen system. While the specifics of the materials needed were not disclosed, it was noted that collaboration with other players would expedite the process, as individual players might find it challenging to gather all necessary resources alone.
The deployment of the spaceport will occur in phases, resembling an unused airport terminal at first. There will be a time limit for deploying the initial starport, and players will also need to manage upkeep costs, similar to fleet carriers. After the primary starport is established, it will transition from a colonization beacon to a standard nav beacon, allowing players to either expand their operations or move on to colonize another system.
Players who successfully establish a starport will earn the title of “system architect,” giving them the authority to expand their system with additional facilities and settlements. Each system will offer unique opportunities, and the process will require ongoing participation from players to stock resources and ensure the economy functions effectively. The system colonization feature is set to launch in early 2025, with more information expected in a pre-recorded Frontier Unlocked episode before the holiday season. The community is eager to see how this new feature will transform gameplay in Elite Dangerous.