In the latest Elite Dangerous update “Trailblazers,” players successfully colonized 8,000 star systems, but Frontier Developments has paused the colonization feature due to significant issues, assuring players that their progress will remain intact. Additionally, a player-created expedition called Distant Worlds 3 has been announced for 2026, focusing on exploration and community engagement.
In the latest update for Elite Dangerous, titled “Trailblazers,” players have successfully colonized 8,000 new star systems and completed over 13,000 facilities in just a few days. This update introduced system colonization, allowing players to create their own space stations. However, the feature has encountered a significant issue, prompting Frontier Developments to pause the colonization functionality. While they have not provided detailed explanations for the pause, they have assured players that any systems already claimed will remain intact and that no progress will be lost.
Frontier has labeled this update as a “live beta,” which is a departure from their usual practice of testing updates on separate servers before going live. This approach is intended to address balance issues that arose during previous updates, such as the imbalances experienced with fleet carriers. By releasing the update as a beta, Frontier aims to make adjustments and ensure the game’s mechanics are functioning as intended, reducing the chances of player backlash.
Players have also reported UI issues where claimed star systems do not appear as such, but Frontier has indicated that this is a visual glitch and that the systems are still claimed. Although a recent update has addressed some of these UI problems, the core issue affecting system colonization remains unresolved. Frontier has committed to not resuming this feature until they are confident that all issues are fixed.
Speculation among the player community suggests that the pause may be due to glitches or exploits that allowed players to claim systems more rapidly than intended. While the exact reasons remain unclear, players are hopeful that the colonization functionality will be restored soon, especially with the weekend approaching, as many players enjoy engaging with the game during that time.
In other news, a player-created expedition called Distant Worlds 3 has been announced, with plans to take place in 2026. This event, which focuses on exploration and community engagement, is expected to attract a large number of participants, similar to previous Distant Worlds expeditions that saw thousands of players joining in. The organizers are currently gauging public interest, and a trailer has been released, along with an official forum post for those interested in participating.