Frontier Developments has released a major unannounced audio overhaul for Elite Dangerous, significantly enhancing the on-foot gameplay experience with clearer, more impactful weapon sounds, improved situational awareness, and richer environmental audio. This update, coinciding with the new Core Dynamics Kestrel MK2 ship launch, signals Frontier’s commitment to expanding on-foot combat and hints at upcoming features like sliding and operations.
Frontier Developments has released a significant unannounced audio overhaul for Elite Dangerous alongside the launch of the new Core Dynamics Kestrel MK2 ship. This update focuses heavily on enhancing the on-foot gameplay experience, a part of the game that has been somewhat overlooked for nearly five years. Following last year’s improvements to on-foot NPC combat and weapon damage, this audio refresh further emphasizes Frontier’s commitment to developing the on-foot segment, especially as it relates to the upcoming operations feature.
The audio overhaul entails a comprehensive rebalance of the on-foot soundscape, designed to improve situational awareness during combat. Gunfire now carries further and is clearer, with better directional cues and reduced reverb clutter, making it easier for players to pinpoint enemy fire. Explosions and grenade detonations stand out more distinctly, and there is improved differentiation between indoor and outdoor sounds. Additionally, surrounding gunfire attenuates to help players detect incoming shots, while feedback for successful hits, shield drops, and kills has been made more audible amid the chaos of battle.
Weapon sounds themselves have undergone dramatic changes, with outgoing and incoming fire now featuring richer, more impactful audio profiles. For example, the standard kinetic assault rifle, the Kinematic AR50, now sounds like a powerful hand cannon with a cinematic echo effect that adds to the intensity. Other weapons such as the Manticore Executioner sniper rifle and the Manticore Intimidator have been updated to provide heavier, clearer, and more threatening sound profiles, enhancing the overall combat experience. Grenade sounds have also been refreshed, notably the shield disruptor grenades, which now emit a more impactful subsonic pulse.
Beyond weapons, the overhaul improves other audio elements including footsteps, which now sound clearer and more natural across different surfaces. Suit voice cues have been softened and made easier to distinguish, which is crucial during intense combat situations. Notably, the patch notes mention “breathing, jumping, and sliding” having richer audio presence, with sliding being particularly intriguing since the current game does not support this movement. This mention hints at potential new features related to on-foot operations that could add more dynamism to combat.
Overall, this surprise audio pass significantly enhances the on-foot gameplay atmosphere, making combat more immersive and providing better feedback to players. Combined with previous updates, it brings this aspect of Elite Dangerous up to date and more visceral. The video creator expresses excitement about these changes and the forthcoming operations feature, inviting viewers to share their experiences and thoughts on the new audio and the possibility of a sliding mechanic in combat. The update represents a strong step forward in Frontier’s ongoing development of Elite Dangerous’ on-foot gameplay.