Frontier Developments revealed the Lakeon Type 11 Prospector, Elite Dangerous’ first-ever mining-focused ship, featuring a unique offset cockpit and a powerful new mining hardpoint. The medium-class vessel is set for release in autumn, marking a major expansion of gameplay options beyond combat and transport.
The latest Frontier Unlocked live stream, held on the last Wednesday of the month, kicked off with an exciting reveal for Elite Dangerous fans. Breaking from tradition, Elite Dangerous was featured as the first segment of the show rather than the last. This change meant that the dedicated audience didn’t have to wait long for new announcements. The highlight was the unveiling of a new ship, teased last week with an image partially obscured by an asteroid field. This teaser had sparked considerable speculation in the community about the ship’s purpose, with many guessing it would be mining-focused.
Frontier Developments confirmed these speculations by announcing the Lakeon Type 11 Prospector, the first-ever mining-focused vessel in Elite Dangerous. This marks a significant expansion of gameplay options, as the game had previously only featured ships geared towards combat, passenger transport, and hauling. The reveal was accompanied by insights from veteran ship designer Chris Gregory, who shared details about the ship’s unique features. The Type 11 Prospector is a medium-class vessel with a distinctive industrial design, reminiscent of the Type 8 medium freighter introduced last year.
One of the most notable design elements of the Type 11 Prospector is its offset cockpit, which is not centrally mounted. This unusual configuration is directly related to the ship’s mining capabilities. The vessel also features prominent hydraulic rams and pistons, especially around its dual outward-mounted engines, emphasizing its heavy industrial nature. Frontier also introduced a new mining-focused hardpoint located next to the cockpit, which is almost as large as the cockpit itself. This hardpoint is designed to operate like a powerful industrial drill, bringing a fresh gameplay mechanic to mining in the game.
While no exact release date was given, Frontier indicated that players can expect to access the Type 11 Prospector in the autumn. The team also shared that the Vanguard update, initially planned for early August, has been delayed to late August. This minor delay means fans won’t have to wait too long for new content. Further details and analysis of the Type 11 Prospector will be explored in upcoming videos, offering the community a deeper dive into the ship’s design and functionality.
The reveal of the Type 11 Prospector has generated excitement and curiosity among Elite Dangerous players, particularly regarding how the new mining hardpoint will operate in practice. Frontier’s move to introduce a mining-focused ship represents a new direction for the game’s ship roster, expanding the range of activities available to players. Viewers were encouraged to share their thoughts and reactions in the comments, subscribe for more updates, and support the channel through Patreon. Overall, the announcement marks a significant milestone in Elite Dangerous’ ongoing development.