Elite Dangerous Update 17 introduces massive Thargoid Spire sites and a new variant of Thargoid drones called Banshees. Players can explore these sites, gather materials, and trade them with Professor Palin for rewards, adding variety to gameplay and impressing the community with the scale and spectacle of the new content.
Update 17 for Elite Dangerous was released, introducing new content centered around the Thargoid Matrix sites. These sites have now transformed into massive Thargoid Spire sites, towering structures with gigantic spires reaching over 5 kilometers into the sky. The update also brings a new variant of the Thargoid drones called Banshees, which are larger and more powerful than the previous Revenant drones.
The Spire sites can be explored both in vehicles and on foot. The landing platforms on the towers can be used as makeshift landing pads, allowing players to explore the exterior. Within the landing area, players can discover nerve clusters that can be disabled with a suits power transfer tool, leading to the collection of a new material called Spire Refinery compound. Bio hotspots can also be found and sampled for genetic data using the Artemis suit genetic scanner tool.
Gathering materials at the base of the towers can be hampered by the presence of the Banshees and other Thargoid drones. However, these new materials, along with the Spire Refinery compound, can be traded with Professor Palin for rewards. The purpose of the Spire sites and their colossal refinery-like function is still unknown. The Spire sites also seem to prevent the removal of Thargoid influence from the affected systems.
The arrival of the Spire sites has garnered a highly positive response from the Elite Dangerous community. The scale and spectacle of the new content, within the one-to-one scale simulation of the Milky Way, have impressed players. Despite being a first-person shooter, the update incorporates the use of suits tools and exploration, adding variety to the gameplay. The next official Elite Dangerous live stream, the Halloween special, will likely discuss update 17.
Players are encouraged to exercise caution when approaching Revenant-infested Odyssey settlements, as they now also contain the formidable Banshees. A spreadsheet listing the current known Spire sites can be found in the video description. Overall, the update offers an exciting new experience for players, embracing the vastness of the game’s universe and providing opportunities for exploration and discovery.