System Colonisation: Difference between revisions

Colonisation has rapidly increased the number of [[human]] inhabited [[Star Systems|systems]] from the [[Core Systems|The Bubble]] across the [[Inner Orion Spur]].<ref name=":18" /> There is an ongoing effort to colonize the [[Colonia Region]]. The playable beta version launched on 26 February 2025,<ref name=":7" /> and exited beta to full release on 11 November 2025.<ref name=":14" /> By February 2026: 101,862 systems have been colonized, with 175,973 surface facilities, and 307,014 space facilities.<ref name=":17" />

[[File:System Colonisation Map Jan 2026 ED.jpg|thumb|System Colonisation Map Jan 2026 ED]]Technical lead of [[Frontier Developments|Frontier]] Roger Bennett said on 16 Feb 2026: [[Human|Humanity]] survived the devastating [[Second Thargoid War]] that struck the core of [[Core Systems|the Bubble]].<ref name=":17">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf2wuh_09eo Elite Dangerous | Developer Log - 16 February 2026] - YouTube</ref> The natural narrative consquence of that is that humanity stretches out into the stars and try to gain new footholds and territories to make humanity more robust than ever.<ref name=":17" />

[[Frontier Developments|Fdev]] puts the fate of the galaxy in the hands of the players.<ref name=":17" /> This is a non-authored, non scripted update.<ref name=":17" /> It's all about player agency, giving a certain selection of tools and players go out and make the galaxy their own.<ref name=":17" />

After the uninhabited portion of the Bubble got filled in we saw expeditions head out towards the center of the galaxy and along the [[Orion-Cygnus Arm]] as people built galactic highways to their destinations of choice.<ref name=":17" /> The second part of that was small bubbles started to appear where people were building high density systems to create their own little inhabited bubble which is largely for production of resources so that they can continue their journey even further.<ref name=":17" /> On 16 Feb 2026 players made 101,862 colonised systems, 307,014 facilities built in space, and 175,973 facilities built on planet surfaces.<ref name=":17" /> This has changed the galaxy forever and made the galaxy their own.<ref name=":17" />

The [https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-lagoon-nebula-colonization-mega-project.634141/#post-10555854 SagWay Mega Project] is 60% completed towards the [[Galactic Centre]].<ref name=":21">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/1xeefgl/while_building_a_highway_to_the_core_mikunn/ While building a highway to the core, Mikunn became the first faction to reach 1 Trillion Residents] - WaltKerman - Elite Dangerous - 24 October 2026</ref> This is the first step coreward to Colonia and the rest of the Galaxy. As many nebula as possible are connected along the way.<ref name=":21" /> The highway is for everyone and all groups, to build and install their minor faction.<ref name=":21" /> [[The Dukes of Mikunn]] became the first faction to reach 1 trillion residents (1,003,825,444,053 in 7,665 systems) on 24 October 3312 (2026).<ref name=":21" /><ref>[https://inara.cz/elite/reports-factions/ Factions Report] - INARA - 24 October 2026</ref> They are near the permit locked [[guardian]] region that centers on Hen 2-333.<ref name=":21" />

<gallery>

File:Elite Dangerous Colonisation Update 3312-07-23

File:Galactic Exploration history, Mid-2026 (Elite- Dangerous) w- music

File:Elite Dangerous Colonisation Update 3312-08-27 - Going North

File:Elite Dangerous Colonisation Update 3312-09-24 - Where you been?

</gallery>

[[Brewer Corporation]] released official figures on the initial colonisation rush on 13 March 3311 (2025):<ref name=":10">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/67d1cb963e704d1aaa0e2ef9 New Era of System Colonisation Hailed a Success] - Galnet - 13 MAR 3311</ref> 8 months after Trailblazers launched, the [[Core Systems|Bubble]] has expanded exponentially on 4 October 2025.<ref name=":11">[https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1229550565873674 Trailblazers Stats Update] - 4 Oct 2025 - Elite Dangerous Facebook Page</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" border="1"

!Objective

!13 March 3311 (2025)<ref name=":10" />

|System claims made

|

|Systems colonised

|13,165

|New starports and outposts built

|

|Surface installations established (facilities built on planet surfaces)

|14,216

|Units of cargo delivered to construction sites

|

|Space installations completed

|

|Most popular construction

|Industrial Outpost - Vulcan - 5,970

These are the top economies developed.<ref name=":19">[https://www.instagram.com/elitedangerous/p/DU3okECjZne elitedangerous - Instagram] - 17 Feb 2026</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" border="1"

!Economy

!Amount, Jan 3312 (2026)<ref name=":19" />

!Percentage, Jan 3312 (2026)<ref name=":19" />

|-

|Mining / Refining

|16%

|Communication

|71,247

|15%

|Military / Security

|68,187

|15%

|Industrial

|64,059

|14%

|Scientific

|48,076

|10%

|Agriculture

|42,630

|9%

|Tourism

|10,970

|2%

|Other / Mixed

|89,974

|19%

 

The [[The Dukes of Mikunn|Mercs of Mikunn]], allies, and countless individuals have built colonies from the [[Lagoon Nebula]] towards the [[Omega Nebula]] as part of the Grand Tiberian Highway to [[Colonia]]'''.'''<ref name=":16">[https://archive.vn/kZFOi Omega Nebula Now Open to the Community] - Walt Kerman - 6 Jan 2026 - Frontier Forums</ref> They reached the Omega Nebula on 6 Jan 2026.<ref name=":16" /> The area has a unique starfield with:

 

* 40+ ringed water worlds along the route (many unclaimed).<ref name=":16" />

* Fantastic views in the nebula and stars.<ref name=":16" />

* A massive starfield of O and B stars with a 50 LY radius that contain 31 [[Black Holes|black hole]] systems, and 57 [[Stars|neutron]] star systems.<ref name=":16" />

 

[[File:Colonisation Ship ED.jpg|250px|thumb|Colonisation ship]]

System colonisation is a player-driven way to expand the Bubble and colonise new systems<ref name=":0">[https://www.dpss.space/colonisation New Colonisation Mechanic First Look] - DPSS - Elite Dangerous Squadron - 30 October 2024</ref> Claiming a system works on a first come, first served basis.<ref name=":6" /> The player must find an unpopulated system within 15 light years of a previously inhabited system and claim it from a System Colonisation Contact, available at any Star Port.<ref>https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/system-colonisation-guide</ref> Scanning a [[star system]] in advance with an [[Full Spectrum System Scanner|FSS]] reveals the number of slots that are available for construction; larger planets can typically accommodate more surface structures, while a larger number of celestial bodies provides more room for orbital structures.<ref name=":5" /> Some systems are more valuable for construction and different stellar and planetary bodies can boost or negatively impact different kinds of economies.<ref name=":5" /> Showing the System Map in Architect Mode will display the available orbital locations and the number of ground locations available on each body. One of the orbital slot icons will have a flag instead of a "+" sign: this indicates the location where the primary port will be constructed. If that primary port location isn't good, it is not recommended to spend commodities building anything other than a Military outpost. (Why Military? It provides population and security: most other structures subtract security, so it's one of the hardest system statistics to keep up.)

 

The player must purchase a claim with [[credits]] from a [[Colonisation Contact]] (CC).<ref name=":4">[https://www.dpss.space/colonisation New Colonisation Mechanic First Look] - DPPS - 27 November 3310</ref> The CC is a member of a [[:Category:Factions|faction]] in a populated system in [[Core Systems|The Bubble]], and will become the initial dominant faction in any system that is successfully colonised (allowing existing BGS factions, player minor factions and - through faction proxies - the superpowers to expand their influence).<ref name=":4" /> A [[Nav Beacon|Colonisation Beacon]] must be deployed in that system within 24 hours.<ref name=":4" /> If this is not done within the time limit then the claim is revoked.<ref name=":4" /> If  this process fails twice, there is a 3 day wait until another claim can be made.<ref name=":8">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAC3rEOuSBU Trailblazers Update Brings NEW Exploration Opportunities] - Ricardos Gaming - 3 Mar 2025</ref> The Beacon costs 25 million [[credits]]. Multiple new systems cannot be colonised at the same time, though once an initial startport is constructed, another system can be claimed.<ref name=":8" />  

After the Colonisation Beacon has been placed, a [[Colonisation Ship]] (CS) will arrive in the system at the initial port location.<ref name=":4" /> These ships are among the largest [[Megaship|megaships]] in the game (easily dwarfing a [[Drake-Class Carrier]]) and offer 32 landing pads for cargo deliveries.<ref name=":2">[https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2289337034 Frontier Unlocked #10] - Twitch - 30 October 2024</ref>  The player must deliver a list of items to the CS which depends on the starport type<ref name=":4" /> and acts as an initial hub to work on in the system.<ref name=":2" /> Logistics is key to building a starport by transporting [[materials]] into the system.<ref name=":3">[https://www.polygon.com/pc/473158/elite-dangerous-colonization-expansion-bubble Elite Dangerous will let players colonize the Milky Way in 2025] - Polygon - 31 Oct 2024</ref> Once all materials are delivered, the newly made starport will appear in the final stages of construction and it will be finished after the weekly server tick.<ref name=":4" /> The primary port must be deployed (built) within 4 weeks; if it is not completed within this time limit then the claim will revoked and any commodities will be lost <ref name=":4" />. The architect will also be unable to make another claim attempt for 3 days.<ref name=":8" /> The station under construction appears as an uninhabited [[starport]] covered in scaffolding, with inactive vendors and services, and notices advising final deployment is underway.<ref name=":12">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAD2A9ifeYs ELITE DANGEROUS - Colonization In-Depth Look] - Commander Exorcist - YouTube - 27 Nov 2024</ref>

On 4 November 2025 Frontier announced the exit of the System Colonisation mechanic from beta status.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6kQYtfz1sk Elite Dangerous | Developer Log -  4 November 2025] - YouTube - 4 November 2025</ref> This occurred on 11 November 2025 with the release of the v4.2.2.0 Dodec Update of [[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey|''Elite Dangerous: Odyssey'']].<ref name=":14" />