Version history

Elite Dangerous is the definitive massively multiplayer space epic, bringing gaming’s original open world adventure to the modern generation with a connected galaxy, evolving narrative and the entirety of the Milky Way re-created at its full galactic proportions. Here is the Version history of how it has evolved over time.

The current version is Template:CurrentVersion, released on 1st July 2016. Since launch, there have been 4751 documented improvements to the live game.

This page is a quick reference for the purpose of informing returning-CMDRs, after time away from the cockpit, of what has been added to Elite Dangerous and when. Provided are highlights of each release version - approximately 95% of the changelog information is omitted - therefore they are ordered as follows:

• Expansions bring key improvements - so are ordered chronologically, most recent first.
• Patches mostly fix bugs and correct balance issues that appeared - so are ordered by release-date, under their parent expansion.

Each release is briefly described on this page as follows:

• Version identifier, title of headline feature, and date publicly available
• Summary of the content, features and key gameplay improvements added
• Links to the complete changelogs (only ~5% is included here)

Version formatting

Each release version's numeric identifier (n.n.nn) is broken down as follows:

• First digit refers to the Season
• Second digit refers to the major release or expansion
• Third (pair of) digit(s) refers to the minor release or patch
• Example: a version identifier of v1.2.08 = 8th patch, of the 2nd expansion, during Season 1

History

v2.1 "The Engineers" & v1.6 - 26th May 2016

• Mission & scenario improvements: new layout, new types, faces for NPCs, contextualised USS' & POIs, difficulty determined by rank, welcome messages, commodity/loot/treasure rewards
• Mission limit reduced to 20, and military rank progress rebalancing to be easier

• Huge lasers and muticannons added, and weapon, missile and mine damage rebalancing
• Fe De Lance heat efficiency rebalancing to offset the increased power plant change
• Customisable Bookmarks, Community goal markers, and Minor Faction state filters added to galaxy map
• Background Simulation rebalancing, and improvements to mission and information feedback
• Ability to scan a Nav beacon to get that system's exploration data added
• Default number of items per page in Exploration selling increased from 20 to 50
• Community Goal rewards now automatically redeem after 2 weeks
• Clock added to cockpit's info panel
• Add distances to wakes targeted by the player
• Ships cannot enter super cruise if their thrusters are disabled, and hardpoint deployment in supercruise disabled
• Large AI improvement, making combat more dangerous especially at higher NPC ranks
• Spawning ambient & Powerplay AI in normal space updated, and Powerplay ships at stations, nav beacons and RES locations added
• Silent Running blocking AI scans improvements
• Credit reward for routing a cap ship in war zones increased to 150000

• (Horizons) Materials can be spawned/dropped inside signal sources, destroyed ships and skimmers, scanned from wreckage and ships, mining including icy rings
• (Horizons) Modules can be upgraded by Engineers, using materials, to create improved stats, visual & experimental effects

• (Horizons) Point defence systems for settlements and bases, and skimmer disablers added
• (Horizons) Collisions with skimmers are now also extremely disruptive to ships, hitting one will cause a temporarily loss of drives and shields
• Changelog, 1337 notes: v2.1/v1.6

v2.1.02 & v1.6.02 - 3rd Jun

• NPC overpowered-hybrid weapons removed
• Gameplay, Powerplay, and stability improvements
• Changelog, 25 notes: v2.1.02/v1.6.02

v2.1.03 & v1.6.03 - 22nd Jun

• Huge burst lasers added
• NPC AI, loadout, spawning and interdiction rebalancing
• Audio, gameplay, graphics and stability improvements
• (Server) Rare goods available rebalancing
• (Xbox) Localised languages added: French, German, Spanish and Russian
• (CQC) Gameplay improvements
• (Horizons) Articles about sourcing materials available in Engineers bases' news feeds
• (Horizons) Materials and data storage increased
• (Horizons) Engineers' unlock requirements rebalancing
• (Horizons) CMDRs can now expend reputation levels with Engineers to control experimental effects
• Changelog, 157 notes: v2.1.03/v1.6.03 & Server

v2.1.04 & v.1.6.04 - 1st Jul

• Gameplay and stability improvements
• Changelog, 7 notes: v2.1.04/v1.6.04

v2.0 "Planetary Landings" & v1.5 "Ships" - 15th Dec 2015

• New 64 bit client
• Vive VR headset support added
• New ships: Asp Scout, Viper MkIV, Federal Corvette, Imperial Cutter, and Keelback
• New CQC-only ship: Imperial Fighter
• New missions and scenarios added: Don't die, Don't get scanned, Multi-stage, Assassination variants, Contact, Unique cargo, Timed window, Search and rescue, Wrecked ships, Deep space salvage, Distress call, Alliance VIP escort
• Missions and scenarios can now be received in space
• Fer-de-Lance's manoeuvrability, Power Plant capacity and heat dissipation all increased
• Shield Cell Banks, Hull Reinforcement Packages and Bulkheads rebalancing
• More Player Group sponsored Minor Faction descriptions added
• Master Chefs rare good added
• Local emergency rescue NPCs added
• Spanish community-created localisation added
• Background Simulation rebalancing
• (Horizons) Ships can land on planet surfaces!
• (Horizons) New flight modes: Orbital cruise, Sub-orbital, Glide path planetary approach, and FA-off support
• (Horizons) Planetary Approach Suite module slot added
• (Horizons) Ability to dismiss and recall your ship added
• (Horizons) Deployable SRV when landed and at planetary ports
• (Horizons) New GUI indicators added: Landing radar, Gravity strength, Wave scanner, Terrain scanner
• (Horizons) NPC surface skimmers added: Goliath, Sentry, Guardian, Stinger 2
• (Horizons) Surface ports and settlements added, with defences and trespass zones
• (Horizons) Surface points of interest added: Materials, Encounters, Natural, and Structure
• (Horizons) Planetary Missions and Permits added
• (Horizons) Planetary schematic map added
• (Horizons) Planet Surface rendering overhaul
• (Horizons) Materials & Synthesis added: AFM module resupply, FSD Boost, Ship projectile resupply, SRV hull repair, SRV refuel, SRV ammo refill
• (PC/OSX) Bobbleheads added
• (PC/OSX) Updated French, German and Russian translations
• Changelog, 955 notes: v2.0/v1.5

v2.0.01 & v1.5.01 - 16th Dec

• Gameplay and stability improvements
• (Horizons) SRV control and targeting improvements
• Changelog, 13 notes: v2.0.01 and Server

v2.0.02 & v1.5.02 - 21st Dec

• CMDR statistics screen now shows time played
• Audio, gameplay, graphics, performance and stability improvements
• (Horizons) Gameplay improvements
• Changelog, 33 notes: v2.0.02

v2.0.03 & v1.5.03 - 6th Jan 2016

• (PC/OSX) Alternative Download option added to game launcher
• Stability improvements
• Changelog, 20 notes: v2.0.0.3

v2.0.04 & v1.5.04 - 26th Jan

• Gameplay, networking and stability improvements
• Changelog, 26 notes: v2.0.04

v2.0.05 & v1.5.05 - 1st Feb

• (Horizons) Planetside object spawning improvements
• (Server) Background Simulation improvements
• Changelog, 7 notes: v2.0.05

v2.0.06 & v1.5.06 - 16th Feb

• ED Arena (standalone CQC) now available
• i Sola Prospect in the Brestla star system now always stocks all ships and modules
• (Horizons) Gameplay improvements
• (CQC) Gameplay, matchmaking and stability improvements
• (OSX) Fix CMDRs not being able to save bindings
• (Server) Background Simulation, performance, Powerplay, and reliability improvements
• Changelog, 35 notes: v2.0.06 and Server

v2.0.07 & v1.5.07 - 24th Mar

• Oculus 1.3 SDK support
• VR Low & High graphics presets, new VR-only menu, and VR experience demo tutorial
• Crossplay support for First Discovered, Top-5 Bounties, and Community Goal #1 contributor
• (Horizons) VR comfort options for SRV
• Changelog, 19 notes: v2.0.07

v2.0.08 & v1.5.08 - 31st Mar

• Gameplay improvements
• Changelog, 3 notes: v2.0.08

v2.0.09 & v1.5.09 - 26th Apr

• Exploration data selling increased to 50 items per page
• Gameplay improvements
• Changelog, 5 notes: v2.0.09

v1.4 "CQC" - 6th Oct 2015

• Elite Dangerous released on Xbox One
• CQC Championship added
• New ships: Imperial Eagle, Federal Gunship, and Federal Assault Ship
• New CQC-only ship: F63 Condor
• Hazardous Resource Extraction Sites added
• Compromised Nav Beacons added
• Legal salvage missions added
• Outfitting for CQC added
• Changed how powerplant damage is handled - small chance of instant destruction, otherwise malfunctions and halved power output
• Assign Imperial Eagles to those who should have them from their Kickstarter backer rewards
• (Server) Minor Factions sponsored by Player Groups added
• (Server) Various Background Simulation, matchmaking, networking, performance, and stability improvements
• Changelog, 396 notes: v1.4

v1.4.01 - 20th Oct

• New Mission Templates
• CQC Matchmaking improvements
• Improvements to interdictions
• (Xbox) Upload App now supported
• (Xbox) Updated User Guide
• (OSX) Support for Retina native resolutions added
• (OSX) Support for Fullscreen, Borderless & Windowed display modes added
• (Server) Rares goods' availability & legalities improved for Onionhead, Lucan Onionhead and Tarach Tor Spice!
• (Server) More Minor Factions sponsored by Player Groups added
• (Server) Daily limits to minor faction influence changes added
• (Server) Background Simulation, performance and stability improvements
• Changelogs, 24 notes: v1.4.01 and Server #1 & #2

v1.3 "Powerplay" - 5th Jun 2015

• Powerplay added
• Power map views on galaxy map, power information and action screens added
• Power specific ship modules, ambient traffic, defector hunters, goods and actions added
• New ships: Imperial Courier, Diamondback Scout and Diamondback Explorer
• Drones for Cargo/Mining chunk collection, Fuel transfer and Prospecting asteroids added
• Mission system overhaul
• Inbox integration for branching missions
• Missions scaling up based on rank, and reputation with mission giver
• Mission targets can be generated in supercruise rather than USSs
• Spawned AI difficulty determined by mission (if spawned by mission)
• Low and high intensity resource extraction site scenarios added
• Military progression missions revamped
• Founders and Elite ranked missions added
• Minable commodities Painite and Osmium added
• More mission variants added, including slave, mining and alternate-assassination-target
• Updated bounty system:
  • Bounties cannot be paid off (Pilot's Fed contact is gone!), but expire after 7 days.
  • Major factions don't record crimes anymore, only minor factions
  • Fines now take 7 days to expire, but never coexist with bounties (bounties absorb fines and dormant bounties with the same faction).
  • Expiry only actually happens when you login, hyperspace or resurrect
  • Friendly fire values relaxed
• Select navigation target in system map function added
• Loan ceiling scales based on player's highest Elite rank
• Added crimes for reckless flying (collisions) within Starport no fire zones:
  • Shields only collisions above speed limit is a fine
  • Hull damage only above speed limit is a larger fine
  • Ship destruction within short window after collision above speed limit is a bounty
  • Respects 'Report crimes against me' setting
• Allow any general purpose slot on any ship to contain a fuel tank module
• Networking improvements
• Translations for missions added: French, German, and Russian
• (Server) Background Simulation improvements
• Changelogs, 602 notes: v1.3 and Server

v1.3.01 - 9th Jun

• (Server) Various performance and reliability improvements
• Changelog, 27 notes: v1.3.01

v1.3.02 - 10th Jun

• Oculus Rift support updated to SDK 0.5
• (Server) Powerplay rebalancing
• Changelogs, 19 notes: v1.3.02 and Server

v1.3.03 - 12th Jun

• Powerplay rebalancing
• (Server) Exploration performance improvements
• (Server) Powerplay rebalancing
• Changelogs, 4 notes: v1.3.03 and Server

v1.3.04 - 16th Jun

• Stellar Forge optimisations
• Changelog, 28 notes: v1.3.04

v1.3.05 - 18th Jun

• Mission improvements
• Localisation text corrections
• Ship repair costs overhaul
• (Server) Stability improvements
• Changelogs, 29 notes: v1.3.05 and Server

v1.3.06 - 25th Jun

• Galnet news reliability improvements
• Powerplay rebalancing
• (OSX) Controller compatibility improvements
• Changelogs, 34 notes: v1.3.06 and Server

v1.3.07 - 2nd Jul

• Radius of the sphere of systems used to generate missions increased to 15ly
• Cargo dumping limit increased to 100, when away from stations and outposts
• (Server) Galnet news reports Powerplay predictions
• (Server) Exploration optimisations
• (Server) Powerplay improvements
• Changelogs, 19 notes: v1.3.07 and Server #1, #2 & #3

v1.3.08 - 5th Aug

• Matchmaking improvements
• Appconfig option RouterPort added
• Changelog, 13 notes: v1.3.08

v1.2 "Wings" - 10th Mar 2015

• Wings functionality added
• New ships: Fer-de-Lance and Vulture
• Comms interface overhaul
• NPC Groups added
• Ability to reboot destroyed sub systems (modules) added
• Flyable debug camera with limited range added
• Changelog, 336 notes: v1.2

v1.2.01 - 11th Mar

• Matchmaking improvements
• Hotfix identified as v1.2.02 fixed critical crash bug
• Changelog, 16 notes: v1.2.01

v1.2.03 - 12th Mar

• Earnings from bounties, combat bonds, and exploration data all increased
• Changelog, 21 notes: v1.2.03

v1.2.04 - 13th Mar

• Head-tracking improvements
• (Server) Background Simulation improvements
• Changelog, 6 notes: v1.2.04

v1.2.05 - 18th Mar

• Smaller ships are now better at smuggling
• Changelog, 23 notes: v1.2.05

v1.2.06 - 25th Mar

• (Server) Background Simulation improvements
• Changelog, 21 notes: v1.2.06

v1.2.07 - 10th Apr

• Prevent docking after the police 'notice' that a player is wanted
• (Server) Performance and reliability improvements
• (Server) Cap all bounties to 1 million credits per Minor Faction
• Changelogs, 19 notes: v1.2.07 and Server

v1.1 "Community Goals" - 10th Feb 2015

• Community Goals added
• Route planning extended to 1,000ly
• Russian language translations added
• 'Discovered by' tag to system map added
• New graphics shaders for planets, and city lights added
• Explored system details added to cartographics shop
• Top benefactors support added to system map
• Hotfix identified as v1.1.01 fixed critical crash bug
• Changelog, 306 notes: v1.1

v1.1.02 - 11th Feb

• Backers and Elite-rank discounts added
• Collision damage tweaked
• Changelog, 9 notes: v1.1.02

v1.1.03 - 12th Feb

• Gameplay improvements
• Changelog, 18 notes: v1.1.03

v1.1.04 - 13th Feb

• Bounty vouchers can be redeemed at any local starport
• Changelog, 8 notes: v1.1.04

v1.1.05 - 19th Feb

• Friendly fire relaxed
• Changelog, 15 notes: v1.1.05

v1.1.06 - 5th Mar

• Gameplay improvements
• Changelog, 6 notes: v1.1.06

v1.0 "Welcome to the Galaxy, CMDR" - 16th Dec 2014

• Initial public version of the game :)

v1.01 - 17th Dec

• Gameplay improvements
• Changelog, 11 notes: v1.01

v1.02 - 18th Dec

• Rare commodities supply limit added
• Changelog, 13 notes: v1.02

v1.03 - 19th Dec

• More UI and Control options added
• Background Simulation improvements
• Changelogs, 8 notes: v1.03 and Server #1 & #2

v1.04 - 8th Jan 2015

• Background Simulation improvements
• Changelog, 18 notes: v1.04

v1.05 - 15th Jan

• Mission list improvements
• Changelogs, 23 notes: v1.05 and Server

v1.06 - 22nd Jan

• Matchmaking improvements
• Changelog, 16 notes: v1.06

v1.07 - 28th Jan

• (Server) Maintenance period now weekly
• Changelogs, 10 notes: v1.07 and Server #1 & #2