Elite Dangerous: Difference between revisions

'''''Elite Dangerous''''' is a massively multiplayer space epic and the fourth installment in the legendary [[Elite series|''Elite'' series]], the longest running space simulation series in history.<ref>[https://twitter.com/gwr/status/611537566299463681?lang=en Twitter: Guinness World Records, 18 Jun 2015]</ref> It was developed and published by [[Frontier Developments]] with [[David Braben]] as the director. The Windows PC version launched on 16 December 2014. It was partially funded via a [[Kickstarter]] campaign.<ref>[http://www.pcgamer.com/elite-dangerous-crowdfunding-covered-less-than-one-quarter-of-its-total-cost-creator-says/ PC Gamer: Elite: Dangerous creator says crowdfunding covered less than one-quarter of its total cost]</ref> The Mac version was released on 12 May 2015,<ref name=":5" /> but Mac OS support was dropped on 11 December 2018 due to technical barriers.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/important-mac-announcement.424243/ Frontier Forums: Important Mac announcement]</ref> The Xbox One version launched on 6 October 2015,<ref name=":6" /> followed by the PlayStation 4 version on 27 June 2017.<ref name=":7">[https://blog.us.playstation.com/2017/05/16/elite-dangerous-touches-down-on-ps4-june-27/ PlayStation.Blog: Elite: Dangerous Touches Down on PS4 June 27]</ref> The Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions can be played on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 respectively via backwards compatibility,<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/ids3nk/ps5_and_xbox_x_support_from_day1_according_to/ reddit: PS5 and Xbox X support from Day1 according to Interview with Joss Herraez]</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/johmtc/elitedangerous_we_can_confirm_that_elite/ reddit: @EliteDangerous: "We can confirm that Elite Dangerous is backwards compatible with Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5."]</ref> but no new ports optimized specifically for next-generation consoles are currently planned.<ref>[https://twinfinite.net/2020/08/elite-dangerous-odyssey-interview/ Twinfinite: Elite Dangerous Interview: Devs Detail Upcoming Odyssey Expansion]</ref>

New players start out with a [[Sidewinder MkI]] [[ship]] and a small sum of [[credits]]. They can blaze their own trail to fame and fortune and can pursue a number of [[careers]], including [[trader]], [[pirate]], [[Bounty Hunter|bounty hunter]], [[miner]], [[explorer]], and [[salvage|scavenger]].

''Elite Dangerous'' brings a modern look and new features to the Elite franchise. It is the first game in the series to feature online multiplayer in a vast 1:1 scale simulation of the Milky Way [[galaxy]] based on real scientific principles, recent scientific data and theories. It is groundbreaking in that the galaxy is based on a lot of hard science with all sorts of star surveys that are fixed and merged to, for the first time in gaming history, compose a very consistent model of the Milky Way galaxy and it's rich enough to plot the night sky.<ref name=":8" /> It's also one of the first major titles to offer full virtual reality support with an exceptionally immersive experience in an all-encompassing universe, and every player on every platform affects the same shared galaxy with an interactive overarching narrative via the [[Background Simulation|background simulation]].

Iconic features of the classic ''[[Elite]]'' games have been updated for ''Elite Dangerous'' such as the [[Coriolis]] station and [[Cobra Mk III]]. The Coriolis was the first station updated for the game's modern visual character. Many [[ships]] are based on the classic, polygonal shapes of ''Elite''. Thus ''Elite Dangerous'' continues the rich heritage of the ''Elite'' series.<ref>Official The Art of Elite Dangerous art book, August 17 2016</ref>

''Elite Dangerous'', like the previous ''Elite'' games, takes place in the fictional [[Elite Universe|''Elite'' universe]]. It is set 50 years after the events of ''[[Frontier: First Encounters]]'', starting in the year 3300 (which relates to 2014). The [[Thargoid]] [[species]], introduced in ''Elite'', have also returned.

Three seasons of post-launch content updates have been released for ''Elite Dangerous'' so far: ''[[Elite Dangerous: Horizons]]'', ''[[Elite Dangerous: Beyond]]'', and ''[[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey]]''. Since 27 October 2020, all ''Horizons'' content, including ''Beyond'', is included for free with ''Elite Dangerous''.