Operations
Operations are multi-stage, PVE scenarios.[1][2] There are various objectives like infiltrate a Megaship and rescue people at a surface port. A squad has up to 4 commanders. The Odyssey expansion is required, because it includes on foot gameplay.[1] This major update has been delayed from April to 30 June 2026.[3]
Overview
These can take place both on-foot and in space.[1] It's designed to offer you and up to 3 other commanders challenging obstacles to overcome.[1] Explore some parts of ED never seen before such as the internals of a megaship in a hostile environment.[1]
The initial release will launch with multiple operations, with more being added overtime, and at various levels of difficulty.[1] In the long-term you can expect some operations to revolve around combat, some around mining, and more elements of ED as the feature expands.[1] Operations will be repeatable and give you access to rewards that are hard to obtain elsewhere in the galaxy.[1]
The Operation Runner is a new, non-flyable, capital ship from which team members start an operation, respawn and extract.[2]
Modes
| Operation mode[2] | Description |
|---|---|
| Mercenary | This is the default mode for Operations. It carries no consequences or Powerplay effects, and is fully accessible to any Commanders who meet the scenario requirements. |
| Powerplay | Adding a layer of strategic depth, squads are able to undermine a chosen Power as part of an Operation. Eligible systems are determined by the Squad Leader's Power alignment and current location, ensuring Commander's can't target their own Power. Unaligned Commanders can join these scenarios but they will not earn any Merits. |
Scenarios
Here's a list of operation scenarios.
| Operation scenario[2] | Description |
|---|---|
| Firestorm Rescue[3] | Rescue the inhabitants of a station that is under siege. Fight off pirates and blow off door clamps whilst guiding the inhabitants to safety. |
| Counter Attack | Infiltrate a recently attacked megaship on-foot, learn who is responsible for the attack, travel to their base and take them down. |
| Megaship Massacre Reclaim | Fight to reach an offline megaship, kill the hostile looters and battle enemy ships on your way back to safety before time runs out. |
| Megaship Massacre Strike | Sneak into a Megaship, take out hostile crew members, and let your employers take control of the megaship. |
| Pirate Hunt | Travel to an area in a system that is being terrorized by pirates. Take out much of the pirate fleet to taunt their boss into a fight. |
| Surface Rescue | Rescue the inhabitants of a surface port before the attacking forces return with reinforcements and neutralize them. |
Development
Operations was unveiled during the ED Developer Log - 4 November 2025 on the ED YouTube channel.[1] The release date is early 2026.[1] The first stage will be a balancing pass of on-foot combat, and AI improvements in early December 2025.[1]
Operations was further delayed in April 2026 to 30 June 2026, citing a need for 'quality and care'.[2][3] To compensate for the delay, Frontier Developments will release the new passenger liner Lynx Highliner straight into access for credits on 28 April 2026.[2] It skips the usual ARX period.
Videos
Gallery
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Megaship Interior Operations 1 WIP
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Burning Rescue WIP
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Squad WIP
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Combat WIP
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Operation Squad Selector WIP
