Star Citizen rival surprises players: ship battles and other new features in Elite Dangerous

Frontier Developments, the team behind Elite Dangerous, announced that players have already charted over 75,000 star systems across the Milky Way. That figure highlights the strong demand for the colonization feature introduced in beta. The trial period concludes on November 11, after which the system will be fully operational.

In addition, the update will introduce a new class of starport directly tied to colonization. These stations can only be unlocked for 50,000 ARX, making them a fairly expensive purchase.

The developers are also preparing a new vessel — the vast exploration cruiser Caspian Explorer. It will initially be available for purchase with the in-game currency ARX, and after a few months it will be obtainable through the standard channels.

The news doesn’t stop there. In early 2026, Elite Dangerous: Odyssey will receive a substantial Operations update that greatly expands ground combat. Players will be able to fight aboard megaships and take part in cooperative missions for up to four players. Improvements to AI behavior and responsiveness will make engagements more dynamic and realistic.

Source: iXBT.games