Elite: Dangerous is on track to launch in late 2014 (Q4).



But that won’t stop development. We plan to continue to significantly enhance the game via further expansions after the launch date, using the same incremental development philosophy that we’ve used so far.



Major new features will include planetary landings and even walking around inside ships, stations, and planet surfaces with time.



For those who have a Lifetime Expansion Pass (included in Premium Beta and Alpha, and also still available here until 29th July ) all such significant expansion will be included. Those without the Lifetime Expansion Pass will be charged for each expansion as they are released.



We have made no secret that our ultimate ambition is to be able to land on the surface of planets, as you were able to in the other Elite sequels Frontier and Frontier: First Encounters.



We want this feature to push the boundaries as we believe we are doing in other areas of Elite: Dangerous already, like space flight, combat, trading, sound, online, visual fidelity etc.



An Orbis station in Frontier

An Orbis station in Elite: Dangerous.

That means rich, varied experiences. Not just landing pads, but rich content on the surfaces, surface vehicles, the ability to stash things there, to explore. Clearly ‘doing it right’ like this will take time, but we have a plan and will get there via a series of meaningful releases.



We believe that each stage will be incredible, and the result truly breathtaking. What you will see on the worlds will be a mix of procedurally generated content, particularly the landscapes, cloudscapes, compositions and so on, mixed with hand-crafted elements.



Planetary landing in Frontier

Concept piece for planetary landing in Elite: Dangerous

We also plan to allow you to get up out of your seat and walk around your ship. You can see the level of attention and thought that has already been given to the ship interiors from these ship cockpit views in this video:



All is ready for you to walk around your ship.



Of course walking round your ship will be nice, but it is the just springboard for a very significant expansion of gameplay – you will be able to experience the inside of starports and interact with other players and AI characters, and even board other people’s ships in space and take them by force, as shown in this concept piece.







Of course this will be further expanded to include walking around on the surfaces of planets too.



Alpha and Premium Beta customers, and those who have already bought the £35 Lifetime Expansion Pass alongside either Beta or the full game, will have access to all these features and updates for as long as we create them at no further cost.



This means that if we are as successful as we hope to be, you will still be benefiting from the fantastic early support you gave us for a long time to come.



On 29th July the Lifetime Expansion Pass will no longer be available to buy in the store shop, to coincide with the launch of Beta 1.



So if you are planning to join the Beta or buy the final game and want to add the Lifetime Expansion Pass, you now have until 29th July to get automatic access to all future major paid-for expansions of Elite: Dangerous for £35.



You can purchase the Lifetime Expansion Pass here.



Each paid-for expansion will subsequently be put on sale separately (for people that don’t have the Lifetime Expansion Pass).

