Alpha and Premium Beta came with a whole lot more than early access to the game - the Lifetime Expansion pack that is included is a significant benefit of being an early backer of Elite: Dangerous.



We have regularly said that depending on the level of success of Elite: Dangerous we intend to continue expanding it with new content and new features.



We plan to follow that same incremental development philosophy that we’ve done throughout our Alpha and Beta phases, and continue to significantly enhance the game via further expansions post-launch.



We do intend to release small, free updates after launch, but expansions that include significant new features and content will be charged for separately. For example, our current roadmap is to add (in no particular order): Landing/ driving / prospecting on airless rocky planets, moons & asteroids

Walking around interiors and combative boarding of other ships

Combat and other interactions with other players and AIs in the internal areas of star ports

Accessing richly detailed planetary surfaces

Availability of giant ‘executive control’ ships to players

Alpha and Premium Beta customers, and those who have already bought the £35 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.



As we are now fast approaching the standard Beta phase, the time is right to withdraw the Lifetime Expansion Pass from sale.



On 29th July the Lifetime Expansion Pack will no longer be available to buy in the store shop, to coincide with the start of full Beta.



So if you are planning to join the Beta or buy the final game and want to add the Lifetime Expansion Pack, you now have one month to get automatic access to all future major expansions of Elite: Dangerous for £35.



You can purchase the Lifetime Expansion Pack here.



Alternatively you can purchase or upgrade to Premium Beta and start playing Elite: Dangerous today, which includes the Lifetime Expansion Pack. Premium Beta will be available until 15th July, as we announced last week.



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