UPDATE March 29: Elite Dangerous: Odyssey Alpha roadmap revealed.
Frontier Developments has sent over word that its preparing to release the alpha version of Elite Dangerous: Odyssey, after its original release date was delayed earlier this year due to the renewed lockdown, which slowed development progress.
The alpha version of the Odyssey expansion will be playable on the 29th March, with the full release currently planned for late spring 2021.
Elite Dangerous: Odyssey Alpha Release Date
Frontier has also released a gameplay video that features a team of three commanders, who are said to be on a mission to raid a military outpost in order to disable the enemy faction's power. You can check it out at the bottom of this report.
Elite Dangerous: Odyssey is certainly going to mix things up when it releases in the spring, as it will be the first time players can take advantage of on-foot exploration, while also experiencing battles both in space and on land. You can find out more details about the combat improvements here and check out the Alpha roadmap, as shared by the developer, below.
Phase 1: First Steps
- Focussing on Odyssey’s core systems and network features, Phase 1 will group all Commanders in a single star system to maximize player interaction. Players can purchase the Remlock Maverick scavenger suit and the Takada and Kinematic weapon sets, and take part in a selection of activities, including salvage, collection and delivery. Players will not have access to spaceships at this stage, but in-system travel will still be possible thanks to the new Apex Interstellar feature.
Phase 2: Combat
- Introducing Elite Dangerous: Odyssey’s first person combat experience, Commanders will have access to the Manticore Dominator combat suit. Faction conflicts will be enabled, in time for the Frontline Solutions Mercenary Company to start operations in this phase. Additionally, players will be able to travel up to 20 light years in their own spaceships, and can get involved in an expanded variety of missions, including trading with settlements in neighbouring systems.
Phase 3: Exploration
- Expanding the playable bubble to 50 light years, this phase shall include unexplored planets and the coveted “First Footfall” experience. Commanders can now don the Supratech Artemis explorer suit and analyse alien organics with the Genetic Sampler tool.
Phase 4: Compatibility
- In the final phase of the Elite Dangerous: Odyssey Alpha, players will have access to their own Commanders, and test the inclusion of existing features in the main game, like Fleet Carriers, ship-launched Fighters and SRVs.
Elite Dangerous: Odyssey's Alpha is available for owners of the Lifetime Expansion Pass and players who have pre-ordered the Odyssey Deluxe Alpha expansion pack. It will run for several weeks during which participants will be gradually exposed to new content.
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