What changed in Elite Dangerous in 2016

Every £1 donated enters you into a prize draw during the 24-hour livestream event.

Donators of £6 or more will receive a unique SpecialEffect Sidewinder paint job and decal after the event.

Every £1 donated enters you into a prize draw during the 24-hour livestream event.

Donors of £6 or more will receive a unique SpecialEffect Sidewinder paint job and decal after the event.

Join Ed Lewis and Bo de Vries for a 24-hour livestream event raising money for SpecialEffect charity from December 19 to December 20, 2016.

Join Ed Lewis and Bo de Vries for a 24-hour livestream event raising money for SpecialEffect charity from December 19 to December 20, 2016.

Bid on exclusive items including 'Dine with the Developers' experiences and unique in-game naming opportunities until December 9, 2016.

Bid on exclusive items including 'Dine with the Developers' experiences and unique in-game naming opportunities.

Changes to how AI react to players in Powerplay, with discussions on potential mechanical improvements.

Changes to existing weapons to enable greater choice in ship outfitting for combat.

Balancing tweaks to promote greater variety in recipe use, focusing on combat-related blueprints.

Changes to existing weapons to enable greater choice in how players can effectively choose and outfit their ships for combat.

Announcement of a point update beta starting on December 7th, available to previous beta access players.

Changes to how AI react to players in Powerplay, with discussions on potential mechanical improvements.

Balancing tweaks to promote greater variety in recipe use, focusing on combat related blueprints.

Now counts fortified systems correctly

Uses the same structure as War/War Support

Now counts fortified systems correctly

Removed useless indicators in the bottom right corner

Prevent equipping multiple fuel scoops, fighter bays, etc.

Now deal 5% damage to themselves instead of 200%

Prevents instant interdictions

Reverted to pre-2.2 order

Prevents instant interdictions

Reverts to pre-2.2 order

Now deal 5% damage to themselves instead of 200%

Leaves only silent running and wanted status display

New geological features like fumeroles and geysers, and biological entities added.

Passenger modules of various sizes and a new Passenger Lounge introduced.

Players can hire NPC fighter pilots and manage them in a new Crew Lounge.

New weapon modules and loadouts for fighters added.

NPC crew experience now displays correctly.

Fuel gauge no longer disappears when switching back to mothership.

DPS of fighter weapons increased by 12.5%.

The Empire Fighter was too fast compared to the others.

Balance pass on passenger mission rewards and reputation.

Message about passengers ejecting after dying now appears correctly.

F-63 Condor, Imperial Fighter, Taipan, and Beluga Liner are now playable.

Players can transfer their vessels to be ready for any occasion.

Players can pilot and carry passengers in the new Beluga liner to various tourist destinations.

Improved navigation filters for easier galaxy map navigation.

Pilot and carry passengers in the new Beluga liner to tourist destinations.

Transfer vessels to be ready for any occasion.

Players can store modules for more flexible use between ships.

New contacts that allow players to pay off fines or collect combat bounties anywhere in the galaxy.

Improved navigation filters for easier navigation across the galaxy map.

Hire fighter pilots to assist in combat and build smaller ship-launched fighters.

Store modules for flexible use between ships.

New detailed and beautiful interiors for starports.

Visit Interstellar Factors to pay off fines or collect bounties.

Players can hire fighter pilots to assist in combat and build smaller ship-launched fighters.

New detailed and beautiful interiors for starports.

Players must ensure passenger safety to avoid losing pay and contracts if passengers become upset.

The Beluga is a large ship designed for passenger transport, featuring multiple module slots for passenger cabins.

Players can hire trained fighter pilots with varying skills and combat ranks.

Players receive quick information about the system's security level before engaging FSD.

Players can now transfer ships between starports for a fee, enhancing fleet management.

Players can apply filters to the route plotter for customized navigation based on their needs.

Players must ensure passenger safety during transport, as unhappy passengers may leave the ship or cause contract failure.

Starports now feature unique architecture based on their economic focus and population size.

System maps now provide a 3D representation of planets with surface details.

Players can now deploy single-seat fighters from larger vessels for direct combat support.

Players can now pick up VIP passengers who have specific accommodation requirements and can pay well.

Route plotter can now apply filters for better navigation based on player preferences.

Players can access the new Passenger Lounge at Starport Services to view and accept passenger contracts.

Visuals during hyperspace travel have been improved for a more immersive experience.

Players can access the new Passenger Lounge at Starport Services to view and accept passenger contracts.

Hundreds of new sites of importance have been added for players to explore and scan for rewards.

Players can store modules for free, with some regulations for core modules.

Starports now feature bespoke architecture reflecting their purpose and economic focus.

Players can encounter new structures in space, including comms arrays and prisons.

The Beluga is a large ship designed for passenger transport, featuring multiple module slots and good speed.

Players can store modules for free, with some regulations on core modules.

Players can pick up wealthy VIP passengers with specific accommodation needs, impacting gameplay.

System maps now show detailed 3D representations of planets with geographical features.

Players receive quick information about the system they are jumping to, including security level.

Hundreds of new sites of importance added for exploration and tourism missions.

Players can deploy single seat fighters from larger vessels for combat support.

A new contact at Starport Services allows players to pay fines and claim bounties across systems.

Starport Services has been redesigned for improved navigation and efficiency.

Players can hire trained fighter pilots at crew lounges, each with unique skills and combat ranks.

Visual improvements in hyperspace travel, making stars appear larger as players approach.

Players can encounter new structures in space, including comms arrays and prisons.

Starport Services menu has been redesigned for improved navigation.

Players can now transfer ships and modules between starports for a fee.

New contact at Starport Services allows players to pay fines and claim bounties across systems.

Requirements to unlock certain Engineers have been reduced.

More materials will spawn when surface mining.

Increased chances of finding rare materials for higher level blueprints.

Surface scanner will now show available materials on planets.

More materials will spawn when surface mining.

Players will receive multiple units of materials instead of just one.

Players can now select their weapon upgrade, giving control over module selection.

Surface scanner will now show available materials on planets.

Requirements to unlock certain Engineers have been reduced.

Players can now select their weapon upgrade, allowing control over module selection.

Visibility of where materials can be sourced has been increased.

Balance and locations of non-planet salvage and USS locations for materials will be reviewed.

Balance and locations of non-planet salvage and USS for materials will be reviewed.

Higher chances of finding rare materials during instances.

Positive effects of low level upgrades improved, costs and materials simplified.

Players will receive multiple units of materials instead of one.

Positive effects of low level upgrade results improved; costs and material requirements simplified.

Visibility of where materials can be sourced has been increased.

Interdiction rank range has been reduced by one both above and below the player, now based on combat rating.

Reduced the ranks of AI spawning based on accepted missions.

Fixed a bug where AI were using too tight a turning circle at low levels.

Resolved an issue where AI were using too tight a turning circle at low levels.

Ensured there will be a pause before AI attacks you after you’ve been interdicted.

Stopped the bug that allowed AI aligned powers from attacking you.

Resolved an issue where AI could target sub-modules.

Prevent stacking from being extremely unpleasant in VR.

Ensured a pause before AI attacks players after being interdicted.

Brought back to 2.0 levels

Reduced the ranks of AI in ambient traffic.

Don't assume locking of vertex buffers will succeed.

Stopped the bottom three levels of AI from boosting, which was an unintended bug.

Fixes a crash in the case of a ship being killed or fleeing while waiting for a response to a docking request.

Reduced ranks of Powerplay interdictors, lowering the chance of powerplay ships choosing to interdict you by 25%.

Medium are slightly faster, small are a lot faster

Now called Hawking Station.

Now has a 10% reduction in fire rate and generates more heat

Brought back to 2.0 levels.

Reduced the ranks of AI spawning based on accepted missions.

Turrets will now track better based on target acceleration.

Fixes a crash in the case of a ship being killed or fleeing while waiting for a response to a docking request

Reduced the ranks of AI in ambient traffic.

Fixed the AI bug that would create super modules.

Lowered the chance of Powerplay ships choosing to interdict players by 25%.

Now have a 10% reduction in fire rate and generate more heat.

Interdiction rank range has been reduced by one both above and below the player, now based on combat rating.

Hawking Depot is now called Hawking Station

High ranks are rarer and only elite missions hit the top end AI

High ranks are rarer and only elite missions hit the top end AI

Indicates why a mission cannot be handed in if the player's microresource inventory is full

Adjust reputation up to disliked to avoid unnecessary peril

Slightly less of the top end and more of the low/mid range

Including Sol

Including Sol

Automatically adjust reputation up to disliked to avoid unnecessary peril

Should see slightly less of the top end and more of the low/mid range

Indicates why a mission cannot be handed in if microresource inventory is full

Almost all Engineers upgrades will be removed from NPCs to balance combat difficulty.

Players will be able to exchange experimental modifications for another modification at a reputation cost.

Bi-Weave shields removed due to a bug will be reintroduced into the game via a server-side update.

Players will be able to exchange experimental modifications for another modification at a cost to their reputation.

Almost all Engineers upgrades will be removed from NPCs to balance combat difficulty.

Bi-Weave shields removed due to a bug will be reintroduced into the game via a server-side update.

Fix crash with ship components activating before the object is ready.

Fixes crash when player deploys their buggy while in a station menu.

User cannot return to gameplay after selecting the Spoiler option in Livery Outfitting with a ship paint job already applied fixed.

Correct the proclaimed maximum terrain feature height on planets.

Rebalance engineer reputation gain from crafting blueprints.

Crash fix for when a weapon with the Malfunction Hit special effect hits a module that can't malfunction.

Fix founder delivery to not go to smaller ports/outposts.

Fix a cause of becoming stranded in an SRV above a planet's surface.

Fix for crash when opening the edit loaded screen in CQC after unlocking new modules.

Handle the case where we don't have a reference module more gracefully.

Fixed crash in fighter cockpit when kinematic is ready before its target.

Fix case where save could get in an inconsistent state preventing cargo collection.

Improvement for ice planets to increase the detail in the mid distance.

Prevent crash when applying livery items while deploying or boarding with the SRV.

Prevents soft lock if NPCs are spawning in a region that hasn't been constructed yet.

Missile and Torpedoes Icons are wrong way around fixed in outfitting.

Shutdown the HMD System on destruction to prevent crash.

Fix a crash if transmitting a message when there's no location object.

Fix for soft-lock in module data gatherer when loading into the game.

Community Goal rewards now automatically redeem after 2 weeks.

Fix crash when trying to use FSDInterdictor on a target object that is not a ship.

Fix for mission cargo being marked as illegal salvage when dropped from a target ship.

Fix softlock happening sometimes when editing or deleting a bookmark.

Updated nested bookmark icon to improve clarity.

NPC ships can defend settlements and bases.

Materials inventory is now split into physical and virtual items.

Allow weapon damage values to modify visual effects.

Materials inventory is now split into physical and virtual items.

Data materials can be scanned from scannable wreckage.

Added new commodities for loot and crafting, including those from ice rings.

Materials can be dropped from destroyed ships and skimmers.

Engineers each have their own unlock flow.

Added bases for each engineer.

Materials can be dropped from destroyed ships.

Added inbox messages when retrieving encoded loot from various objects.

NPC ships can use modified modules.

Added NPC patrols near planetary ports and outposts.

Allow weapon damage values to modify visual effects.

Added scannable wreckage scenarios and points of interest (POIs).

Engineer locations can be viewed in the galaxy map (if unlocked).

NPC ships can defend settlements and bases.

Added scannable wreckage scenarios and points of interest.

Resources can be used to craft module modifications.

Materials can be dropped from destroyed skimmers.

NPCs can engage in combat near planet surfaces.

New encoded data materials can be scanned from scannable wreckage.

Added new hangars for Engineer bases.

Introduced a new surface material system that improves detail and performance.

Experimental effects can be generated on module modifications.

Added new surface points of interest.

Added inbox messages when retrieving encoded loot from various objects.

Added new landing pad types for Engineer bases.

Introduction of loot and crafting mechanics, including new commodities and materials.

Engineer contact history added to stats panel.

Mining resources can now be used to create materials.

Materials can now spawn inside signal sources.

Materials can now be spawned inside signal sources.

Added NPC patrols near planetary ports and outposts.

Added new hangars for Engineer bases.

Engineers have module modifications of different types and grades available.

Added new surface salvage items.

Added new surface salvage items.

Engineer locations can be viewed in the galaxy map if unlocked.

Mining resources can now create materials.

NPC encounters can occur near planet surfaces.

NPC encounters can occur near planet surfaces.

Improvements to surface material detail and performance.

Experimental effects can be generated on module modifications.

Introduction of loot and crafting mechanics including new commodities and materials.

Added new commodities for loot/crafting, including those from ice rings.

NPC ships can now use modified modules.

NPCs can engage in combat near planet surfaces.

Added new landing pad types for Engineer bases.

Added new surface points of interest (POIs).

Engineer contact history added to stats panel.

New encoded data materials introduced.

Added bases for each engineer.

Fixed the icon appearing red with a white cross.

Fixed the VR launch option not working due to being overridden by graphics saved display settings.

Allows scenario spawning to fall back to stations as centre-bodies in systems with no planets, enabling conflict zones.

Allows scenario spawning to fall back to stations as centre-bodies in systems with no planets, enabling conflict zones.

Changed from 20 to 50 items per page following server-side optimisations.

Fixed missing binding mapping for 'Classic Context'.

Fixed missing binding mapping for 'Classic Context'.

Fixed the icon appearing red with a white cross.

Fixed the issue where the VR launch option was being overridden by graphics saved display settings.

Changed from 20 to 50 items per page following server-side optimisations.

Community Goal top contributor news reports have returned, featuring Commanders from all platforms.

Added option for SRV blackout when rolling if player finds motion uncomfortable.

Preflight checklist can be completed with just a controller.

Improved UI mesh tessellation for rendering the front-end on VR.

Improved UI mesh tessellation for rendering the front-end on VR.

Added Hangar main menu background when HMD is present.

First Discovery tags from Xbox Commanders now display on PC/Mac.

Crash fix when entering open play with HMD active.

Crash fix when entering CQC with HMD active.

Fix for First Discovery names from Wings appearing too many times.

Adjusted VR and panel positions in the SRV.

Added support for Oculus 1.3 SDK.

Added option for SRV to maintain level horizon if player finds motion uncomfortable.

Added Hangar main menu background when HMD is present.

Crash fix when entering CQC with HMD active.

Updated various warnings when using Head Mounted Displays.

Fix for purchased exploration data not always giving details on all bodies in that star system.

Fix for purchased exploration data not always giving details on all bodies in that star system.

Wanted Xbox commanders can now appear in top 5 bounty local news reports.

Fix for First Discovery names from Wings appearing too many times.

Wanted Xbox commanders can now appear in top 5 bounty local news reports.

Added VR experience demo as a scenario in the tutorials menu.

Fix for refuelling 10% button.

Preflight checklist can be completed with just a controller.

Fix a crash in system simulation for 'Sidgoe LX-S c17-0'.

Fix for refuelling 10% button.

Added new VR specific graphics presets (VR Low and VR High).

First Discovery tags from Xbox Commanders now display on PC/Mac.

Added new VR specific graphics presets (VR Low and VR High).

Added option for SRV to maintain level horizon if player finds motion uncomfortable.

Fix a crash in system simulation for 'Sidgoe LX-S c17-0'.

Crash fix when entering open play with HMD active.

Community Goal top contributor news reports have returned, featuring Commanders from all platforms.

Adjusted VR and panel positions in the SRV.

Added support for Oculus 1.3 SDK.

Added option for SRV blackout when rolling if player finds motion uncomfortable.

Added VR experience demo as a scenario in the tutorials menu.

Players can compete against named accounts for a chance to win prizes by taking screenshots during matches.

Players can compete against named accounts for a chance to win prizes by taking screenshots.

Three hours of CQC gameplay with developers on YouTube, starting at 6PM GMT.

A series of events for players to participate in to celebrate the launch of Arena.

A series of events for players to participate in CQC, with a schedule available on the community site.

Elite Dangerous: Arena is now available as a stand-alone product, featuring PVP mode previously known as CQC.

Elite Dangerous: Arena is now available as a stand-alone product, featuring PVP space combat.

The change will unite the Steam community under one hub, addressing player feedback.

Three options will be available: Elite Dangerous, Elite Dangerous: Horizons Season Pass, and Elite Dangerous: Deluxe Edition.

Existing Horizons players will receive an unreleased Asp Explorer gold paint job as a thank you.

Horizons will be added as a season pass DLC for Elite Dangerous, rather than an individual product.

Players who purchase before the changes will retain access to the Cobra Mk IV.

The base price of the Horizons season pass DLC will be set at £25, excluding access to the base game.

The current loyalty discount for Elite Dangerous: Horizons will no longer exist.

Three options will be available: Elite Dangerous, Elite Dangerous: Horizons Season Pass, and Elite Dangerous: Deluxe Edition.

Steam Horizons players will have their Horizons portion of the game time counter wiped.

The change will unite the Steam community under one hub, addressing player feedback for clarity.

All players who buy before the changes will retain access to the Cobra Mk IV.

Existing Horizons players will receive an unreleased Asp Explorer gold paint job as a thank you.

Steam Horizons players will have their game time counter wiped as part of the hub unification.

Horizons will be added as a season pass DLC for Elite Dangerous instead of an individual product.

A 48 hour bonus credit period will provide a 20% uplift on mission rewards, bounties, and combat bonds.

A 48-hour bonus credit period for all Commanders due to server downtime, offering a 20% uplift on mission rewards, bounties, and combat bonds.

Remembers setting unless enough real cargo is added to exceed the slider.

Causing assorted player-to-player connection problems.

Buggy started slightly below the ground.

Fixes route being forgotten during FSD charge.

Fixes route being forgotten during FSD charge.

Remembers setting unless enough real cargo is added to exceed the slider.

Buggy started slightly below the ground.

Resolved crash issue at AZRAEL - SEARLE PORT.

Resolved crash issue at AZRAEL - SEARLE PORT.

Resolved assorted player-to-player connection problems.

AMD has released the 16.1 hotfix driver update, addressing performance issues in supercruise for users on Windows 10.

AMD has released the 16.1 hotfix driver update addressing performance issues in supercruise for users on Windows 10.

Plus sign fixed for German language.

Fix for some new customers not seeing the redeem product prompt.

Zooming into a discovered planet surface map and zooming out will show all unknown planets - fixed.

Fixed a render crash with asteroid cluster.

Corrected an issue when accumulating replication on SRVs so that we don't halt network replications if the owner is currently in the classified camera.

Fix skipping in ident video.

Addition of 'Alternate Download' option for users with slow download speeds.

Fixed a number of star systems with stuck controlling minor factions.

Fix for at least one cause for broken materials on Radeon HD 5000/6000 GPU's.

Prevent a crash if closing bulletin board while the page is updating.

Fixed a crash if an invalid preset is selected in bindings.

When purchasing exploration data, Universal Cartographics is now able to include details on all bodies in a system.

Fixed a prospecting drone crash.

Fixed a crash from NPC launching.

Prevent a crash if closing bulletin board while the page is updating.

Zooming into a discovered planet surface map and zooming out will show all unknown planets - fixed.

Minor background update when launcher is booted via Steam.

Fix for at least one cause for broken materials on Radeon HD 5000/6000 GPU's.

Rebalanced the ice field lighting in the CQC map.

Addition of 'Alternate Download' option for users with slow download speeds.

Don't crash if an invalid preset is selected in bindings.

Fixed a network error when shutting down drones.

Corrected an issue when accumulating replication on SRVs so that we don't halt network replications if the owner is currently in the classified camera.

Fix for users unable to launch the 32-bit ED client.

Shouldn't have to drive away from the crashed ship sites and Barnacles to be able to recall your ship.

Shouldn't have to drive away from the crashed ship sites and Barnacles to be able to recall your ship.

When purchasing exploration data, Universal Cartographics is now able to include details on all bodies in a system.

Fixed a crash in trail rendering.