Major Elite update lands in June / Beta next week

[ArithonUK]

Releases and platforms

• Horizons will be released as a BETA on the PC week ending May 8th (so any time that week).
• The full update for both the core game and Horizons will ship in June.
• Horizons will be released for the first time on XBOX One in June with, or shortly after the PC release.

 [h=1]Elite: Dangerous 1.6[/h] [h=2]Galaxy map[/h]

• Named bookmarks. Select a system and pick a name.
• Filter for political states of systems. War, Boom, Bust etc.

[h=2]Visual changes[/h]

• Visual effects for weapons fire now scale with the class of weapon. Bigger gun = bigger flash.
• Improved graphical fidelity of asteroids in rocky and icy rings.

[h=2]More weapons in larger classes[/h]

• Large multi-cannon (Class 3).
• Huge multi-cannon (Class 4).
• Huge beam laser (Class 4), which fires four beams in rapid cycle.
• Huge pulse-laser (Class 4).

[h=2]Missiles[/h]

• Missiles are getting a small increase in shield damage and splash damage (which damages modules and hard-points).
• Missiles do not penetrate hull, so unless you target Power Generator, they will disable a ship rather than destroy it.
• Missile guidance has been improved.

[h=2]NPC changes[/h]

• Improvements to skill level.
• Security ramming fixed.
• "Roll of death" fixed.
• Higher security systems now have stronger security response.
• NPCs can use Engineers modified weapons.
• NPCs will no longer keep approaching you about a mission.

[h=2]Missions[/h]

• Missions are now affected by a system’s political state. i.e. war would generate weapons smuggling and assassination missions.
• Completing missions will build reputation with minor factions and will introduce you to higher people with that faction.
• Minor factions will now be represented by individuals with avatars.
• Pilot federation rank will determine who you deal with in a faction  and how they behave towards you. Your reputation also influences who you  deal with.
• Navy missions for Federation and Empire are being overhauled.
• Your reputation with a faction will be visible on the mission board.
• Criminal factions will offer more illegal missions than other factions, but all factions will offer some illegal missions.
• Difficulty and rewards for missions are affected by the CMDR’s rank.  New players won’t be asked to assassinate an Elite Anaconda.
• Mission rewards won’t just be credits. In Horizons, you may receive  materials needed for Engineer modifications. Other rewards are not yet  revealed.
• Missions follow a new set of templates for 1.6/2.1 with branching  and multi-part missions. This affects Naval Ascension missions as well.
• Mission branches will affect rewards. Mission timers may change on different mission branches and time may affect reward.
• A new rank of "cordial" has been added between Neutral and Friendly for factions.
• Missions may be given out in space by a faction representative.
• Mission brief will list any equipment required, such as interdictor or scanner.

[h=2]Exploration[/h]

• Ships can now scan Nav beacons to get system map without a discovery scanner.
• Exploration data obtained in this way from Nav beacons cannot be sold.
• Unidentified Signal Sources are being changed.
• Nav beacons contact information on locations of salvage and other signal sources to assist missions.
• There is a new approach mechanic for Points of Interest.

[h=2]Station outfitting[/h]

• A more graphical tiered interface.
• Statistics on each module.

[h=2]Communications[/h]

• Stations now have a traffic controller who hails incoming ships.
• Each commander is addressed uniquely by the ship manufacturer and  first three letters of their CMDR name. e.g. "Lakon Alpha Romeo India  you have permission to dock"
• Hostile commanders will be warned that they will be fired upon.
• The voices used by stations vary around the galaxy.
• The communications inbox is used more. Mission related messages will  appear in your inbox in super-cruise as well as normal space.
• New commanders will be given a welcome mission in their inbox. This is optional.

[h=2]Small ships[/h]

• Thruster upgrades for Class 2 and 3 thrusters.
• This makes smaller ships faster.
• These will cost "in the low millions".

[h=2]Mining[/h]

• Ice rings can now be mined.
• There will be ice mining missions.
• Ice rings contain new materials â€" some of which will be needed for Engineers.

[h=1]Elite: Dangerous Horizons 2.1[/h]

• Engineer modifications won’t just be weapons.
• Hostile NPCs will now attack on planets.
• NPC traffic between bases will be seen on planets.
• Engineer mods are mostly beneficial. Only a few have negative effects.
• Rebuy will cover the Engineer modifications on your ship, so you won’t lose them if you vessel is destroyed.

 [h=2]Engineers[/h]

• Engineers are planet dwelling individuals (around 30 to start with).
• They will deal with you based on your reputation and rank and your relationship to them.
• Relations are built with Engineers by bringing them materials and carrying out missions for them.
• They will sell modifications to ships systems as well as awarding them for services carried out (missions).
• Some Engineers will be approachable immediately, while others must  be found and some will only deal with players of rank from their  faction.
• There may be PowerPlay specific Engineers.

[h=2]Visual changes[/h]

• Improved graphical fidelity for planet surface textures.

[h=2]Exploration[/h]

• Man made Points of Interest on planets will be mostly within the bubble (i.e. crashed ships)
• Natural Points of Interest now exist to be discovered.

[h=2]Confirmed Engineer modified weapons[/h]

• Regeneration laser â€" a beam laser that will recharge a wing-man’s shields.
• Feedback cascade â€" a new rail gun that, if fired when a shield cell is being used, collapsed the targets shields instantly.
• Thermal shock â€" heats up a target.
• Force shock shells â€" projectile version of shock-mines.
• Emissive munitions â€" applies to cannons and multi-cannons. This ammo  will increase the radar signature of target ship. Counters silent  running. Larger signature also means the target will take more weapon  damage. Causes weapon used with ammo to heat up more.
• Incendiary Rounds â€" turns kinetic weapons into thermal on impact.
• Effects of these weapons is multiplied when used by more than one ship on the same target.

[albert]

Sounds promising. When does your Occulus arrive?

Sent from my SM-T700 using Tapatalk

[ArithonUK]

Between 30th May and 9th June according to my Oculus order status.

That's confirmed correct as of today.

[albert]

Lucky butcher! Mine isn't until August 2016 now. It was mid-June when I got the update last month. I suggest you check your order by logging into their site. I was a bit disappointed.

[no peanuts]

My Vive arrived this morning :yahoo:

[ArithonUK]

The change log is up for the BETA 1.6/2.1 which launches shortly.

I cannot repost it. It's large enough to print out and paper the outside of Coriolis Station!

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=246284

[albert]

It's released to Beta now.

[ArithonUK]

For the few hours I played last night, the new version is a game-changer in a dozen ways.

The AI is hard to defeat. Get an NPCs shields down and they flee, then as soon as their shields are back, fire a shield booster and then come right back at you. A Corvette or Anaconda just flounders against small ships.

Small ships, now have enhanced drives - the Imperial Eagle can top 650m/s!

Air Traffic Control adds massive amounts of atmosphere to stations. "Lakon Alpha Romeo India, you are cleared to land on pad 24". Different voices at every station I've tried so far (around 7).

The Engineers weapon and module modifiers mean you can totally customise your ship.

The new outfitting screen takes some getting used to, but is far more structured and well presented.

And the graphics. Ah, the graphics. Planet textures look REAL from space - oceans reflect the star! On planets the surfaces are also a big improvement in both looks and performance. A jump in FPS even on average PCs.