When it comes to space exploration games, there are a few known staples. WhileNo Man’s Skyhas come into its own, for many, it is still the space ofElite: Dangerousthat holds the most promise. One of thefirst prominently integrated SteamVR titles of its time,Elite: Dangerousis still growing six years later.
What makesElite: Dangerousfun for so many is the freedom it gives players. Marketed somewhat less ambitiously thanNo Man’s Sky, it delivered on most of what it promised. The title sees players exploring a huge galaxy in piloted spaceships, carrying cargo from station to station and fighting both pirates and each other. Since its original launch, it has received lots of support and updates. This often takes the form of DLC, such as withElite: Dangerous Horizons.
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Since its inception, the DLC ofElite: Dangeroushas launched new concepts in the game. The latest addedFleet Carriers, which have already changed exploration. One of the most important isHorizons. The DLC adds the first instances of multicrew co-op, fighters that are launched from ships in combat, and planetary landing/exploration in surface vehicles. The planetary craft add an entirely new dimension to galactic exploration. On October 27th, everyone will get to experience that dimension whenHorizonsgoes free to play.
There are a few reasons behind this move. For one, it has been four years sinceHorizonsreleased, and it has become integral to the game. The more immediate reason however is the upcoming release of theOdysseyDLC. InElite: Dangerous Odyssey, players can explore planets on footfor the first time. This means that planetary landing is required to experienceOdyssey, something only introduced inHorizons. To ensure players can get the latest DLC,Horizonswill be made free for allElite: Dangerousplayers.
To be clear, the base game is not going free to play.Horizonswill simply be removed as a DLC and incorporated into the base game on October 27th. Anyone who purchases the base game after this point will have all theHorizonsfeatures available as well. They will have plenty of time to become familiar withHorizon’s ins and outs by the timeOdysseylaunches in 2021.
Players who have already purchasedHorizonsfor money will not receive a refund. They will, however, receive a special Azure paint job for all ships. This is the only way to get the paint job. Whether or not it will appear in theWarhammerRTS game made byDangerous' developersis hard to say, but it would certainly be a nice Easter egg.
Elite: Dangerousis available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
