Elite Dangerous: Odyssey’s alpha test begins today
The alpha test for Elite Dangerous’ Odyssey expansion is now available on PC, developer Frontier Developments has announced.
Starting today, Lifetime Expansion Pass owners and players who have preordered the Odyssey Deluxe Alpha expansion pack can access the first phase of the alpha test. This first phase of the alpha features Odyssey’s core systems and will restrict players to a single star system to maximize interactions. Players can purchase the Remlock Maverick scavenger suit and the Takada and Kinematic weapon sets, and take part in a number of activities. However, spaceships are not available in this phase.
Later phases in the test will introduce first-person combat, faction conflicts, expanded travel, the first footfall planet experience, and more. Take a look at the full plan, courtesy of 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 arrives this spring on PC, with a console release to follow in fall 2021.
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