Elite Dangerous Update #100

Hello, Commander,

Welcome to Elite Dangerous Newsletter #100.

This week, we are delighted to announce the minimum and recommended specs for Elite Dangerous: Horizons, ahead of next week's Beta!

We're also racing around a planetary installation in David's latest video sneak peek, taking a look at four previously unseen screenshots of Horizons, getting talkative with HCS voicepacks, catching up with the latest GalNet news, and much more.

As always, you can hear the latest news and updates directly from the development team on our Forums, Twitter, Facebook, Community Homepage, and right here in the newsletter every week, and we're always eager to hear your feedback.

You can pre-order Elite Dangerous: Horizons now:
Elite Dangerous: Horizons
Elite Dangerous: Horizons Beta

Contents This Week

• Newsletter 100 - thanks from David Braben
• Elite Dangerous: Horizons PC Specifications
• Space Race
• Beta download Instructions
• Elite Dangerous: Horizons New Screens
• Educating Ed Episode 5 - ED Hungary
• HCS Voice Packs
• Community Goals Update
• Comms Chatter
• GalNet

Newsletter #100 - Thanks From David Braben

It is great to see this hundredth newsletter. Such a lot has changed since the first newsletter in February 2013 – not long after the end of the Kickstarter campaign – which included concept art for the Sidewinder, as well as for the Imperial and Federal capital ships. It is amazing to me to think how little we had then compared to what we have now, and the great progress our amazing, dedicated team have made since then.

I am now flying around in the 1.5 beta in my Imperial Cutter – and though I had a near miss on Saturday when a CMDR’s Federal Corvette interdicted me in Shinrata Dezhra, I’ve not been killed in it yet! Also, in the currently internal 2.0 beta, I’ve have had fun driving around various bases, blowing up generators, searching for materials, and marvelling at some of the sights coming to the Horizons beta next week. The more we do, the more we (all) realise the potential of what more we can do, but just occasionally it is worth looking back and seeing the amazing things we have done already. I am proud of what we have all done so far (except the bobblehead of me ), and excited by what is to come in Season Two, too, and a big thank you to everyone for all your support.

RIGHT ON COMMANDER!

David Braben

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Elite Dangerous: Horizons PC Specifications

We are delighted to be able to announce the minimum and recommended specs for Elite Dangerous: Horizons!

The team has done an amazing job of packing in loads of new technology and art improvements, yet their continuing efforts on optimization has meant that the specs below are only a little higher than this time last year.

We will be releasing the VR and 4K recommended specifications shortly, but for now here are the minimum and recommended specs for Elite Dangerous: Horizons.

Minimum PC Specifications:

• OS: Windows 7/8/10 64 bit
• Processor: Quad Core CPU (4 x 2Ghz)
• Memory: 6GB
• Graphics: Nvidia GTX 470 / AMD 7240 (DirectX11 functionality required)
• Network Broadband Internet Connection
• Hard Drive: 8 GB available space

• OS: Windows 7/8/10 64 bit
• Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K Quad Core CPU or better / AMD FX 4350 Quad Core CPU or better
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia GTX 770 / AMD Radeon R9 280X or better
• Network Broadband Internet Connection
• Hard Drive: 8 GB available space

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Space Race

This week's sneak peek of Elite Dangerous: Horizons from David Braben's YouTube channel shows off two team members racing around an installation on the surface of a desert planet.

We know that the thrill-seekers among you won't be able to resist tearing it up around the installations, starports and fortresses that populate the planets in Horizons. We're looking at you Elite Racers!

There's not long now before you can touch down on planet surfaces to do this yourselves, so make sure to pre-order Horizons now!

Elite Dangerous: Horizons
Elite Dangerous: Horizons Beta

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Horizons Beta Download Instructions

The Elite Dangerous: Horizons beta is just around the corner, and you can still get access by visiting our store.

When it goes live, you’ll need to download the latest launcher from the Frontier Store. This is found in the ‘My Downloadable Products’ section when you Login. The file will be listed as 'Elite Dangerous: Horizons - Beta'. Once you've installed the latest launcher, 'Elite Dangerous: Horizons - Beta' should be available in your games list to select and play.

Steam users will not see Horizons in your available games list, you will only be able to see Elite Dangerous: Horizons through the Frontier Store launcher.

If you have any difficulties with accessing the beta, visit our support page for help. You can also access the beta FAQ here.

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Elite Dangerous: Horizons New Screens

Approaching a mining installation in your SRV - what rewards could the automatic mining pods hold?

Wrecked ships on the planet surface are a fantastic source of valuable cargo.

A Federal convoy speeds over the planet surface in a low-altitude canyon run.

A wing mate takes some serious heat in a strafing run on a planetary settlement.

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Educating Ed Episode 5 - ED Hungary

On the last episode of Educating Ed, the Galactic Intern joined up with Canonn Research to learn all about the Unknown Artefact. The intern learned all about the mysterious object, and even found one himself... make sure you watch the archived stream to see the explosive ending.

In the next episode the Galactic Intern will join ED Hungary, who will be testing his combat skills in the R-Type challenge: The Ultimate Gladiator. The stream will be happening on our official YouTube channel at 7PM GMT on November 26. Join the intern and members of the Hungarian Elite Dangerous community to learn all about another amazing community group.

The Galactic Intern made sure to wear all of the correct protective gear during his time with Canonn on the livestream

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HCS Voice packs

HCS Voice packs are available now to use with Elite Dangerous. Control your ship using voice commands, and have the ship speak to you with over 1,000 voiced responses.

Each pack has a different theme, with the 'Verity' pack being voiced by our very own in-game ship voice talent, Verity Croft, and others featuring British sci-fi legends, including Tom Baker, Brian Blessed and Paul Darrow.

Visit the HCS Voice Pack website for more information and a list of all available packs.

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Community Goals Update

Greeting, Commanders, and welcome to this week’s Community Goals blog.

It’s been a long time since the words ‘onionhead’ were heard on the Elite streets, but this week it’s back, and with a bang. The Drug Empire of Xelabara has decided to bring the infamous drug to the Alliance. It seems they have recruited a pair of horticulturalists capable of cultivating a strain of the drug with over 99% purity, but they need stocks of the legendary narcotic to set up workable production facilities. The organisation is offering large rewards to Commanders who deliver onionhead to them at Navigator Market. The more they receive, the more production facilities they can get up and running, and the higher the allowance available.

Meanwhile, the Xelabara Republic Party has noted that the rise in traffic has caused the system to be flooded with pirates, smugglers and other ne’er-do-wells. In response, they are offering rewards to any Commanders who turn in Alliance Bounties in the Xelabara system.

If you’re looking for a goal this week, the breakdown below should help:

Xelabara system, Navigator Market: Deliver onionhead to the Drug Empire of Xelabara at Navigator Market.

Xelabara system, Navigator Market: Repel the pirates by handing in bounties to the Xelabara Republic Party at Navigator Market.

Safe travels out in the black, Commanders!

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Comms Chatter

The Sugar Bus had a little bit of pranking fun with the Fuel Rats. Here’s a tribute video to them.

CMDR FifthHorsemanN shared with us a digital painting piece that he called, Station Seven.

LDB477 on imgur.com shared to reddit of his Lego Anaconda MK2.

CMDR Washikage on the Elite Dangerous subreddit shared this near-30 minute video of prepping and fighting against Emperor’s Dawn faction.

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The Explorers' Association has announced that the third stage of its ambitious starport project is complete. The materials needed for the final phase of construction have been delivered, and the finishing touches are now being applied to the Kaushpoos system's new Ocellus starport. A spokesperson for the Explorers' Association expressed satisfaction with the result, but stressed that the starport was not yet open for business: "I want to take this opportunity to thank the many hundreds of independent pilots who supported this project, and helped make our dream a reality. There's still work to do, but we're on schedule to officially open the starport next month. We look forward to seeing you at the opening ceremony!"

Reports coming in from the Xelabara system indicate that the recent request from the Drug Empire of Xelabara for onionhead has drawn hundreds of pirates to the system. According to system authorities, the pirates are targeting the traders travelling to and from Navigator Market, the hub of the onionhead operation. Fortunately, the Xelabara Republic Party has promised to reward pilots who help eliminate the pirates. A spokesperson for the Xelabara Republic Party said: "We suspected the increase in trade activity would attract pirates, so we set aside some privateer bonds for combat pilots to help clear the spaceways. So if you own a combat ship and you know how to use it, get yourself over to Xelabara. We need you!"

A faction known as the Drug Empire of Xelabara has issued a request for the controversial narcotic onionhead. The drug was once a significant trade commodity, but it suffered a setback last year when former Federal President Jasmina Halsey declared it illegal in Federation space. Rooney 'Rush' Romero, a spokesperson for the Drug Empire of Xelabara, explained that the appeal is partly intended to revitalise the market: "The fact is that people want onionhead. The Federation might not like it, but that's their problem - our organisation is well within its rights to establish a trading operation in Xelabara. Trouble is, although we've got the money, we don't have the merchandise. That's why we're offering generous incentives to pilots who deliver onionhead to our base of operations in Xelabara."

Over the past month, starports in the Warkushanui, 49 Arietis, 64 Arietis, and Varati systems have experienced a raft of mysterious technical issues and malfunctions. Gurragchaa Gateway in Warkushanui has been the worst affected, and at the time of writing the station remains in a state of partial closure. As the problems persist, reports of similar – and equally mysterious – issues have arrived from Hinz Hub in the Ngobe system, Tsunenaga Dock in the Iapodes system, and Li Qing Jao in Sol. Precise details are not available, but the problems are understood to be similar to those plaguing Warkushanui, 49 Arietis, 64 Arietis, and Varati.

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That’s it for Newsletter #100. Thank you so much for your continued support - onwards to the next 100! As always, if there's anything in particular that you’d like to hear more about, or if you'd like to ask a question, then please contact us at elite-newsletter@frontier.co.uk.

Click for the latest Game Manual, Quickstart Guide and Pilot Training Videos. Visit our Support team here and read our previous newsletters here.

Until next time, fly safe and Right On, Commander.

The Frontier Team