Info about Elite Dangerous:

Official game description:
Elite Dangerous: Deluxe Edition
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Elite Dangerous: Deluxe Edition includes:
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*   Elite Dangerous
*   Elite Dangerous: Odyssey
About the Game
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Discover the next chapter of the legendary Elite saga. Elite Dangerous is the definitive massively multiplayer space epic, bringing gaming’s original 1984 open world adventure to the modern generation with a seamless, connected galaxy, a player‑shaped evolving narrative, and the entire Milky Way recreated at full galactic scale. 
Against this vast backdrop, take to the stars in your own starship and do whatever it takes to survive in an ever-changing futuristic galactic sandbox. Acquire wealth and power, develop your skills and knowledge, and earn the right to stand tall among the ranks of the iconic Elite. 
In an age of galactic superpowers and interstellar war, your story influences the connected experience and handcrafted evolving narrative. From discovering new worlds, to exhilarating space combat and a fully-realised economy for trade, the galaxy is waiting. 
The 400-billion star systems of the Milky Way form the vast and dynamic stage for Elite Dangerous' open-ended gameplay. Constructed using real astronomical data, the stars, planets, moons, asteroid belts, and black holes of our galaxy are rendered at true galactic scale. Chart a course through star systems never before visited by other Commanders and explore the surface of strange and unfamiliar worlds with a Surface Recon Vehicle. 
Over 35 distinct spacecraft are ready for you to command, from lightweight exploration vessels to gigantic behemoths ready for battle. Build a diverse collection of ships and outfit them to match your playstyle. Customise every component, weapon and optional module to enhance and alter your ships’ capabilities.
Hunt, explore, fight, mine, smuggle and trade across the galaxy. Forge your path solo or with up to three friends in a Wing. Join a Squadron full of like-minded Commanders and share the highs and lows of your interstellar adventures together. 
With the System Colonisation mechanic, the power to claim and expand your very own star systems is in your hands. Whether creating a thriving new economy, a bustling trade hub, or a new port of operations, the galaxy awaits your vision. 
The Elite Dangerous galaxy revolves around players’ actions. In an age of galactic superpowers and interstellar war, every player’s personal story influences the space simulation and handcrafted, evolving narrative. 
Co-operate with fellow Commanders in pivotal Community Goal events that can permanently alter the state of the galaxy, earning exclusive rewards and recognition for your contribution in the process.  
Align with a galactic superpower and alter the interstellar landscape with Powerplay. Support your power or undermine a rival through a variety of means, from hacking starport advertisements to attacking gigantic Stronghold Carriers. Every contribution matters. 
Experience unpredictable encounters with other players in a vast, massively multiplayer space. Experience the connected galaxy alone in Solo mode or with players across the world in Open Play, where every pilot you face could become a trusted ally or your deadliest enemy.  
The universe of Elite Dangerous continues to grow and expand with new features and content. Regular major updates provide new opportunities and gameplay for you to discover and change the way you play.

Release date: Apr 2, 2015

Categories: Space Simulation, Open-World Exploration, Ship Customization, Ship Combat, Trading Simulation, Mining Simulation, Colony Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, Cooperative Multiplayer, Competitive Multiplayer, Economic Simulation, Faction Management, Procedural Generation


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Unmatched immersive space simulation (weight 0.99): The game is widely praised for its deep immersion, offering a 1:1 scale recreation of the Milky Way galaxy with realistic travel times, stunning visuals (e.g., neutron stars, nebulae), and top-tier sound design. Players highlight the sense of scale, freedom, and authenticity in space exploration, making it a standout experience for space enthusiasts.
- Vast and diverse gameplay activities (weight 0.91): The game offers an unparalleled variety of activities, including mining, trading, combat, exploration, colonization, bounty hunting, and piracy. Players can switch between roles (e.g., space trucker, explorer, mercenary) without penalties, ensuring endless replayability and catering to different playstyles.
- Regular updates and expansions (weight 0.35): The developers consistently add new content, including ships, gameplay mechanics (e.g., colonization, on-foot exploration via Odyssey DLC), and quality-of-life improvements. Updates like Powerplay 2.0 and system colonization keep the galaxy feeling alive and evolving, ensuring long-term engagement.
- Strong community and multiplayer dynamics (weight 0.33): The game features a large, active, and supportive community with dynamic events like faction wars, expeditions, and community goals. Players can seamlessly switch between solo, private group, and open play modes, with actions impacting the shared universe. The lack of pay-to-win mechanics and optional cosmetics further enhance the experience.
- Player-driven exploration and legacy (weight 0.28): Players can leave a lasting mark on the galaxy by discovering and naming uncharted planets, colonizing systems, or influencing faction lore. The 1:1 scale Milky Way and procedurally generated systems ensure every discovery feels unique and meaningful, fostering a sense of ownership.
- High-quality visuals and audio design (weight 0.25): The game’s graphics and sound design are consistently praised for their beauty and attention to detail. Visuals like planetary landscapes, nebulae, and ship designs hold up well over time, while immersive audio (e.g., engine roars, FSD jumps) enhances the atmosphere and sense of scale.
- Exceptional VR and flight simulation (weight 0.17): The game excels as a flight simulator, with realistic physics, Newtonian mechanics, and immersive controls (e.g., HOTAS, VR). VR support is particularly lauded for enhancing immersion, making activities like exploration and combat feel visceral and authentic.

Common complaints:
- Steep and unforgiving learning curve (weight 0.92): The game is notorious for its steep learning curve, with overwhelming controls, lack of in-game guidance, and complex mechanics that require extensive external research. New players often feel frustrated and abandoned due to the absence of hand-holding or effective tutorials.
- Outdated and repetitive gameplay design (weight 0.86): Players consistently highlight the game's outdated design, repetitive mission structures, and lack of depth in core mechanics like combat and exploration. The gameplay loop is criticized for becoming stale quickly, with tedious tasks and a lack of meaningful progression or immersion.
- Unintuitive and cumbersome controls (weight 0.66): The game's controls are frequently described as unintuitive, overly complex, and poorly designed. Default keybindings and ship mechanics are particularly frustrating, requiring extensive rebinding and practice to master.
- Excessive grinding and time investment (weight 0.47): Progression in the game is heavily grind-focused, requiring significant time investment for activities like mining, engineering upgrades, and material gathering. Players describe the experience as monotonous, repetitive, and more akin to a job than a fun activity.
- Limited multiplayer and social interaction (weight 0.23): The multiplayer experience is described as empty and lacking meaningful cooperation or social interaction. Server stability issues and connectivity problems further detract from the experience, making group activities frustrating.
- Lack of immersive and interactive features (weight 0.22): Players criticize the game for its lack of immersive features, such as ship interiors, meaningful NPC interactions, and dynamic content. The universe feels empty and repetitive, with shallow mechanics that fail to capitalize on the game's vast scale.
- Underwhelming DLC and monetization (weight 0.22): DLC expansions like Odyssey are criticized for poor optimization, lack of meaningful content, and pay-to-win mechanics. Players feel forced to purchase DLC to access new ships or features, and the monetization model is perceived as exploitative.
- Poor mission design and guidance (weight 0.16): Missions are often procedurally generated, repetitive, and poorly explained, with unclear objectives and lack of variety. Players struggle with mission mechanics, such as the bounty/fine system, and feel unsupported by in-game guidance.

Gameplay feedback:
- Multiple playstyles and roles (weight 0.62): Players can choose from a wide range of roles, including explorer, miner, trader, bounty hunter, pirate, and faction agent. The game supports diverse activities such as exobiology, colonization, combat, and political influence, allowing for highly personalized gameplay experiences.
- Deep ship customization and management (weight 0.44): Ship customization is a core feature, with hundreds of modules and dozens of ships available for players to tailor to their playstyle. Players must manage power distribution, thermal efficiency, armor, and other systems, adding layers of strategy and personalization to gameplay.
- Realistic flight and physics mechanics (weight 0.44): The game emphasizes realistic flight dynamics, including Newtonian physics, power distribution, and inertia compensation. This creates a high skill ceiling for piloting and adds authenticity to spaceflight, though it may require significant practice to master.
- Long-term progression and goals (weight 0.38): Progression is self-driven, with players setting their own objectives such as engineering ships, colonizing systems, or achieving high ranks in factions. The game rewards long-term investment, though it may involve repetitive grinding for resources or credits.
- On-foot gameplay and Odyssey DLC (weight 0.25): The Odyssey DLC expands gameplay by allowing players to disembark from their ships and explore planets on foot. This includes FPS combat, exobiology, and interactions with NPCs, adding a new layer of immersion and activities to the game.
- Dynamic player-driven universe (weight 0.11): Player actions influence faction dynamics, economic systems, and large-scale events like alien invasions or faction wars. The shared universe evolves based on player contributions, creating a living, reactive galaxy that rewards long-term engagement.
- Economic and political systems (weight 0.09): The game features a dynamic economy, faction-based power struggles (PowerPlay), and community-driven events. Players can engage in trading, smuggling, or political maneuvering to influence the galaxy, adding depth to the sandbox experience.
- Flexible multiplayer options (weight 0.08): Players can choose between solo, private group, or open multiplayer modes, allowing for both solitary and cooperative experiences. This flexibility caters to different playstyles, from lone explorers to squadron-based faction warfare.
- Alien life and exploration mechanics (weight 0.05): Players can discover and scan alien flora, fauna, and geological formations, contributing to exobiology research and earning credits. The game includes a single alien species (Thargoids) for combat-focused activities, adding variety to exploration and combat roles.
- Complex controls and input flexibility (weight 0.04): The game supports a variety of control schemes, including HOTAS, joysticks, controllers, and keyboard/mouse. While this flexibility enhances immersion, the controls can be unintuitive and require extensive customization to optimize for different activities.
- Ship insurance and rebuy system (weight 0.02): Players must manage ship insurance (rebuy) to avoid losing progress when their ship is destroyed. This system encourages cautious play and resource management, though it can be frustrating for new players.

Performance notes:
- Graphical settings and rendering flaws (weight 0.09): Players highlight specific graphical issues, such as checkerboard rendering causing shimmering (recommended to disable) and broken anti-aliasing. FSR upscaling is also discouraged due to visual quality degradation.
- Server and multiplayer instability (weight 0.05): Frequent server disconnections, connectivity issues, and bugs (e.g., disappearing messages, spatial holes) disrupt multiplayer experiences. Performance degrades further in multiplayer sessions with many players, suggesting server-side optimization problems.
- Performance disparities between gameplay modes (weight 0.05): The game runs smoothly in space but experiences FPS drops, crashes, or loading screens during planetary landings, on-foot gameplay, or busy stations. This inconsistency affects immersion and gameplay flow.
- Improved optimization over time (weight 0.05): While the game initially struggled with performance and bugs (e.g., Odyssey DLC at launch), updates have addressed many issues. Some players now report stable performance across platforms, including Linux, with minimal bugs.
- Accessibility limitations due to bugs (weight 0.01): Flickering, lag, and other technical bugs create accessibility challenges, particularly for players with photo-sensitivity. These issues persist despite other performance improvements.
- High performance on specific setups (weight 0.01): Some players achieve high FPS (100-120) in most areas and 70-80 FPS in busy stations on high settings with specific hardware (e.g., AMD 9060 XT), indicating the game can perform well under optimal conditions.
- Unique but niche features (weight 0.01): The game includes webcam-based face tracking for camera control, a unique but rarely mentioned feature. While not critical to gameplay, it adds a layer of immersion for some players.
- Large file size (weight 0.01): The game's large file size is noted, though this is a minor concern compared to performance and stability issues. It may impact players with limited storage space.

Recommendations:
- Highly polarizing but rewarding experience (weight 0.8): The game elicits strong opinions, with many players recommending it for its depth, immersion, and unique space simulation experience, while others find it frustrating due to its steep learning curve, bugs, or lack of structured content. The divide often hinges on whether players enjoy open-ended, self-driven gameplay or prefer more guided experiences.
- Best for space sim enthusiasts (weight 0.77): The game is overwhelmingly recommended for fans of space simulations, exploration, and realism. Players who enjoy complex mechanics, immersive worlds, and long-term progression find it deeply satisfying, while casual or arcade-style players may struggle with its demands.
- VR and control peripherals enhance immersion (weight 0.54): Players consistently recommend using a HOTAS (Hands On Throttle-And-Stick), HOSAS (dual-stick setup), or VR for the best experience. These peripherals significantly improve immersion and gameplay, particularly for flight and combat mechanics.
- Purchase on sale or with DLC (weight 0.53): Many reviewers suggest buying the game during a sale or bundling it with the Odyssey DLC to maximize value. The game’s full price may not be justified for all players, especially those unsure about its niche appeal.
- Not for casual or impatient players (weight 0.52): The game’s grind, lack of hand-holding, and time requirements make it unsuitable for casual gamers or those seeking quick, structured experiences. Players who prefer linear progression or arcade-style gameplay are likely to be disappointed.
- Community and tutorials are essential (weight 0.52): New players are frequently advised to engage with the community (e.g., squadrons, forums) or watch tutorials to overcome the game’s complexity. The learning curve is less daunting with external guidance.
- Bugs and technical issues frustrate players (weight 0.51): Frequent bugs, performance issues, and lack of polish are common complaints, leading some players to stop playing or advise against purchasing. These issues detract from the otherwise immersive experience.
- Comparisons to other space games (weight 0.18): The game is often compared to titles like *No Man’s Sky*, *Star Citizen*, *X4*, and *EVE Online*. While it excels in realism and immersion, some players find other games more accessible or content-rich.
- Great time to start for new players (weight 0.03): Recent updates, improvements, and a supportive community make it an ideal time for new players to try the game. The experience has evolved positively over time, addressing some past criticisms.

Other player notes:
- Self-driven, sandbox experience (weight 0.32): The game offers a sandbox experience with no hand-holding, allowing players to set their own goals (e.g., exploration, trading, combat). This freedom is a major draw for players who prefer open-ended gameplay over narrative-driven experiences. However, it can feel aimless or repetitive for others.
- Long-term player loyalty and nostalgia (weight 0.3): Players describe a deep emotional connection to the game, often spanning decades and thousands of hours. The game evokes nostalgia, acts as a comfort or addiction, and is tied to personal memories and friendships. However, this loyalty is often accompanied by frustration due to technical issues or the game's complexity.
- Grind-heavy but self-paced (weight 0.26): The game features a significant grind, which can feel overwhelming or like a 'second life' commitment. However, players appreciate the ability to set their own pace and goals, mitigating the grind's impact. External tools can also help streamline progression.
- Active development and updates (weight 0.24): The game is in active development with regular updates, story additions, and maintenance. Players acknowledge recent improvements and the developers' long-term commitment, though some express frustration with bugs or slow progress.
- Strong community reliance (weight 0.1): The game's complexity and lack of in-game guidance make the community essential for learning and progression. Players rely on wikis, Discord, and tools like Inara for trading, navigation, and tutorials. The community is described as supportive and tightly knit, enhancing the experience for dedicated players.
- Mixed multiplayer experience (weight 0.08): The game offers solo, private group, and open multiplayer modes, but social interaction is limited. Open mode is described as anarchic and risky, while private groups foster friendlier interactions. The game is often called 'multiplayer in name only' due to the lack of social depth.
- Comparison to other space sims (weight 0.07): The game is frequently compared to other space sims like *Star Citizen*, *No Man's Sky*, *X4*, and *Starfield*. It is praised for being more polished and complete than *Star Citizen* but criticized for lacking features from older games like *Freelancer* or *X3*.
- Lack of accessibility features (weight 0.06): Players note missing quality-of-life features, such as a rearview camera or fast-travel, which can hinder immersion or convenience. Some also desire more diverse biomes, ship interiors, or micro-activities (e.g., vacations, dining).
- Optional microtransactions and pay-to-skip (weight 0.04): The game includes microtransactions (e.g., ARX store) for cosmetics and early access to ships. While these are optional, some players criticize them as pay-to-win or pay-to-skip-grind, though others see them as a way to support developers.
- Vast, unexplored universe (weight 0.03): The game's 400 billion star systems and dynamic content provide an effectively infinite lifespan. Players appreciate the scale and the unfolding galaxy story, though the sheer size can feel overwhelming or empty without clear goals.
- Developer distrust and criticism (weight 0.02): A subset of players express strong dissatisfaction with the developers, calling them 'frauds' or criticizing their software development practices. This sentiment appears to stem from unmet expectations or perceived mismanagement, though it is not universally shared.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.24): The primary causes of frustration stem from the game's steep learning curve, overly complex and unintuitive controls, and persistent technical issues. Players frequently mention excessive micromanagement, repetitive and time-consuming tasks (e.g., traveling, grinding), and unresolved bugs like disconnections, mass-lock glitches, and poor VR implementation. The lack of clear guidance, punitive mechanics (e.g., docking denials, police systems), and reliance on external resources further exacerbate this emotion. Feedback highlights a disconnect between the game's ambitious design and its execution, particularly for new players.
- Excitement (weight 0.19): Excitement is driven by the game's vast, immersive universe and the freedom it offers players to explore, customize, and engage in diverse activities. Players highlight the thrill of discovery (e.g., scanning unique cosmic phenomena, exploring uncharted systems), the depth of ship customization, and the variety of roles (e.g., combat, mining, trading). The VR experience, realistic flight mechanics, and emergent storytelling opportunities also contribute to this emotion. The game's scale and continuous updates sustain long-term engagement, fulfilling the fantasy of a true space odyssey.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.17): Satisfaction arises from overcoming the game's challenges and achieving personal milestones, such as mastering complex flight mechanics, owning a fleet carrier, or progressing through long-term goals. Players appreciate the sandbox nature, which allows for self-directed playstyles and meaningful progression. The sense of accomplishment is amplified by the game's depth, realistic mechanics, and the impact of player actions on the universe. Community support, fair monetization (e.g., lack of pay-to-win), and continuous developer improvements further enhance this emotion.
- Joy (weight 0.13): Joy is derived from the game's immersive atmosphere, freedom, and the sheer scale of its universe. Players express delight in exploration, discovery, and the beauty of the game's visuals and sound design. Activities like bounty hunting, trading, and social interactions (e.g., teaming up with friends) create memorable, fun experiences. The game's ability to evoke nostalgia, fulfill childhood space fantasies, and provide a relaxing yet engaging escape contributes to this emotion. Mastering ship controls and uncovering hidden details (e.g., planetary sunsets) are frequently cited as highlights.
- Disappointment (weight 0.09): Disappointment stems from unmet expectations, particularly regarding depth, polish, and developer support. Players criticize the lack of meaningful content updates, repetitive gameplay loops, and underdeveloped features (e.g., ship interiors, planetary exploration). Technical issues, poor optimization, and perceived monetization-focused decisions (e.g., DLC requirements, pay-to-win elements) further erode trust. The gap between the game's potential and its execution—such as broken promises, neglected community feedback, and shallow mechanics—leaves players feeling let down, especially after long-term investment.
- Awe (weight 0.04): Awe is inspired by the game's breathtaking scale, realism, and attention to detail. Players describe moments of wonder when encountering massive ships, gas giants, or accurately simulated celestial bodies. The 1:1 representation of the Milky Way galaxy, immersive sound design, and the sheer freedom to explore uncharted systems evoke a sense of insignificance and grandeur. These experiences are often tied to the game's technical achievements and its ability to make players feel like a small part of a vast, living universe.
- Boredom (weight 0.03): Boredom arises from repetitive, unengaging gameplay loops and a lack of dynamic content. Players cite monotonous tasks like grinding missions, hauling materials, or traveling long distances without meaningful rewards. The absence of variety in peaceful roles (e.g., trading, exploration) and shallow PVE mechanics contribute to this emotion. After the initial novelty wears off, the game's lack of purpose or progression can make activities feel like a chore, leading to disengagement.
- Anger (weight 0.03): Anger is triggered by perceived injustices, such as predatory monetization, toxic community behavior (e.g., gankers), and unresolved technical issues. Players express outrage over lost progress due to bugs, punitive mechanics (e.g., police systems, legal penalties), and the developers' lack of responsiveness. The inclusion of pay-to-win elements, misleading DLC requirements, and aggressive cash shop designs are particularly contentious, as they undermine trust in the developers and the game's integrity.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Confusion is common among new players due to the game's lack of in-game guidance, overwhelming complexity, and unintuitive systems. The steep learning curve, poorly explained mechanics (e.g., controls, keybindings), and reliance on external resources (e.g., tutorials, fan-made tools) create a barrier to entry. Players often struggle to understand objectives, progression paths, or how to interact with the game's sandbox elements, leading to initial frustration and disorientation.
- Relief (weight 0.02): Relief is felt when players overcome the game's initial challenges, such as the steep learning curve or technical hurdles. Community support, solo mode options, and quality-of-life improvements (e.g., reduced travel stress, Steam Deck compatibility) help mitigate negative experiences. Players also express relief at avoiding toxic interactions (e.g., PvP griefing) or finding workarounds for frustrating mechanics, allowing them to enjoy the game on their own terms.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia is tied to the game's long history and its ability to evoke memories of earlier titles in the *Elite* series. Players with decades of experience reminisce about the original 1984 game or their personal journeys with the franchise. The immersive routine of activities (e.g., transporting tourists, building a fleet) can feel like a parallel life, reinforcing emotional connections to the game's legacy.
- Curiosity (weight 0): Curiosity is sparked by the game's depth and the potential for discovery. Players are intrigued by uncharted systems, advanced gameplay mechanics (e.g., mining, engineering), and the complex in-game economy. The opportunity to explore unknown regions or uncover hidden lore motivates players to delve deeper into the game's systems, even if the learning process is challenging.
- Gratitude (weight 0): Gratitude is directed toward the developers for their continued support and the positive impact the game has had on players' lives. Community-driven initiatives (e.g., the 'Fuel Rats') and the game's role in fostering friendships or personal growth are particularly appreciated. Players also express thanks for the game's fair monetization model and the developers' responsiveness to feedback, which enhances their overall experience.
- Hope (weight 0): Hope stems from recent updates, developer communication, and the promise of future improvements. Players cite initiatives like Powerplay 2.0 or new content additions as signs of the game's ongoing evolution. The developers' commitment to addressing long-standing issues (e.g., technical bugs, quality-of-life features) gives players optimism that the game will continue to improve and fulfill its potential.
- Loneliness (weight 0): Loneliness arises from the game's vast, indifferent universe, where players can feel isolated despite the scale of the world. The lack of meaningful NPC interactions or a sense of belonging can make the experience feel solitary, especially in open-play modes. This emotion is tied to the game's emphasis on realism and the player's small role in a largely unchanging galaxy.
- Annoyance (weight 0): Annoyance is caused by minor but persistent issues, such as the requirement to log into a separate launcher or the game's lack of polish in certain areas. These frustrations, while not game-breaking, disrupt immersion and create unnecessary friction. Players often mention traps or oversights (e.g., unintended ship movements) that detract from the overall experience.
- Concern (weight 0): Concern is raised about the game's long-term viability, particularly regarding microtransactions and server availability. Players worry about the potential for exploitative monetization or the loss of access to offline modes. These concerns reflect broader anxieties about the game's direction and the developers' priorities, especially given the game's long development history.
- Amusement (weight 0): Amusement arises from humorous or unexpected moments, such as accidental ship destruction while learning to dock or realizing misconfigured joystick settings. These lighthearted experiences add levity to the game's otherwise serious tone and highlight the learning process in a way that resonates with players.
- Stress (weight 0): Stress is tied to the game's realistic mechanics, such as gravitational pulls during landing or combat, which require precise control and focus. The high stakes of certain activities (e.g., losing progress due to mistakes) can create tension, especially for new players. The game's lack of pause functionality or forgiving mechanics amplifies this emotion.
- Overwhelm (weight 0): Overwhelm is a common reaction to the game's scale and sandbox nature. The sheer number of activities, systems, and mechanics can feel daunting, particularly for new players. The lack of clear guidance or structured progression paths exacerbates this emotion, making it difficult for players to know where to start or how to prioritize their goals.}