Elite Dangerous: Ascendancy – Available Now
The battle for galactic control evolves in the Elite Dangerous: Ascendancy update. Featuring the all-new Powerplay 2.0 rework that lets you contribute to your chosen Power in brand-new ways, see the effects of your actions like never before and be rewarded for displaying loyalty as you seek to further their influence.
Elite Dangerous: Ascendancy also includes the ARX early access launch of the Mandalay exploration ship from Zorgon Peterson*. Head to the Elite Dangerous Gamestore now to get yours and discover the wonders of the galaxy in style.
*The Mandalay will be available for in-game Credits for Odyssey owners at a later date.
Pledge To Your Power
Due to the number of changes made, all Commanders will be unpledged when Powerplay 2.0 goes live. This won’t incur any penalties, and you will be able to re-pledge (or choose a new Power) immediately.
Show Your Loyalty
Choose the Power you plan to support wisely and reap the rewards with the new loyalty rank system.
Perks of the Job
Powers now offer distinct perks for your support. For example, Felicia Winters increases the Credits earned by salvage payouts in controlled systems.
Module Parity
All Powers now offer the same modules through the loyalty rank system, however the order they offer the rewards is different.
Earn Care Packages
Make use of care packages earned via the loyalty rank system to increase your supply of Credits and all-important Engineering Materials.
Friendly Competition
Challenge your fellow Commanders in a weekly leaderboard showcasing those who have provided the most support to your chosen Power and earn rewards for doing so! The top Commander will also be represented with their own portrait displayed for all to see.
A Galactic Perspective
New Powerplay galaxy map modes and filters let you access the information you need quicker, and in greater detail.
New Powers
Nakato Kaine
Powerful Alliance Councillor known for defending people’s rights against the ever-growing influence of large corporations.
Jerome Archer
Protege of Zachary Hudson, new Shadow President of the Federation and a strong advocate of mass-surveillance security protocols.
Actions Have Consequences
Gain control or reinforce your Power’s systems and undermine your opponents by engaging in Powerplay-related activities, including the new ability to hack and repair holoscreens on Stations and Outposts.
On Assignment
Take on weekly assignments given to you by your Power, based on your rank and current location. These include a variety of tasks, including gaining an amount of Bounty Vouchers or uploading Powerplay malware to Settlements.
Every Contribution Matters
Engaging in regular activities throughout the galaxy now contributes to your Power, across various aspects of the game including Bounty Hunting, Trading and more. For example, handing in exploration data to one of your Power’s systems will count as a contribution.
Appearance Is Everything
Powers are now much more apparent when visiting stations. Depending on the Power, and their level of control, you will now see varying levels of support for them as you move around the area. From station exteriors to the concourse and even hangars, controlling Powers are being represented more than ever before.
Down to the Details
Changes aren’t just on a grand scale. Take notice of the branding of smaller items like vending machines around the station to see your Power’s influence.
Rebellion Is in the Air
Not everyone in a system is a fan of the controlling Power... you may now find graffiti in support of opposing Powers throughout stations.
A Display of Strength
When systems are pushed into a Stronghold state, you may now find Stronghold Carriers present.
These Stronghold Carriers act as a superior market, on the same level as Jameson Memorial, however you can only dock if you are pledged to the Power in the system.
Or A Perfect Opportunity?
If you’re a veteran Commander pledged to a hostile Power, Stronghold Carriers can be a great target. From disabling turrets to scanning data links, there are multiple ways to engage in undermining activity. Be careful though, these Carriers will be hostile towards you!
It’s About Who You Know
Powerplay Contacts are found in ports and act as a central hub for all other contacts related to Powerplay. They’re also the place to collect your care packages, as well as Power related commodities and data, used for undermining and reinforcing.
Power Patrol
New Powerplay security vessels are present in any Stronghold systems controlled by a Power and guard against incursion from other Powers.
Staunch Supporters
You will now find Power aligned vessels as part of the ambient traffic in appropriate locations throughout the galaxy.
Streamlined Success
The following elements have been removed from Powerplay, providing a more streamlined and rewarding experience:
- Merit degradation
- Voting system for expansions
- Defection effects (leaving a Power now only resets your progression)
- Connections to government types
A New Generation of Explorer Has Arrived
The Mandalay, a brand-new ship from Zorgon Peterson, is here. Venture forth into the unknown in style with the next generation of exploration ship, available on the Elite Dangerous Gamestore now.
Long Distance Exploration Has Never Been Better
With the most fuel-efficient SCO drive of any new ship to date, coupled with room for a large Fuel Scoop, travelling to those far-away systems and distant Earth-like planets is easier than ever before.
Hold Your Own
With six hardpoints and fantastic maneuverability, the Mandalay is no easy target.
Take In The View
As well as an expansive view from the front canopy, the Mandalay boasts an additional viewport at the bottom of the cockpit, giving you great visibility when landing or taking in a beautiful vista.
Powerplay Banner Cosmetics
Represent your Power with these new Powerplay Banner ship kit pieces, available for every Power and every ship on the Elite Dangerous Gamestore.
Update Notes
- 4.0.19.0 (22 October 2024)
- 4.0.18.09 (19 September 2024)
- 4.0.18.08 (6 August 2024)
- 4.0.18.07 (5 July 2024)
- 4.0.18.06 (28 May 2024)
- 4.0.18.05 (16 May 2024)
Update Notes - 4.0.19.0
Features of Note:
Powerplay 2
- Pledge to your Power! - all Commanders will be unpledged when Powerplay 2 goes live, this wont incur any penalties for affected Commanders and you will be able to pledge anew straight away.
- Show your loyalty - each Power has it's own rewards that it bestows upon it's agents as they rank up and prove their loyalty.
- Perk up! - each Power has it's set of perks that players can unlock via the loyalty system these can affect things like bounty payouts or faction rep gain to name a few.
- Modules for everyone! - each Power will now reward their agents with access to all Powerplay modules, unlock order will differ between Powers however.
- Have a care - Powers reward care packages through the loyalty system that give players a boost to their credit and engineering materials supply
- Competitive spirit - compete with your fellow agents to see who can earn the most merits for their Power in a given week, participants will be rewarded with credits and the top 10 will be shown off next week
- A galactic view - new Powerplay galaxy map modes and filters let you access the information you need quicker, and in greater detail.
- A new challenger approaches - Nakato Kaine and Jerome Archer are stepping into Powerplay, Kaine as the newest Alliance Power and Archer taking over from Zachary Hudson for the Federation
- Actions have consequences - gain control or reinforce your Power’s systems and undermine your opponents by engaging in Powerplay-related activities, including the new ability to hack and repair holoscreens on Stations and Outposts.
- Assign me up - take on weekly assignments given to you by your Power, based on your rank and current location. These include a variety of tasks, including gaining an amount of Bounty Vouchers or uploading Powerplay malware to Settlements.
- Every contribution matters - engaging in regular activities throughout the galaxy now contributes to your Power, across various aspects of the game including Bounty Hunting, Trading and more. For example, handing in exploration data to one of your Power’s systems will count as a contribution.
- Appearance is everything - Powers are now much more apparent when visiting stations. Depending on the Power, and their level of control, you will now see varying levels of support for them as you move around the area. From station exteriors to the concourse and even hangars, controlling Powers are being represented more than ever before.
- A display of strength - when systems are pushed into a Stronghold state, you may now find Stronghold Carriers present. These Stronghold Carriers act as a superior market, on the same level as Jameson Memorial, however you can only dock if you are pledged to the Power in the system.
- Or a perfect opportunity? - if you’re a veteran Commander pledged to a hostile Power, Stronghold Carriers can be a great target. From disabling turrets to scanning data links, there are multiple ways to engage in undermining activity. Be careful though, these Carriers will be hostile towards you!
- It’s who you know - Powerplay Contacts are found in ports and act as a central hub for all other contacts related to Powerplay. They’re also the place to collect your care packages, as well as Power related commodities and data, used for undermining and reinforcing.
- Powers on patrol - new Powerplay security vessels are present in any system controlled by a Power and guard against incursion from other Powers.
- Staunch supporters - you will now find Power aligned vessels as part of the ambient traffic in appropriate locations throughout the galaxy.
- Streamlined success - The following elements have been removed from Powerplay, providing a more streamlined and rewarding experience: Merit degradation, Voting system for expansions, Defection effects (leaving a Power now only resets your progression), Connections to government types
Mandalay
- Dreams of flying - the Mandalay, a brand-new ship from Zorgon Peterson, is here. Venture forth into the unknown in style with the next generation of exploration ship, available on the Elite Dangerous Gamestore now.
- Helm the Mandalay - with the most fuel-efficient SCO drive of any new ship to date, coupled with room for a large Fuel Scoop, travelling to those far-away systems and distant Earth-like planets is easier than ever before.
- Cutting through the milky way - with six hardpoints and fantastic maneuverability, the Mandalay is no easy target.
- To the stars that none yet dare - as well as an expansive view from the front canopy, the Mandalay boasts an additional viewport at the bottom of the cockpit, giving you great visibility when landing or taking in a beautiful vista.
Powerplay Banner Cosmetics
- Represent your Power with these new Powerplay Banner ship kit pieces, available for every Power and every ship on the Elite Dangerous Gamestore.
To Note:
Powerplay ranks will be reset when Ascendancy is available. You will need to pledge to a Power if you wish to get involved with Powerplay on release.
The "tick" will still occur on Thursdays, meaning the first Powerplay turn will be relatively short but the process will return to a full week's gains moving forward.
Issue Tracker Fixes:
- Adjusted background and skybox lighting to increase visible detailing
- Fixed weapon scope modifications not working
- Fixed some ships not having correct SCO audio
- Fixed issues when plotting route with FSD Boost enabled
- Fixed instances of Assimilated Relics getting teleported/pushed up with a change of getting stuck in the ceiling
- Fixed Noble Victory paintjob on the Krait Mk II so it now displays the correct colours
Bug Fixes:
- Fixed instances of crashes relating to fighter bays
- Fixed instances of crashes during text mesh creation
- Fixed instance of player character being misplaced when pressing specific keyboard commands during sit-down animation
- Fixed instances of physical multicrew members being invisible after hyperspace jumping following a combination of loadout switching
- Physical Multicrew & Teleprensece members now receive correct rewards when aboard a ship that damages a Titan's core
- Fixed mission givers in social spaces not always giving out material awards, they also now give out more materials (up to 24 depending on mission type, material and mission difficulty)
- Fixed instances where passenger missions could not be selected unless you meet the required number of minimum-class seats, even if you meet that number with higher-class seats.
- Fixed incorrect animations of Type-8's small hardpoint doors
- Fixed power usage issues with the Type-6 Mining Jumpstart Pre-Built's default loadout
- Fixed instances when trying to select a Concourse Theme in the Livery manager for a Fleet Carrier, causing the screen to go black until the Livery management screen is closed.
- Adjusted hitcheck and landing gear extension on the Asp Scout to fix instances where an SRV can get stuck under the ship
- Fixed various language translations when running out of fuel with the SCO