Elite Harmful Replace 14 has arrived, and it marks a brand new part of the continued battle with the alien Thargoids. Within the months following the house recreation‘s detonation of the Proteus Wave weapon, Thargoid exercise has elevated – however now, with Aftermath: Conflict, they’re on the assault, and humanity will now should struggle to defend what they’ve constructed throughout the galaxy, or danger shedding it.
Since their arrival in Elite Harmful years in the past, the Thargoids have largely restricted their motion to reconnaissance and probing. The eight Thargoid anomalies which were heading towards Earth and settled areas of house are actual menaces that threaten any main starports or different buildings of their path. In Aftermath, gamers will discover themselves in battles with Thargoid forces round main house stations, and these battles may have actual stakes: shedding them will imply the destruction or abandonment of these stations and doubtlessly lack of management of the planet or system they’re in.
The place the Thargoids are most lively, you’ll encounter some sights which are fully new to Elite: stations on hearth, or worse, consumed in a large fuel cloud referred to as a maelstrom. Lead recreation designer Luke Betterton says it’s tough to convey fairly how giant these are within the recreation.
“The entire drop-out [of supercruise] expertise and seeing this factor simply seem out of the gap, that also hits me actually, actually arduous each time I do it,” he informed PCGamesN.
Frontier Developments says maelstroms will be round 180 kilometres throughout, and so they’re made up of caustic fuel that may harm ship parts and hulls. Nonetheless, gamers will need to discover them – regardless of the hazard, there are discoveries to be made inside.
Whereas Frontier didn’t need to spoil any of these forward of the launch, the builders have revealed that there’s a brand new class of Thargoid. Dubbed ‘Orthrus,’ these Thargoids are completely different from the assorted interceptor courses gamers have grow to be accustomed to since their introduction to the sport years in the past. Orthrus Thargoids are meant extra for recon and logistics roles, and might name for backup when threatened.
“We’ve actually dug into making the acquainted unfamiliar, so while you’re seeing the [abandoned] ports, there’s this tangible distinction, a tangible change,” says senior producer Samantha Marsh. “And I feel the maelstrom takes that to the acute. That is one thing we’ve by no means seen earlier than, one thing that we can’t probably count on to simply see and know what it’s. It’s purported to really feel alien – and I feel that have is one thing that’s actually enjoyable to have the ability to play with in Elite.”
In Replace 14, the Thargoid risk ramps up significantly, and also you’ll have the ability to see devastation in orbital amenities and on planetside ports they’ve attacked. Nonetheless, for those who’re extra into the ‘house trucking’ aspect of Elite: Harmful, there’s loads of galaxy left to play in – the Aftermath motion is one thing you may dip into and out of relying in your choice.
“Control the galaxy map,” Betterton advises. “It’s bought a variety of tips about function and have interaction with stuff, and the way – crucially – to cease it progressing too far for you to have the ability to struggle again towards it.”
Marsh agrees, and says gamers ought to have interaction with Aftermath on their very own phrases. “In case you really feel like you must get out of it and recuperate for a bit, do one thing else and are available again later, that’s fully as much as you,” she says. “I feel we’ve made positive that you simply’re not pressured to have interaction for those who don’t need to. Interact by yourself phrases, and finally get pleasure from being part of it.”
Aftermath is offered for all gamers utilizing the 4.0 code base, so that you gained’t must personal the Odyssey growth to participate within the battle. Frontier says that is only the start, too.
“Replace 14 is a improvement, it’s the battle, however we’re not simply dropping and working,” Marsh says. “There’s a number of completely different ways in which we all know we need to take this journey. This would possibly go completely different instructions relying on the narrative, the Thargoids, how gamers work together with this [update]. It’s not only a finite field of issues.”
If all of this seems like your cup of tea, remember to try our Elite Harmful information that will help you get began.