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 sport‘s detonation of the Proteus Wave weapon, Thargoid exercise has elevated – however now, with Aftermath: Battle, they’re on the assault, and humanity will now must battle to defend what they’ve constructed throughout the galaxy, or threat dropping 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 have been 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 could have actual stakes: dropping 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 energetic, you’ll encounter some sights which are utterly new to Elite: stations on fireplace, or worse, consumed in a large fuel cloud referred to as a maelstrom. Lead sport designer Luke Betterton says it’s troublesome to convey fairly how giant these are within the sport.
“The entire drop-out [of supercruise] expertise and seeing this factor simply seem out of the space, that also hits me actually, actually exhausting each time I do it,” he advised PCGamesN.
Frontier Developments says maelstroms could be round 180 kilometres throughout, they usually’re made up of caustic fuel that may injury ship elements and hulls. Nonetheless, gamers will wish to discover them – regardless of the hazard, there are discoveries to be made inside.
Whereas Frontier didn’t wish 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 totally different from the varied interceptor courses gamers have change into accustomed to since their introduction to the sport years in the past. Orthrus Thargoids are meant extra for recon and logistics roles, and may name for backup when threatened.
“We’ve actually dug into making the acquainted unfamiliar, so if 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 intense. That is one thing we’ve by no means seen earlier than, one thing that we can’t presumably anticipate to only see and know what it’s. It’s speculated 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 menace ramps up significantly, and also you’ll be capable of see devastation in orbital amenities and on planetside ports they’ve attacked. Nonetheless, in the event you’re extra into the ‘house trucking’ facet of Elite: Harmful, there’s loads of galaxy left to play in – the Aftermath motion is one thing you’ll be able to dip into and out of relying in your choice.
“Regulate the galaxy map,” Betterton advises. “It’s bought a variety of tips about methods to function and methods to have interaction with stuff, and the way – crucially – to cease it progressing too far for you to have the ability to battle again in opposition to it.”
Marsh agrees, and says gamers ought to have interaction with Aftermath on their very own phrases. “In case you really feel like you have to get out of it and recuperate for a bit, do one thing else and are available again later, that’s utterly as much as you,” she says. “I feel we’ve made positive that you simply’re not pressured to have interaction in the event you don’t wish to. Have interaction by yourself phrases, and finally get pleasure from being part of it.”
Aftermath is obtainable 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 just the start, too.
“Replace 14 is a growth, it’s the battle, however we’re not simply dropping and working,” Marsh says. “There’s plenty of totally different ways in which we all know we wish to take this journey. This would possibly go totally 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 feels like your cup of tea, be sure you take a look at our Elite Harmful information that can assist you get began.
