Elite Dangerous Powerplay Update Details Revealed

Frontier Development has revealed details of the next update for Elite Dangerous.

Powerplay will allow you to take part in a battle for interstellar conquest and control that will ally you with one of a number of galactic Powers, earning valuable perks, reputation bonuses and credits for your allegiance. You will be able to guide their strategy, take on special objectives to advance your shared cause, and dominate human space. Your choices and actions will have a direct and visible impact on the balance of power in the Galaxy.

Each Power will have it's own desires, methods and ethos for you to align yourself with. Warlike power will better suit warlike players, 

Aisling Duval, Torval and Denton Patreus will be there, alongside new players on the scene.

The ship UI will get new screens to enable you to check on the progress of the powers in game, detailing the many bonuses available in friendly space. The size of which is dictated by how well your power is doing in terms of galactic domination.

Alongside all this comes some gameplay updates.

• A new GalNet feed accessible directly from the ship User Interface, and a better player inbox to track options in branching missions.
• An overhauled mission system to support Powerplay's new objectives and to give players dedicated missions based on rank and status.
• New drones for collecting cargo, prospecting, mining and transferring fuel to empower you whether you favour trading, combat or exploration, whether you prefer to fly with friends or alone.
• Two new player-piloted ships: the Lakon Diamondback and the Imperial Courier.
• Higher-yield mining spots and high and low intensity extraction sites, adding risk to mining and dramatically increasing the potential rewards.
• A bigger cash insurance safety net from the Pilots Federation for higher-ranked pilots so you can fly more expensive ships with reduced risk. We want pilots to be daring.
• A number of improvements to the background simulation. You might not notice them, but they're all making the galaxy more credible and richer in every way.
• A number of under-the-hood tweaks to balance the different ways players choose to play.
• And finally, a gold Founder's ship decal for Kickstarter backers who backed Elite: Dangerous at £150 or more.

 We'll let you know when the Powerplay update launches!