This week, Elite Dangerous – the multiplayer space sim from Frontier Developments – has been met with a spate of negative reviews on Steam, resulting in a recent average rating of ‘Mixed’.
This is all in reaction to the introduction of a new ship known as the Python Mk II. This ship is described as a “sleek” medium class vessel, with a focus on powerful combat. It also promises a smoother ride thanks to its advanced Supercruise Overcharge capabilities.
So, why the upset? Well, it is because the developer has essentially put this new ship behind a paywall for a few months. “The Python Mk II is available in shipyards for all Odyssey owners on PC from 7 August or you can unlock early access today via the ARX store!” reads the update post.
If players want to get their hands on this ship for “early access”, they will need to spend 33,000 ARX for the souped-up version, or 16,520 ARX for the standard version. That is roughly £15 or £10 of real-world money, depending on which you opt for, although up to 400 ARX can be earned each week by playing the game normally.