Frontier Dev Regulatory News (FDEV)

16 May 2014

Frontier Developments plc

Releases final phase of Elite: Dangerous Alpha development process

Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV), the leading independent game developer with studios in Cambridge UK and Halifax, Nova Scotia, has released the final phase of the Alpha development process of its forthcoming Elite: Dangerous game, Alpha 4.

Alpha 4 greatly expands scale, scope and depth over the previous Alpha versions, being set within a 200 cubic light-year volume containing five star systems (in which there are ten stars) all within the Boötes constellation when viewed from Earth. The five Alpha 4 star systems are themselves set within an accurate representation of the 400,000,000,000 star systems of the Milky Way galaxy.

Players have freedom to go anywhere within those Alpha 4 star systems, and Alpha 4 also includes the debut of new super-cruise and hyperspace modes of travel, trading between systems for profit and three new flyable ship types in game.

On 30 May Frontier moves Elite: Dangerous into a new phase of Premium Beta testing.

David Braben, CEO of Frontier, said:

"The final phase of the Alpha process is a significant milestone for Frontier and for the development of the Elite: Dangerous game. The Alpha process is enabling us to effectively build out and refine the key elements of the game.

"You can now play some of the key elements of the game as a coherent, consistent whole. The team have created an accurate version of our entire galaxy. It is a breath-taking feat. I am very pleased with progress."

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About Frontier Developments plc

Frontier Developments plc, listed on the AIM stock market (ticker: FDEV), is a leading independent game developer founded in 1994 by David Braben, co-author of the seminal 'Elite' game. Based in Cambridge, UK and Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Frontier uses its proprietary 'Cobra' game development technology to create innovative games across videogame consoles, computers, smartphones and tablets. 

As of 30 April 2014, Frontier had raised £2.7 million via Kickstarter, the crowd funding website and its own site to develop Elite: Dangerous. The studio is also working on a number of other titles, and released 'Zoo Tycoon' as a launch title for Microsoft's Xbox One console in 2013.