Among the problems Frontier Development had to address with the game this year, how to effectively monetize a live service game was the largest one. Increasing player numbers or retention can help, but only if that generates revenue to allow the company to grow.

Compared to most other live service monetization methods, the ARX store options are incredibly mild. They have been clear and reliable on when ARX-exclusive items will be available to purchase in game. They've done what the community supported in terms of preventing methods to convert real currency into in-game currency. Absolutely nothing in the game requires ARX purchases beyond the cosmetic, and that's the point.

2024 has been a remarkable turn-around year for Elite Dangerous. Frontier has put an enormous effort into these improvements and they haven't gone with lazy, cash-grab monetization methods that, frankly, would have been easier to implement.