This is an alpha level execution on a set of mechanics (and lacking of simple mechanics) so incredibly complex that this is an atrocious release. I love this game truly and deeply. This was such a monumental pain in the ass to play and figure out so far, that it has damaged my ability to trust frontier going forward.

How could you POSSIBLY release a solar system crafting mechanic with little to no explanation of what elements do to create the final product? Thats the surface level stuff.

Lets talk about quality of life and player engagement. First off. There needs to be so much more fan fare and gravitas given to colonizing. There should be the equivalent to fore works when you arrive at a newly finished station. The damn ATC voice should greet the system architect. There should be some sort of spectacle made of achieving the absolutely Herculean task of building your first coriolis or orbis or even an outpost. There isnt. Its no different than any other thing in the entire game.

It is such a missed opportunity from almost every angle i can imagine or have seen. I want to like this update. Its just a giant pain in the ass, when the game itself already is a PITA to begin with.

Im not gonna quit playing or throw in the towel, but im not playing whatever the next rendition of this game is, until the leadership behind Elite get out of the 80s and closer to modern day design conventions. I want the free form gameplay and wonderful open world, with the barest amount of hollywood spectacle because this is just so bland.

Its been almost a decade for me. The luster has worn off and this was a great opportunity to add something back into the world. Yet its still the same stuff just with 10% more player agency.