PCGame

Elite Dangerous

Open-world space simulation with a full-scale Milky Way sandbox

Frontier Developments · Released Apr 2, 2015

ActionAdventureMassively MultiplayerRPGSimulationStrategy

Third-party account required

Reviews
Mostly Positive
75% of 87K
Recent reviews
Mostly Positive
75% of 346 in 30 days
Players
4,133
daily peak, Nov 7, 2026
Steam Deck
Playable
Last update on Steam
2 weeks ago
Oct 23, 2026
Minimum PC
GTX 470
6 GB RAM · 25 GB disk
Full requirements

Metacritic: 80/100 (critic reviews)

What is Elite Dangerous?

This first-person, open-world space simulation takes place across a connected recreation of the Milky Way. Players pilot and customize ships to explore, trade, mine, smuggle, and fight alone or with others while galactic powers wage interstellar war.

For you if...

  • +you want detailed ship flight across a galaxy-scale sandbox
  • +you enjoy exploration, trading, mining, and space combat
  • +you accept a steep learning curve and long-term progression

Not for you if...

  • −you want quick onboarding and intuitive controls
  • −you prefer a tightly guided, story-led campaign

What players say

75% of 87,033 reviews are positive · 75% of 346 in the last 30 days

Players most often praise the galaxy's scale, ship handling and sound, and long-distance exploration. Common complaints describe repetitive gameplay loops, mandatory-feeling engineering grinds, and persistent bugs. Recent reviews also object to real-money access to stronger ships and an upgrade, describing the shift as pay-to-win.

Players over time

▲ +10% vs a month ago

Players online on Steam, one sample a day.

Highest since Sep 2026: 5,174 players on Oct 25, 2026.

Show the data
DayPlayers
Nov 7, 20264,133
Nov 6, 20263,787
Nov 5, 20263,461
Nov 4, 20263,621
Nov 3, 20263,778
Nov 2, 20264,039
Nov 1, 20264,187
Oct 31, 20264,329
Oct 30, 20264,065
Oct 29, 20263,883
Oct 28, 20264,021
Oct 27, 20264,307
Oct 26, 20264,535
Oct 25, 20265,174
Oct 24, 20265,110
Oct 23, 20264,736
Oct 22, 20264,466
Oct 21, 20264,721
Oct 20, 20263,648
Oct 19, 20263,913
Oct 18, 20264,209
Oct 17, 20263,757
Oct 16, 20263,377
Oct 15, 20263,387
Oct 14, 20263,277
Oct 13, 20263,514
Oct 12, 20263,779
Oct 11, 20265,058
Oct 10, 20264,180
Oct 9, 20263,727
Oct 8, 20263,169
Oct 7, 20263,042
Oct 6, 20263,239
Oct 5, 20263,513
Oct 4, 20263,768
Oct 3, 20263,505
Oct 2, 20263,210
Oct 1, 20263,084
Sep 30, 20263,227
Sep 29, 20263,319
Sep 28, 20263,573
Sep 27, 20263,824
Sep 26, 20263,649
Sep 25, 20263,331
Sep 24, 20262,975
Sep 23, 20262,444
Sep 23, 20263,163
Sep 22, 20263,344
Sep 21, 20264,561

Screenshots and trailer

Elite Dangerous screenshot 1

Elite Dangerous system requirements

Minimum: GTX 470, 6 GB RAM, 25 GB of disk space.

As published by the developer.

Can my PC run Elite Dangerous?

Tell us your graphics card once and every game page will answer this for you.

Set up my PC →

Minimum

OS
Windows 8/10 64-bit
Processor
Quad Core CPU (4 x 2Ghz)
Graphics
Nvidia GTX 470/AMD R7 240
Memory
6 GB RAM
Storage
25 GB available space
DirectX
Version 11

Recommended

OS
Windows 8/10 64-bit
Processor
Intel Core i7-3770K Quad Core CPU or better / AMD FX 4350 Quad Core CPU or better
Graphics
Nvidia GTX 770 / AMD Radeon R9 280X
Memory
8 GB RAM
Storage
25 GB available space
DirectX
Version 11
Notes
Supports SteamVR, Oculus Rift and TrackIR

Does Elite Dangerous have co-op or multiplayer?

Yes: co-op (mode not specified); MMO. It also has a single-player mode.

Does Elite Dangerous run on Steam Deck?

Playable Playable: it runs on Steam Deck with some adjustments.

  • The launcher or setup tool may need the touchscreen or virtual keyboard
  • Some text entry requires manually opening the on-screen keyboard
  • Some in-game text is small and may be hard to read
  • All functionality is accessible with the default controller configuration
  • Shows Steam Deck controller icons
  • Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck

PC version details

DRM
None declared on Steam
Third-party account
Frontier Account (Supports Linking to Steam Account)
Controller
Keyboard and mouse
Platforms
Windows
Steam features
Family Sharing, In-app purchases, VR
Languages
Full audio: English. Text only: French, German, Russian, Spanish - Spain, Portuguese - Brazil.

Does Elite Dangerous use AI-generated content?

No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.

Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Nov 6, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam

Tags

Recent updates

2 DLC available.

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