# Elite Dangerous Elite Dangerous: Ascendancy | Available Now! - Product: Elite Dangerous (https://whatsnew.fyi/product/elite-dangerous) - Vendor: Frontier Developments - Date: 2024-10-31 - Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/359320/view/4480611795034177625 - Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/elite-dangerous/releases/2024-10-31-elite-dangerous-ascendancy-available-now What's New is an index, not a publisher: every entry below links to the vendor's own release notes, which are the authoritative source. Entries are labelled where they are hand-curated sample data, pre-releases, or drawn from a secondary source such as a developer blog. Reuse: the summaries, labels and curation here are © What's New. Quote freely with attribution and a link back; wholesale republication of the corpus is not permitted — terms: https://whatsnew.fyi/terms. The vendors' own release notes remain their publishers'. --- - **added** — Powerplay 2.0 rework allowing Commanders to pledge to Powers and contribute through new gameplay mechanics - **added** — Loyalty system for each Power with ranks and rewards that unlock perks affecting bounty payouts and faction reputation gains - **added** — Care packages distributed through the loyalty system to boost credit and engineering materials supply - **added** — Weekly competitive leaderboard showing top 10 Commanders earning merits for their Power - **added** — New Powerplay galaxy map modes and filters for accessing detailed information - **added** — Nakato Kaine as new Alliance Power and Jerome Archer replacing Zachary Hudson as Federation Power - **added** — Ability to hack and repair holoscreens on Stations and Outposts as part of Powerplay activities - **added** — Weekly assignments from your Power based on rank and location, including bounty voucher collection and malware upload tasks - **added** — Contribution system where regular activities like bounty hunting, trading, and exploration data uploads count toward your Power - **added** — Stronghold state for systems with exclusive Stronghold Carriers acting as superior markets docked only by pledged Commanders - **added** — New Powerplay security vessels patrolling systems controlled by Powers - **added** — Power-aligned ambient traffic vessels throughout the galaxy in appropriate locations - **added** — Powerplay Contacts in ports acting as central hub for Powerplay-related activities and care package collection - **added** — Mandalay exploration ship from Zorgon Peterson with improved fuel efficiency and large fuel scoop capacity - **added** — Mandalay features six hardpoints, excellent maneuverability, expansive front canopy, and additional bottom viewport - **added** — Powerplay Banner ship kit cosmetics available for every Power and every ship - **changed** — Powerplay ranks will be reset when Ascendancy is available - **changed** — All Commanders will be unpledged when Powerplay 2 goes live without incurring penalties - **changed** — Visual representation of Powers increased at stations from exteriors to concourse and hangars based on their control level - **removed** — Merit degradation, voting system for expansions, defection effects, and connections to government types from Powerplay Greetings Commanders! The battle for galactic control evolves in the Elite Dangerous: Ascendancy update. Featuring the all-new Powerplay 2.0 rework that lets you contribute to your chosen Power in brand-new ways, see the effects of your actions like never before and be rewarded for displaying loyalty as you seek to further their influence. Elite Dangerous: Ascendancy also includes the ARX early access launch of the Mandalay exploration ship from Zorgon Peterson*. Head to the Elite Dangerous gamestore now to get yours and discover the wonders of the galaxy in style. *The Mandalay will be available for in-game Credits for Odyssey owners at a later date. Find out more about Ascendancy (https://www.elitedangerous.com/update/ascendancy). ##### Update Notes ##### Features of Note: ##### Powerplay 2 - Pledge to your Power! - all Commanders will be unpledged when Powerplay 2 goes live, this wont incur any penalties for affected Commanders and you will be able to pledge anew straight away. - Show your loyalty - each Power has it's own rewards that it bestows upon it's agents as they rank up and prove their loyalty. - Perk up! - each Power has it's set of perks that players can unlock via the loyalty system these can affect things like bounty payouts or faction rep gain to name a few. - Modules for everyone! - each Power will now reward their agents with access to all Powerplay modules, unlock order will differ between Powers however. - Have a care - Powers reward care packages through the loyalty system that give players a boost to their credit and engineering materials supply - Competitive spirit - compete with your fellow agents to see who can earn the most merits for their power in a given week, participants will be rewarded with credits and the top 10 will be shown off next week - A galactic view - new Powerplay galaxy map modes and filters let you access the information you need quicker, and in greater detail. - A new challenger approaches - Nakato Kaine and Jerome Archer are stepping into Powerplay, Kaine as the newest Alliance power and Archer taking over from Zachary Hudson for the Federation - Actions have consequences - gain control or reinforce your Power’s systems and undermine your opponents by engaging in Powerplay-related activities, including the new ability to hack and repair holoscreens on Stations and Outposts. - Assign me up - take on weekly assignments given to you by your Power, based on your rank and current location. These include a variety of tasks, including gaining an amount of Bounty Vouchers or uploading Powerplay malware to Settlements. - Every contribution matters - engaging in regular activities throughout the galaxy now contributes to your Power, across various aspects of the game including Bounty Hunting, Trading and more. For example, handing in exploration data to one of your Power’s systems will count as a contribution. - Appearance is everything - Powers are now much more apparent when visiting stations. Depending on the Power, and their level of control, you will now see varying levels of support for them as you move around the area. From station exteriors to the concourse and even hangars, controlling Powers are being represented more than ever before. - A display of strength - when systems are pushed into a Stronghold state, you may now find Stronghold Carriers present. These Stronghold Carriers act as a superior market, on the same level as Jameson Memorial, however you can only dock if you are pledged to the Power in the system. - Or a perfect opportunity? - if you’re a veteran Commander pledged to a hostile Power, Stronghold Carriers can be a great target. From disabling turrets to scanning data links, there are multiple ways to engage in undermining activity. Be careful though, these Carriers will be hostile towards you! - It’s who you know - Powerplay Contacts are found in ports and act as a central hub for all other contacts related to Powerplay. They’r _[Truncated at 4000 characters — full notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/359320/view/4480611795034177625]_