Elite Dangerous: Versions, Memberships, Account Limitations and Activation Keys

This guide covers various aspects of the game Elite Dangerous, including version inclusions, membership requirements, account limitations, and key activations. It is intended for players seeking information about their game entitlements, platform requirements, and how to obtain activation keys. Locate your issue below and click the heading to see troubleshooting steps.

This section provides details on what each version of Elite Dangerous includes and whether it grants access to the Odyssey expansion.

• Elite Dangerous Alpha: Automatic early access to all development stages, a lifetime 50% discount on in-game ship insurance, automatic access to all major downloadable expansion packs including Odyssey, and a download copy of the released game.
• Elite Dangerous Premium Beta: Beta online multiplayer, single-player combat missions, automatic access to all Beta development stages, all major downloadable expansion packs including Odyssey, and a download copy of the released game.
• Elite Dangerous Beta: A lifetime 25% discount on ship insurance, free access to one of 5 new ship designs post-game release, a digital download of Elite Dangerous for PC (and Mac from Spring 2015), an Eagle fighter ship docked in a secondary location in-game, exclusive pack of ship paint jobs, a ‘day one’ ship decal, a digital players guide, a digital concept art book, and more digital goodies.
• Elite Dangerous - Mercenary Edition: A digital download of Elite Dangerous, an Eagle fighter ship docked in a secondary location in-game, exclusive pack of ship paint jobs, a ‘day one’ ship decal, a digital players guide, a digital concept art book, and more digital goodies.
• Elite Dangerous - Lifetime Expansion Pass: Access to all major Elite Dangerous expansion packs including Odyssey. Note: Requires the Elite Dangerous base game.
• Elite Dangerous CMDR Deluxe Edition: Digital download of Elite Dangerous, access to the Horizons Season Pass, and access to the Commander Pack.
• Elite Dangerous: Commander Premium Edition: Digital download of Elite Dangerous, access to the Horizons Season Pass, access to Elite Dangerous: Odyssey, and a digital download of Elite Dangerous: Odyssey OST.
• Elite Dangerous Odyssey - Standard Edition: Entitled to the full version of Odyssey when it launches.
• Elite Dangerous Odyssey - Deluxe Alpha Edition: Access to the Elite Dangerous: Odyssey Alpha and the Elite Dangerous: Odyssey OST.

To play Elite Dangerous on Xbox, the membership requirements vary based on the game mode:

• Open Play: Requires an Xbox Live Gold membership.
• Solo Mode: Only requires an Xbox Live Silver membership.

This section details the limitations on where and how Elite Dangerous can be run, depending on where it was purchased:

• Frontier Store: Licenses purchased from the Frontier Store will be added directly to your Frontier account. Only Frontier license owners can claim Steam partner keys. You can access a Frontier store copy via any Steam account that has the game installed, any Epic account that has the game installed, and via a standalone installation.
• Epic Games Store: Licenses purchased from the Epic Games Store are non-key and must be run through the Epic launcher. They cannot be logged in through a Steam or standalone installation of the game.
• Steam (non-key): All Steam purchases made after April 2019 are non-key and must be run from the Steam account that made the purchase. They cannot be run from a different Steam account, nor a standalone or Epic installation of the game.
• Steam (key copies): All Steam purchases made prior to April 2019 will be key copies and can be run via any Steam account that has the game installed, any Epic account that has the game installed, and via a standalone installation.
• Console: Console licenses cannot be accessed via PC. Xbox and PlayStation licenses are not interchangeable. Cross-play is not possible.

If you have purchased Elite Dangerous via Steam before 24th April 2019, you can redeem an Oculus Home key by following these steps:

1. Log into the Frontier Store.
2. Click on ‘Partner Keys’ then click ‘Claim a Key for Elite Dangerous (Oculus Rift)’.
3. Add the key to your Oculus Home account in the Oculus Home settings page.

Note: These keys do not grant game access. You must already own a Frontier account and a copy of the game.

To redeem a Steam product code for Elite Dangerous or Horizons Season Pass after purchasing from the Frontier Store, follow these steps:

1. Log into the Frontier Store and go to 'My Account'.
2. Click on ‘Partner Keys’.
3. Click the green button to 'Log in to Steam' and log into your Steam account to link it to your Frontier Store account.
4. Click ‘Claim a Key for Elite Dangerous’ or 'Claim a Key for Elite Dangerous: Horizons Seasons Pass'.
5. Add the key to your Steam account as you would for any other game.

Note: The keys will add your games to any Steam library but will not grant access to Elite Dangerous/Horizons. Do not give your Partner key away to a friend as they won’t be able to play without having already bought the game from Steam or the Frontier Store.

If the guide does not resolve your issue, please contact our Customer Support team for further assistance.