Elite Dangerous Type-11 Prospector Update 2 Introduces Claim Protection and Major BGS Fixes

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Frontier Developments has released Type-11 Prospector Update 2 for Elite Dangerous, bringing important new features and fixes to enhance stability, gameplay fairness, and the Background Simulation (BGS) system. The standout addition is a new claim protection system designed to prevent “claim sniping” during the colonization of new systems. Under this system, the System Architect who completes a new colony gains exclusive claim rights for 30 minutes, followed by a 23.5-hour exclusive period for members of their squadron. After a full 24-hour cycle, claim rights open to all players, ensuring fair competition and structured access to system colonization rewards.

The update also introduces Companion API enhancements, adding construction requirement data to the market endpoint, while several key bug fixes address issues affecting BGS progression, ship physics, and fleet carrier cargo transfers. In particular, persistent problems that caused the BGS to freeze during conflicts or expansions have now been resolved, improving the game’s dynamic galactic ecosystem. Together, these changes aim to make the colonization and faction systems more reliable, transparent, and rewarding for long-time Commanders.

Full Patch Notes

Features of Note

• New Claim Protection System:
  • Prevents “claim sniping” in newly colonized systems.
  • When a primary port is completed:
    • The System Architect gains exclusive claim rights from that system’s colonization contact for 30 minutes.
    • After 30 minutes, members of the System Architect’s Squadron gain claim access for the next 23.5 hours.
    • After 24 hours total, claim rights open to all players.
  • This system also functions if the System Architect operates within a solo squadron.
  • If the System Architect is not part of a squadron, only the 30-minute exclusivity period applies.
  • The Claim Panel via the colonization contact now displays when a lockout is active and the time remaining until it expires.
• Companion API Improvements:
  • Added facility construction effort requirement data to the /market endpoint for enhanced player tools and third-party integration.

Bug Fixes

• Faction Simulation (BGS):
  • Fixed the primary cause of the Background Simulation becoming stuck during conflicts, expansions, or influence shifts.
  • This resolves multiple reported issues (IDs: 73217, 78523, 69655, 73348, 78112).
• Ship and Physics Stability:
  • Fixed instances of a physics bug that could cause ships to spontaneously explode.
• Fleet Carrier Cargo Transfers:
  • Fixed multiple issues preventing successful cargo transfers from ships to fleet carrier inventories.
  • Resolved issue where transferred cargo could disappear temporarily until relogging (ID: 78801).
  • Fixed failures occurring when transferring all cargo at once to a fleet carrier inventory.

Elite Dangerous is a massive, open-ended space flight simulation MMO developed and published by Frontier Developments. Players command customizable starships in a 1:1 scale recreation of the Milky Way galaxy, engaging in exploration, trading, combat, and faction-driven politics within a shared persistent universe. As the spiritual successor to the 1984 classic Elite, it continues to evolve through regular updates that expand its depth, realism, and player agency.

Originally released on December 16, 2014, for PC, the game later launched on Xbox One (June 2, 2015) and PlayStation 4 (June 27, 2017), solidifying its position as one of the most enduring and community-driven space simulators of the modern era.

Have you noticed these changes? Share your thoughts in the comments!