Frontier Development's founder David Braben went to his personal YouTube channel to unveil Elite: Dangerous' newest vehicle, the Scarab Surface Recon Vehicle (SRV). Part of the spacefaring simulation's upcoming Horizons expansion, it looks like an absolute blast to drive.
The Horizons expansion, slated for first quarter 2016, will for the first time add surface landings to the game. Already the largest space game of its kind, Elite's 400-billion star systems will feature a smattering of celestial bodies — specifically planets without atmospheres — with accessible surface terrain, finally fulfilling its Kickstarter promise to allow players to land on and explore them in detail.
"Scanning worlds will reveal all-new surface gameplay opportunities as players detect signals, crashed ships, mineral deposits, outposts and fortresses, and embark on raids on the surface," Frontier said in a press release issued this past August. "Playing alone, or with friends on the ground and in the skies above, players can explore, mine, engage hostile forces and attempt to infiltrate strongholds guarding valuable rewards."
The video shows Braben giddily bouncing off the terrain in low-gravity, and it's hard not to make comparisons to the Mass Effect series' Mako.
Polygon expects to have hands-on time with the Horizons expansion soon. For more on the game, see our first-hand tour below.
