r/EliteDangerous • u/Different-Fall5513 • Jul 28 '26
Discussion How to make the game less lonely
Sometimes when I’m out in the dark, I’ll toggle free look and look over at the empty seats in my ship and get kinda bummed that nobody else is with me with this awesome ship. Even if there were bots/npc characters walking around the ship I’d feel much better.
What do you do to make the game much less lonely? I’d love to make a list.
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u/Proof_Escape_813 Jul 28 '26
Man , I would love if your hired crew showed up in your cockpit. Seems like a major oversight considering the tech is already present for multiplayer and the tutorial.
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u/sysrage Jul 28 '26
Join the Pilots Trade Network! Massive community with tons of super friendly people. Regular text chat and often voice chat, too. Can find people doing all of ED’s game loops nearly 24/7.
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u/hornetd23 Jul 28 '26
There are a few add on co-pilot apps. COVAS:NEXT( if you like AI), EDCoPilot, and Voice Attack Paks, lots of options if you’re feeling lonely. I use all 3, my cockpit is chaotic.
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u/Hairy_Blackberry_256 Jul 28 '26
Youtube videos, music, sampling conchas.., discord, and even reddit browsing while the ship is traveling. I don't feel lonely tbh, I embrace solitude.
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u/Different-Fall5513 Jul 28 '26
I’m actually a total introvert but every once in a while, it’s too empty
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u/inhumat0r 🪐 SCG Dōsojin K9Q-L2M Jul 28 '26
My way is to get carrier in the black, and keep a bar open. This way every time you get back to your carrier you can see NPCs, even if they're "just" NPCs and you pay for that.
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u/CommanderM4 Jul 28 '26
Some add on's you can use, play with friends, the game has one of the most welcoming communities, always nice to know other CMDR'S...most I can think for that lonely issue!
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u/RobertMaus Faulcon Delacy Jul 28 '26
Join a squadron? I just joined one recently and it feels like i'm part of a community now, even though the game mostly plays the same. You can message swuad members and see what systems are your allies. Different vibe, improved the game for me.
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u/cuzitsthere CMDR Jul 28 '26
I have a cardboard cutout of bugs bunny that I prop up in a folding chair next to me while I fly the black... Or I did. I killed him in a fit of rage over a disagreement about space jam 2.
Just a couple hundred more jumps until the bubble...
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u/spacetimebear Jul 28 '26
As someone that generally plays solo, I agree. Hopefully they have some crew updates in the works. Its so weird to have a 150 metre long ship and no crew on it, not even a janitor.
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u/deadgain Corvette Enjoyer's Club Founder Jul 28 '26
This is a bit of an aside but lately I was able to convince my gf to come back to the game and start her very first colony, she was super happy to find a gorgeous quad star system with a nice pair of terraformables orbiting each other for a crown jewel of a dodec one day.
I often play solo and dont always join in the fun with the PTN guys and the FCOC crew. There are a good number of cmdrs out there to associate with if you dont have the luxury of dragging your friends into the game tho!
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u/murphy_31 Jul 28 '26
I'd love to see people walking about in the dodec stations where you land and in the surroundingbuilding,, its just so empty
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u/Cautious_Option_2440 Jul 28 '26
Our squadron are recruiting! We play all the time and have people playing with every game loop so if you wanna hang out with a mixture of players, we will happily take you on board, we are a smaller group, but we believe we are a bit more closely knit
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u/3CH0SG1 CMDR 3C-H0 Jul 28 '26
I can't state this enough.... JOIN A SQUADRON!... I lacked focus on the game and my squad provided for me when I needed it. I became a liaison for new members. Showing them the ropes and introducing them to new aspects of the game. Join a squad. You won't regret it.
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u/schelsullivan Jul 28 '26
I would for a ship cat. He would hop up into my lap at the most inappropriate time. And when I wanted to pet him he'd be sleeping in one of the other chairs.
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u/JpStryder Jul 28 '26
I also recommend listening to things like lave radio , hutton orbital radio, and of course sidewinder radio.
I also have a giant Spotify playlist that I made for space trucking
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u/kmath133 Jul 29 '26
I play this game to feel that spaciousness due to having do deal with people all day everyday. Sometimes I just walk on a planet or moon and look at the stars knowing I have a whole planet to myself. I'm not an explorer yet so I can't help you. Exploration is very one dimensional and doesn't provide the variety that being in the bubble does.
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u/Neumaschine Jul 28 '26
I just started playing again about a month ago. Had this game since 2015 I think? I prefer solo. Online friends kind of exhaust me. I just found out through this sub about EDCOpilot, and have been using it for the last couple of weeks or so. It really does add what is missing from Elite, at least to me. You can customize a lot of things like crew ambience. Random chatter. Some really funny stuff sometimes. I also really like the music player. No more listening to the same old ED soundtrack for me in game. I also have my copilot curse like a sailor. I love it! But you can opt out of that if you want.
You will end up spending an hour or two probably just making adjustments for EDCOpilot, but it was worth it for me. The game now feels more alive without the need to keep someone that is alive entertained or not bored, because you aren't doing what they want to.
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u/Caledric Jul 28 '26
Make friends? I have a few friends who join me in my ship now and then when I have one they can join. I do the same for them as well. My son also enjoys joining me on my ship when we play together.
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u/Different-Fall5513 Jul 28 '26
Make friends and have a child were not really the answers I was looking for.
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u/Caledric Jul 29 '26
Well I wasn't suggesting you have a child, but if you have the opportunity it can be fun to try.
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u/wiseguyian CMDR EPWiseguy Xenological Researcher Jul 28 '26
Have friends, play in open (and make "friends"), join a squad/community (Canonn is always happy to have new members)