In a very speculative show, the crew discuss bobbleheads and the potential for Mk II modules.

Community Corner:
“Elite Dangerous – Kestrel Mk2 PVP Build” by Nug – https://youtu.be/yV-MpfpN-LM
“ELITE DANGEROUS – DISTANT WORLDS 3 – #6 – Veil’s Ember” by Lolof Gaming – https://youtu.be/G7LkWNoWefI
“Mind The Gap Time Trial – DW3” by Chimes – https://youtu.be/UG1VoN-mrtw
ECM – https://elitecommunitymeet.info

With a bit of a quiet news week, we speculate on vessels, and Colin learns what happens if you play with it too much.

Lave Radio vs Loose Screws:

Catch up on the show – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glzkpGsurj0&t=2627s

Donate to Special Effect here – https://tilt.fyi/GJSMaYpi86

Development News:

Frontier Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/frontierdev.bsky.social

Community News:

“What could a BGS update contain?” by Nicey – https://niceygy.net/2026/what-could-a-bgs-update-contain/

“The Update That Could Change Elite Forever” by Indigo – https://youtu.be/9JriB9p5Lfw

“Ring Surfer 2 – Elite Dangerous @ DW3” by DangerPencil – https://youtu.be/xUt3wUbUy8U

“These Gankers have been following us (DW3) across the galaxy. Somebody had to teach them a lesson ;)” by VRFlorian – https://youtu.be/ury2_UZO408

“Neutron Stars” by NoFoolLikeOne – https://canonn.science/codex/neutron-stars/

ECM – https://www.elitecommunitymeet.info/

Any Other Business:

Clare’s Lovely Chat with Alex Kane – https://youtu.be/0d2UO7XV9VI

The Kestrel has been released, we have a debut of a track from ToCoSo for Gameblast, and we talk about the update!

Development News:
Kestrel Mk II promo video – https://youtu.be/6070dkRUKMg
Patch notes – https://www.elitedangerous.com/update-notes

GAMEBLAST:
Lave Radio vs Loose Screws tiltify link – https://tilt.fyi/GJSMaYpi86
Special Effect Website – https://www.specialeffect.org.uk
Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/specialeffect.org.uk
Discord – https://discord.com/invite/69dQEmkxX2

Community News:
MetaElite in PC Gamers – https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/metaelite-interview-elite-dangerous/
Raven Colonial – https://ravencolonial.com/
EDCoPTER – https://edcopter.net/
“Kestrel MkII: comparison to FDL, Cobra MkV. Performance tests.” by Alswulf – https://youtu.be/jy2w0hLfJcI
“KESTREL MKII REVIEW : Everything You Need to Know” by The Buur Pit –https://youtu.be/jY3_Ld6avrE?si=JDedKoM4rgjV65oK
“Kestrel Mk II Review – Medium-Ship Firepower in a Small Frame” by Mile 13 Gaming – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNYo_yRsSws
“Galnet Test Drive: The Kestrel – Redefining Combat” by Galnet News Digest – https://youtu.be/sxowDsCgNSs?si=95Xqpjf25EVKZ0LI
“Combat in the Kestrel MKII – Is it any good?” by Ricardos Gaming –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIJqn_kUA0g
“Kestrel mkII First Impressions” by Slamscape-x – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0zWfCiJs1U
“Elite Dangeorus | Thoughts On The Kestrel Mk II: Nothing Will Be the Same” by Digmbot Gaming – https://youtu.be/iPxayrdubIc?si=CKCGm2_c4fEcWTC_
“EARLY ACCESS First FIGHT with the Kestrel Mk2” by CMDR Exorcist – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnIrHDe7AZE
“The brand new ship – Kestrel Mk II – Is it worth it?” by psykit – https://youtube.com/shorts/nHJlkYKEb8Q?si=20I2YhZeZOpCnMC5
“KESTREL MK II FIRST LOOK” by psykit –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktGCeOlQr_g
“Taking the new Kestrel Mk 2 for a spin and the usual nonsense” by Kaytee Khaos – https://youtu.be/dMAFiBPb6PM?si=Esru6-CeXrzP0CE5
“Kestrel MK2 First flight and TLDR” by RainmanGames – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpkf1yX-GwI&t=1s
“We put MK2 Thrusters on whatever would take them” by RainmanGames – https://youtu.be/WRZeCj5ho3o
“I Tried Living a Normal Life in Elite Dangerous…” by MT Major – https://youtu.be/mquYdztGlM8
“The DW3 Eictach Eliminator : 4-up” by Alec Turner – https://youtu.be/6taweX9w1Tk
“SRV Rally at Waypoint 4 – Distant Worlds 3” by Radioactive – https://youtu.be/UQFVBjV_yrs

Freelancer: https://www.moddb.com/mods/freelancer-nomad-legacy/downloads or at https://freelancer2.space/en/

We’re had access to the Kestrel Mk II as part of the partner program, and we have feelings about it. We also discuss the Devlog and everything that is coming this year.

Community News
Register to be a surveyed CMDR – https://forms.gle/ChB1xbGyDdcRqAZ76
“DevLog Decompiled 02/26 – HOW many ships?” – by Nicey – https://niceygy.net/2026/02/17/devlog-decompiled-02-26/
The Federal Times –
https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteArcher/comments/1r3ycbe/cyber_alert_federation_empire_both_rocked_by/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
“Caspian Explorer Review – Long-Range King or Overkill?” by Mile 13 Gaming – https://youtu.be/CQ6peeepIHY
“The Radicoida Unica plants on Hip 87621” by BeetleJude – https://youtu.be/8BGLovIv0SA
“Is It Time To Rework Exploration Payouts?” by Digmbot Gaming – https://youtu.be/y6wBJgRzBZ8
“Distant Worlds 3 : Mass Jump Beagle Point” by SiegfriedOrigin –
https://youtu.be/VJlTETJagUY

We read some community submitted Galnet suggestions and fall into a world of innuendo and insults – it’s like we’ve never been away!

Community News:

Lave Radio vs Loose Screws Family Fortunes surveyed CMDR sign up form – https://forms.gle/ChB1xbGyDdcRqAZ76

“The New Caledonian Clarion February 5th 3312” by ChickenCowGod – https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/1qwnbfc/the_new_caledonian_clarion_february_5th_3312/

“The 7 Deadly Sins Of Elite Dangerous” by Midnight Black – https://youtu.be/HGO-bvXZSz8

“DW3 – Tartarus’s Inferno – TIMELAPSE” by Malyda Sunstrider – https://youtu.be/m89pw0dTBbY

“Distant Worlds 3 – Week 3 in Photos” by Mr Bishb0sh – https://youtu.be/PzQ6BBF7D7g

“ELITE DANGEROUS – DISTANT WORLDS 3 – #5 – THE SELDOWITCH NEBULA” by Lolof Gaming – https://youtu.be/9nf_1Mu7jLs

Enclave Thunderdome – https://ssg.sh/hip-thunderdome

What defines good PvP and bad PvP? The crew is determined to find out in this week’s episode.

Community News:
“It’s Okay to Take A Break From Your Favorite Game” by Loot and Grind – https://youtu.be/Aai1I10XNi4
“Distant Worlds 3 – Week 1 in photos” by Mr Bishb0sh – https://youtu.be/CmglQwWZAww
“Very Close Arrival…” by Cmdr Reggit – https://youtu.be/nweHzAetDZw
“Le Monde de la Mort – Exploration Distant Worlds 3 (Elite Dangerous timelapse)” by Siegfried Origin – https://youtu.be/V0GE83KMfY0
“Elite Dangerous – Distant Worlds 3 Waypoint – Monde de la Mort / World of the Dead” by Cmdr Fey Sky – https://youtu.be/xmEUKygjrxE
Elite Dangerous Dispatch | January 26, 3312” by Digmbot – https://youtu.be/cYxGBHu6554

Distant Worlds 3 has set off, two of the crew are on board… sort of, but we have a show to do!

Development News

H1 FY26 Financial Results – https://cms-cdn.zaonce.net/2026-01/frontier-h1-fy26-results-presentation.pdf

Community News

“The Contubernium (edition 36)” – https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/1qco1nn/ncn_presents_the_contubernium_edition_36_getting/

“Club Neverest” – https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/1qda1i6/club_neverest_wants_you_to_climb_mountains_and_do/

Club Neverest Discord https://discord.gg/34wbF9zEFj

Space.com DW3 article – https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-games/an-armada-of-6-500-elite-dangerous-players-just-embarked-on-a-three-month-expedition-to-explore-the-milky-way-and-theres-still-time-to-join-them

“MAXIMIZING your mining | A Beginner’s Guide to Elite” by Xpeigh – https://youtu.be/Z5I8HSZghDg

“1-800 Bounty Time” by Geno Garon – https://youtu.be/yciVUzecxmw

“Community Goal Hauling is fun” by jnTracks – https://youtu.be/DYq_PejwxlY

“Instancing is Fun” by Jensen2025 – https://youtu.be/FZDmTQZVLfc

Enclave Data – https://ssg.sh/hip-thunderdome

Special Effect – https://www.specialeffect.org.uk/

The crew talk about their expectations for the upcoming Distant Worlds 3 expedition.

Community Corner
“3311: In Review” by Nicey – https://niceygy.net/2025/12/30/3311-in-review/
Mandalay planetary descent Blender animation by Ryferion –https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/1q61dd7/made_a_short_mandalay_animation/
Beautiful 3D printed Lakon Type-8 by SecretHot8057 –https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/1q8ntty/3d_printed_lakon_type8_transporter/
“Multi-cannon 1” by eVa (Shoutout by Paperri) – https://youtu.be/ij2KeSjs9VU
“Buur’s roadtrip #3 – Dav’s Hope” – https://youtu.be/1MaH7hxqS78
“Elite Dangerous Dispatch | January 12, 3312” by Digmbot – https://youtu.be/pOo00WdbJuM
“Spacedock Spaceship Awards 2025” by Spacedock – https://youtu.be/-jt6ANL9p_I?si=S8AurDELLuI70f0W

We're back! It's 3312 and the crew speculate what could be coming in the coming year, and discuss your speculations as well!

Development News
Charlie Hall article with executive producer Gauthier Verquerre and Curtis Griffiths - https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/news/2025-was-huge-for-elite-dangerous-here-s-what-2026-has-to-offer

Community News
“Elite Dangerous - Voyage” by Nug - https://youtu.be/3-ieJ00nNO0
“Elite Dangerous - Distant Worlds (cinematic)” by AuraxisAnimus - https://youtu.be/lzgrAnShP1c
“We Need To Talk About The New Ships” by Loot And Grind - https://youtu.be/6rXPOeByTp8
“Elite Is Empty, And That's A Good Thing” by Loot And Grind - https://youtu.be/4vHn9UWrHrs
“Galnet News Digest Review of the Year, 3311” by Galnet News Digest - https://youtu.be/FrIml0lYkpI
“Elite Dangerous: Santa is Coming” by The High Wake - https://youtu.be/HKsjDTIKwr8
“Flew My SRV To Another Planet” by Savage Samurai - https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/1q4zrzz/flew_my_srv_to_another_planet/
“Antal petitions to ban slaves” - https://issues.frontierstore.net/issue-detail/82021
Alec’s DW3 launch site time trials - https://youtu.be/BKGO1d_Lnsk https://youtu.be/XjYDksa18-k
How To Distant Worlds III | A Guide Thread - https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/how-to-distant-worlds-iii-a-guide-thread.644300/

Festive Freebie, claimable until Jan 8th - https://www.elitedangerous.com/store/catalog/promo/festive-giveaway

It’s the last show of 2025/3311! A packed crew discuss their personal highlights of the last year – Happy Holidays everyone!

Development News
Holiday post – https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/holidays-2025-festive-event-paint-jobs-and-more

Community News
(Alec’s top ten of the community this year!)
ToCoSo and High Wake (Don’t Forget Your Limpets) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIzLe8sJ6Ig
Aitolu’s Isinona inspired series – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW_5BeT-CR_d6n-bCGzmCx_eIgptoRtpD
Elite Dangerous Fan Trailer by CMDR Fey Sky – https://youtu.be/GKxIxLe5h0g
Just about – This is my Elite Dangerous’ Challenge – https://justabout.com/elite-dangerous/38691/take-part-in-this-is-my-elite-dangerous-reward
Elite Dangereuse Galactic Missions – https://elitedangereuse.fr/en/gm-weekly.php
Lantern Light in a Motion Simulator by Project SimStarr – https://youtu.be/TJHB5uEurXA
Can a New Generation Love Elite Dangerous? by Spacefaring Chronicles – https://youtu.be/uRD3T3Fwh_o
How to Make it “Out There” by Commander Exorcist – https://youtu.be/3ZVfHeStNdI
Homborger’s latest blog “Buckyball 10k: How Elite is helping a charity to transform disabled people’s lives!” – https://edrushfleet.co.uk/2025/07/28/buckyball-10k-how-elite-is-helping-a-charity-to-transform-disabled-peoples-lives/
Elite Dangerous – Legend (cinematic) by AuraxisAnimus – https://youtu.be/NUaFbuLz_dQ