Elite: Dangerous heading to Xbox One

Open universe space sim Elite: Dangerous is making an unexpected jump to the Xbox One later this year.

Xbox division head Phil Spencer announced the console debut of the title during a press conference at GDC. The Xbox One port will include everything from the PC version including the up to and including the upcoming 'Wings' update due to launch on the PC next week.

In a post on the Elite: Dangerous forums, Frontier Developments founder and chief executive David Braben confirmed that the console version would not be a 'dumbed down' port and would be a comparable experience to that found on the PC.

'We'll be working with an all-new audience, but that doesn't mean a change in direction for the game,' said Braben. He also stated that work on the Xbox One edition will not slow down the ongoing development of the PC version.

As well as the console version, Elite: Dangerous will be coming to Mac later this year too.

Whilst cross platform play is highly unlikely, the three different versions will still share the same narrative arc for the universe and the general galactic state.

Elite: Dangerous emerged from a lengthy beta in December last year and has been praised for its visuals and the return to classic space sim gameplay. Criticisms have also been made that in its current state, the game feels a little shallow in places.