Elite Dangerous is now in beta testing as promised, with the premium beta having come to a close. This does not make the "regular" beta cheap, however, as buying access will cost $75.00 USD. Frontier Developments calls the beta a "significant milestone" in development of the space combat sequel, and offer a new beta trailer to show it off. Here's an outline of what's changed:

Beta 1 increases the number of playable star systems in the game by a factor of 10 compared to Premium Beta, and covers a greatly expanded 38,000 cubic light-year volume of Elite: Dangerous’ accurately modelled Milky Way galaxy centred around the Boötes constellation familiar to Premium Beta players.

The greater volume of Beta 1 space has an increased variety of celestial bodies, trading economies and star ports, and plays host to a large number of additional features and enhancements which together provide a richer gameplay experience over the whole expanded volume of space.

Significant Beta 1 additional features include:

• 55 star systems covering 38,000 cubic light-years
• Initial online mission system functionality (to be further developed through Beta)
• Player-to-player communication by text and voice
• Friends management and matchmaking
• Private Group play option
• On-line single player option
• Overview trade route mapping
• The concept of fuel consumption
• Docking computers to automate safe star port landings
• Additional Viper heavy fighter and Lakon Type 6 medium trader ships

Beta 1 will be available in English only. Future builds will be localised in the following languages:

German, French, Russian, Polish, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Mexican Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian and Simplified Chinese.