A post to the Elite: Dangerous forums announces that Elite: Dangerous has entered the final frontier, as Frontier Developments' space combat game has left beta testing, and has entered the gamma phase, if not the gamma quadrant (thanks Dave). This paves the way for the game's planned official release on December 16th, as gamma is an infrequently used term for a release candidate. Here's word on the changes that mark the occasion

The first gamma build will be released in a little over an hour. People will be kicked from the server shortly . Here is the change log for the build:

• Playable area no longer restricted to beta bubble
• Playable ship Python added
• Playable ship Orca added
• Kickstarter starting ships and locations added
• Freagles added
• Capital ship events added
• Fix crash following docking and accessing starport services
• Fix for multiple input devices not working - for example pedals and throttle from multiple input device controllers
• Chances for USSs increased
• Fix for cargo hatch not ejecting any cargo when malfunctioning
• Workaround for AMD white lines issue
• Check to make sure the target is this machine that this machine is ready to receive authority
• New games account for fines, bounties, and permits
• Added missing text strings for Federal and Imperial missions
• NPC Comms in Another Castle Unidentified Signal Sources should now only display the new target destination rather than listing multiple destinations