A new Elite Dangerous player reports being unable to progress past the main menu after purchasing the game on Steam. The game launches but displays a server-down message, limiting access to the tutorial, which then stalls on a black loading screen. Despite attempts to verify files, update drivers, run in windowed mode, and reinstall from Frontier's website, the issue remains unresolved. This problem points to a possible server or client compatibility issue affecting new players, potentially hindering onboarding and retention as of late August 2026.
- Issue affects new players purchasing via Steam.
- Common troubleshooting steps have not resolved the problem.