[2022] Update Required - Can't seem to find a solution

Sorry if this is a recurring topic. I've found many posts about it online but none of the solutions I've tried have worked or are possible for me.

I've owned this game for years but never played it. Never even created a Frontier account.

So today I installed the game, started it for the first time. I created a Frontier account to which it automatically logs me in whenever I launch the game from Steam. But I get hit with this stupid update thing so I can't continue.

The most promising solution I've found is to start the game via EDLaunch from the install folder and then update the game from there. I can open the launcher but I'm not signed into my account. When I try to sign in, it tells me I need to redeem or purchase the game to continue. If I'm not logged in, it won't let me update the game. Meanwhile on Frontiers website it tells me my account is already linked to Steam.

So now I'm stuck in this loop where I can't seem to find a way to update the game at all and thus keep getting the "update required" pop-up when launching via Steam.

Where do I go from here?

Edit:

On the Frontier Website under "Partner Keys" it tells me I have not purchased any games eligible for partner keys. I checked my Steam purchase history and I did buy Elite Dangerous on Steam back in Nov 2018 when it was on sale. So it's not a key bought from a 3rd party website.