The Year in Review podcast discusses the highlights and lows of Star Citizen in 2023, including major patches, new ships, and gameplay additions such as salvage mechanics. Despite some setbacks, the hosts remain optimistic about the game’s development, with upcoming releases and positive funding trajectory.
In this Year in Review podcast, the hosts discuss the major highlights of Star Citizen in 2023. They mention the release of major patches like Alpha 3.8, 3.19, and 3.20, which brought significant updates such as cargo improvements, hull stripping for salvage, and persistent entity streaming. They also discuss the addition of new ships like the Vulture, Scorpio, and Fury M-X, as well as the introduction of features like soft deaths and attach-to-beam. However, they acknowledge that the 3.18 patch was one of the worst in terms of stability and accessibility, causing many players to have a frustrating experience. Despite this setback, they remain optimistic about the development process and the lessons learned from this patch.
The hosts move on to discuss the major update in September 2023 with patch 3.20, which included the replacement of Port Olisar with Seraphim Station and the overhaul of Arena Commander. They also highlight the addition of the long-awaited salvage gameplay with hull stripping and structural salvage. They mention the success of the Fleet Week event in generating revenue for the game. They express their satisfaction with the improvements in performance and the focus on quality of life updates in patch 3.21. They also mention the exciting previews of Pyro playground, the resource management system, and the upcoming Squadron 42 release.
Next, they discuss patch 3.22, which is currently in the open PTU phase. They highlight the addition of long hairstyles, settlements on Microtech and Hurston, and the basic implementation of structural salvage. They express their hopes for further improvements in the salvage mechanics, and mention the expectation of the Santoky and X1 series ships to be added to the game. They also anticipate more Pyro playground and replication layer tests in the future. They mention the upcoming Luminalia event, where players can expect various in-game activities and rewards.
Lastly, they discuss the financials and the overall outlook for Star Citizen in 2023. Despite some setbacks, they believe the game has made significant progress and is in a good place. They acknowledge the continued expansion of Cloud Imperium Games, the upcoming release of Squadron 42, and the positive funding trajectory. They encourage viewers to share their thoughts on 2023, their expectations for patch 3.22, and their highlights and lowlights of the year. The hosts conclude by expressing their gratitude to viewers for their support and wishing everyone a happy Luminalia.