Ryan (Mac) announces an upcoming engineering tech preview test for Star Citizen’s new engineering system, with the 4.4 patch set for November release featuring interstellar hauling missions, new weapons, the Nyx system, and various gameplay and cosmetic additions. He expresses excitement for the test, promises to share his experience within NDA limits, and highlights the patch’s potential to enhance player engagement through the end of the year.
In this update, Ryan (aka Mac) shares exciting news about Star Citizen’s development progress, particularly regarding an upcoming engineering tech preview test planned for the Evocati later this week. This separate tech preview build will allow players to test the new engineering system, a significant feature requiring extensive testing. Although the Vulcan tech preview test is still pending, it won’t delay other system tests like engineering. Ryan expresses enthusiasm about participating in the engineering test and promises to share his experience while respecting the Evocati NDA.
The Star Citizen 4.4 patch has been officially added to the roadmap, confirming its planned release for November, just before the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE) in December. Evocati testing for 4.4 is expected to begin as early as next week. The update will introduce several new features, including interstellar hauling missions that allow cargo transport between star systems, not just within them. Alongside this, new exterior freight elevators will be added to improve cargo loading and unloading in the Nyx and Pyro systems.
Several new weapons will debut in 4.4, such as the triple-barrel shotgun pistol called the Triple Down and the Boom Tube missile launcher, which fires three rockets simultaneously with a wide spread. The Nyx system will see its initial release, featuring the Levki landing zone, Delmma asteroid, and the Glacium asteroid field, though some areas like the Keega belt are expected to arrive later. New NPC pilots called Van Duel will populate ships in Nyx, adding fresh combat encounters and potential loot opportunities.
The patch also brings new medium Battletech armor, additional ships available from the NPC Wiccolo, and cosmetic updates including one new hairstyle and eleven new facial hair options. Two new mission types will launch: a mission pack for Nyx using existing archetypes with new narratives, and the “Sworn Enemies” mission tied to the new faction Intersect investigating abandoned QV logistics stations. Furthermore, multiple abandoned QV space stations will be scattered across Nyx, some occupied by enemies and some potentially empty for exploration.
Ryan concludes by encouraging viewers to support his channel through purchases and subscriptions, while inviting them to join his Twitch streams. He hopes the hauling systems, especially the Hulc ATC, will be stable upon release, as these are critical for gameplay. Overall, the 4.4 update promises to deliver a wealth of new content and improvements, keeping the community engaged through the end of the year. Ryan looks forward to sharing more detailed insights once the engineering tech preview test goes live.