Star Citizen alpha 4.6 introduces the Hermes Apollo variant, a limited-time Nyx Alliance Aid event, major salvage and mining improvements, ship upgrades, and new gameplay features like night vision and enhanced EVA propulsion. The patch also includes bug fixes, quality of life enhancements, VR support updates, and sets the stage for future content with ongoing events and community engagement.
The upcoming Star Citizen alpha 4.6 update is set to release next week, bringing a host of new features and improvements to the game. One of the highlights is the introduction of the Apollo variant, the Hermes, which is expected to be a cargo hauler. The development team is also shifting to a bimonthly major patch schedule, with additional content, events, and ships planned between these larger updates. Players preparing for the patch should save their characters, avoid refinery jobs as these will be wiped, and follow best practices like deleting the shader folder after updating to ensure smooth gameplay.
A major focus of the 4.6 patch is the limited-time Nyx Alliance Aid event, which introduces a new story arc involving an outbreak of Molina mold at Levski. Players will engage in various mission types such as hauling, combat, resource gathering, and station defense to help contain the outbreak and earn special rewards and reputation bonuses. This event is expected to last throughout the 4.6 patch cycle and serves as a narrative bridge to future content expansions around Levski.
Salvage gameplay receives a significant overhaul with improvements to scanning mechanics, increased salvage opportunities at points of interest, and new missions focused on recovering materials and components. The update also enhances industrial mining and salvage missions, offering more varied and rewarding tasks as players increase their reputation. Additionally, asteroid signatures have been adjusted for better differentiation, and economy updates include new stock at Pyro’s black markets and kiosks at landing zones for easier access to supplies.
Several ships and vehicles have been upgraded in 4.6, including the Aurora Mark 1, which has been renamed and visually enhanced with new exterior components and improved animations. Flight performance tweaks have been made to the Vanguards, and audio improvements to Avengers. A notable gameplay addition is the light amplification (LAMP) system, essentially night vision for ships and vehicles, which can be toggled on to improve visibility in low-light conditions. Fire extinguishers can now be used for EVA propulsion, and ground vehicle missiles have been buffed for better damage and tracking.
The patch also includes numerous bug fixes, quality of life improvements, and VR stability updates, including experimental support for Pimax Crystal Super eye-tracking. The developers continue to refine FPS weapon visuals and balance, with ongoing tweaks expected even after the patch goes live. The community can look forward to new store bundles, seasonal events like the Red Festival and Valentine’s Day, and ongoing content updates. The video concludes with a giveaway announcement and encourages viewers to engage with the channel for more Star Citizen content and updates.