In this episode of Star Citizen Sunday, the focus is on the development of persistent Universe features such as in-game shops and physicalized cargo, including the implementation of freight elevators and hangars to make accessing and organizing cargo easier for players. The episode also includes a Q&A session with the vehicle gameplay team, discussing potential additions and improvements to ship mechanics, ground vehicle handling, and the introduction of stealth mechanics.
In this episode of Star Citizen Sunday, the focus is on the development of the game’s persistent Universe features, such as in-game shops and physicalized cargo. The North American PU team, comprised of developers from Montreal, Austin, and LA, is working on the next evolution of cargo mechanics, including the implementation of freight elevators and hangars. This will allow players to access and organize their cargo more easily, though options like tractor beams and NPCs may be added in the future to expedite the process. The team also plans to support cargo throughout the entire game world, including outposts and underground facilities.
There are two types of hangars in Star Citizen: instanced and persistent. Instanced hangars are designed to prevent overcrowding in popular locations and allow players to freely load and unload their ships without time constraints. Persistent hangars, on the other hand, offer real player ownership and the ability to store and arrange items as desired. This feature will also be used for player Habs (homes). The implementation of both types of hangars introduces a new facet of gameplay, as certain locations may have limited availability, creating a supply and demand dynamic.
In terms of cargo, players can now store items in various sizes of cargo boxes, and in future updates, inventory container boxes will be introduced, allowing players to store larger items like weapons, armor, and even vehicles. This change reflects a shift towards physical inventory management, where players must physically interact with specific locations to retrieve stored items, rather than accessing everything with a single button press. This opens up new gameplay possibilities, such as player-operated hauling services and piracy.
The cargo system will also include box properties, such as fragility or the need for temperature control, which must be monitored and adjusted to ensure safe transportation. In a surprising development, cargo grids will be expanded to allow the attachment of non-box items, such as ship weapons, components, missiles, and even vehicles. This offers players more freedom in how they organize and transport their assets, and can potentially lead to unique gameplay opportunities, such as setting up a shop in a cargo hold.
The episode concludes with a Q&A session with the vehicle gameplay team, where they address various topics related to ship mechanics and future developments. They discuss possible additions like rotational decoupled mode, the implementation of quantum enforcement devices, changes to ground vehicle handling, and the possibility of towing trailers. They also mention ongoing improvements to ship lighting, terrain physics, vehicle balance, and the introduction of stealth mechanics. The team emphasizes the importance of community feedback and acknowledges that improvements and changes are still being made to enhance the overall gameplay experience.