Star Citizen patch 4.3.1 introduces a resource-based med gel respawn system aimed at balancing respawns, along with new enemy reinforcements and watchtower mechanics, but is currently hindered by significant bugs and unclear pricing that affect gameplay and player experience. While the update expands the game world and story elements, the presenter recommends patience as further refinements and fixes are needed before the patch reaches open PTU or live servers.
The video discusses the release of Star Citizen patch 4.3.1 on the EVO PTU, highlighting a significant bug related to the new med gel respawn system that prevented the patch from going live or reaching open PTU. The patch itself is relatively light, with no new missions added but an expansion of the playable area and some new gameplay features. The presenter chooses to avoid exploring the newly opened Onyx facilities during the EVO cycle to experience the story fully once it hits the open PTU or live servers. The main focus is on the med gel system overhaul, which introduces a resource-based limitation on respawning via medical beds and ships, addressing the previously overpowered unlimited respawns.
The med gel system now requires players to purchase and manually load med gel canisters into med beds and ships to enable respawns. Each canister costs 100,000 credits and provides a limited number of respawns, varying by tier, but the system is currently bugged, often recognizing only one canister regardless of how many are loaded. Healing consumes half a canister, making even minor healing quite expensive. The presenter expresses concern over the high cost and lack of clarity on the med gel’s crafting or lore basis, suggesting the price feels arbitrary and may require adjustment. The system’s current state also complicates respawning strategies, as players cannot choose alternative respawn points if their ship is destroyed.
The presenter shares personal gameplay experiences involving new drop ships and watchtowers introduced in the patch. At a popular location on the planet Bloom, NPC reinforcements arrive via Cutlass ships, and players can disable enemy watchtowers by climbing elevators and killing NPCs at the top, which stops further reinforcements. While the presenter’s experience was smooth and bug-free, others reported issues with NPCs not disembarking or watchtowers not disabling properly. This content likely ties into the broader story arc returning to the Pyro system and the Frontier Fighters/Slicers narrative, signaling a shift away from the previous Regen Crisis storyline.
Several bugs are noted, particularly a severe one causing players to lose all interaction after inserting med gel canisters, forcing a hard restart of the game and launcher. This bug was widely reported and is likely why the patch remains in EVO rather than moving to open PTU. Despite these issues, the presenter believes the med gel system’s concept is a step in the right direction to balance respawns but acknowledges it needs significant refinement. The current implementation makes respawning costly and sometimes unreliable, which may impact player strategies and organization logistics, especially for groups relying on large ships like Polaris and Idris.
In conclusion, patch 4.3.1 is a modest update focusing on fixing gameplay balance related to respawns through the new med gel mechanic, introducing new enemy reinforcements and watchtower mechanics, and expanding the game world. However, bugs and unclear pricing mechanics limit its current effectiveness and player satisfaction. The presenter advises patience for further fixes and adjustments during the PTU phase, emphasizing that the patch is part of ongoing efforts to enhance playability and address long-standing issues in Star Citizen’s gameplay systems.