Nico provides an update on the Argo Moth’s numerous critical issues, including salvaging problems and cargo malfunctions, with most fixes expected no earlier than patch 4.7, urging players to avoid purchasing the ship until resolved. He also critiques the rushed release strategy with shorter PTU cycles that led to insufficient testing, despite the ship’s strong conceptual design and engineering features.
Nico provides an update on the ongoing issues with the Argo Moth ship, addressing concerns raised by the community on Spectrum and the issue council. Several major problems are currently under investigation, with salvaging at incorrect rates being the most significant. Other issues include the failure to eject Argo containers once the filler is full, external cargo problems, smaller ships being unable to fracture larger ships, and floating assets besides the pilot and co-pilot experiencing disintegration. While some issues like bedlogging lights behavior have been fixed internally and are expected in patch 4.7, many critical problems remain unresolved.
The update suggests that most fixes for the Argo Moth will not arrive until patch 4.7 at the earliest, meaning players should not expect immediate improvements in the upcoming 4.6 patch. Specific problems slated for resolution in 4.7 include the smaller-than-intended toller filler station, loss of control when the co-pilot is seated, pilot seat scan malfunctions when another player is on the salvage turret seat, and the cargo bay railings lacking collision. The developers appreciate the community’s patience as they work through these issues.
There is some hope that the salvaging rate problem might be addressed in patch 4.6, but it remains unclear what exactly is causing the malfunction. Nico expresses frustration with the ongoing authentication issues on Spectrum and the slow pace of fixes, emphasizing how critical these problems are, especially since the Argo Moth’s main function—salvaging—is compromised. He advises players to refrain from purchasing the ship until these issues are resolved, noting that releasing a ship with such fundamental flaws should negatively impact sales.
Nico speculates that the release of the Argo Moth in its current state might have been a test of a new ship release strategy, which involves shorter PTU (Public Test Universe) cycles to keep player interest high. He explains that prolonged PTU phases can deter later testers from participating, leading to less effective feedback and testing. This approach, however, seems to have backfired with the Moth, as critical bugs were not caught before the live release, suggesting the need for a recalibration of this strategy and possibly more thorough testing in Evocati (the advanced testing group).
Despite the issues, Nico acknowledges that the Argo Moth is a good ship conceptually, with well-implemented engineering features and missions. However, the fact that the ship is broken in its core functionality is a significant problem. The situation highlights the challenges of balancing rapid content releases with quality assurance. Nico ends with a note on the importance of heat management in the game, possibly hinting at another gameplay mechanic or issue related to the ship or salvaging.