The 3.22 Patch Notes for the game focused on improving Salvage gameplay, introducing new locations, openable cargo containers, and balancing aspects of structural Salvage. Players can now explore inhabited settlements, store and sell commodities, and experience a more skill-based approach to Salvage.
In the 3.22 Patch Notes, the focus was on improving the Salvage gameplay in the game. The patch brought stability improvements, with testing focusing on derelict settlements and mining balance. The only aspect that was hard to test was procedural recoil. The patch introduced new inhabited settlements throughout Hurston and Microtech, with some locations accessible via the star map. NPCs at these locations are neutral and independent civilians or members of the dusters faction, with updated clothing options.
In terms of gameplay, the patch added openable cargo containers that allow players to store commodities and items. These containers can be purchased, sold, and dropped into ships’ cargo grids. The contents of the containers can be sold individually, and if not sold, they are sent back to the inventory. Cargo is locked onto the cargo grids of locked ships, and removing cargo without permission is considered a law infraction.
A balance pass was also done for structural Salvage, aiming to bring earnings more in line with the intended design. The update increased the time it takes to run disintegration and fracturing, reduced the amount of construction materials gained, and reduced the internal storage buffer of the Reclaimer ship. However, to offset these changes and make salvage more skill-based, an alignment field was introduced, which reduces time and increases material gained depending on the player’s distance from the ideal spot. The patch also removed the whole “A” from Salvage Mission pools.
Overall, the 3.22 Patch Notes brought improvements to Salvage gameplay, with new locations, openable cargo containers, and a balance pass for structural Salvage. Players can now explore and interact with inhabited settlements, store and sell commodities using containers, and experience a more skill-based approach to Salvage.