Star Citizen has released update 3.21 on the Public Test Universe, introducing a new testing channel for the replication layer of the game’s networking infrastructure. This update aims to improve server recovery and stability, although there is skepticism among players about its effectiveness and when it will be fully implemented.
Star Citizen has released update 3.21 on the Public Test Universe (PTU), which signifies an important milestone in the game’s online networking technology. The update introduces a new testing channel that allows players to test the game version that matches the current live release, while also introducing substantial tech changes that need to be validated before a live release. The first project to enter this new technology preview channel is the replication layer, which is a core networking component of the server meshing infrastructure. This update separates the game’s networking replication and state from the game server to its own service, with game clients connected to this new service.
The aim is to test server recovery without disconnecting game clients from the universe state when a server crashes. The community has expressed skepticism about how smooth this process will be and whether it will truly eliminate the common 30k (disconnection) issues. It is unclear whether players will remain on the same server indefinitely or if they will be assigned a server upon logging in. The replication layer work is still separate from the 3.21 update on the PTU, indicating that this feature is still in progress.
The community has mixed feelings about the new testing channel, as many players are not interested in participating in testing and it remains to be seen how many volunteers the channel will attract. The patch notes for 3.21 primarily include legal and illegal retrieve consignment missions, improvements to bunkers, and remote quality of life improvements. The community eagerly awaits more details in the upcoming roadmap and CitizenCon events. Some quality of life suggestions made by players include saving positions after a client crash and moving voice over IP to a more accessible location. Overall, while there is excitement and curiosity surrounding the replication layer and its potential impact on stability, there is still skepticism about when these features will be fully implemented and how smooth the experience will be.