Star Citizen’s 4.3 update introduces transformative industrial gameplay enhancements, including the challenging Onyx facilities with hazardous environments and complex missions, revamped cargo hauling with dynamic mission distribution, and critical fixes improving mining and salvaging efficiency. Players are advised to prepare with appropriate gear, start cautiously with hauling, and be mindful of PvP risks around new locations to maximize their industrial ventures.
Star Citizen’s 4.3 update brings significant industrial gameplay changes that are set to revolutionize hauling, mining, and salvaging. One of the standout additions is the introduction of Onyx facilities—abandoned ASD complexes scattered across Stanton’s moons without map markers, requiring players to obtain missions to locate them. These facilities feature distinct medical, residential, and engineering wings, with hazardous conditions such as radiation zones and tricky atmosphere effects demanding proper preparation. Players must solve power puzzles to access locked areas and utilize multiple multi-tools, including mining, salvage, and tractor beam attachments, to navigate and extract valuable loot like the Zenith Vault sniper rifle and Gist armor sets.
Cargo hauling missions tied to these Onyx facilities have been revamped to increase complexity and risk. Instead of simple pick-up-and-deliver tasks, players must retrieve abandoned cargo within hazardous environments, with payouts scaling according to the danger and presence of hostile NPCs. A new mission distribution system dynamically balances contract locations by tracking player activity, reducing overcrowding at popular spots and preventing frustrating scenarios such as multiple players competing for the same freight elevator. This system effectively introduces a supply-and-demand mechanic that enhances the overall hauling experience.
Freight elevators have received critical fixes addressing previous issues like platforms not lowering, cargo not registering, and system freezes. Improvements include an autoreset mechanism and more precise vehicle detection to prevent elevator blockages. However, a rare bug remains where cargo can be deleted if the autoreset triggers while the cargo is on the lift, so players are advised to stay close until the elevator completes its movement. For miners, quality-of-life upgrades mean or pods now attach correctly to cargo grids, mining gadgets no longer disappear after fracturing rocks, and a frustrating laser charge stalling bug has been resolved, making high-risk mining more viable and cost-effective.
Salvaging gameplay also benefits from several fixes, such as reliable salvage beam material registration, proper stacking of salvage cargo boxes on all ships including the Vulture, and a potential fix for empty salvage canister reload issues. However, one exploit involving the Cambio SRT making ship holes invincible remains unpatched, affecting PvP combat balance. The Starfarer salvage contract bug has been resolved, preventing mission failures due to invalid hole scraping zones. These improvements significantly enhance the efficiency and profitability of salvaging, with the Vulture now performing closer to its intended potential.
For players looking to optimize their industrial gameplay in 4.3, recommendations include carrying a med gun in the pistol slot along with two multi-tools equipped for mining and salvage or tractor operations, plus a primary weapon for defense. Haulers are advised to start with smaller cargo runs to test elevator functionality before scaling up to multi-million AUEC routes. Miners should bring multiple gadgets and retrieve them after use, taking advantage of the fixed charge stall bug to tackle high instability rocks confidently. Salvage specialists can now maximize profits with the improved Vulture and faster material collection. However, players should be cautious of heavy PvP activity around Onyx facilities during the initial weeks post-release and consider exploring less crowded moons or servers for safer operations.