Star Citizen 4.3 introduces new PvE Onyx facilities with story-driven missions, a hybrid Vault laser sniper rifle, the agile Krueger L21 light fighter, dynamic snow effects, and improved ladder mechanics to enhance gameplay and immersion. The update also includes quality of life improvements, flight balance tweaks for light fighters, expanded rewards, new ships, and cosmetic options, setting the stage for deeper narrative content in future patches.
Star Citizen 4.3 is a relatively small update but brings several notable additions, including new PvE story-driven points of interest called the Onyx facilities. These facilities continue the ASD and regen crisis narrative introduced earlier this year and are spread across Stanton’s moons, with over 100 instances available. Players access them through missions given by a new NPC, Arkan Malor, and must enter via large hangers. The facilities feature two wings—engineering and research—with varied environments and challenges such as radiation hazards and puzzles. Although the missions are currently basic, they set the stage for a deeper narrative and more engaging content planned for future patches.
Inside the Onyx facilities, players can find the new Vault laser sniper Zenith rifle, a hybrid weapon combining charged sniper shots with rapid-fire capabilities. The rifle features heat management mechanics that require careful use to avoid overheating, which temporarily disables the weapon. While it offers high damage and a useful scope with heat and charge tracking, the weapon’s noise and lack of muzzle attachments make it less ideal for stealthy sniping. Additionally, the update introduces the Krueger L21 light fighter, a sleek, retro-inspired ship with high speed and agility but low durability. Equipped with two size four Gatling guns and eight missile slots, it excels in hit-and-run tactics but requires skillful piloting to avoid damage.
Alpha 4.3 also brings dynamic snow to specific locations like MicroTech and Bloom, enhancing environmental immersion with weather effects that respond to real-time conditions. This visual upgrade is part of a broader effort to create more reactive and living planetary environments, though gameplay implications remain limited for now. Ladder mechanics have been improved, allowing players to look around and rotate while climbing, jump off in chosen directions, and access ladders at multiple points. These changes aim to reduce frustration with environmental navigation, especially in more complex interiors, though some aspects of ladder interaction still feel clunky and may need further refinement.
Quality of life improvements include spawning directly into personal instanced hangers at home locations, reducing downtime previously spent traveling through habs. The update also features a flight characteristics pass on light fighters, tweaking speeds, acceleration, and health pools for better combat balance and distinct ship handling. Notable changes include the Aegis Gladius losing additional nose HP, increased survivability for the Anvil Hawk, and adjustments to stealth and maneuverability for ships like the Esperia Talon and Cartu Al. These refinements follow earlier tuning passes on medium and heavy fighters, focusing now on light fighter gameplay.
Other smaller additions include expanded Wiccolo rewards and requirements, new Wiccolo-style ships, increased cargo storage at landing zones, automatic pressing of charges, and a more readable altimeter display. New ships such as the Drake Kagglem and F7CS Hornet Ghost Mark II have been added to in-game shops, and three new hairstyles have been introduced to the character creator. Overall, while 4.3 may be modest in size, it offers a variety of new content and improvements catering to exploration, combat, and immersion, with promising narrative developments on the horizon.