The Star Citizen Alpha 4.3.1 update is approaching its live release, featuring stability improvements, bug fixes, new content like the Vault LMG Frenel weapon, and potential inclusion of Fleet Week ships in in-game shops, while ongoing Pirate Week events continue to engage players. Despite some known issues in the release candidate, CIG aims to launch the patch by the end of the week and plans future enhancements such as full Vulkan API integration and Engineering Version 2 testing.
The upcoming Star Citizen Alpha 4.3.1 update is nearing its live release, with Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) having already put out the first release candidate (RC1) for public testing. The developers aim to push the patch live by the end of the week, possibly in time for the weekend, focusing primarily on stability improvements and bug fixes. Key areas under testing include the Onyx Facility Site B missions, med gel resource balancing for medical respawns, and Pyro system missions involving drop ships and watchtowers that influence local reinforcements. Additionally, new content like the Vault LMG Frenel weapon and updates to ship armor and ballistic damage are part of the patch, alongside work on the RSI Apollo triage and medivac ship.
There are several known issues still present in the RC1 build, such as incorrect maximum respawn distances for tier one medical beds, turrets at Pharaoh data centers not firing, and problems with med gel refills and respawning on ships. Other bugs include players being unable to mantle ladders downwards, ASOP terminals freezing after ship destruction, and mission completion glitches. Despite these issues, over 110 bug fixes have been implemented since the previous patch, with some already hotfixed to the current live build. CIG is also working on medical beacons and AI FPS turrets, though the latter might not make the live release this time.
A notable potential addition in the live patch could be the introduction of Fleet Week ships into in-game shops, including the Asgard, MTC, Guardian MX, and possibly the Idris P capital ship. CIG has committed to regularly making base versions of ships flyable and available in-game after a typical exclusivity period of about three months. The community is curious about whether the Idris P will be available for purchase in-game and at what price, given its size and significance. Players are advised to prepare for the update by stowing items and finishing refining jobs, as some progress and consumables may not carry over from 4.3 to 4.3.1.
The ongoing Pirate Week event continues to engage players with themed content, including a flag designing contest and treasure hunts that require solving clues across multiple in-game locations. The event runs until Monday, September 22nd, and offers various pirate skins and ships, some exclusive to the event. Additionally, the RSI Apollo ship is spotlighted in a dedicated video, highlighting its triage and medivac roles with configurable medical modules. The community is encouraged to participate in the treasure hunts and other event activities while awaiting the new patch.
Looking ahead, CIG plans to integrate the Vulkan graphics API fully by the end of the year and begin testing Engineering Version 2 on the tech preview build. The Alpha 4.3.1 update is expected to release soon, possibly Thursday or Friday, depending on stability and bug resolution. The video creator invites viewers to share their experiences with the RC1 build and thoughts on the upcoming patch, while also promoting a monthly ship giveaway of the RSI Apollo triage. Viewers are encouraged to support the channel through various means and stay engaged with ongoing Star Citizen content.