In the Star Citizen Alpha 3.8 AMA, the host discussed the likely release date of this version, along with the Argo Mole and Prowler coinciding with this release. Major topics included the ‘physicalized components’ feature, iterative updates, a more stable release than previous ones, and potential future ship and weapon customization for players.
In the streaming session, the host discussed various topics related to the anticipated Star Citizen Alpha 3.8. Most significantly, he highlighted his expectation for the release date for the live release, predicting that it would be between the 13th and 21st of December 2019. The host also touched on the Argo Mole and the Prowler, stating that their release will coincide with the release of Alpha 3.8, but was unsure about the prospective Crusader Ares starfighter.
As the stream progressed, the topic of version 3.8 became frequent. The host reasoned that the new tech in the update, such as the ‘building block’ UI system, the ‘planetary tech v4’, and the first iteration of ‘server-side object container streaming (SOCS)’, might either be very broken or might have worked out most of its bugs when it’s initially released for Evocati and PTU testers.
The discussion then led to some talk about the multi-crew gameplay for the game, including the wish for more developed co-op features. The host mentioned that CiG was working on improving multi-crew gameplay mechanics with changes such as staggered development. Due to these changes, the host expects Star Citizen to become a more playable game, and advised viewers to keep CiG accountable for its promised improvements to gameplay features and stability.
The host further discussed other anticipated features such as ‘physicalized components’, which are expected to allow for specific damage to ship systems, and the interaction between players and NPC crew mates throughout 2020. Although he lacked any specific information about the CiG’s timeline for these features, he stated that he is confident that they will continue to have iterative updates.
Towards the end of the stream, the host clarified viewer concerns regarding Alpha 3.8 and reiterated that it should be more stable than previous releases. He also shed some light on the possibility of customization for ships in the future, with the potential for players to manage individual ship systems and components. Additionally, fans asked about the various weaponry available in Alpha 3.8, and the option of being able to improve or customize their weapon load-outs.