The latest Star Citizen update discusses the upcoming Alpha 3.24.2 build, which introduces new features and ongoing server meshing tests, while addressing technical issues players have encountered during events like Pirate Week. CIG’s Chief Technology Officer, Beno Besea, shares insights on recent server meshing play tests, highlighting progress made and challenges faced, as the team continues to refine technology and enhance the gaming experience.
In this week’s update for Star Citizen, significant developments are highlighted, particularly regarding the upcoming Alpha 3.24.2 build and ongoing server meshing tests. CIG aims to release this build to the Evocati testing group soon, which will introduce new cave biomes, MFDs (Multi-Function Displays) like the Zeus Mark 2, and various fixes. Additionally, there are expectations around content related to the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo and CitizenCon. The community is currently engaged in Pirate Week, featuring events like deciphering treasure maps and the Blockade Runner global event that encourages players to engage in both lawful and unlawful activities.
The video also addresses some technical issues players have been experiencing with the Blockade Runner event, particularly with cargo spawning. CIG acknowledges these problems and is actively working on fixes, with some hotfixes already implemented. Community feedback is appreciated, and the team is committed to improving the overall experience. The latest episode of Inside Star Citizen showcases engineering gameplay advancements for the future 4.0 patch, highlighting a significant evolution in multi-crew gameplay and damage control mechanics.
CIG’s Chief Technology Officer, Beno Besea, shared insights into the recent server meshing play tests, detailing the progress and challenges encountered. The initial tests identified a critical design flaw in the network message queue (NMQ), which led to performance bottlenecks. In response, a new replication message queue (RMQ) was developed to enhance bandwidth efficiency and reduce interaction delays among players. While the implementation of RMQ has shown promising improvements, further testing is necessary to optimize performance as player counts increase.
The play tests have revealed additional challenges, such as zoning issues and high latency during peak player activity. Despite these hurdles, the team remains optimistic, having confirmed that the original bottleneck from NMQ has been resolved. The tests have been structured to gradually increase player counts and server configurations, allowing for the identification of new issues and the fine-tuning of server performance. The goal is to conduct weekly tests to validate improvements and prepare for the eventual transition to the 4.0 PTU waves.
Looking ahead, CIG is focused on refining server meshing technology, with plans for future tests to connect Stanton and Pyro systems. The community is encouraged to participate in these play tests and share their experiences. As the development team continues to address outstanding issues, they aim to enhance the gaming experience and work towards the ambitious goals set for Star Citizen. The video concludes with a reminder about a ship giveaway and expresses gratitude to supporters, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in the game’s development journey.