In the latest “Star Citizen Week in Review,” host Salty Mike discusses the ongoing developments of the 4.0 update, including the introduction of the Mari Guardian ship and the Luminalia holiday event, while highlighting both the improvements and persistent issues within the Public Test Universe. Despite encountering bugs and server performance challenges, there is cautious optimism for a successful live launch as the community remains engaged and provides valuable feedback.
In the latest “Star Citizen Week in Review” for December 16, 2024, host Salty Mike discusses the ongoing developments surrounding the game’s 4.0 update, which is now open to all backers. This week saw a deeper look at the new Mari Guardian ship and the introduction of Luminalia, the holiday event in the Star Citizen universe. Salty Mike emphasizes the vibrant community interactions he has experienced through his Twitch livestreams and highlights the importance of sponsor engagement, particularly with Mantis Sleep, which offers sleep accessories that he personally finds beneficial.
The review dives into the patch notes from the week, detailing the changes made during various waves of the 4.0 Public Test Universe (PTU). Notable updates include the backtracking on missile claims, allowing players to retain missiles after claiming, and enhancements to player backpacks, enabling players to carry armor and smaller weapons. However, the patch was not without its issues, such as problematic hanger spawning and server performance concerns. Salty Mike shares his experiences with interaction delays and other bugs that hindered gameplay, raising questions about the readiness of the patch for a live release.
As the week progressed, further changes were made to the 4.0 PTU, including the removal of the ability to nest backpacks and the introduction of new HUD features. Salty Mike notes the challenges faced during gameplay, including server crashes and interaction delays, which made it difficult to enjoy the new features. Despite these setbacks, a significant highlight was the ability to claim contested zone rewards, which included unique ships and components not available elsewhere in the game, adding an exciting loot element to the gameplay.
On Thursday, the open PTU for 4.0 brought more visual optimizations and gameplay tweaks, including updates to turret mechanics and the handheld tractor beam. Salty Mike also experienced some success with mission completions, although the overall mission system still showed signs of instability. The review indicates that while some aspects of the game are improving, significant issues remain, leading to a cautious optimism about the potential for a successful live launch.
Finally, Salty Mike discusses the Luminalia holiday event, which includes a ship sale and new missions where players can play as Santa. He reflects on the mixed success of the event’s missions and the ongoing updates to the game’s roadmap, highlighting the introduction of contested zones and asteroid bases. The review concludes with a note about the upcoming changes and challenges in the game, emphasizing the importance of player feedback and the community’s engagement as Star Citizen continues to evolve.