The latest Star Citizen core gameplay update highlights several exciting developments revealed in the monthly reports, which remain the primary source of feature development news. Notably, the upcoming use of the EPU (Early Player Universe) for testing engineering and scanning systems suggests these features are nearing implementation. The update also covers significant milestones, such as progress on control surfaces for atmospheric flight and the return of hacking into the development pipeline, signaling a renewed focus on expanding gameplay depth.
FPS weapons are receiving ongoing improvements aimed at enhancing the shooter experience to match the quality expected from Squadron 42. This includes better UI and recoil mechanics, particularly in turret combat, to create a more immersive cockpit experience. Hacking gameplay is being refined with new abilities that activate contextually, along with color-coded terminal outputs to clarify available actions. The hacking system is envisioned as a way to manipulate ship systems and security devices, adding a strategic layer reminiscent of hacking mechanics in modern games like Cyberpunk 2077.
Vehicle and engineering updates focus on the Atlas mech suit, which will soon support any size zero weapons, allowing for diverse combat setups and potentially enriching enemy encounters. Engineering gameplay, a major feature in development, is being broken down into manageable tasks and will include power distribution, diagnostics, and component permissions. Although not yet in the EPU, engineering promises to enhance ship repair and longevity, while also introducing new challenges and strategic considerations for players managing ship systems.
Quantum travel improvements include the ability to quantum travel to your ship when unoccupied, improving gameplay convenience, and a rework of quantum interdiction to support server meshing. These changes aim to balance security and risk across lawful and unlawful systems. In flight mechanics, control surfaces have reached a first-pass implementation, improving atmospheric flight and hover mode behavior, though further refinement is expected to achieve more natural movement and thruster integration.
Additional quality-of-life updates include a rework of the loot and harvestable system for better performance and designer control, fixes for vehicle collision and ship bouncing issues, and the introduction of an in-game warning for distortion damage, which ties into emerging electronic warfare mechanics. The transit system is also being refactored to improve elevators and trains in line with server meshing. Lastly, a new global event is on the horizon, with changes to how player stats are tracked, signaling ongoing efforts to deepen and diversify the Star Citizen experience.
