The Star Citizen 4.3.1 patch introduces significant balance changes to ballistics, medical gameplay, and shields, alongside a new Vulkan API tech preview test available to all players and various gameplay improvements such as increased med gel capacities and adjusted weapon mechanics. Looking ahead, the community anticipates the Star Citizen Live event and Citizen Con, with ongoing development focused on persistence, communication features, and future integration of Squadron 42 content.
In this update on Star Citizen, Ryan (aka Mac) covers the latest developments including the release of the 4.3.1 patch now available to all backers, featuring significant balance changes to ballistics, medical gameplay, shields, and numerous bug fixes. Additionally, a new tech preview test for the Vulkan API and AI integrations has been opened beyond the initial EVATI group, allowing players to choose between the live 4.3.1 build or the tech preview. Ryan also mentions ongoing and upcoming sales, including the Toby sale ending soon and future discounts around Citizen Con.
Medical gameplay has received much-needed adjustments, particularly in the use and capacity of med gel canisters and medical beds. Med gel canisters now hold double the amount (200 units instead of 100), and medical beds of various tiers have increased capacities, allowing for multiple regenerations. The med gel cost per injury has been refined to scale with injury severity rather than a flat rate, making healing more realistic and financially balanced. Respawn distances for tier one medical beds have also been vastly increased, covering nearly entire star systems, improving convenience for players.
Armor and ballistic weapon balance have been adjusted to make ballistics more effective. Base armor ballistic damage reduction has been decreased from 50% to 40%, and shield ballistic absorption has been reduced from 30% to 20%, meaning ballistics now deal more damage overall. This change aims to enhance the role of ballistic weapons in combat, especially with future updates like the Maelstrom system expected to simulate physical damage and penetration more accurately. Ground vehicles have also had their ballistic damage modifiers fixed to align with these new standards.
Other gameplay improvements include performance tweaks to the Gladius ship, increased missile explosion radii across most missile sizes, and adjustments to the Vault Frenel LMG. A new FPS weapon shop has been added to Lorville’s security tower, which may alter the current restrictive weapon laws in that area. Additionally, aiming sway for medium rifles has been increased for a heavier feel, and parallax on NVTAC scopes has been reduced for steadier aiming. Ryan notes that the tech preview patch notes have been covered in a previous video for those interested.
Looking ahead, Ryan expresses excitement about the upcoming Star Citizen Live event featuring Benoir, which will discuss long-term persistence, VoIP, FOIP, and other backend improvements. With Citizen Con approaching and ongoing development, there is anticipation for further feature rollouts and the eventual integration of Squadron 42 content into the persistent universe. Ryan plans to focus on squad-based FPS tactics and medical roles in preparation for the 4.3.1 patch going live and invites viewers to join his Twitch streams for related gameplay content.