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4.0 Preview Build
➣ Alpha 4.0 will be released soon to the Live servers, as part of a "4.0 Preview" channel. Expected release is within 12 hours from this post.
➣ Missing mission types and other issues prevent 4.0 from being released to everyone at once.
➣ Two Live Releases will be maintained in parallel:
ㅤ✦__Alpha 3.24.3:__ All existing data, missions, events, and inventories maintained. No transfer to 4.0 or future versions.
ㅤ✦__4.0 Preview:__ Clean slate 4.0 Preview. Includes server meshing, Pyro, and many other 4.0 features.
➣ All progress in 4.0 Preview is intended to carry over to future releases.
➣ Save Stanton and related events will continue to be available on 3.24.3 over holiday break.
Alpha 4.0 Content
➣ Server Meshing:
ㅤ✦ Seamless navigation between Stanton and Pyro with invisible server boundaries.
ㅤ✦ Server crashes are now localized, improving performance and playability.
ㅤ✦ Server load is reduced by having each server simulate fewer entities.
➣ New Content in 4.0:
ㅤ✦ Pyro System: Adds two competing mission chains tied to the Headhunters or Citizens for Prosperity factions.
ㅤ✦ Contested Zones: Locations in Pyro controlled by gang factions (Fire Rats, Horizon, XenoThreat) offering high rewards but requiring player conflict or cooperation.
ㅤ✦ Reputation System: Expanded to allow players to align with factions, affecting friendly/hostile areas.
ㅤ✦ New Progression Methods: Introduction of reputation and physical rewards, setting the stage for more in future updates.
2025: A Focus on Playability
➣ 2025 Focus: The primary goal for 2025 is improving playability in Star Citizen, concentrating on Performance, Stability, and Content
➣ Quality of Life (QoL): Efforts will focus on smoother gameplay with fewer bugs and obstacles, addressing tech debt while balancing new features and tech introduction.
➣ Challenges in Feature and Content Testing: Previous testing of new features within content pipelines caused instability and delays. This approach will change to improve reliability.
➣ Decoupling Feature Development:
ㅤ✦ New features will be tested separately from content releases.
ㅤ✦ Complex features will go through an Experimental PTU (EPTU) for focused testing before integration into the main pipeline.
➣ Stability and Predictability: By isolating feature testing, development will improve stability, performance, and QoL without disrupting content delivery.
➣ Connected Content Drops: Future content releases will be more focused and narrative-driven, offering rewards (ships, armor, weapons) to enhance playability.
➣ More Frequent Content Updates: Aim to deliver more content, more often, avoiding delays caused by tech or feature development.
➣ Objective: Make Star Citizen more stable, performant, and fun in 2025.
➣ Development Philosophy:
ㅤ✦ Chris Roberts reflects on creating games based on personal passion and vision, unimpeded by publishers.
ㅤ✦ Crowdfunding allowed Star Citizen and Squadron 42 to pursue ambitious, niche projects.
➣ Community Impact:
ㅤ✦ Ongoing support from the community is vital for development.
ㅤ✦ In 2024, the community hosted 203 Bar Citizens, with large in-person events like BE@Con and CitizenCon, drawing thousands.
ㅤ✦ Over 1 million players contributed 32 million hours of gameplay, and the community grew by 500,000.
I've been playing the last few days. Stanton has been amazing with a 30FPS server tick rate in every server and performance has been better overall on my machine.
Pyro has been okay. Closer to a 15fps server tick rate at the stations/contested zones... It really depends on where you go, how many other players are there, and how much destruction has been left in their wake.
However, this has been my experience with almost daily wipes with the updates where all the clutter has been reset quickly. It will be interesting to see how 4.0 holds up once it has been up and running for a long time.