Star Citizen just received its latest update, Alpha 3.23: Adventure Beckons, which adds the space simulator’s first native animals, new hoverbikes, FPS upgrades, and more.
Alongside the game’s first native wildlife, there are massive ground-based mission hubs, FPS and UI improvements from the single-player story spin-off Squadron 42, as well as quality-of-life improvements and new features such as what’s called the Star Map 1.0, which adds a full 3D view of the system and new cloud and water technologies. Elsewhere, there are new core modes for more intense space battles.
Developer Cloud Imperium Games said Alpha 3.23: Adventure Beckons (yes, Star Citizen is still in alpha) is Star Citizen’s biggest patch to date, adding the first native wildlife for the Stanton system. This includes the small bird-like maroc and the more dangerous hound-like Copian pest, which can be found on habitable planets and have their own unique behavior “as they have adapted to humanity entering their territory.”
New deployment centers throughout Stanton allow players to complete combat and non-combat missions, with an expansion to the Arena Commander mode adding new space, ground and experimental targets. CIG said it has redesigned all the ships currently in the game, improved ground-based FPS combat, and expanded support for the New Player Experience.
Alpha 3.23 launched two months after CIG started talking about it Star CitizenThe launch of 1.0 is just around the corner, some 12 years after the game launched its first crowdfunding.
Star Citizen is considered one of the most controversial projects in all of video games. In the 12 years since its crowdfunding campaign began, it has been called many things, including a scam by those who wonder if it will ever properly launch. His virtual spaceships, some of which cost hundreds of dollars, are often criticized. At the time of this article’s publication, Star Citizen had withdrawn an impressive $683,055,935 from players. CIG calls this money “raised funds.”
CIG boss Chris Roberts said that Star Citizen Alpha 4.0 will be released in 2024 and that the developer is working to deliver features developed for 42 Squadron, the standalone story-based game starring Mark Hamill and Gillian Anderson, to the permanent part of the game’s “fast-paced” universe. Alpha 3.23: Adventure Beckons is part of that desire.
All of this is building up to Star Citizen 1.0, which, Roberts said, “is what we consider the features and content set to be a ‘commercial’ release.” However, there’s still no release date or even a release window for Star Citizen 1.0 . CIG will share the roadmap later this year, he said.
Star Citizen – Alpha 3.23: Adventure Beckons Patch Notes:
● Get to know wildlife, Morocco and Copian: Life finds a way. Star Citizen’s first native animals have
have been added to the game, complete with specific behaviors corresponding to their evolutionary paths. Players
will begin to see the little morocco bird soaring in the sky using its proportionally huge
wingspan to cover vast distances with ease while following migrating fish. By adding people
to their habitat, they have been observed to feed on waste and scraps as well. While presenting
no threat to humans, the same cannot be said for the hound-like copian. This pest creature is more
than a nuisance, and the brave citizens will be charged with dealing with the wild packs of these hounds,
just be sure to take plenty of ammo.
● Mirai’s Pulse and Pulse LX Hoverbikes bring portable thrills: It’s about the journey, the thrill.
Mirai adds its signature blend of advanced technology and functional elegance with a pair
hoverbikes that offer an unparalleled connection between rider and machine. The Mirai pulse
pushes the boundaries of what a “universal” hoverbike can be, combining integrated light weapons
for defense with an ultra-light frame and extreme performance capable of surpassing almost
all that cannot be surpassed. Throwing out its guns to improve speed and handling, the Pulse LX is a
a visual spectacle that delivers racing power and refined style. Both hoverbikes are
extremely portable, fitting in almost any cargo bay of the ship for ground research almost anywhere.
● Master Modes makes its galactic debut: Flying in verse will never be the same again.
First tested in patch 3.20, the main modes are designed to add extra intensity and strategy
ship to ship battle and promote exciting dogfight scenarios. All ships are now functional in both
A navigation mode (NAV) supporting a populated quantum device for manual quantum travel and
fast travel to certain locations while disabling most offensive and defensive abilities, and
Standard Management Mode (SCM), with full access to weapons, shields and devices at the cost of
considerable speed. Switching between modes takes a flick of a switch and a few seconds to
turn-off and turn-on systems respectively. All ships have been reconfigured for this significant change
to space flight.
● Welcome to the Distribution Center: Adventure Beckons presents the first iteration of
distribution centers throughout the Stanton system. These massive structures can be accessed
from the planet’s surface, with underground levels to be opened in later updates and serve as mission hubs for law-abiding players. Personal ground transportation is recommended for traversing these massive establishments, especially when they expand with additional underground levels.
● Fly, shoot and solve problems in Arena Commander: New maps and play options
have arrived in the “game within the game” of Star Citizen. Miner’s Lament is close range combat
dream come true or worst nightmare as pilots battle their way through the asteroid-laden ring around Yella
where rocks are as deadly as other pilots. Going inside, temporary experimental engineering
The mode is available to citizens who want to try out the first iteration of the engineering gameplay shown
at CitizenCon 2953 and their feedback will help shape the ongoing development of the system.
● Plot a course with the star chart: Star Map has reached its 1.0 update, releasing full 3D
system overview for all pilots. Locations can now be searched by name, with the addn
functionality to automatically plot a course from the current location. The update notes
introducing a brand new boots-on-the-ground FPS map helping players navigate scattered
the landing zones or even the interior layout of their ship. With the star map, the citizen is never real
lost.
● FPS Combat Upgrades provide more immersion: Outside the safety of the cockpit the verse
can be a dangerous place and Adventure Beckons ensures that combat and survival are just as much
fascinating and pleasant walking as it is from ship to ship. FPS combat has never looked or felt better
authentic thanks to a number of visual improvements, including improved sprint animations and a
new dynamic crosshair option for a more realistic view of where the muzzle of the weapon is
aimed at. The feel of combat has been enhanced for added immersion, with the inclusion of
“backpack reload” for slower access to extra stored ammo and procedural recoil for all
weapons, ensuring that every engagement is a truly unique experience.
● New cloud technologies and visual options: The voluminous cloud technology in Star Citizen has been
updated to improve both performance and visual quality, adding ground fog and volume
shadows as visual options. Additional performance improvements come with image support
scaling solutions including DLSS, FSR and an in-house developed TSR solution. Following
adding over 20 new hairstyles in Alpha 3.22, the character customization system has been
updated with a new user interface and many new additional customization options.
● We welcome new players to all landing zones: The initial improved new player experience
released for Area18 in Alpha 3.19, has been extended and is now supported on all starters
locations. Although the same basic skills are taught at each location, new players can now choose
begin high in the cloud city of Orison, in the mining town of Lorville, owned and operated by Hurston
Dynamics, on New Babbage, which is both a bustling major shopping center and a high-end home
electronics companies or back to the city center of Area18 where the bright lights attract commerce
and entertainment.
Wesley is the UK news editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can contact Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or privately at wyp100@proton.me.
