Happy Wednesday, everyone!
Every two weeks, we accompany the Roadmap update with a brief explanatory note to give you insight into the decision-making that led to any changes. This is part of an effort to make our communications more transparent, more specific, and more insightful for all of you who help to make Star Citizen and Squadron 42 possible.
With that said, let’s go ahead and dive into this week’s Roadmap Roundup!
-CIG Community Team
Notable Changes for May 15, 2024
Release View
In this week’s Roadmap update, we’re excited to announce the addition of Alpha 4.0 to Release View, targeting Q3 of this year. Below, you’ll find the initial set of features and content planned for this release, with more to come in the leadup to launch.
The following feature cards have been added to Release View, targeting a release with Alpha 4.0.
Server Meshing V1
The initial implementation of Server Meshing enables multiple servers per shard to improve load distribution and facilitates navigation between two solar systems.
Mission System Refactor
Reworking the underlying Mission System to become compatible with Server Meshing, allowing for easier creation and maintenance of mission content.
Transit System Refactor
Reworking the Transit System used for trams and elevators to be compatible with Server Meshing as well as generally more robust.
Pyro I
Pyro I is the first planet from the sun of the Pyro system. Its thick, high-pressure atmosphere hides a strange landscape beset by powerful winds and lightning strikes. Under the clouds, there is an ecosystem of plants and animals that endure its extremely high temperatures, even during powerful stellar flares.
Pyro II – Monox
Monox (Pyro II) is the second planet from the sun of the Pyro system. Nicknamed “Monox” for the deadly carbon monoxide in its atmosphere, it has a temperate climate, and was seen as a viable candidate for terraforming shortly after its discovery. However, its proximity to the system’s volatile sun made it dangerous for Human habitation, and the United Nations of Earth (UNE) refused to clear it for terraformation, instead allowing corporations to harvest its natural resources. Undeterred by the potential risk, outlaws eventually took up residence on the planet when the last corporations pulled out of Pyro in the 26th century.
Pyro III – Bloom
Bloom (Pyro III) is the third planet from the sun of the Pyro system. Cold but naturally habitable, it became the epicenter of mining endeavors in Pyro. Pyrotechnic Amalgamated and other corporations constructed multiple staging sites, employees barracks, and processing centers that were in use until the cost of their maintenance could no longer be offset by mining profits. Abandoned when the last active corporations in Pyro ceased operations there in the late 26th century, they were claimed by squatters, outlaws, and former miners who lacked the means to return to the United Empire of Earth.
Pyro IV
Pyro IV is the outermost moon of Pyro V, and astronomers theorize that it was once the fourth planet from the sun of the Pyro system. At some point before Humans discovered Pyro, a massive celestial body collided with Pyro IV, catastrophically warping its landscape, destroying its atmosphere, and knocking it into the orbit of nearby gas giant Pyro V. Although the tectonic activity that resulted from this impact has quieted and a new atmosphere has formed, Pyro IV is far from stable. It is on a long, slow collision course with Pyro V, and will one day either crash into it or break up into a ring.
Pyro V
Pyro V is the fourth planet from the sun of the Pyro system. It was given the classification of “Pyro V” when researchers came across strong evidence that its outermost moon once maintained a stable orbit around the system’s star between Pyro III and Pyro V. When it was struck by an unknown celestial body, it was knocked into Pyro V’s gravitational sphere of influence. Residents of and travelers through the Pyro system are known to harvest hydrogen from Pyro V’s green and yellow atmosphere.
Pyro VI – Terminus
Terminus (Pyro VI) is the outermost world of the Pyro system. Its nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere is technically breathable, but contains high enough amounts of methane and carbon dioxide that it has a negative effect on one’s health after extended exposure. Pyrotechnic Amalgamated placed their main hub of operations in orbit around Terminus, later abandoning the station when they left the system.
Ignis
Ignis is the innermost moon of the gas giant Pyro V, Pyro system. The multiple canyons and dry riverbeds on its surface suggest that liquid water once flowed there in the distant past. Its frigid average temperature and deadly atmosphere of sulfur dioxide creates an unfriendly environment for those who lack proper protective equipment. Nonetheless, the moon sometimes sees visitors seeking to resupply their air reserves thanks to the small amount of oxygen in the atmosphere.
Vatra
Vatra is the second moon from the gas giant Pyro V, Pyro system. Its thick, high-pressure atmosphere of nitrogen and methane supports an ecosystem of plants that subsist on hydrocarbons instead of carbon dioxide. Some water is present on Vatra in the form of ice, but it is too cold on the surface for it to exist in a liquid state.
Adir
Adir is the third moon from the gas giant Pyro V, Pyro system. Jagged mountains and rocky hills dominate its crater-ridden landscape. Because it lacks a protective atmosphere that would otherwise break apart most approaching celestial objects, its surface sees frequent impacts. The air is permeated with fine particles of dust that are generated during these events.
Fairo
Fairo is the fourth moon from the gas giant Pyro V, Pyro system. A hotbed of seismic activity, Fairo experiences frequent earthquakes that disturb its deep oceans of brackish water. The moon has an unusual ecosystem that thrives both on the surface and under the sea, supported by the carbon dioxide and nitrogen in Fairo’s dense atmosphere.
Fuego
Fuego is the fifth moon from the gas giant Pyro V, Pyro system. Relatively temperate but still cold, it has a mostly carbon dioxide atmosphere with small percentages of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, and oxygen. High amounts of iron-sulfide in its soil gives its surface a yellow and black appearance. Infamous smuggler group Headhunters often utilized Fuego as a stash point for goods during their nascent years in the early 2600s.
Vuur
Vuur is the sixth moon from the gas giant Pyro V, Pyro system. Thanks to an increased greenhouse effect in its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere, it is unusually warm for a moon so distant from its sun. Its carbon-rich soil supports forms of vegetation that utilize crystalline carbon in their base structures. Before the system was overtaken by outlaws in the early 27th century, these plants were a popular subject of research among botanists.
Pyro Space Stations
Adding rundown rest stop stations to the Pyro system, which provide basic services such as repair, sustenance, and commerce.
Outposts – Colonialism
A small home for AI to live and shelter. They consist of a central hub and a few optional internal and external modules. They provide the basic necessities to support a small group of people for an indefinite amount of time.
Jump Points
Implementing the first jump point into the persistent universe, connecting the Stanton and Pyro systems together. Includes necessary vehicle items and functionality, the jump points themselves, and their inner tunnels.
Solar Burst
Solar Bursts are dangerous natural disasters that happen regularly around older stars like Pyro. In these instances, the sun erupts with an high energy particle wave, generated from its surface, traveling at 15% the speed of light through the entire star-system. This dangerous high energy particle wave can be avoided by hiding behind other objects that are big enough.
Life Support
Implementing the first iteration of onboard life support systems in ships, which entails a ship component that generates breathable gas when turned on, and management of said life support component within the vehicle loadout manager.
Engineering
Allows players to manage, maintain and repair various ship systems. Players can assume different roles that each provide a unique gameplay loop. With Engineering Gameplay, players have to contend with item degradation, malfunctions, and power management.
Charge/Drain
Adding the ability for players to drain, store, and charge objects with power using the multi-tool. Includes the ability to overcharge objects and also remove distortion damage.
Multi-Tool Updates
Raising the multi-tool up to the standard from Squadron 42, with additional functionality like cutting (for specific scenarios), repair, and updates like improved handling, integrated UI, and the use of batteries to operate it.
Fire Hazard
Implementing the Fire Hazard system, which tracks fire & temperature on static and dynamic objects. For the initial release, fire will be set up on a select few vehicles.
Fire Extinguisher
All tasks required to implement functioning fire extinguishers in-game. This feature will work alongside the fire hazard system.
MFD Rework and New Displays
Rebuilding ship multi-function displays in Building Blocks, including new design, functionality, and customization options. This update also includes a select number of updated ship HUDs, giving greater visibility as well as a manufacturer-based visual overhaul.
Quasi Grazer
These large, warm-blooded herd animals were originally discovered on the vast plains of Quasi on Terra. Most notable for their unusual method of carrying their eggs on their underside, the Quasi grazer has become one of the standard seed animals and there can be commonly found on most terraformed planets in the UEE.
Additional Player Customization
Following the release of the new character customizer in Alpha 3.23, this update adds additional hair and facial hair options, as well as face piercings.
RSI Zeus MkII ES
Building, balancing, and implementing RSI’s small multi-crew ship, the Zeus MkII ES, into the game.
The following cards have been added to Release View, released in Alpha 3.23.0:
Mirai Pulse
Building, balancing, and implementing Mirai’s hover bike, the Pulse, into the game.
Mirai Pulse LX
Building, balancing, and implementing Mirai’s racing bike, the Pulse LX, into the game.
The following cards have passed their final review for Alpha 3.23.1, therefore we are toggling their status to Committed:
Aegis Retaliator – Gold Standard
Updating the Aegis Retaliator to gold standard, including the introduction of modular rooms. The torpedo and cargo rooms will be available in this initial release, with more to come in the future.
Vehicle Modularity
Implementing the ability to swap modular sections of certain vehicles to change their function. This initial release contains the torpedo and cargo room modules for the Aegis Retaliator, with additional modules and vehicles to be added in the future.
That’s all for this week!
