The latest major update for the long-in-development super-ambitious PC space sim Star Citizen has arrived. Alpha 3.6 is available now, and it is a massive update. Among other things, it adds a new law system, more space stations, additional missions, and a number of “quality-of-life” improvements. Additionally, all of the game’s flyable ships can now be purchased with in-game virtual currency.
All Star Citizen backers can pick up Alpha 3.6 right now.
With the new law system, offenders will find themselves attacked by NPCs who are on a mission to bring them to justice. Additionally, the Alpha 3.6 update introduces a series of new missions that actively motivate players to break the law; that should make for an interesting dynamic. The law system penalizes players for all manner of bad behavior, running from minor fines to serious offenses where NPCs will go after you with “kill on sight” orders.
“Star Citizen has always been about player choice and playing the way you want to play, but that doesn’t mean it’s a lawless universe,” game director Chris Roberts said in a statement. “The new law system brings a much more systemic approach to law and order throughout the Star Citizen universe; different locations and factions can have different rules which will be enforced by AI or even other players as the crime becomes more serious. It’s yet another step on the road to a fully breathing dynamic universe that reacts to and is shaped by the players actions.”
Here are more particulars about the new law system in Star Citizen:
“Players with an active crime stat can run, leave the jurisdiction, pay off the authorities, or head to one of several new crime stat hacking locations,” reads a line from the official description. “There, they can use a hacking tool to remove their crime stat and return to civilized society unharmed. However, time is a factor, as players with active crime stats become the target of counter-missions that task other players with stopping them at any cost. Additionally, the new black market economy provides a ‘safer’ path for players to dispose of illegally-acquired goods through some of the less-than-reputable vendors in the universe.”
In terms of the other new updates and changes for Star Citizen Alpha 3.6, you can see a rundown of what’s new below, as written by the developer. You can also read this extremely in-depth post on the Star Citizen website to learn more.
Star Citizen Alpha 3.6 Update Notes:
Systemic Improvements
- Ship Purchasing Kiosks: Nearly all of Star Citizen’s 90+ flyable ships and drivable vehicles are now purchasable in-game, with in-game currency.
- FoIP + VoIP Improvements: You can now use Face over IP or simple VoIP calls to “hail” other ships, giving players another way to connect with each other, team up, and communicate across the massive Star Citizen universe. Additionally, FoIP and TrackIR now power “free look” via headtracking technology, allowing players to control their in-game FPS controls by moving in real life.
- New Space Stations: To cope with the constantly expanding playable space, new space stations are now sprinkled throughout the Stanton system. These massive space stations feature docking pads, shops, and other points of interest to explore.
Ships & flight improvements
- Hover Mode: Hover mode automatically activates near planetary surfaces at low speed. When engaged, ships swap to VTOL thruster mode to level them out and ensure a safe landing.
- Vehicle Item Degradation & Misfires: Items such as powerplant’s and thruster’s performance now degrade through heavy use, overheating and damage accumulation, leading to misfires. In addition, all vehicle weapons now support visual degradation.
- Ship Shield System: Shields have been reworked to add major differences between manufacturers and classifications to provide a difference in feel and value between equipment.
Updated Ships and New Weapons
- Anvil Ballista: this surface-to-air missile equipped ground vehicle features long range scanning and radar, plus the firepower to control the skies from the ground.
- Aegis Vanguard Warden: a hard-charging bulldog of a fighter craft that features extensive forward-mounted weaponry designed to tear through enemy shields and armor.
- Kruger Intergalactic P52 Merlin: ideal for racing, local recon, and fast combat, this snub fighter ship is designed to be transported aboard a larger ship. With a centerline-mounted Gatling cannon and Lightning Power engine, it’s fast, maneuverable, and packs a punch.
- Kruger Intergalactic P72 Archimedes: This sister craft to the Merlin is a snub fighter featuring an extra intake and lighter hull to deliver exceptional handling and boost capabilities in a sleek package.
- Behring s38 pistol: this standard sidearm is in widespread use across the Empire for both citizens and law enforcement officers, with functionality that minimizes recoil while enabling quick semi-automatic fire.
- MaxOx Neutron Repeaters ship weapon: this weapon is designed for devastating close-range ship combat, featuring a twin barrel system firing neutron projectiles at a rapid rate.
- Klaus & Werner Lumin V submachine gun: even when constantly on the attack, the gun’s excellent design provides low recoil and a tight spread, while firing single energy bolts or bursts of five shots at a time.
Star Citizen is the most successful crowdfunded game in history. The game has raised more than $229 million thus far. In addition to the main game, Star Citizen’s single-player Squadron 42 mode features a range of AAA actors, including Gillian Anderson, Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, Mark Strong, Henry Cavill, John Rhys Davies, Liam Cunningham, and Ben Mendelsohn.
