After a hefty preview at Citizencon and, sadly, a lot of feature delays since then, Star Citizen launched its Alpha 4.0 build with some of its core components—but with a twist. Instead of fully replacing the current live build, they’re running 4.0 on a parallel “Preview” build to bring the Pyro solar system and, more famously, the new server meshing tech to players.
Progress from Star Citizen’s current Alpha 3.24.3 build won’t carry over into Alpha 4.0, meaning technically, there’ll be a wipe whenever Alpha 3.24.3 is deactivated. As it’s described, the point of the 4.0 is that players can continue their Alpha 3.24.3 builds so that the 4.0 build can be iterated upon with minimal issues.
“This allows us to maintain a clean slate for the new systems coming online in the 4.0 Preview, ensuring a consistent and stable environment as we look to deprecate 3.24.3 in the new year,” the forum post about the builds reads.
Basically, it seems that the Star Citizen team doesn’t want to launch 4.0, have things go haywire, and then ruin everyone’s progress rolling things back (and out again). It sounds like a fair explanation, given the size of server meshing plus other promised features, like even more modularity in ship through Engineering and fire physics.
Players can select the new Alpha 4.0 Preview Build from the launcher screen after downloading it.
While, again, a lot’s been taken from the initial 4.0 (or perhaps rather 4.0.0) build, there’s a lot to keep an eye on, for those who’re interested in whatever progress Star Citizen actually does take.
A lot of MMORPG readers have had their eye on server meshing, which has, indeed, rolled out with this 4.0 build, enabling the massive solar system travel implemented. The patch notes explain the particulars; for instance, these “shards” are limited to 500 people for now, and there’s a new queueing logic implemented so that everyone doesn’t just spawn at once and break the servers.
The five-planet Pyro solar system was also introduced in this patch, giving a range of opportunities to many types of players. those interested in mining can dig into the tin, silicon, and ice materials, plus the rare stileron and rarer yet riccite ones. Those looking for more action can jump into the FPS-style Contested Zones, a new location feature on certain space stations.
Star Citizen players have also been eager to get their hands on jump points, a series of fast travel mechanics starting with a connection between Stanton and Pyro where players must navigate their way through a jump tunnel without hitting the end. Failing these mechanics will dump the ship out into open space—and far away from the intended destination. There’s plenty more in the patch notes themselves, including a bit about economy revamping.
Of course, all of this can be accessible assuming the 4.0 Preview servers stay live and stable. With it being Star Citizen (and really, anything still marked “Alpha,” but it’s Star Citizen, so, y’know), chances are that it may be unstable for a while, so wander in at your own risk.
That said, the Chairman’s Letter accompanying this build also says 2025 will see a refocus onto “playability” in 2025, meaning they hope to make Star Citizen more stable and catch up on some tech debt. Hopefully this means less disappointment in the coming year for events like the IAE, which was bugged this year.
