The newest update to Star Citizen, the 3.1 Alpha update, is now live for backers. And there are a lot of new features to talk about with this one.
We wrote previously about work CIG is doing on the AI for Squadron 42, and new ships being added in this version, but there’s a lot more than that.
The new ships now live with this update include the Tumbril Cyclone, Aegis Reclaimer, Anvil Terrapin, MISC Razor, and Nox Kue, by the way.
One of the bigger additions is the new hiring system of Service Beacons built into the contract management interface for Star Citizen. Players can now hire each other for combat or rescue assistance with this change. There’s also been some major work done to facial modeling for the PU, as a new character customization engine is live with the 3.1 update.
The main features in these latest Star Citizen patch notes can be seen below and full patch notes are available here which includes the latest fixes and changes.
Star Citizen 3.1.0 alpha New Features
Character Customizer
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- With this feature, players can adjust aspects of their character’s physical appearance, such as face shape, eye color, hair style, and skin tone.
Logout Improvements
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- Players can now safely logout from major stations like Levski, Grim HEX, and Port Olisar. This will persist between sessions for when players log back into the game.
Pirate Hunter
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- Player will now earn virtue reputation for killing NPC pirates.
Interdiction and Quantum Jamming
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- AI pilots can now carry Quantum Jammers aboard their ships. These devices produce a field which stop Quantum Drives from being able to function. Players who are interdicted will now first have to destroy ships carrying Jammers before they can Quantum Travel away to safety.
Service Beacons
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- Service Beacons have been introduced to the PU economy. Using the mobiGlas, players can create and customize “Personal Transport” or “Combat Assistance” contracts that will be made available to other players to complete for the agreed upon payment. After the contract ends, players will be able to review each others performance with a positive or negative rating.
Combat Markers
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- The old Combat Markers were replaced with new 3D versions that include target brackets, hit indication, and missile locks.
Visor Screen
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- The visor screen has had additional hit effects for shields and hull areas added to the displays for your ship and targeted ships.
- A new MFD screen has been added allowing players to customize the view angles of the target/self visor screens.
New Ships and Vehicles
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- Tumbril Cyclone
- Aegis Reclaimer
- Anvil Terrapin
- MISC Razor
- Nox Kue
New Ship Weapons
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- PRAR Distortion Scatterguns
- Salvation (size 4)
- Absolution (size 5)
- Condemnation (size 6)
- APAR Ballistic Scattergun
- Havoc (size 1)
- Hellion (size 2)
- Predator (size 3)
- KBAR 10-Series Greatsword Ballistic Cannon (size 2)
- AMRS Omnisky IX Laser Cannon
- GATS Yellowjacket Ballistic Gatling (size 1)
- CF-557 Galdereen Repeater (size 5)
- PRAR Distortion Scatterguns
Star Marine
- KSAR Custodian Energy SMG
- GMNI R97 Ballistic Shotgun
