The November 14th, 2024 update for Star Citizen’s PTU 3.24.3 introduced significant gameplay enhancements, including audio adjustments, mission refinements, and optimizations for several ships, notably the Polaris and Star Lancer Max. Despite these improvements, persistent bugs remained, particularly with the Hercules landing gear and torpedo management, indicating ongoing challenges for the developers.
On November 14th, 2024, the Star Citizen community received two significant updates in the Public Test Universe (PTU): Alpha 3.24.3 and the much-anticipated 4.0 Pyro PTU. However, the Pyro update was not released to Wave 1 testers as expected, leading to speculation that it would be available on November 15th. This summary focuses on the 3.24.3 PTU updates, which included numerous bug fixes and gameplay enhancements that aim to improve the overall gaming experience.
Among the notable gameplay updates, the audio mix volume of planetary wind has been reduced, enhancing immersion. The mission mechanics for “Save St” have been refined, allowing players to complete the mission by eliminating the pilot of the Idis ship, which they can then commandeer for the remainder of the session. Additionally, the Polaris ship received a polish pass, with improvements made to collision detection and torpedo loading optimization, which were highlighted as significant features in this update.
The Star Lancer Max also received a series of enhancements, including a reworked pilot MFD (Multi-Function Display) and improved lighting and audio ambiance. Working mirrors were added to the ship’s bathrooms, showcasing new mirror technology. Other ships like the Polaris and Prospector saw further performance optimizations, and the overall polish of various audio and visual effects was noted, contributing to a more refined gameplay experience.
Despite these updates, several persistent bugs remained, particularly with the Hercules landing gear, which continued to clip through the floor despite being listed as fixed. Additionally, issues with the medical bed exit animation were addressed, improving player immersion. However, problems with the Retaliator’s and Eclipse’s torpedo management persisted, with players unable to tractor missiles effectively from the Retaliator while being able to do so with the Eclipse, indicating inconsistencies that still need resolution.
The video concluded with testing of new features, such as torpedo resupply gameplay, which allows players to manage torpedoes more effectively. However, glitches were observed during the testing phase, particularly with the animation for loading torpedoes and issues with the Star Lancer Max’s ability to accommodate storm tanks. Overall, while the update brought many improvements, it also highlighted ongoing challenges that the developers must address to enhance the gameplay experience in Star Citizen.