Star Citizen recently conducted a significant tech test involving server meshing technology in the entire Stanton solar system, successfully handling up to 800 players in one instance. Despite some minor issues like dropped missions and quantum interruptions, the test showcased advancements towards achieving seamless interactions with thousands of players and highlighted the need for further refinement to ensure smoother transitions in the future.
Over the weekend, Star Citizen conducted a significant tech test involving massive scale server meshing, a technology showcased at Citizen Con last year. The test was conducted in the entire Star Citizen solar system and proved successful, despite some minor issues. The server meshing technology split the Stanton system into multiple servers to distribute the computational load, with seamless transitions between servers observed during gameplay.
The test patch released by Star Citizen allowed players to stream and record their experiences without NDA restrictions. The server meshing test involved transitioning between servers when moving across boundaries, with some known issues such as dropped missions and quantum interruptions. However, transferring players and their ships across server lines appeared to work well, with minor hiccups during transitions being the main noticeable issue.
The player population in the Stanton system was increased to 200, 400, and eventually 800 players in a single solar system. While the 800-player servers were deemed unplayable, the 400-player servers were manageable, and the 200-player servers felt similar to regular gameplay. The test marked a crucial step towards achieving the ambitious goal of having massive servers in Star Citizen where thousands of players can interact seamlessly.
Star Citizen’s server meshing test highlighted some rough edges in the technology, with issues such as disappearing ships when transitioning between servers with different physics settings. Despite these challenges, CIG is working on refining the technology to ensure smoother transitions in the future. The long-term goal is dynamic server meshing, where heavily populated areas will have their own servers, enhancing the overall player experience.
In addition to the server meshing test, Star Citizen teased an upcoming ship called the Raptor and introduced the Overdrive Initiative event for players to earn an upgrade token for the Hornet Mark I. However, the event received mixed reactions due to its focus on encouraging players to purchase expensive combat ships. Star Citizen also showcased upcoming features like persistent hangars and a powerful character customizer, building anticipation for patch 3.23. The overall progress and testing of server meshing technology give hope for a potential 4.0 patch release by the end of the year, marking a significant milestone for the game’s development.