Cloud Imperium Games has released a new update for the popular MMO Star Citizen to make its world more persistent.
Alpha 3.18: Lasting Legacies added Persistent Entity Streaming technology that allows dynamic tracking of objects moved by players on specific servers, so players can now make their mark on the world.
The developer claims this makes the game “one of the most immersive and ‘lived’ experiences ever seen in gaming”. Furthermore, this technical update is a critical addition to lay the groundwork for full persistence in the game.
Another major addition is the Salvage profession, which offers a new, inexpensive, non-combat career.
This will allow players to retrieve materials from target ships and sell them for profit. New tech and tools have been added, including a full loadout refactor, plus the Drake Vulture vehicle for the salvage profession and a “soft death” feature.
For full patch notes, visit the Star Citizen website.
“Every Star Citizen update brings important new content and technology, but Lasting Legacies is our biggest milestone for the game and for all of us at CIG. Persistent Entity Streaming is the first public and impactful step towards a truly persistent universe where players can make their mark and is a building block that opens up countless new gameplay opportunities,” said Star Citizen Creative Director Chris Roberts.
“One of those big opportunities that persistence enables is the first iteration of the rescue game, which we’re excited to finally bring to players, along with the new physicalized loadout refactor. Our players have been patiently waiting for Alpha 3.18: Lasting Legacies, and I’m incredibly proud to have been able to bring them our biggest patch update in years, one that will make the galaxy even more alive and real than ever before.
However, this update has not come without problems. Some players have reported having trouble logging into the game, according to the Star Citizen subreddit.
Also, the developer may be implementing a partial data wipe with their next update, 3.18.1.
A response from the developer said that a partial cleanup was possible, but “not guaranteed to happen.” If it occurs, the UEC and reputation would remain intact. “The only items that would be affected are those obtained through in-game purchases or looting,” he said, though his system will retain purchase information so they can be restored in a future update.
Early last year, developer Cloud Imperium Games unveiled an ambitious five-year plan for the game, though it later limited its roadmap so as not to upset players with delays.
The game has now raised over half a million dollars in crowdfunding.