Star Citizen alpha 2.6 got another PTU update over the last few hours, as the game’s funding passes the $139 million milestone. However, while the 3.0 release hangs in the balance, we may have to wait for major features like Mega Map and scanning for supplies.
Here are the major fixes for the Star Citizen 2.6.0n PTU update listed below for eligible, invited players.
- Fixed some missing collision from the OP Station Demien landing pads.
- Fixed a number of issues with occasionally disappearing HUD and MFD elements in ships.
- Fixed a number of issues where players attempting to join an Arena Commander match would sometimes be routed to Battle Royale, Broken Moon regardless of selection.
- Fixed an issue where the gates in New Horizon Speedway would sometimes not appear.
- Fixed some issues that prevented servers with party members and contacts from appearing on the new frontend UI.
- Fixed an issue where death and respawn in Star Marine would cause lag spikes.
- The acceleration and thrust for the Mustang Gamma has been retuned.
- Fixed an issue where Million Mile High Club appeared as a blank entry on the Universe menu.
- Fixed a number of client and hub crashes.
Addressed in this list is a bug that would cause the game to crash when hitting the tab key in certain situations. Now, pressing the button does nothing at all. Most of these tweaks are fairly small, but they’re meant to tighten things up for the public 2.6 alpha release in the near future.
With that major patch on the way, however, there are two features on the minds of fans. Previous streams and previews showed off sweet scanning mechanics as well as a Mega Map feature. For those unaware of what Mega Map is, it’s essentially persistence for modes that require a lobby. In other words, one match will progress to the next when playing something like Star Marine or Arena Commander. In an official update, it was stated that “the Mega Map stretch goal is now being pushed out of 2.6 “ It will “instead aim for a patch in the new year.” This might denote 3.0 or something more incremental before then.
As for the scanners, those are going to be most useful when the 3.0 alpha launches next year. They’re an advanced way to get an in-depth look at whatever is going on in the environment. When scanning a ship, for example, it will be possible to get details like the identity of its passengers and what cargo it’s carrying. The 3.0 alpha is expected to lay down the groundwork for basic jobs like smuggling, trade and piracy. Scanners and radar are at the center of it all.
Star Citizen has raised nearly $140 million with no formal release date in sight. The 3.0 alpha is expected to begin in the first quarter of next year. Hopefully the single-player module, Squadron 42 , will debut around then as well.
What do you think of Star Citizen’s 2.6 alpha so far? Are you disappointed that the update lacks scanning and Mega Map? Tell us in the comments section!
