Star Citizen’s New Alpha Patch Brings 385 Missions, But Hangar Bugs Persist

Star Citizen continues to keep everyone guessing about its official launch, but the buzz around the game often overshadows what players can actually dive into right now. While the game is still in alpha, Cloud Imperium Games has been rolling out updates regularly, keeping the space adventure fresh. Just last month, patch 4.8 introduced an exciting new mission type that had players engaged in both space and ground assaults against well-fortified asteroids.

Now, with the arrival of alpha patch 4.8.1, the asteroid theme persists. This time around, a fleet of mysterious raiders is attacking various mining stations across the Stanton and Pyro systems. To counter these threats, both the law-abiding Foxwell Enforcement and the notorious Headhunters are calling on pilots to assist in defending these crucial mining operations.

According to the latest patch notes, there are a whopping 385 missions available for players. These missions require pilots to “defend asteroid bases, stop attackers from destroying vital resources, and help escort workers to safety when necessary.” Completing these objectives rewards players with credits, boosts to their reputation, and access to unique blueprints that are making their debut, although the specifics of these blueprints remain under wraps.

While the new missions sound thrilling, players have been hitting a few snags, particularly on the Star Citizen subreddit. Some users, like Zealousideal-Ad2695, reported failing missions due to an issue where the pilot they are meant to escort gets stuck in the hangar—leading to disastrous results. “The hangar doors never open, and he just explodes,” they lament. Another player, Poordutchguy, echoed this frustration, recalling similar problems from previous iterations of these missions. “I completed 13 missions and only succeeded in one,” they shared.

It’s clear that Star Citizen is still very much in its alpha phase. After 14 long years and over $1 (approx. Rs 280) billion in funding, many players expect a smoother experience, especially for missions that have seen previous playtesting. On a related note, it appears that much of CIG’s focus may currently be on the single-player campaign, Squadron 42. Chris Roberts recently mentioned that the development of this standalone adventure is nearing its final stages, and there are whispers that it could make an appearance at the upcoming Summer Games Fest—though, as always, there’s the potential for yet another delay announcement.

As the excitement builds around Star Citizen, it remains to be seen how CIG will address these glitches and continue to enhance the gaming experience. For now, pilots will just have to navigate the cosmos with a little extra caution.

Note: PKR figures are approximate, based on a rate of Rs 280.00 per USD. Exchange rates fluctuate — please check the latest dollar rate for exact pricing.