Alpha 4.3 Adds 100 Mysterious Sites — And a Potential Endgame Secret
Cloud Imperium Games has launched Alpha 4.3: Dark Territory, the latest major update to Star Citizen, just months after the release of Alpha 4.2 and its radiation-based survival mechanics. This new chapter dives deeper into the game’s evolving narrative — the Regen Crisis — with a sprawling network of secret research sites, player-driven investigation, and a fresh layer of moral ambiguity.
The centerpiece of the update? 100 Onyx Facilities — abandoned, high-security installations scattered across the Stanton star system. Operated by the controversial Associated Sciences and Development (ASD), these facilities are now open for exploration, each hiding fragments of a disturbing truth behind the Regen Crisis.
“It’s the same old story: scientists running amok, thinking the rules don’t apply to them,” CIG writes in the patch notes. “Since turning its ‘expertise’ to the regen crisis, ASD has been accused of horrors beyond imagining. Illegal experiments, animal torture, you name it. But pointing fingers isn’t enough — get down there and find some proof.”
A Mission Built on Discovery — Not Directives
Unlike traditional fetch quests, this new storyline begins with a simple lead: Arken Mallor of the Hockrow Agency. He’ll task you with retrieving classified research data — but from there, the path unfolds organically.
Players who investigate the Onyx Facilities will uncover audio logs, encrypted terminals, environmental puzzles, and hidden evidence that piece together ASD’s unethical experiments. The update currently opens access to two wings of the facility network, with the third wing slated to arrive in Alpha 4.3.1, encouraging players to return as more of the story emerges.
There are no flashy rewards or instant reputation boosts — just clues, data drives, and a growing sense of unease. This is environmental storytelling at its most immersive, rewarding curiosity, persistence, and teamwork.
Ship Balancing Overhaul: Light Fighters Get a Tune-Up
Alongside the narrative expansion, Alpha 4.3 brings significant flight model adjustments for the game’s Light Fighter class. Ships like the:
- Aegis Gladius
- Anvil Arrow and Hawk
- Banu Defender
- Esperia Talon
- Vanduul Blade
- Aopoa Khartu-Al
- C.O. Mustang
— have all received updates to their speed, health pools, linear and angular acceleration, and handling characteristics. The goal? Better balance in dogfights and a more consistent feel across the class.
Some ships also received model-specific tweaks, such as improved weapon alignment or maneuverability adjustments, based on player feedback and in-game performance data.
New Gear, Weather, and Even Hairstyles
The update isn’t all dark secrets and combat tuning. Alpha 4.3 also introduces:
- VOLT Laser Sniper “Zenith” — a high-precision, charged-shot sniper rifle with a thermal scope for tracking heat signatures in low-visibility environments.
- Dynamic Snow System — snowfall now reacts to real-time weather conditions, piling up on surfaces and affecting visibility during planetary landings.
- Ladder Improvements — smoother climbing animations and better interaction logic when moving between decks or entering ships.
- Three New Hairstyles — because even deep-space investigators need to look good while uncovering corporate crimes.
Available Now for All Backers
The Star Citizen Alpha 4.3: Dark Territory update is live and available to all backers on the Public Test Universe (PTU) and Live channels. Whether you’re chasing story secrets, testing the new sniper rifle, or dogfighting in a rebalanced Gladius, there’s plenty to explore.
For full details on all changes, head to the official Alpha 4.3 changelog.
