With Alpha 4.7 now in the rearview mirror, Cloud Imperium Games is laying the groundwork for the next major gameplay shifts. The most notable addition to the roadmap is Tactical Strike Groups. Currently marked as tentative for Alpha 4.8, this feature aims to enhance cooperative combat, giving organized wings more tools to coordinate their strikes in the vastness of the Stanton system and beyond.
The combat loop is also expanding with new mission types. Space Combat: Defend Location missions are being tracked for 4.8, which should provide a much-needed variety for mercenary pilots who prefer holding the line over simple bounty hunting. These missions will likely pair well with the QV Extraction Stations also slated for the same window.
On the more personal side of the simulator, character customization is getting a small but welcome boost. Seven new hairstyles and a new beard type have been added to the 4.8 schedule. While these don't impact your DPS, they certainly help with the role-playing immersion when you're relaxing in a station lounge after a long haul.
It is important to remember that Alpha 4.8 features are currently Tentative. In Star Citizen development, this means they are scheduled for the release window but haven't passed the final quality hurdle yet. However, seeing Tactical Strike Groups on the board suggests a shift toward more complex, team-oriented gameplay that high-level orgs have been asking for.
Soren