In terms of gameplay elements, this update introduces the first iteration of salvage gameplay along with the launch of the Drake Vulture salvage ship to go along with it, a new heavy fighter in the form of the Scorpius Antares, some new locations like sand caves and a new derelict settlement, new missions available in Orison and Kleischer prison, the return of Kareah space port, and the ability for ships to experience “soft death” (aka have its critical components taken out and make them dead in the water). Full patch notes are available here.
Content retrieved from: https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/11/star-citizen-enters-alpha-3-18-with-more-persistence-a-new-graphics-renderer-and-more-ships-and-locations/.