Star Citizen developer Cloud Imperium Games is gearing up for the next free-to-play event that will start tomorrow with the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo 2953.
To kick off the celebrations, we get an extensive new video about ships that will make their debut at the expo.
These include the Gatak Syulen, a new starter-class ship designed by Xi’an technology that comes with an interesting transformable setup and vertical takeoffs and landings.
On top of that, we also take a look at the Crusader Spirit C1 (the cargo version of the Crusader Spirit bomber), and the Tumbril Storm light battle tank.
To get ready for the event, a new update has also been released, patch alpha 3.21.1, which includes the following new features. You can read the long list of feature updates and bug fixes on the official Site.
Gameplay
- System – Security – Ship Trespass
The interior of players’ ships are now considered trespass zones for those without permission to enter. Permission will granted via the party system until more complex systems for managing crew and passengers is created. Players trespassing aboard a ship will see a Trespass Warning and can be attacked by the owner of the ship and any player in their party without fear of committing a crime. This timer has a brief period after they exit the ship to where hostile actions against the trespasser are warranted. If the player is allowed access to a ship due to the owner being a hostile, then the hostile’s hostility timer runs out whilst still aboard, they retain the right to remain aboard until they leave. Should they attack former hostile they would be able to receive crimes and be lawfully attacked in self defense. Should former hostile attack them, they would be able to press charges and be lawfully act in self defense. This update also removes the warning that all players see in a ship when a new person joins, making it much more difficult to tell when your ship has been boarded and by whom until visual confirmation has been made.
- Mission – Defend – Data Heist
Implementing unlawful missions that task the player with infiltrating locations defended by hostile NPCs to hack terminals. Players with the mission will be sent to a location to help recover/steal data from servers at the location. They will need to access the main-terminal via hacking or Technicians ID chip (found at the location) and give access via interaction screen to their mission handler who will initiate the download. During the download they will defend the terminal and servers, the latter of which can be destroyed or overheated. Once enough data has been uploaded they will be able to leave the area completing the mission. They will fail if too many servers have been destroyed or not enough data has been uploaded.
Ships and Vehicles
- Added New Ship: ARGO SRV
- Added New Ship: Crusader C1 Spirit
- Added New Vehicle: Tumbril Storm
Tomorrow, everyone will be able to simply create an account on the official site, download the client, and play freely until November 30. On top of that, they’ll be given free access to over 100 spaceships and vehicles on a brand-based rotation.
This way, those who want to try the game can do so with the current build without restrictions. All the game’s current content is available. As a piece of relevant advice, make sure to install the game on an SSD, as it makes a massive difference in terms of performance and it’s basically required.
Star Citizen is available exclusively on PC in what’s basically an alpha early access state. It’s also a crowdfunded game that has received $624,480,415 in funding with 4,885,739 registered users. As usual, these are not necessarily paying users, as many create accounts for events like the one starting tomorrow.
A single-player campaign titled Squadron 42 is also coming, and we just heard that it’s now feature-complete, albeit a release date has not been announced.
Full disclosure: the author of this article backed Star Citizen‘s crowdfunding campaign.
