Frequently Asked Questions

Star Citizen is a very complex game with a rich history, massive list of features (both implemented and planned), and is currently in-development. We have compiled a list of Star Citizen’s Frequently Asked Questions we have encountered from newcomers.

Should I buy Star Citizen?

If you can handle a game that’s still in development, with occasional bugs, and you can afford a $45 game package, then yes, you should consider buying it.

Even if you prefer a more polished experience but know in your heart that Star Citizen is the game for you, getting in early has its perks.

Why Buy Now?

Cloud Imperium Games frequently rewards backers with free in-game items—ship paints, weapons, armor, and other equipment—through various events. Some rewards require completing missions, while others are as simple as logging into the game or clicking a link on the website. Over time, these exclusive items add up to hundreds of dollars in value and are often unobtainable later.

If you know you’re going to play eventually, it’s worth jumping in now to start collecting those rewards.

What is the refund policy?

As of February 3rd, 2025, Cloud Imperium Games’ official refund policy allows refunds within 30 days of purchase.

However, before requesting a refund, consider your long-term interest in the game. If you’re absolutely certain you’ll never want to play, then go ahead. But if it’s just a matter of waiting for more development progress or not having time right now, you might want to hold onto your game package.

Many backers receive free in-game rewards over time—ship paints, weapons, armor, and more—that are often unavailable later. If you plan to return, it may be worth keeping your account rather than starting over later.

What is Ship Insurance?

Ship insurance in Star Citizen is an evolving mechanic, but the core concept is simple: if your insured ship is destroyed, you can claim a replacement of the same chassis.

Will I Lose a Ship I Paid Real Money For If Insurance Runs Out?

No.

You will never permanently lose a ship purchased with real money, even if its insurance expires. The exact mechanics are still being defined, but many speculate that if an uninsured ship is lost, players may need to pay a small in-game fee to renew the policy before they can reclaim it.

For a more detailed breakdown, check out this article from our partner organization, Black Gear Rooks:
Star Citizen Ship Insurance Explained

What are Game Packages?

A Game Package is what grants you access to Star Citizen (and potentially Squadron 42, depending on the package). These packages typically include:

  • A starter ship (or more, depending on the package)
  • In-game currency
  • Occasionally, additional gear like personal weapons and armor

Do I Need a Game Package to Play?

Yes. You cannot play Star Citizen by purchasing just a standalone ship—you must have a Game Package in your account.

Do I Need More Than One Game Package?

No, a single Game Package is all you need to access Star Citizen. However, CIG has hinted at potential future benefits for owning multiple Game Packages:

  • Extra Character Slots – Additional Game Packages on your account may allow for multiple player characters in the future.
  • Commandable NPCs – Another possibility is that additional Game Packages could grant you NPC crew members you can issue commands to.

For now, these features are unconfirmed, but they have been discussed by CIG as potential future mechanics.

What is Squadron 42?

Squadron 42 is the single-player, story-driven campaign set in the same universe as Star Citizen. Unlike Star Citizen’s MMO experience, Squadron 42 is a cinematic, narrative-focused adventure featuring an A-list cast, including Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, Henry Cavill, and Gillian Anderson.

How Does It Fit into the Star Citizen Universe?

  • Timeline: Squadron 42 begins in October 2945 with the Battle of Vega II, a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict with the Vanduul.
  • Star Citizen’s Timeline: The MMO portion of Star Citizen takes place a decade later in 2955 (advancing yearly in sync with real-world time—e.g., in 2026, it will be set in 2956).

When Will Squadron 42 Be Released?

Squadron 42 is in the final polishing phase of development and is expected to launch sometime in 2026. However, there is no official release date yet.

Want a Sneak Peek?

🔥 Highly recommended: Watch the Squadron 42 CitizenCon 2954 Live Gameplay Reveal from CitizenCon 2024 for an in-depth look at the game in action! Recommended to use a worthy set of headphones when watching this!

What is the Persistent Universe?

The Persistent Universe (PU) is the evolving, open-world multiplayer environment of Star Citizen, currently in alpha testing. It serves as the primary testbed for gameplay mechanics, technology, and content as Cloud Imperium Games continues development.

Despite what critics may say, there is plenty to do in the PU. Players can explore two full-scale solar systems—Stanton and Pyro—with a working jump gate connecting them. Whether you’re running missions, trading, engaging in combat, salvaging wrecks, or simply exploring the vastness of space, the PU offers a constantly expanding experience that reflects the current state of Star Citizen’s development.

Is there PvP?

Yes.

The Persistent Universe (PU) is open PvP, similar to Grand Theft Auto Online, meaning you can be attacked by other players almost anywhere. However, unlike GTA, death carries greater consequences, so most PvP encounters are more calculated rather than purely chaotic.

Can I Avoid PvP?

Yes. Star Citizen provides several ways to evade or mitigate PvP encounters, including:

  • Quantum travel to escape dangerous situations
  • Defensive maneuvers and countermeasures
  • Choosing safer locations with security presence
  • Monitoring player activity through in-game tools

What’s the PvP Community Like?

The average Star Citizen player is in their late 20s to early 30s, creating a more mature and tactical PvP environment. While PvP is present, you won’t often encounter griefers or kids screaming obscenities in voice chat. Most players engage in PvP with a purpose—whether for piracy, mercenary work, or territorial disputes—rather than just random mayhem.

Overall, PvP exists but is rarely forced upon you, and a prepared player has plenty of ways to avoid, counter, or engage on their own terms.

Why Is Star Citizen Still in Alpha After 12 Years and $800 Million?

Star Citizen is one of the most ambitious video game projects ever undertaken. Its vision goes far beyond traditional game development, pushing the limits of technology, scale, and fidelity in ways no other game has attempted.

Why Is It Taking So Long?

  1. Next-Generation Technology – The game requires a server architecture that doesn’t yet exist in any other MMO, specifically server meshing, which will allow for seamless, large-scale multiplayer interactions.
  2. Unmatched Fidelity at Scale – Star Citizen delivers cinematic-level detail in a fully explorable solar system, something never before achieved in gaming.
  3. It’s Not Just One Game – The project includes two games:
    • Star Citizen (the MMO)
    • Squadron 42 (the single-player campaign, now in final polish)
  4. Building from Scratch – Cloud Imperium Games started with zero infrastructure in 2012, growing from a small crowdfunded team into a full AAA studio with over 1,200 employees.

Pushing Toward Star Citizen 1.0

CIG has published a roadmap to Star Citizen 1.0, outlining the key features and milestones required to reach a full release. This includes server meshing, full in-game economy systems, dynamic events, enhanced AI, and more. With major technical hurdles like Persistent Entity Streaming already implemented, the studio is now focused on delivering core gameplay loops, player progression systems, and large-scale multiplayer stability to bring Star Citizen to a fully realized launch version.

So, When Will It Be Done?

While Squadron 42 is expected in 2026, Star Citizen’s Persistent Universe will continue evolving as major technologies like server meshing come online. Unlike traditional games, Star Citizen is being built in the open, with players participating in its development, making its timeline different from typical AAA releases.

📖 Want to Learn More? Read about server meshing and the tech behind Star Citizen here: SC Server Meshing Info

Can I upgrade my ship that I purchased with real money?

Yes, you can upgrade your ship. Star Citizen allows you to upgrade a ship by paying the price difference between your current ship’s store value and the new ship’s cost.

How Ship Upgrades Work

  • You pay only the difference in store value between your current ship and the ship you want.
  • Example: If you own a $45 ship and want to upgrade to a $60 ship, you’ll pay $15 for the upgrade.
  • Ship upgrades (called CCUs – Cross Chassis Upgrades) are not applied immediately—they are stored in your account until you choose to use them.

Where to Upgrade Your Ship

To upgrade, go to the RSI Pledge Store, then navigate to:
Other → Ship Upgrades
(Note: Direct links don’t work because the upgrade page is an overlay of the store. CIG-Turbulent, if you’re reading this, please make this easier to link! 😆)

Important Detail: Store Value vs. Purchase Price

Your ship’s upgrade cost is based on its current store price, not what you originally paid for it.

Example:

  • You bought a ship for $30, but its store price increased to $45.
  • The upgrade cost is based on $45, not what you paid.
  • If you upgrade to a $60 ship, it will still only cost $15.

What Is CCU Chaining?

Because upgrades use current store prices, players sometimes stack multiple upgrades (CCU chains) over time to get ships at a lower cost.

Once you apply a CCU:
✅ Your original ship is converted into the upgraded ship
✅ The CCU disappears from your account

If you’re considering ship upgrades, planning your CCU chain strategically can save you money! 🚀

Is Star Citizen Pay-to-win?

No, Star Citizen is not pay-to-win. However, it does allow players to purchase ships and gear with real money—but having a big ship doesn’t guarantee victory.

But I See Massive Ships for Thousands of Dollars?

Yes, some ships cost thousands of dollars, like the Aegis Javelin (~$3,000), but these massive warships aren’t overpowered solo vessels.

  • Large ships require large crews. A Javelin needs 40-60 players to operate effectively. Even the RSI Polaris ($975) needs around 12 crew members to function properly.
  • Solo players can’t fully operate capital ships. These vessels rely on gunners, engineers, and support craft to be effective.
  • Big ships are vulnerable. A capital ship without a fighter escort is highly susceptible to bombers and small attack ships.

If you’re a solo player in a $45 starter ship and you run into 40-60 coordinated players in $45 starter ships, you’re probably going to lose—regardless of how expensive your ship is. Likewise, a swarm of small ships can take down a capital ship simply through superior numbers and tactics.

What About Gear Like Guns and Armor?

Weapons and armor purchased with real money do not provide a competitive advantage.

  • All standard weapons and armor can be bought or looted in-game.
  • Store-bought items are just reskins. They function identically to in-game variants but may have exclusive paint jobs.
  • You can loot premium gear off defeated players. If someone buys expensive store gear and gets killed, their weapons and armor are free for the taking.

Final Verdict:

Buying ships and gear can save time, but it doesn’t make you invincible. Success in Star Citizen comes down to teamwork, strategy, and player skill—not spending power.

Does Star Citizen have a lot of bugs?

Yes, to a degree.

Star Citizen is an alpha—which means bugs are an inherent part of the experience. While the game is playable, it comes with technical quirks that players must learn to work around. If you’re willing to adapt, you’ll find that most bugs can be avoided, ignored, or mitigated with simple tricks. However, if you can’t tolerate bugs in video games, Star Citizen isn’t the game for you right now.

Think of it like playing a game that launched in a rushed, buggy state—except that instead of a botched release, Star Citizen is still in active development and not yet a finished product. The loudest voices online tend to highlight the worst issues, but the reality is that thousands of players enjoy Star Citizen every day despite the bugs.

Why Is Star Citizen Still Buggy?

Star Citizen is in its alpha phase, meaning its core features are still being developed. Many of the current bugs exist because systems are incomplete or in flux. Fixing every bug now would be inefficient, as future feature updates would likely resolve them naturally. Once the game reaches beta, the focus will shift toward polish and stability.

If you want to track what’s left to develop, you can check the RSI Roadmap’s Release View—everything under “Star Citizen 1.0” is still a work in progress.

2025: A Major Shift in Priorities

Following CitizenCon 2954 (2024), the Star Citizen community made it clear: bug fixes and stability improvements were the top priority. Polls, surveys, and discussions across YouTube, Reddit, Spectrum, and other platforms overwhelmingly called for a shift away from new features toward making the game more stable and playable.

Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) listened.

In Chris Roberts’ annual Letter from the Chairman (December 2024), he confirmed that a majority of Star Citizen’s development resources in 2025 would be dedicated to fixing bugs and improving the overall experience. While met with some skepticism, this commitment was backed up by action:

What This Means for Star Citizen’s Future

This shift represents a major turning point. While bugs are still a reality, the game is entering a phase where stability and playability are taking priority over new feature development. If CIG follows through, 2025 could mark the biggest improvement in Star Citizen’s overall experience to date.

Will my computer run Star Citizen?

The official system requirements published by Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) are fairly realistic now, but that hasn’t always been the case. Star Citizen is a demanding game, and performance varies significantly based on your hardware.

The best way to check if your PC can handle Star Citizen is by using the RSI Telemetry Dashboard. This system collects real-world performance data from players and compiles a matrix of FPS benchmarks based on CPU and GPU combinations. This means you can see exactly what kind of frame rates players with similar hardware are getting in real-time:

📌 Check the RSI Telemetry Dashboard Here

General Hardware Recommendations

  • If you have a Ryzen 5000 series CPU and a lower-end RTX 30-series GPU or better, you’re in a good spot.
  • An SSD is required. Star Citizen struggles on HDDs due to the way assets load in.
  • More RAM helps. 16GB is the minimum, but 32GB is recommended for smoother gameplay.

Why Do New Players Experience Low FPS?

It’s common for first-time players to load into Star Citizen and notice poor performance initially. Here’s why:

1️⃣ Shader Compilation – The game compiles shaders in real-time, which is CPU-intensive. This process gets better after your first few sessions.
2️⃣ Major City Performance – New players spawn in large cities with dense assets, making them some of the most performance-heavy areas in the game. Even high-end PCs struggle in cities but perform much better in space and on planets.

🚀 Don’t be the player who logs in, sees low FPS, immediately uninstalls, and demands a refund. Give it some time, and performance will improve as shaders cache and as you leave high-density areas.

Performance Expectations & Optimization

While CIG is actively optimizing the game, Star Citizen is still in alpha—meaning performance improvements take time. New features are still being added, making optimization an ongoing challenge.

⚠️ Even a $5,000+ PC won’t get 120 FPS everywhere. Some areas will be smooth, while others will dip. This is normal for an evolving game engine.

Helpful Resources:

📖 Star Citizen Performance Guide by Wild Knight Squadron
🎥 The REAL Minimum Spec 2024 | Star Citizen – by tenpoundfortytwo
🎥 Why You NEED to Install Star Citizen on an SSD – by tenpoundfortytwo

How does Star Citizen compare to other games?

This is a great way to determine if Star Citizen will be a game you enjoy based on your past gaming experiences. We’ve put together a list of a few popular games that you might have played and compared them with Star Citizen. Check out What games are similar to Star Citizen.

Will Star Citizen be on consoles?

Unlikely.

Star Citizen is an extremely CPU and GPU-intensive game, designed to push the limits of modern PC hardware. Current-generation consoles, like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, prioritize affordability over raw processing power—especially on the CPU side, which is critical for Star Citizen’s massive, persistent universe. Because of this, a console version is highly improbable for this generation and likely the next as well.

However…

There have been past rumors suggesting that Squadron 42—the single-player cinematic campaign—could make its way to consoles. While nothing has been officially confirmed, it’s worth noting that Squadron 42 is a more self-contained experience compared to the vast, evolving multiplayer world of Star Citizen. Additionally, the game is somewhat playable using a standard Xbox or PlayStation 5 controller, which suggests controller support is at least considered in some capacity.

For now, though, if you want to experience Star Citizen, you’ll need a powerful PC. 🚀

Where do I buy Star Citizen?

You probably checked: It isn’t sold on Steam.

Check out our Get Star Citizen page for the full details on not only how to buy Star Citizen but also how to maximize the value of your purchase.

What can you do in Star Citizen?

We actually go into a lot of depth on this question in article detailing What can you do in Star Citizen.