What is Star Citizen?
The most ambitious space game in development, in plain English, and how to start.
Star Citizen is an ambitious, crowdfunded space game for PC: a single seamless universe where you fly ships, walk around inside them, land on planets, and make a living however you like. It is playable now as an alpha, currently Alpha 4.8. Here is the plain-English version.
What it actually is
- A first-person space sim. Pilot ships from a cockpit, then get up and walk through your ship, a station, or a city, all with no loading screens between space and ground.
- A persistent online universe. You share the world with other players: trade, mine, salvage, hunt bounties, haul cargo, explore, or team up and crew a big ship together.
- Plus a separate single-player game. Squadron 42 is a story campaign set in the same universe, sold separately. More on that.
- Still in development. It is a playable alpha, not a finished release, so expect ambition and bugs in equal measure. The honest review.
How you get into it
You buy a one-time Game Package on PC from RSI (not Steam), the cheapest being the Citizen Starter Pack at $45, or you try it free during a Free Fly event. There is no subscription. How to play your first hour.
The new-player bonus
When you sign up, use referral code STAR-JTV7-FXLR in the Referral Code (optional) field. Your new account gets 50,000 UEC of in-game currency once you buy a $40+ Game Package, free, at the same price. That kits out your character from the start. How the code works.
In one line: Star Citizen is the most ambitious space game in development, playable now. Start with the cheapest pack and STAR-JTV7-FXLR for 50,000 UEC, or try it free during a Free Fly.
Frequently asked questions
What is Star Citizen?
A crowdfunded, first-person space sim for PC with a seamless persistent online universe: fly ships, walk through them, land on planets, and make a living trading, mining, fighting or exploring. It is a playable alpha (currently Alpha 4.8). Start from $45 with 50,000 UEC via code STAR-JTV7-FXLR.
Is Star Citizen one game or two?
Two related products sharing one account: Star Citizen (the online universe, playable now) and Squadron 42 (a separate single-player campaign). The referral code's 50,000 UEC bonus applies to a Star Citizen Game Package.
How do I start playing Star Citizen?
Buy a Game Package on PC from RSI (cheapest is the Citizen Starter Pack at $45) or play free during a Free Fly. Use code STAR-JTV7-FXLR at signup for 50,000 UEC. First-hour guide.
Ready to claim the 50,000 UEC?
One click pre-fills STAR-JTV7-FXLR into the RSI signup form. Finish the account, buy a $40 or larger Game Package, the bonus is yours.
Enlist with code STAR-JTV7-FXLR