This Week in Star Citizen

ByIrmdall

Happy Monday, everyone!

Last week, many of you joined us on the PTU to put Alpha 4.10 through its paces, with focused runs on Siege of Orison, Recco Battaglia, and Cargo Missions. We also granted access to the Kruger S-65 Stingray for the weekend as a bonus for participating. Thanks to everyone who jumped in and helped us push the build forward - it was a huge help!

We're shoring up additional fixes and tightening things up across the board. A whopping 230 Blocker, Critical, and High Priority fixes alone have been checked in to Alpha 4.10 so far, with many more fixes still to come. If all goes smoothly, we're aiming to roll Alpha 4.10 out to Live this week.

Meanwhile, Phase 2 of the biggest aerospace smackdown in the 'verse is well underway as we approach the last duels to determine the Elite Eight of Ship Showdown 2956. Today, two Eclectic Exotics exchange fire for a shot at advancing, and tomorrow, the Big Hitters step into the ring to duke it out for the final spot. Cast your vote to ensure your champion moves on to the next round, and don't forget that daily voters who see the competition through to the end will earn a commemorative Spectrum badge.

We're doing things a little differently for this year's celebration. With Alpha 4.10 heading toward Live, we want to give the team room to monitor the release and continue improving the experience once it lands. So, this year's Ship Showdown Free Fly will be focused on the community already in the 'verse. From August 26 to September 2, all existing backers will be able to take the Elite Eight for a spin before the Final Four take the spotlight at Best in Show during this year's Intergalactic Aerospace Expo.

Or, put simply: launching a major patch and running a wider Free Fly in the same week... we're not going to do that.

Now, let's see what's going on this week:

On Wednesday, the Ship Showdown Elite Eight Free Fly begins for the existing community. We'll also publish the latest Roadmap Update alongside its complementary Roadmap Roundup.

Friday, we're in a Gamescom state of mind. Come raise a glass or two with your fellow starfaring Citizens and the CIG team at our next Bar Citizen World Tour stop at BON - Brauhaus ohne Namen in Cologne, Germany, from 6:00 PM. Space is limited, so it's first-come, first-served. Full details on the Gamescom Bar Citizen post.

Same day, you'll also find our weekly RSI Newsletter directly delivered to your inbox, and Jump Point magazine is back for all subscribers.

Fly low, and fly fast!

Freyja Vanadis
Senior Community Manager

The Weekly Community Content Schedule

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

• This Week in Star Citizen

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2026

• Ship Showdown 2956: Elite Eight Free Fly Begins
• Roadmap Update
• Roadmap Roundup

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2026

• Bar Citizen World Tour @ Gamescom - Cologne, Germany
• RSI Weekly Newsletter
• August Issue of Jump Point for Subscribers

They Come in Peace… Not! - Eclectic Exotics

At the risk of sparking an intergalactic conflict, it’s time to pit Tevarin tech against Xi’an ingenuity in a battle of alien excellence. The Railen stands tall against the Prowler Utility, but can it escape the sharp talons of Esperia’s warbird?

Cast your vote here: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/en/ship-showdown-2956/live-showdown

::: spoiler Tap for Projected Winner Over 10 hours left and the Railen is far ahead of the Prowler Utility (currently 18,455 vs 8,085). :::

Rapid Fire - Run and Gun
Both are fresh to the fight but no stranger to a skirmish, these two instant icons are rushing in for their first shot at the title. Origin’s elite executioner, the M80, meets Grey’s soldered striker, the Shiv, on the battlefield for the ultimate test of prestige vs scrappiness. You’re not just choosing a winner, you’re choosing a lifestyle.

Cast your vote here: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/en/ship-showdown-2956/live-showdown

::: spoiler Tap for Projected Winner 1.5 hours left and the M80 is way ahead of the Shiv (22,015 vs 8,688). :::

cross-posted from @[email protected]: https://mastodon.social/users/ToolsWiki/statuses/117144944804819504

Happy Birthday to #StarCitizen Disco Lando ! starcitizen.tools/Jared_Huckaby

Hangin' Tough - Heavy Duty

It’s a blue-collar bout for the ages: mining or salvage? Give or take? Seven-time competitor, zero-time winner the Reclaimer has a score to settle, and the poor ship standing in its way? The Argo MOLE. But don’t count the three-armed monster out until you’ve seen what it can do. It’s time to hear the clang of heavy metal.

Cast your vote here: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/en/ship-showdown-2956/live-showdown

::: spoiler Tap for Projected Winner 8 hours left and the Reclaimer is ahead of the Mole (14,631 vs 10,633). :::

Mini for the Wini - Underdogs

Lone wolves, solo survivors; these single-pilot pioneers aren’t afraid to stare into the abyss and come back swinging. Can the second coming of the Aurora, a spacefaring legacy, take on the generalist upstart Clipper? RSI stares down Drake for the second time this Showdown, ready to reap some ruinous revenge.

Cast your vote here: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/en/ship-showdown-2956/live-showdown

::: spoiler Tap for Projected Winner 9 hours left and the Clipper is ahead of the Aurora (15,572 vs 12,580). :::

In this version, we're fixing QoL issues and introducing a new visual feature: When hovering on a specific card a video will display in the background. It is not visible for now but it will be when we release a new game patch.

New features:

What's new in this release: Video display on card hover. You can now select text and copy paste in the guide session chat.

Fixed Issues:

LCH-3224: Guide panel now follows Accessibility settings. Comm-Links click on links fixed Horizontal scroll on guide proficiencies fixed LCH-3235: Black Box issue fixed. Fixed issue on invisible status removed when entering game.

Known issues:

If you witness a black rectangle on the bottom right of your screen, please turn off the overlay notification in your notification settings. Some users encounter a flickering Launcher background, which can be partially mitigated by turning off accessibility settings. Please refer to this comment for a potential fix: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/spectrum/community/SC/forum/1/thread/rsi-launcher-2-0-6-release-notes/7279512 The Launcher sometimes fails to create the StarCitizen/Live folders for some users, leading to Error 2000, Error 5008, or Error 5010. Try creating the folder manually and running the Launcher as an administrator. LCH-1030: Launcher suppresses Screen Saver LCH-1958: Never Ending Download loop. Please report the issue; we're having trouble reproducing it. Users might encounter Desync with Language and Proficiencies while using the guide system both on Spectrum and in the Launcher at the same time.*

Wrathfinders - Exploration

Putting the ‘ex’ in exploration, one of these revved-up ramblers is about to exterminate the competition. Will the shining beacon of Anvil excellence or the ragged hunk of Drake win out? It’s champ vs champ as these two previous winners go in for the kill. Which will reach its victorious destination and which will be seeing stars?

Cast your vote here: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/en/ship-showdown-2956/live-showdown

::: spoiler Tap for Projected Winner 13 hours left and the Corsair is a little ahead of the Carrack (13,968 vs 11,403) :::

Mad Trax - Road Warriors

A family feud on the road to glory - nothing is sacred in the Showdown. These four-wheeled favorites have a lot in common, so what will be the deciding factor? Will it be the tough trekking UTV or the weaponized wagon MTC? Remember folks, oil is thicker than blood.

Cast your vote here: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/en/ship-showdown-2956/live-showdown

::: spoiler Tap for Projected Winner 4 hours into the vote and currently the MTC is winning with more than 2.5x the votes of the UTC (10,951 - 4,299) :::

cross-posted from @[email protected]: https://mastodon.social/users/ToolsWiki/statuses/117082897508131090

How do you play #StarCitizen?

Looks like Military drives will become the slowest drives, competition drives will become the fastest, and civilian drives likely to be the go-to.

RE: dice.camp/@tennyson/1170672980
Tennyson E. Stead
@[email protected]

Last day of the Foundation Fest free fly, folks! And the Foundation skin for the MKII Aurora is by far the best skin: robertsspaceindustries.com/enl

Foundation Fest is almost over!

If you want to try #StarCitizen for free, there's just under 24 hours left in the freefly! If you're checking out the game, friend me up at "TekkerTen" and let me know!

robertsspaceindustries.com/enl...

Crosspost from Mastodon Instance
https://dice.camp/@tennyson/117072222131065739
Note - Replies to OP can be made by following the crosspost link .

Message of the day

☁️ (Mánadagr) We are currently putting together a new 4.10 build for a potential PTU release later today
☁️ (Frjádagr) A new 4.10 PTU build is now available to All Waves of testers! VERSION 4.10.0-PTU.12409360 | Bugfix and Issue Discussion

There are 4 pieces to the Super Heavy Armor (SHA): The armor itself (under-suit category), the helmet, the backpack, and the weapon (the HMG).

• The armor and the gun can be separated, although you need the SHA to use the gun.
• Useful tip: holster the SHA gun, then equip a smaller weapon to your hands and you'll be able to run faster, jump, and crouch. You'll need to drop the small gun to pull out the HMG.
• While the HMG is out, you won't be able to run, jump, or crouch.
• You can't lay down or go prone while the armor is equipped.
• The backpack is only used for HMG ammo.
• You cannot equip regular backpacks.
• The personal storage on the suit is small (1 med gun takes up 60% of the storage.
• The medgun can be used, but it requires heavily using your inventory window to switch back and forth. Medpens are the suggested method for healing. 13 would take up a little less than 60% of your storage. Most enemies carry them.
• Ammo clips for energy weapons typically take up less space than ballistics.
• You do not get major injuries as often while wearing the SHA.
• No EVA with this suit.
• Damage protection is at 90%
• Radiation protection is equivalent to Heavy Armor.

The HMG:

• At short range it's really good.
• At long range it can be difficult to hit your target.
• No delay for reloading as long as you have more mags on the backpack.
• You can fit 1 extra mag in your personal suit inventory.

Siege of Orison:

• Very effective for SoO.
• Be careful at end (admin), you'll need to holster the HMG to be able to jump across containers.

HMG vs Light fighters - Works, but not as effective as a railgun.

A 12-13 min video of Cpt Foxyloxy showing off the Stormwals in SC.

A 2hour Star Citizen Live episode where some of the devs play through Siege of Orison with some commentary.

This week, join Max, Elliot, Loek and Olli as they play the upcoming Siege of Orison, share insight behind its design, and try not to die too many times along the way.

cross-posted from: https://mastodon.social/users/ToolsWiki/statuses/117037598396021220

Help people learn how to fly in #StarCitizen with the grenade launcher 💥starcitizen.tools/GP-33_MOD_Gr...

Ship Showdown Divisions (only the top 2 ships per division will be in the ship showdown):

• Freighter (Transport)
• Road Warrior (Ground Vehicles)
• Pathfinder (Exploration)
• Underdog (The Little Ones)
• Heavy Duty (Industrial)
• Run & Gun (Combat)
• Eclectic Exotic (Alien)
• Big Hitters (Warships)

Entries to back any ship must be submitted by August 14, 2026, at 20:00 UTC+0.

Winners "will be awarded a Kruger L-22 Alpha Wolf in-game ship with Lifetime Insurance on their RSI Account".

When the ultimate eight craft have risen to the top, each one will be available to fly for free from August 26 - September 2. The Final Four competitors will also receive a special in-game paint and challenge coin, with a manufacturer themed bomber jacket going to backers of the ultimate champ.

Ulf-CIG:

Hi everyone,

Gamescom is almost here, and we’re looking forward to bringing the Star Citizen community together in Cologne!

Join fellow Citizens and members of our team for an evening of talking ship, giveaways, great company, and, of course, a Kölsch or three.

Gamescom Bar Citizen
Date: Friday, August 28
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: BON - Brauhaus ohne Namen, Mathildenstraße 42, 50679 Cologne

Please note that seating is limited, so we can’t guarantee entry for everyone. Admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

We’re also bringing something special to mark the occasion. Origin Jumpworks was founded in Cologne, Germany, in 2747, so naturally, we’re bringing a little Origin history home. Everyone who attends will receive a free Origin M80 in-game poster! (Pictured below)

Can’t make it to Gamescom? There may be other opportunities to secure the poster in the future, but if you want to be among the first to display it in your hangar, come out and join the fun! We’ll also have Bar Citizen scratch-off cards and no shortage of other giveaways throughout the evening.

We’ll be looking for great photos and posts from the event, so remember to use the #BarCitizen hashtag when sharing your pictures. You could be featured on our social channels!

We hope to see you there!

CIG is looking for feedback on communication, party finding gameplay, Friends list, etc.

::: spoiler Tap for Spectrum Message

Shark-CIG

Greetings Citizens!

This survey aims to help us better understand how you communicate, connect, and coordinate with others throughout the 'verse.

We're interested in learning more about your habits, preferences, and expectations regarding social and communication experiences in Star Citizen, including topics such as chat, voice communication, friend networks, parties, and finding players to play with.

There are no right or wrong answers, we're interested in your personal experience and perspective. The survey will remain open until August 31'st, and can be taken here:
Star Citizen Social Survey Form

Thank you for taking the time to participate and help us better understand the needs of the Star Citizen community! :::

::: spoiler Tap to see Survey Questions Star Citizen Social Survey Form - July 2026

Citizen Info

Getting to know who you are as a player

1. How long have you been playing Star Citizen?

• Less Than 3 Months
• 3-12 Months
• 1-3 Years
• 3-5 Years
• More Than 5 Years

1. How often do you play Star Citizen?

• Less Than Once a Month
• Few Times a Month
• About Once a Week
• Several Times a Week
• Daily or Almost Daily

1. Who do you usually play with?

• Mostly Alone
• With Friends
• With my Organization(s) Members
• Random Players
• A Mix

1. Who do you communicate with most during a session? (Chat or call)

• Friends
• Party Members
• Organization Members
• Players I Meet During the Session
• Players Involved in the Same Activity or Contract
• I Rarely Communicate with Other Players

1. Which tools do you typically use to communicate with them?

• In-Game Text Chat
• In-Game Voice Chat (Voip/Hail)
• Discord
• Other (Enter your own response)

1. Have you experienced situations where communication was difficult or frustrating in Star Citizen?

• Yes
• No

1. Please briefly describe the situation:
   Enter your answer

2. In Star Citizen, do you sometimes avoid playing in groups due to communication challenges?

• Yes
• No

1. How often do you play multiplayer games other than Star Citizen?

• Never
• Less Than Once a Month
• Few Times a Month
• About Once a Week
• Several Times a Week
• Daily or Almost Daily

1. Have you played any of the following MMORPGs? (Select all that apply)

• World of Warcraft
• Final Fantasy XIV
• EVE Online
• Guild Wars 2
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• Albion Online
• Black Desert Online
• Elite Dangerous
• Star Wars: The Old Republic
• RuneScape
• Never played another MMORPG
• Other (Enter your own response)

Chat

1. Which chat features would be most valuable to you?
   Please select at most 5 options.

• Chat Appearance Customization (Font size, opacity, layout)
• Persistent Group Chat Channels
• Easy Way to Block a Player
• Movable and Resizable Chat Window
• Shared Links (Players, locations, contracts, items)
• Privacy Settings
• Shortened Player Names
• Emojis
• Message Timestamps
• Mentions and Message Highlights
• Private Group Chat Channels (Create a chat channel for a selected group of players)
• Custom Notifications Per Channel
• A Profanity Filter
• Chat Categories (Region, trade, etc.)
• Pinned Messages
• Keyboard-Only Navigation and Advanced Command Control
• Easy Way to Report a Player
• Custom Colors by Channel or Message type

Temporary Chat Channels for Missions, Events, etc.

1. What makes a chat readable and usable during gameplay?
   Please select at most 5 options.

• Control Over Notifications and Invitations
• The Chat Window can be Moved Anywhere on the Screen
• Adjustable Text Size
• Important Messages are Easy to Spot
• The Chat Window can be Hidden
• Adjustable Chat Window Size
• All Communications can be Viewed in a Single Tab
• Blocking/Muting
• Filtering Words
• Other (Enter your own response)

1. Which would make you rely on in-game chat instead of external tools (like Discord)?
   Please select at most 5 options.

• Less Need to Switch Between Applications
• Better Moderation and Blocking Tools
• Access to Chats Through Spectrum
• Ready Checks and Party Coordination Tools
• Rich Player Information (Role, activity, location)
• Notifications for Direct Messages and Mentions
• Organization Chat Channels
• Voice Chat Integrated with Parties and Organizations
• Persistent Chats
• Ability to Share Links (Players, locations, contracts, items)
• Nothing Would Replace my Current External Tools
• Lore-Friendly and Immersive Communication Systems

Voice Communication

1. Do you often call other players in Star Citizen?

• Never
• Rarely (Only in specific situations)
• Sometimes
• Often
• Very Often (Almost every session)

1. In which situations do you usually use VOIP?

• Playing With Friends
• Organization Activities
• Large-Scale Events
• PvP Activities
• Multi-Crew Gameplay
• Recruiting or Joining a Group
• Meeting New Players

1. Which Call/Voice features would mostly improve your experience of playing with others?
   Please select at most 5 options.

• Organization Voice Channels
• Party Voice Channel
• Audio Controls (Over player and channel)
• Simultaneous Proximity and Party/Org Voice Chat
• Easy Channel Switching
• Push-to-Talk Customization
• Option to Mute a Player
• Preview of Participants Before Joining
• Clear Speaking Indicators
• Other (Enter your own response)

1. What would make you use in-game voice instead of external tools (like Discord)?
   Please select at most 3 options.

• Better Audio Controls (Individual volume, mixing)
• Better Voice Communication for Large-Scale Activities
• Text and Voice in the Same Place
• Easier Ways to Meet and Recruit Players
• Spectrum Communication Sync with Game
• Multi-Channel Communication (Party + org + proximity)
• Nothing would replace my current external tools
• Other (Enter your own response)

Friends List

1. Which player's information would make a friend list more useful?
   Please select at most 5 options.

• Last Seen Online
• Player Tags (Role, playstyle, skill level)
• Main Organization Affiliation
• Current Party Membership
• Live Location and Distance to you
• Friend Online / Offline Notifications
• Crime State Visibility
• Current Activity (What they are doing right now)
• Player Status (Online, away, etc.) and status message
• Organization / Faction Ranks
• Player Timezone or Region
• Personal Notes on Players (e.g. How or where you met, only visible to me)
• Other (Enter your own response)

1. Which feature would make a friend list more useful?
   Please select at most 5 options.

• Live Location and Distance to youPin Favourite Friends to the Top of the List
• Find Players Based on Recent Interactions
• Quick Invite to Party or Organization
• Invite Friends into Custom Groups/Channel
• Create Custom Player Lists (Rivals, crew, traders, etc.)
• Quick Message from the Friends List
• Share Contact Cards or Player Profiles
• Follow a Friends Location
• Mute Players
• Block Players
• Search and Filter Friends
• Add Notes to Players
• One-Click Join if Applicable
• Other (Enter your own response)

Party

1. When deciding whether to join a party, what information matters most?
   Please select at most 5 options.

• Risk Level (Safe vs High-risk gameplay)
• The Communication Language
• Who is the Party Leader and Members
• Activity Type or Contract
• Region or Location In-Game
• Type of Application (Request or quick join)
• Tagging System for Group Intent (Newbie friendly, hardcore, no toxic verse, etc.)
• Party Name / Description
• Location
• Voice Communication Expectations
• Required Roles (Pilot, engineer, etc.)
• Remaining Time Before Party List Expiration
• PvP vs PvE Focus
• The Party Size
• Reputation or Reliability Indicator
• Members Crime State
• Required Faction Rank (Contract specific)
• The Time Commitment (Short/long session)
• Equipment / Ship Required
• How Many Members Already Applied
• Organization Affiliation
• Other (Enter your own response)

1. Which features would make a party finder most useful?
   Please select at most 5 options.

• Advanced Search
• View Friends' and Organization Members Parties
• Scheduled Party
• Advanced Filters
• Recommended Parties Based on my Interests and Activities
• Track Parties I Have Applied to
• Search by Contract or Faction
• Custom Sorting Options
• Ability to Withdraw an Application
• Save Favorite Party
• Other (Enter your own response)

1. As a Leader, what is the most important to define when creating a party?
   Please select at most 7 options.

• Required Faction Rank
• Required Roles (Pilot, engineer, etc.)
• Activity Type or Contract
• Join Method (Quick join or Application required)
• Listing Expiration Time
• Activity Location
• Ability to Keep Requirements Minimal and Leave the Party Open to Everyone
• Tagging System for Group Intent (Newbie friendly, Hardcore, No toxic verse, etc.)
• Minimum Rank (Contract Faction)
• Languages
• Party Size (Minimum and maximum players)
• Required Ships
• Party Name and Description
• Party Visibility (Private, public, organization-only)
• Voice Communication Expectations
• Meeting Location
• Other (Enter your own response)

Additional Thoughts

1. Is there anything else that would improve how you communicate or play with others in Star Citizen that was not covered in this survey and would like to share with us? (Optional)
   (Enter your own response)
   :::