# Star Citizen is the Future of PC Gaming, and it \[was\] Free to Play this week (Edit: No Longer Free) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** video-games-e-games\ **Created:** [October 13, 2015, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528 "2015-10-13T06:29:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 58
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1141 "2026-05-27T02:55:57Z")
I never found that $700 AMD code. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1142 "2026-06-24T19:32:27Z")
> **[Star Citizen's latest alpha update brings a 'full reset' to its universe, as...](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/star-citizens-latest-alpha-update-brings-a-full-reset-to-its-universe-as-cloud-imperium-games-promises-to-crack-down-on-player-exploits-and-duplication-issues/)** > > Players keep their blueprints and ships bought with in-game currency, but that's it. > [Star Citizen](https://www.pcgamer.com/star-citizen/) has a problem. No, not the fact that it’s been in development for well over a decade, or that it still has no hard release date on the horizon despite[raising almost $1 billion in development funds](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/star-citizen-is-on-course-to-reach-usd1-billion-in-player-funding-in-2026-and-we-still-might-not-get-to-play-its-singleplayer-campaign-next-year/). The problem is that the markets in Cloud Imperium Games’ space sim alpha are riddled with questionably obtained goods. > > Unscrupulous players are using[various exploits](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/spectrum/community/SC/forum/3/thread/how-bad-is-duping-in-star-citizen-right-now-worse-) to duplicate valuable items en-masse, enabling them to make money and buy expensive ships quickly while flooding the market with duped goods. Not only is this viewed as unsportsmanlike by many players, but it’s also throwing the game’s economy out of whack. > **[Star Citizen's latest alpha patch adds 385 asteroid defence missions, but...](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/star-citizens-latest-alpha-patch-adds-385-asteroid-defence-missions-but-players-are-reporting-problems-with-broken-hangar-doors-and-exploding-pilots/)** > > Alpha 4.8.1 gives players the chance to earn 'unique blueprints for the first time', if they can actually complete the missions. > Star Citizen may not be finished, but it is playable in an alpha that gets updated relatively regularly. Only last month,[patch 4.8](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/star-citizens-latest-alpha-update-brings-a-full-reset-to-its-universe-as-cloud-imperium-games-promises-to-crack-down-on-player-exploits-and-duplication-issues/) added a massive new mission type that involved players embarking on a combined space and ground assault on a heavily fortified asteroid. > They sound fun enough, although players over on the[Star Citizen subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/starcitizen/comments/1tvtxc9/alpha_481_defenders_needed_attacks_on_industry/) are reporting some _slight_ teething problems with the missions. “Failed every one so far because the pilot you’re supposed to escort flies into the hangar and the doors never open so he just explodes,”[writes](https://www.reddit.com/r/starcitizen/comments/1tvtxc9/comment/opk0tkn/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) Zealousideal-Ad2695. Poordutchguy[points out](https://www.reddit.com/r/starcitizen/comments/1tvtxc9/comment/opk4j7i/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) that this is not a new issue: “That happened when these missions were active in the past. I did 13 missions. 1 succeeded.” Is _anyone_ trying to ensure the game actually _works?_ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1143 "2026-06-24T19:42:31Z")
Seriously, duping? Game makers figured out how to prevent that before Star Citizen even started development. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1144 "2026-06-24T19:52:43Z")
Unfortunate side effect of an untenable development cycle. It was never a good idea to release so many alpha builds to the extent they are treated as some kind of actual developed product. But I suppose they didn’t have a lot of choice. It’s not like they are anywhere close to a beta, much less a full release, and few other ways of keeping the cash coming in without engagement from the ~~suckers~~ …er early adopters ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1145 "2026-06-26T12:43:44Z")
A project with no finish line will never be finished. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1146 "2026-07-28T14:38:56Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Is _anyone_ trying to ensure the game actually _works?_ Maybe? > **[Star Citizen's next update will switch focus to fixing its bug-riddled...](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/star-citizens-next-update-will-switch-focus-to-fixing-its-bug-riddled-previous-update-with-bigger-changes-shunted-to-a-later-patch/)** > > "We're moving Siege of Orison and all instance-related content out of Alpha 4.9.0". How many _new_ bugs are getting introduced? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1147 "2026-07-28T14:50:55Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > How many _new_ bugs are getting introduced? For all that money, it’d damn well better be “lots”. “New bugs reported” is probably the most useful software development metric they have. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1148 "2026-08-17T19:45:12Z")
Found on another board: [Star Citizen had a live stream of their internal build, and it was baadddd. Plus a man gets knifed in the back in real time.](https://www.resetera.com/threads/star-citizen-had-a-live-stream-of-their-internal-build-and-it-was-baadddd-plus-a-man-gets-knifed-in-the-back-in-real-time.1606291/) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dQRZ71JEAdo/maxresdefault.jpg "Star Citizen's Disaster Livestream") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQRZ71JEAdo) > These 4 devs interact like they hate eachother, the game, and life in general. Then the big boss comes in and just throws the main dude under the bus ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1149 "2026-08-18T14:00:17Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > For all that money, it’d damn well better be “lots”. > > “New bugs reported” is probably the most useful software development metric they have. If you’re building new code, absolutely. “No bugs” means you aren’t looking. They need to stop building. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1150 "2026-08-19T20:06:39Z")
Here’s an article about the same livestream: > **[Star Citizen Dev Hosts Disastrous Livestream To Show How A Mission Works And...](https://kotaku.com/star-citizen-live-stream-fail-siege-of-orison-mission-2000725084)** > > The Star Citizen Live stream featuring the Siege of Orison mission doesn't go well at all > Elliot, one of the developers, tells his teammate Olli, another developer, to kill himself, which inspired a rash of awkward laughter before Elliot finally appended “in game” to his comment. Yikes. > [Content director Jared] Huckaby informs the group they’re at time. Then he walks up to Olli, who seems to be the developer behind this livestream project, and promptly murders him with an “It’s your show, wrap it up.” Olli looks around in a confused panic before trying to salvage his casual shanking by saying he had fun, with with an expression and tone that tells you he is not telling the truth. The devs say a few words and the livestream ends. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1151 "2026-08-19T20:22:42Z")
Good Og! In [TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PromotedFanboy) parlance, [Huckaby is a promoted fanboy!](https://starcitizen.tools/Jared_Huckaby) ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1152 "2026-08-20T02:13:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Elliot, one of the developers, tells his teammate Olli, another developer, to kill himself That is… amazing. A guy who knows he has the responsibility of a dev, who is actively promoting their product and being watched by a huge crowd… can’t contain his gamer toxicity. I wonder if that indicates a lack of morale among the staff or if that guy is just such a dick he can’t control it. I’m hoping this thread continues through at least 2030. I want Star Citizen to at least have three decades in its development. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1153 "2026-08-20T08:40:01Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I want Star Citizen to at least have three decades in its development. Development truly began in 2013, following the initial crowdfunding effort. For 3 decades it would have to go until at least 2043, sorry. ☹ It did start as a proof of concept as early as 2011, but the actual game didn’t start development until 2 years later. That being said, in a couple of years it will surpass the record set by Duke Nukem. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1154 "2026-08-20T09:24:46Z")
I was making a cheeky observation and worded it badly. I was thinking it’d be fun to have development take place in the 2010s, 2020s, and 2030s but that’s really not a good metric because by the same logic a game that was developed from 2019 to 2021 would technically have “development in 2 decades” Still, we might be able to achieve 20 straight years if it makes it to 2033, which isn’t out o the question depending on what we define as development. It’s already gone years past when anyone would’ve predicted and I’m shocked to say there’s apparently still plenty of room to milk people further. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1155 "2026-08-20T15:31:35Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Still, we might be able to achieve 20 straight years if it makes it to 2033, which isn’t out o the question depending on what we define as development. It would not surprise me at all. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1156 "2026-08-29T02:35:40Z")
Squadron 42 has been delayed to Q2 of next year, because of GTA6 and definitely not for any other reason. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528.md?page=57)