In a significant response to growing player unrest, Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) has publicly acknowledged the dissatisfaction surrounding the release of premium “pay-to-win” flight blades in their expansive space simulator, Star Citizen. The studio admitted that it “missed a step” in its rollout strategy, which has become a point of contention among its long-term supporters.
For over a decade, Star Citizen has garnered unwavering support from its dedicated community, with players contributing funds to the tune of over $800 million. However, the introduction of flight blades as purchasable items—granting players notable advantages in gameplay—has stirred significant backlash. Critics argue that these items should be earnable through regular gameplay rather than solely accessible via financial transactions. In light of this, CIG has committed to modifying their strategy, promising that flight blades will soon be available for in-game currency (aUEC) in the upcoming patch, expected in June of this year. Furthermore, they vowed to ensure that all new gameplay items will be earnable in-game upon their release going forward.
“We’re set to deliver 11 patches this year—a notable increase from our usual four. Our goal is to address bugs and enhance gameplay content rigorously to provide a more rewarding experience in the Persistent Universe,” stated Tyler “Zyloh-CIG” Witkin, as cited by PC Gamer. He added, “In our eagerness to roll out new features, we recognize that we did not handle this situation appropriately.”
“To clarify, the new flight blades will be obtainable for aUEC in the next patch,” Witkin continued. “While our initial intent was to provide early access to assist in development efforts, we’ve reassessed our approach. Items like flight blades or bomb racks should be obtainable in-game simultaneously with their launch on our store.”
Witkin emphasized user agency in supporting development: “The choice is ultimately yours. You’re welcome to support our project early, but it’s not a requirement.”
Despite CIG’s attempts at damage control, player sentiments remain mixed. One community member poignantly remarked, “This feels like a stopgap solution that overlooks deeper issues. Selling increasingly powerful items risk undermining gameplay and progression over time.”
Another commented on the sense of urgency created around the release, stating, “Flight blades were kept out of view until they hit the store shortly after the patch went live. This was clearly a strategic move to capitalize on fear of missing out during the Invictus event; it seems more about maximizing revenue than demonstrating genuine goodwill towards players.”
Amid these concerns, another user expressed a growing apprehension: “If we accept these flight blades and CIG benefits from their sales, we could only expect more pay-to-win elements in the future. It’s vital to ‘vote with our wallets.’ I’ve backed this project since version 2.6, but the recent pricing feel as inflated as those in GTA Online, making it tough to accept this trajectory.”
Star Citizen’s ambitious journey began with its original Kickstarter campaign in 2012, yet fans remain in a state of anticipation for a polished version 1.0 release date that still eludes them.
