Greetings Citizens,

Star Citizen Alpha 2.2 is now available! All backers can access the latest patch on the Live server via the Star Citizen launcher. In addition to a host of bug fixes and balancing updates, Alpha 2.2 includes a number of ships, new features and gameplay elements! Ship updates include the flyable Sabre, damage states for the Freelancer and the hangar-ready Xi’An scout. The first major changes to the component system launch with this update with the addition of new coolers. The physical space around Crusader has also been updated, and individual instances now support up to 24 players at once. This release also marks the first iteration of a new hostility/reputation system, an initial party system and physicalized EVA. For a complete list of changes and additions, you can find the full patch notes here.

“It Wasn’t Me… Honest!”

Your efforts repairing Comm Arrays in Crusader have not gone unnoticed by the corporation in charge of this region of space! Alpha 2.2 introduces the concept of “Monitored” space to the game, which are areas of the system that are actively being observed by Crusader Industries, Inc. These zones are centered around Cry-Astro, Port Olisar and any active Comm Arrays. By disabling COmm Arrays, you can toggle the space around them off in an area, allowing players to conduct nefarious deeds without observation. But watch out! Disabling a Comm Array is illegal, and any player attempting to do so will now be flagged as a criminal in this first iteration of the reputation/hostility system.

Destroying an empty ship, colliding with a landing ship (in Monitored space) or disabling a Comm Array now mark the offending character as a Level 1 Wanted Criminal. More serious crimes, including killing a player or destroying an occupied ship (in Monitored space) will add additional levels. Each level adds an extra 30 seconds of time out before a respawn. Want to reduce your criminal level? Waiting ten minutes without committing an additional offense reduces the level by 1, or you can ‘hack’ a console located at Security Post Kareah for the same result.

The corporate board at Crusader has a vested interest in keeping the Comm-Arrays online, and so they are now offering bounties for those who help protect their space by shooting down Level 5 Wanted Criminals. When a Level 5 Criminal is detected, all active players on the server then have the option to hunt them down, with a special reward for those that score the kill. When a Level 5 Criminal is destroyed, they are ejected from the server and must reconnect. Players aren’t the only one entering the fray, though: pirates and security forces now recognize and assist their friends and foes, and both will spawn to protect their interests (pirates at disabled Comm Arrays, Crusader Security at active stations.)

“Sabre Rattling.”

Did you miss out on your chance to pick up the now-flight-ready Sabre or the hangar-ready Khartu-al Scout during their concept sales? We’re making both ships available for sale again through Monday, March 7.

Remember: we are offering these pledge ships to help fund Star Citizen’s development. The goal is to make additional ships available that give players a different experience rather than a particular advantage when the persistent universe launches. Ship types sold during limited sales will be available to earn in the finished game.

“I’m going out for some fresh air… ack… gasp…”

In many games, collision functions as a capsule-shaped mesh around the character model. You bump into a wall, and your character stops because your capsule collides with the wall.

In Star Citizen, the collision mesh is detailed to take a similar shape as the actual character model which allows us to utilize our rag-doll technology to affect individual limbs on collision with another object. If your character has a hand outstretched, the hand will encounter the wall and react realistically. Physical EVA also allows for the character model animations to be more responsive to what is taking place and the environment around you.

A great example of this is when a character EVA’s towards a surface feet-first. You will see the character’s feet hit the surface and tuck knees into its chest, as if it were bracing for impact.

The overall result is a more organic and dynamic experience for the viewer, and greater ability for CIG to use EVA as an active gameplay element.

“Everybody be cool… YOU… be cool…”

Those following Star Citizen’s development closely may know that the technical design team has been working on a long-term refactor of all ship components. With Alpha 2.2, we’re pleased to announce the first of these components is now online and functioning as intended: ship coolers! Coolers are used to dissipate the active heat built up from other components, currently primarily weapon system.

All ships include a generic cooler and we’ve also added two specialty units to the Voyager Direct store. The size 1 Wen/Cassel Endo and the J-Span Cryo-Star are both available for purchase and rental. Please note that all backers who signed up before the $56 million stretch goal will already have a J-Span Cryo-Star on their account! These coolers can currently be mounted on the Avenger, Aurora, Mustang, 300 Series, HOrnet, Gladiator, Gladius, M50 and P-52 Merlin.

• Wen/Cassel Endo Cooler
• J-Span Cryo-Star Cooler

“The Prefix Code is 1-6-3-0-9.”

One important ‘under the hood’ aspect of 2.2.0 is the start of our rollout towards the updated component system we’ve been working towards. As mentioned above, we have added a new set of Power Plants and Coolers to all existing ships, along with 2 aftermarket Coolers to Voyager Direct to start offering more loadout tuning options for each ship. Our next big step is going to be a rework to all of our Shield Generator components.

To prepare for that next step, we’re needing to make a few short-term changes to how Shield Generators interact with ships. For 2.2, we’ll be locking down the Shield Generators installed to each ship. Avenger shields are locked to Avengers, Mustang shields to Mustangs. Additionally, the current Seal Corp shields offered for sale on Voyager Direct will be temporarily disabled from use.

Now, since we’re temporarily taking something away from the current owners of these Seal Corp shields, we also wanted to take this chance to let everyone know the plans for how these existing purchases will convert into the new component system when the updated Shield Generators roll out.

Voyager Direct Shield Replacement Matrix

Overall, it’s a fairly clean exchange. We’ll be providing owners with 1 Small-sized Seal Corp WEB shield for each size of an existing shield you own. If it’s a Size 3 INK-Mark, you’ll get 3x WEB’s, a Size 2 INK-Splash will get you 2x WEB’s. These updated parts will be distributed out once the full Shield Generator update goes live in a future patch, and the existing items will still remain available (and eligible for this conversion) on Voyager Direct until then.

“I have problems.”

Remember, while there’s a lot to explore in Alpha 2.2 the game still just a portion of the Star Citizen experience! You can help the team improve future releases by reporting bugs and other issues using the Star Citizen Issue Council. The amazing feedback from Star Citizen backers is what has allowed us to interate on the PTU so quickly, and we’re eager for feedback about the Live release as well. You can access the Issue Council here.

Finally, we would be remiss if we not thank our incredible community of PTU testers for helping make this patch the best it can be! Your dedication is exemplary of the UEE’s finest defenders!