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!

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

2. 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

3. Who do you usually play with?

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

4. 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

5. 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)

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

• [ ] Yes
• [ ] No

7. Please briefly describe the situation:
   Enter your answer

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

• [ ] Yes
• [ ] No

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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)

13. 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

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

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

15. 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

16. 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)

17. 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

18. 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)

19. 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

20. 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)

21. 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)

22. 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

23. 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)
    

Hello everyone,

The RSI Ship Matrix is getting a long-awaited update.

Back in June, Evocati members got an early look at ship specifications pulled directly from the game. Starting today, that update is live for everyone.

No more manual transcription lag. No more specs drifting out of sync patch after patch. What you see on the site now reflects the currently published Live build. When a ship's stats change in-game, the Ship Matrix will reflect it.

We know many of you have been waiting for this one, and we're excited to finally put it in your hands. Let us know what you think - we'll be keeping a close eye on your feedback.

Hi All!

Thanks for bringing this to my attention - this was indeed not intended.

An update is being pushed to the AC Shop Service now. I go into more detail below.

Our intent is for one vehicle of each role listed below to be available in Arena Commander for free.
The following vehicles will be free once the service update is live:

• Fighter: Aegis Gladius
• Multi-crew: Anvil Paladin
• Racing: Mirai Razor
• Gravlev: C.O. HoverQuad
• Heavy: Crusader C2 Hercules Starlifter

You'll also still have a free stock Tank and Gravlev for game modes for these. (ie Grav Race & Tank Royale)

Behring are also sponsoring Arena Commander this season, featuring some of their ballistic weapons for free across the module:

• Behring S-38 Pistol
• Behring BR-2 Shotgun
• Behring P8-SC SMG
• Behring P4-AR Rifle
• Behring FS-9 LMG
• Behring P6-LR Sniper Rifle

Reminder to check out Single Weapon Elimination each patch to get a hands on with new weapons and gear!

When the service updates the following vehicles will be available for rent, where they weren’t previously:

• MISC Hull B
• RSI Aurora Mk2
• RSI Hermes
• RSI Apollo Medivac
• RSI Apollo Triage
• RSI Perseus
• RSI Salvation
• DRAKE Clipper
• DRAKE Golem OX
• Greycat MDC
• Greycat UTV
• Kruger L-22 Alpha Wolf
• Anvil Paladin
• Esperia Stinger
• Grey's Shiv

AC rentals now also persist across patches, reminder that you can "Extend Rental" to keep them longer.

I also want to reiterate that we are not a fan of the rental system in its current state, whilst that menu being Flash does limit things somewhat I will be investigating quick ways to improve the system for 4.10, one example being having a much longer initial rental period. For now my team is primarily focused on supporting the PU & SC1.0 with some pretty cool and important features (Transport, Radar/Scanning, Instancing and soon Freight Elevators & Hangars) but I will be reviewing some of the top issues in AC and seeing if there’s anything we can do to make the experience better.

A quick recap for those who don't know the story of "Pale Blue Dot" 🙂

The famous “Pale Blue Dot” image was taken in 1990 by the Voyager 1 spacecraft, from about 6 billion kilometers (3.7 billion miles) away from Earth.

The idea came from Carl Sagan, who convinced NASA to turn the probe around for one final look back before it left the solar system. His goal was to show Earth as it appears from the vastness of space.

In the image, Earth is just a tiny, faint blue dot, barely visible, suspended in a beam of sunlight.

This perspective deeply moved Sagan.

He saw it as a powerful reminder of both the fragility and the apparent insignificance of our world on a cosmic scale and at the same time, its unique importance as the only home we know.

This reflection later inspired his famous text in the book Pale Blue Dot (1994), calling for humility, responsibility, and a broader perspective on human conflicts.

[All Waves] Star Citizen Alpha 4.9 PTU Patch Notes 12218630pinned

Yesterday

Star Citizen Alpha Patch 4.9

Alpha Patch 4.9 has been released and is now available to test on the PTU environment! Patch should now show: VERSION 4.9.0-PTU.12218630

• Audience: All Waves
• Server Info: PTU Channel - US Only
• Long Term Persistence: Enabled

Testing/Feedback Focus

• Stability, Bugfixes, LTP between PTU releases
• Recco Battaglia Repeatable Missions (reputation sped up for tonight)
• Vehicle Hit Marker Updates
• Behring CQ7 Bullpup Rifle
• Vehicle Cleanup Updates
• Vehicle Weapon Balance Pass
• Valakkar Behavior Updates

Known Issues

• PU - Armor / Clothing / Inventory Rework - "Right Click > Equip" does not function if a paper doll slot is occupied
• PU - Nyx - StarMap / Locations - QV Breaker Stations can be traveled to anytime at Nyx without RCD missions active
• PU - Ship Battles - Missions / Locations - Escort - Hangar doors are not opening for the ship that needs to be escorted
• PU - Ship Battles V2 - EscortShips - Mission Content / AI - Escorted ship does not Quantum Travel away or Go to the Hangar after neutralizing the AI ships in the mission location
• PU - Commodity Kiosks - Multiple Locations - "Failed" error appears when buying RMC from Commodity Kiosks

Features & Updates

Vehicle Armor Hit Feedback
Audio for vehicle armor hit feedback is now fully implemented and playing correctly

ASD Facilities
Valakkars added to areas throughout the ASD facilities, providing an additional creature threat


Combine C-788 S4 Cannon Balance

• physical damage reduced from 1200 to 1090 per shot
• armor penetration distance reduced from 12.24 to 2.24
• fire rate delay increased from 40 to 50 RPM

VR Feature Test Updates

• Stereo cursor is now fully body-aligned and no longer shifts position when affected by external forces such as water, elevators, or trains
• Fixed stereo cursor being invisible when hovering over radar UI elements
• Fixed a performance issue caused by an optimization that was submitted in a previous PTU build

BUG FIXES

- Fixed 2 Client Crashes
- Fixed 2 Server Crashes

• Potential Fix: Contested Zone airlocks in Pyro not cycling correctly (follow-up fix addressing temperature and atmosphere edge cases)
• Potential Fix: Unable to drag, drop, or click items when looting an external inventory using the FPS loot interface
• Potential Fix: Patrol Ship Battles mission not triggering a failure state when the protected ship was destroyed, leaving the mission stuck with no way to complete or fail it
• Potential Fix: Players getting stuck inside the cockpit of certain ships after a collision
• Potential Fix: Juvenile Valakkars not moving away from the player after submerging, causing them to resurface directly on top of the player
• Potential Fix: Yormandi Eye displaying "Marok Gem" as its name when tractor beamed instead of the correct item name
• Potential Fix: Ships disappearing when landing at or departing from Levski hangars (additional fix: missing condition check identified)
• Potential Fix: Interaction prompts appearing offset from the object the player is looking at when the object is near the edge of the player's field of view

What it used to look like: