Star Citizen delivers the next generation of space flight simulation gaming, combining FPS (First Person Shooter) combat and persistent MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) gameplay to create a living, breathing first person universe capable of truly unlimited gameplay experiences. In addition, through the game's advanced Newtonian physics engine, Star Citizen enables players to experience an unparalleled space sim flying experience with ship control, performance and response calculated based on dozens of dynamically generated physics based variables.

Star Citizen will not require a subscription, and not be free-to-play, it will will be available for a one-time purchase. And while players will be able to play in the Star Citizen universe for free, there will also be virtual items available for purchase with in-game credits so players can customize their ships and other items.

Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) today announced the release of the Star Citizen – Alpha 3.18: Lasting Legacies update. Available now, Lasting Legacies marks a giant technical leap forward on Star Citizen’s journey to deliver real, universal persistence with the addition of Persistent Entity Streaming (PES). With this new tech, all physical objects moved or placed by players will be dynamically tracked on the server they were moved on and remain in their new locations. Players can now leave their mark for other players to find or encounter the aftermath of other players’ actions when they log in, creating one of the most immersive and “lived-in” experiences ever seen in games. PES represents the largest significant technical update in the game’s history and is a critical addition in laying the foundation for full in-game persistence and Server Meshing that will unlock a new level of immersion in the ‘verse.

Today’s update also introduces the long-awaited salvage profession, an entirely new economic and non-combat career path for pilots in the ‘verse. The ability to salvage will allow pilots to retrieve valuable materials from target ships and sell them for profit. The new salvage profession is supported through the addition of new technology and tools including a complete cargo refactor, giving cargo a physical representation in-game. Lasting Legacies also includes the launch of the Drake Interplanetary Vulture, a new entry-level flyable ship for the salvage profession, perfect for pilots beginning their career in space salvage.

“Every update to Star Citizen brings important new content and tech, but Lasting Legacies is our biggest milestone yet for both the game and all of us at CIG. Persistent Entity Streaming is the first public, impactful step towards a truly persistent universe where players can make their mark, and is a foundational building block that opens countless new gameplay opportunities,” said Star Citizen Creative Director Chris Roberts. “One huge such opportunity enabled by persistence is the first iteration of salvage gameplay, which we’re thrilled to finally deliver to players, along with the new physicalized cargo refactor. Our players have been patiently awaiting Alpha 3.18: Lasting Legacies, and I’m incredibly proud that we’ve now able to give them our most consequential patch update in years, one that will make the galaxy even more alive and real than ever before.”

Along with new tech and features to support emergent gameplay, Lasting Legacies expands on existing gameplay content for players. Derelict settlements have been expanded with new and more-diverse locations for on-foot FPS missions on Daymar. Klescher prison has received new missions for prisoners on the wrong side of the law, including new methods by which they can reduce their sentences. Racing gameplay has been enhanced, as CIG has taken inspiration from the dedicated racing community and created seven Time Trial Race Missions throughout the Stanton system. Each of these new race features improve design and experience with unique points of interest for players to encounter throughout their races, as well as functional race markers allowing players to track their progress accurately.

Star Citizen – Alpha 3.18: Lasting Legacies update key features include:

• Persistent Entity Streaming: One small step for pilots, one giant leap for Star Citizen! PES is a major technical milestone on the path towards a fully persistent universe and the implementation of Server Meshing. With PES, all physical items on each server will now feature proper persistence – dropping a weapon in a friend’s apartment as a gift will result in the weapon physically remaining there on that server when their friend enters their apartment. This new feature realizes the promise of a universe where players have a lasting impact and brings Star Citizen one step closer to that goal.
• One Pilot’s Junk is Another’s Treasure: The highly-anticipated Salvage feature makes its debut! Using a Vulture, Reclaimer, or salvage tool while on foot, players will be able to scrape the materials from target ship hulls. Similar to mining, players will need to balance their beam energy to maximize the scraping process and avoid damaging or wasting valuable salvage. Initially, players will salvage a more generic material that can be sold for UEC, with updates to improve rewards and support the use of salvage materials in repairing player vessels to be added in a later update.
• Cargo Refactor: The first step towards a comprehensive refactor of how cargo works in Star Citizen adds fully-physicalized cargo to the game. Leaning into simulation elements, players can pick up, move, or drop physicalized cargo with their locations dynamically tracked on the server. Space piracy has become a much more lucrative venture as pilots can “liberate” cargo vessels of their valuable goods.
• Drake Vulture Spreads its Wings: Living up to its namesake, the Drake Vulture is the entry-level vehicle for the salvage profession. The affordable, self-sufficient craft can be fully operated by a lone pilot as they explore the stars for damaged or abandoned vessels. Pilots can rip wrecks apart like a pro and carve out their own place in the galaxy with the help of Drake Interplanetary’s one-man salvage monster.
• RSI Scorpius Antares Shines Bright: Every pilot needs a wingman, and every fleet needs an Antares. A variant of the popular RSI Scorpius, the Antares trades heavier armaments and the signature rear-facing turret for a suite of hardware designed for electronic warfare. Its Quantum Jammer can keep enemy ships from escaping battle, while its powerful EMP device can disable enemy shields and systems, leaving targets and their cargo vulnerable as they drift through space. Although a capable ship in its own right, the Antares shines as a force multiplier for any fleet.
• erelict Settlements for 600i/Mercury: A new crashed 600i & Mercury Star Runner settlement has been added to Daymar for players to explore. Similar to other derelict settlements, this new location contains on-foot FPS missions challenging players to clear out hostiles, track down assassination targets, or recover lost items.
• Prison Activities: There is no getting out of jail for free in Star Citizen¸ but pilots have options on how to pass their time as they serve their sentence in Klescher prison. New mission types have been added to ingratiate players with the prison warden and potentially reduce their sentences, like collecting and turning over contraband from other prisoners. This includes new mission types for career criminals, who may voluntarily go to prison to eliminate an assassination target.
• Time Trial Race Missions: Taking inspiration from Star Citizen’s dedicated racing community, CIG is providing additional support for speed demons. Seven new races have been added throughout Stanton at Clio (Snake Pit), Daymar, Crusader, Hurston, the Yela Asteroid Belt, Euterpe, and Area18. The brand-new tracks feature newly-functional race markers, landing pads for the participants, observation decks for spectators, and multiple new points of interest for players to view as they try to post the top time.
• Rivers and Sand Caves: Rivers, first added in update 3.17, have been updated with new biome-specific rulesets around bodies of water for a more natural appearance. Additional rivers and lakes containing location-relevant resources have been added on both microTech and Hurston. The update also adds the first iteration of sand caves throughout the Stanton system. Cave networks will contain a new harvestable resource that can be gathered and sold for UEC in this first iteration, with additional content and functionality in the works for later updates.

For full details on the Star Citizen – Alpha 3.18: Lasting Legacies update, please head here.