There’s no denying that the development of Star Citizen has been somewhat controversial. An initial early build was showcased way back in 2013 after a successful Kickstarter campaign, and the development has continued over the last decade.
Over the last few years, it’s been felt that the game has suffered from a feature creep, with the planned scale just rising to greater heights, leaving it far from a 1.0 release. Despite that, Star Citizen has announced a brand-new system, making you really wonder what developer Cloud Imperium Games is planning at this point.
Star Citizen‘s New System is Now in Pre-Production
CitizenCon, Star Citizen‘s annual player-focused event, kicked off today with possibly more news than ever. The event in Manchester not only promises a look at the usual breath of Star Citizen content but also plans to give us a preview of the true 1.0 version of the title to come.
On the first day, the team at Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) gave us a look at various aspects of Star Citizen‘s gameplay, including character customization options, the persistent world, and the StarEngine tech. However, the major highlight was that Sherman Castra II, aka “The Living Sky,” entered pre-production.
The Castra system, particularly Castra II, is a central part of Star Citizen‘s massive universe. The system can be found on the former Perry Line next to the Xi’an Empire, which brings us two unique planets. Castra I is a coreless and desolate world used by the UEE for military practice, earning it the name “Bullseye.”
However, Castra II is more crucial for its current role in Star Citizen‘s tourism and trade sectors. Once a staging area for the military, it now stands as a place of commerce and features breathtaking landscapes such as lakes, mountain ranges, and forests.
Castra II’s main landing zone is called Sherman, also referred to as the “Island in the Sky.” Due to Sherman’s unique geography, it’s a key location for further exploration. Even though it’s currently in the pre-production phase, early looks into its design highlight its potential as a dynamic location within Star Citizen‘s massive universe.
The Future is Not Looking Bright For Star Citizen
While it’s great to see CIG giving us a look at the future of one of the most anticipated games in history, things aren’t looking good for the project. Before this year’s CitizenCon, CIG pushed its developers to work on weekends and only allowed them to take a leave on Sundays if they managed to clock in 56 hours.
Despite boasting a massive budget, the game is suffering from financial strain. Earlier this year, CIG axed more than 100 jobs in Los Angeles and Austin and even halted wage increases for its developers.
Insider reports suggest that the game’s development issues can be blamed directly on the studio’s founder, Chris Roberts. He has been constantly bringing game-defining changes that have caused havoc for the developers.
The game’s Star Engine has also proven to be a major hurdle. It’s been modified way too many times, and developers at CIG have called it a Frankenstein of development tool.
Let’s hope CIG can bring some more convincing news for the future of Star Citizen at CitizenCon. Otherwise, the game might lose all the hype behind it even before it releases.
With that said, are you excited about Star Citizen‘s upcoming updates? If so, let us know in the comments below.
