In 2023, Star Citizen saw significant updates such as Alpha 3.18 with persistent entity streaming, new ships, and community events, but faced challenges with game stability and performance. The year was marked by the acquisition of Turbulent Studios, the return of CitizenCon with major Squadron 42 updates, and the launch of a Preview Channel for testing foundational technologies, indicating progress in development and community involvement.
In the year 2023, Star Citizen experienced a mix of developments, including both high points and challenges. The year began with optimism, bolstered by a letter from the chairman at the end of the previous year, which set high expectations for technical advancements in the game. Alpha 3.18 was a major focus, introducing persistent entity streaming (PES) and cloud-based technologies, which were expected to be a significant step forward. However, the release of 3.18 was troubled, leading to a period of instability and frustration for players as the development team worked to address issues related to the new backend services and the game’s performance.
Throughout the year, several updates and events took place in Star Citizen, including the introduction of new ships like the RSI Scorpius and the Marai, as well as updates to Arena Commander. The game’s community remained engaged through various in-game events like Xeno Threat, the Red Festival, and the Daymar Rally, as well as out-of-game gatherings such as Bar Citizens. Despite the slow pace of news and updates during the summer months, the community found ways to stay involved, and the team at Cloud Imperium Games continued to work on improving the game’s stability and introducing new content.
One of the most significant developments in 2023 was the acquisition of Turbulent Studios by Cloud Imperium Games. Turbulent had been a long-time contractor for Star Citizen, contributing to various aspects of the game, including the star map, backend services, and the development of new locations. The acquisition was seen as a strategic move to bolster the game’s development, with the goal for Turbulent to eventually produce entire star systems for Star Citizen.
As the year progressed, excitement built up for CitizenCon, the game’s largest annual event, which returned as an in-person celebration for the first time in four years. The event showcased impressive new trailers, including a Squadron 42 cinematic and a demonstration of the game’s engine capabilities. Furthermore, the event revealed that Squadron 42 had reached feature completion and was entering the polishing phase, marking a milestone in the game’s development.
The year concluded with the announcement of the Preview Channel, a new testing environment for foundational technologies like server meshing and crash recovery. The channel was designed to isolate new tech from the live service to ensure a more stable play experience for the general player base. Additionally, the team prepared for the release of patch 3.22, aiming to address remaining issues and introduce new content before the holiday break. Despite the challenges and delays, 2023 saw Star Citizen making strides in both technology and community engagement.