The video analyzes the ship backlog in Star Citizen, noting that 79% of the total 211 unique ships are now flyable, with improvements in the development strategy focusing on releasing ships with complete gameplay functionality. It highlights ongoing challenges, particularly with capital ships, and emphasizes the importance of gameplay mechanics in the timely release of new ships, encouraging viewers to stay updated through the Colonial Movers’ community.
The video discusses the ongoing ship backlog in the game Star Citizen, highlighting the efforts of Colonial Movers, a community group that tracks ship availability and updates. As of version 4.1, 79% of the total 211 unique ships are currently flyable, with 167 accessible to players. The video notes a shift in the development strategy, where the team is now focusing on releasing ships that are directly flyable rather than just concept art, indicating an improvement in their ship pipeline since the earlier days of the game’s development.
The narrator reflects on the past challenges faced by the ship development team, particularly from 2016 to 2020, when many ships were announced as concepts without the necessary gameplay support. The video contrasts this with the current state of development, where features are being built more systematically, allowing for better integration of ships into the game. However, it acknowledges that while the situation has improved, there are still instances of ships being released without complete gameplay functionality.
Several ships in the backlog are discussed, with the narrator explaining that many of them cannot be released until specific gameplay mechanics are developed. For example, ships like the Vulcan and Endeavor require drone functionality, while the Genesis Star Liner and Crucible need passenger transport and drone support, respectively. The video emphasizes that releasing these ships prematurely could necessitate significant reworks later on, which the developers are keen to avoid.
The video also touches on the production of capital ships, which remain a significant bottleneck in the backlog. While smaller ships are nearly fully delivered, with 98% of small ships and 81% of medium ships available, capital ships are lagging behind at 57%. This highlights the developers’ focus on larger ships, which are more complex and require more time to finalize.
In conclusion, the video provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of ship development in Star Citizen, acknowledging the progress made while also pointing out the challenges that remain. The narrator encourages viewers to stay informed by checking out the Colonial Movers’ updates and emphasizes the importance of gameplay mechanics in the timely release of ships. Overall, the discussion reflects both optimism for the future and a realistic understanding of the complexities involved in game development.