Star Citizen’s colonial outposts have taken a long time to develop, with the initial introduction happening in 2020. The architectural style of the game, called colonialism, is meant to depict the era when humanity was spreading out and building structures using natural resources found on different planets. The development process has involved creating 2D sketches which were then turned into 3D concepts in Blender. White boxing and grey boxing stages were conducted to determine the layouts, lighting, and materials of the outposts.
The team has been working on various features and modules of the colonial outposts, such as homesteads, social areas, garages, and refineries. They have also been experimenting with different props and furniture to make the interiors feel more lived-in. The outpost designs have gone through iterations and refinements, with an emphasis on modularity and interactability. The lighting team has started focusing on the outposts to ensure they fit the environment and create the desired atmosphere.
The development of colonial outposts has faced challenges, including the ever-evolving terrain of planets in the game. Despite the delays, progress has been made, and certain variants of the outposts have been completed and tested internally. The team is now working on refining the visuals and gameplay of these outposts, with plans to distribute them across the Pyro system. Overall, the development of these villages and towns has taken time due to the attention to detail, architectural style, and the need to integrate various gameplay elements, but the progress made so far suggests that players can look forward to unique and immersive experiences in these environments.