Another year, another star system. That’s right! We kicked off this year’s CitizenCon Direct with the exciting announcement of our third star system, Nyx, a place with its own communities, conflicts, and catastrophes. Not to mention, the launch of three new and uniquely awesome ships.
Click the video below to catch everything you missed, including exclusive news, behind-the-scenes looks, and a live broadcast straight from our very own Manchester studio.
THE FIGHT AHEAD Three Heavy Fighters hit the ‘verse this CitizenCon, each with their own impressive origins, inspiring design, and unique talent for destruction.
Anvil Paladin A fortress. A stronghold. A bastion of the battleground. Charge deep into combat, withstand sustained fire, and hit back hard with track-mounted turrets covering every angle.
Esperia Stinger Welcome Esperia’s first Heavy Fighter and majestic Vanduul replica, the Stinger. This alien predator is fight-focused with a streamlined interior, toughened armor, and enviable cockpit visibility.
Grey’s Market Shiv Grey’s Market brings you the best of the worst from the most dangerous places, its latest build, the Shiv. A Freelancer engine, Valkyrie VTOLs, and a Hurricane turret all add up to a whole lotta trouble.
Overview of CitizenCon 2955 Announcements
CitizenCon 2955, held on October 11, 2025, in Manchester, UK, featured the annual “CitizenCon Direct” presentation from Roberts Space Industries (RSI). The event focused on expanding the Star Citizen universe with new exploration opportunities, gameplay mechanics, and hardware reveals. Key themes included planetary tech advancements, player-driven content creation, dynamic combat, and the persistent push toward a more interconnected ‘verse. No firm release dates were given for Star Citizen 1.0 or Squadron 42, but the roadmap emphasized iterative progress through Alpha updates. Below, I’ll break down the major announcements by category, drawing from official RSI recaps, developer panels, and community breakdowns. New Ships and VehiclesThe “Captains of Industry” panel revisited base-building tools while unveiling three new ships, emphasizing modular designs for industrial and combat roles. These join the pipeline alongside delayed concepts like the Legionnaire (pushed to Q1 2026).
Ship Name
Manufacturer
Type
Key Features
Expected Availability
RSI Perseus
RSI
Medium Fighter
High-agility interceptor with modular weapon bays for rapid reconfiguration; enhanced quantum drive for hit-and-run tactics; interior includes a compact medbay and cargo hold for solo ops. Teased as a “guardian of the frontier” for org patrols.
Flight-ready in Alpha 4.4 (late 2025); concept sale during IAE 2955.
Anvil Carrack Expedition Variant
Anvil Aerospace
Multi-Crew Explorer
Upgraded from the base Carrack with reinforced hull plating, drone swarm bays for reconnaissance, and an expanded vehicle garage supporting ground rovers. Focuses on deep-space surveying with onboard hydroponics for self-sustaining crews.
In-concept now; full release in Q2 2026.
Drake Ironclad
Drake Interplanetary
Heavy Hauler
Armored transport with defensive turrets and a “siege mode” for fortifying landing zones; massive cargo capacity (up to 4 SCU) but sluggish handling; includes repair arm for field maintenance. Aimed at pirate-hunting convoys.
Teased prototype; pipeline for mid-2026.
Additional teases included ground vehicles like the “Poop Bucket and Fan” utility rover (a humorous nod to sanitation tech for outposts) and modular trailers for hauling refined materials. No capital ships were revealed, but the Polaris and Mirai Guardian from prior years were confirmed for final polish in Alpha 4.3.2.New Features and Gameplay SystemsSeveral panels dove into core systems, with a strong emphasis on player agency and technical upgrades. Highlights include:
Nyx Star System Launch (November 2025): The long-awaited Nyx system debuts as a lawless frontier zone with procedurally generated asteroid fields, derelict Vanduul wrecks, and high-risk salvage ops. It’s positioned as a “lost paradise” for smuggling and exploration, featuring ruined outposts and dynamic NPC factions. Integration with Server Meshing allows seamless transitions from Stanton, reducing loading screens. New missions include escort runs through nebula clouds and artifact hunts with environmental hazards like zero-G debris storms.
Genesis Planet Tech Evolution (V5): Building on last year’s suite, Genesis now supports hyper-realistic biomes with evolving ecosystems (e.g., migrating wildlife packs and seasonal flora shifts). The first implementation hits Nyx’s primary planet in Q1 2026—a lush, overgrown world with ancient ruins and POI clusters. Features volumetric fog, adaptive lighting, and NPC pathfinding that reacts to weather events (e.g., acid rain eroding trails). This ties into the Guide System for org-led expeditions, rewarding teams with shared blueprints.
Crafting System Tech Preview (End of 2025): Players can now blueprint and assemble custom gear/weapons from salvaged components, using new inventory UI for drag-and-drop assembly. It’s a precursor to full base building, with stations like orbital refineries for smelting. Blueprints include rarity tiers (common scrap to exotic alloys), and failures can yield “mutated” items with random buffs/debuffs. Testing starts in PTU 4.3.2, focusing on balance to prevent economy exploits.
Instanced Fleet Battles and Reverse Death Star Raids: A new raid mode pits strike teams against massive Vanduul capital ships in “spaceship-centric” assaults. Teams board via breaching pods, navigate zero-G interiors, and sabotage reactors while fending off swarms. Includes instanced zones for open/closed lobbies (solo practice vs. org wars) and PVP “tax” mechanics where defeated foes drop loot crates. The end-boss is a colossal, biomechanical hive carrier with adaptive defenses. Returns like Siege of Orison were confirmed for holiday events.
Seamless Instancing and Social Overhauls: Alpha 4.4 introduces hybrid open/closed instances for high-pop events, blending persistent worlds with private queues. Org tools expand with alliance pacts for shared territory claims, and a “Vanduul Front” event series adds faction warfare. No major updates on flight model or quantum travel, but atmospheric control surfaces were teased for 2026.
New Content and Events
Nyx-Specific Missions and Lore Drops: 20+ new quests launch with the system, including a storyline arc about a “forgotten colony” overrun by xenomorphs. Lore videos explored Vanduul hive psychology, tying into Squadron 42’s narrative.
Return of Community Favorites: Siege of Orison remastered with updated visuals and scalable difficulty; Cosplay Competition winners got in-game armor skins. The “Enter Atmosphere” afterparty featured ship racing sims and dev Q&A.
Roadmap Teases for 2026: Early looks at engineering gameplay (ship reactor tuning) and underground base building, but no timelines. Vulkan/HDR support and ray-tracing were mentioned as “ongoing optimizations” without specifics. End-game loops emphasize org capitals on player-built stations in multi-system space.
Overall, the event leaned into exploration and crafting as gateways to emergent gameplay, with Nyx serving as a testing ground for larger ambitions. Community feedback highlighted excitement for Nyx and crafting but frustration over delayed features like base building and social tools. For full details, check the official recap on the RSI site.
