Star Citizen is revamping its referral and Wiccolo mission systems to provide clearer rewards, reduce grind, and offer more accessible and appealing incentives such as new armor, weapons, decorative hangar items, and exclusive ships like the Misk Raptor. The update also ensures fairness for existing players by crediting past referrals and gives new players a generous starting bonus, reflecting CIG’s commitment to improving player experience based on community feedback.
The video discusses a significant update coming to Star Citizen’s referral system and the Wiccolo mission loop, both aimed at improving player experience. The Wiccolo system, originally criticized for its randomness and tedious contract submission process, is being revamped to offer more tangible and direct rewards. Players will now know their rewards upfront when accepting contracts, can start certain contracts from Wiccolo’s Emporium, submit nested items in containers to fulfill contracts more efficiently, and turn in items at any Wiccolo location, reducing unnecessary travel and grind.
The referral system is undergoing a complete overhaul to address its previous lackluster rewards and accessibility. The old system offered minimal incentives until very high and often unattainable referral counts, which mainly benefited content creators or those referring multiple accounts. The new ladder introduces more frequent and meaningful rewards, including medium armor sets in a stylish black and gold color scheme, new weapons like the Volta SMG, and exclusive ship paint jobs inspired by in-game brands and locations, making rewards more appealing and attainable for regular players.
Several new decorative items will also be available through referrals, including statues like the Spirit of the Starmen and VanDuel figures, as well as memorabilia representing the four major Stanton cities. These decorations are intended as hangar items, adding a layer of personalization and immersion for players. The video highlights the significance of these additions, noting that while they may not be usable on ships, they will enrich players’ hangar environments with unique and lore-friendly objects.
One of the most exciting reveals is the inclusion of the Misk Raptor, a ship that was initially an April Fool’s joke but is now confirmed to be entering development and will be part of the referral rewards. The Raptor appears to have limited utility, possibly serving as a small vehicle capable of picking up loose items, making it more of a novelty or utility craft rather than a combat ship. Other high-tier ships like the Idris M and Scythe are expected to remain at the top of the referral ladder, likely requiring hundreds of referrals to obtain, thus preserving their exclusivity.
Finally, the update ensures continuity and fairness for existing players by allowing referrals earned before the new ladder’s launch on July 2nd to count towards both the old and new systems. New players will benefit from a 24-hour grace period to use a friend’s referral code after account creation, with a significantly increased starting credit bonus of 50,000 UEC. This comprehensive update demonstrates CIG’s commitment to listening to player feedback and enhancing gameplay loops, making the referral and Wiccolo systems more rewarding and less frustrating for the community.