The video discusses the recent Planet Tech V5 test in Star Citizen, conducted with Evocati members under NDA restrictions, which allowed sharing experiences but not footage. The host reflects on the expectations set by Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) in 2024 and 2025, noting that while the 2024 expectations were realistic, the 2025 expectations, especially regarding biome density and grass detail, were set too high. Despite some community negativity, the overall impression of the test is relatively positive, with the technology meeting or slightly exceeding the initial quality benchmarks set two years prior.
A key feature of Planet Tech V5 is the use of physical-based rules to generate biomes procedurally, allowing for greater variety and density where appropriate. The test showed diverse biomes with unique experiences, although some bugs affected the immersion, such as inconsistent level-of-detail (LOD) issues and visual flatness in grass and foliage. The host highlights impressive elements like dense forests and believable snow accumulation in mountainous areas but notes the absence of certain biomes like jungles and redwoods, suggesting these may be planned for future planets like Terra.
One significant issue encountered was unrelated to planet visuals but rather gameplay mechanics, including quantum travel bugs and long hangar queues due to all players starting with extra-large hangars. These problems caused frustration and wasted time during the test. Additionally, the host points out that some biomes, such as swamps, lacked expected density and authenticity, which detracted from immersion, though variations existed depending on the location tested by different players.
Mining received special attention in the test, with positive feedback on the biome-based placement of minable rocks, which appeared mostly in mountainous areas and were visually distinct by type. However, the lack of clear UI indicators to identify biomes and the distribution of resources made it difficult to predict where specific minerals could be found. The host compares this to other games like Starfield, which provide better map overlays and biome information, suggesting Star Citizen could benefit from similar features to enhance player experience.
In conclusion, the host believes CIG set appropriate expectations in 2024 and mostly met them, though the 2025 expectations were overly ambitious, particularly regarding grass and foliage density. While the test had bugs and lacked some polish, it showed promising advancements in planetary technology and mining. The host expresses frustration with the Evocati NDA restrictions, wishing for more transparency or open testing, but appreciates the developers’ hard work despite management issues. Overall, the test is seen as a positive step forward with room for improvement before full release.