The latest Star Citizen tech update highlights advancements in character customization through an extended DNA system, improved animation, and dynamic clothing with the upcoming Starware system, alongside new creature tech and the Maelstrom destructible environment. Additionally, the update covers the development of powerful production tools, early-stage VR support, and enhancements in facial animations and cloth physics, all aimed at enriching immersion and gameplay depth.
In the latest Star Citizen tech update, managing director of technical operations Sean Tracy discussed exciting advancements in character customization, tools, and game systems. One major highlight is the development of an extended DNA system for character bodies, allowing players to customize body types beyond just facial features. While height variations remain complex, players can expect options like fat and thin body types, scars, burns, and injuries through the “Blood, Sweat, and Tears” technology. This system will also support NPCs, and cybernetics integration is planned, potentially allowing players to have cybernetic enhancements in the future.
The update also covered improvements in animation and character rigging, particularly addressing the challenges of supporting both male and female player models with unique assets and clothing sets. Despite existing bugs due to legacy assets and tech debt, significant efforts are underway to ensure parity between genders. Additionally, face scanning technology is being explored, though home scanning systems are currently not high quality enough. The team envisions a hybrid approach where DNA data could help approximate player likenesses in-game.
A key focus has been on the development of tools that accelerate game production. Over a thousand tools like Staritect, Data Forge, and Copy Build have been created to streamline workflows and automate processes. One standout tool, Tiny Machine, allows assets to adapt dynamically to their environment, enhancing realism and efficiency. These tools have been fundamental to building the massive worlds of Star Citizen and Squadron 42, highlighting the importance of robust development infrastructure.
Starware, a new system with a dedicated strike team, is progressing on a more rigid schedule and may be released by the end of the year. This system will enable dynamic clothing and armor adaptation based on character loadouts, improving both player and NPC customization. It will also automate NPC gear spawning, enhancing immersion and variety. Alongside this, creature tech is advancing, with new animals and variants in development, though no specific release timeline was given. The Maelstrom destructible system is also in use, focusing on armor, buildings, and vehicles, with potential future applications for environmental destructibility like trees.
Finally, VR support is in early stages and presents unique challenges due to Star Citizen’s multiplayer nature and mixed VR/non-VR player base. While Squadron 42’s VR implementation is simpler and more cinematic, Star Citizen’s VR will require extensive development to support various controllers and interactions. Other improvements include enhanced facial idle animations and more realistic cloth physics through the StarCloth system. Overall, these updates showcase the ongoing commitment to deepening immersion and expanding gameplay possibilities in Star Citizen’s evolving universe.