The recent Star Citizen crafting test introduced basic crafting mechanics, including blueprint selection, material quality affecting item stats, and dismantling player-crafted items to recover resources, though the system remains limited and somewhat clunky with a simple UI and missing features. Despite initial bugs and the need for further development, the test shows promise for crafting to become a meaningful gameplay loop involving resource gathering and item upgrading.
The recent Star Citizen crafting test provided players with an early look at the game’s crafting mechanics, though it faced some initial setbacks. During the first test, players could access the fabricator from their freight elevator, but a bug prevented them from seeing any blueprints, even though developers could. This caused the initial test to fail, but the system was brought back for another try. Players were given numerous blueprints they don’t normally own to speed up testing; however, no materials were provided, requiring players to gather or purchase resources themselves to craft items.
The crafting user interface (UI) in the test was quite basic compared to the polished concept art previously shown at CitizenCon and in the “Crafting Your Home” 2024 video. Players interact with a simple window that allows them to select blueprints from a large list of approximately 180 items, including armor and weapons. The UI displays the required materials for each part of the item, such as a gun’s frame, stock, and barrel, and includes options to autofill materials from the player’s inventory. However, the system currently lacks advanced search functions, making it cumbersome to find craftable items based on available materials.
One of the significant new features introduced is the concept of material quality, which affects the stats of crafted items. Mining different rocks yields materials of varying quality, which then influence the performance of the final product. Players noted that while the quality system is in place, some aspects, like rocks containing multiple materials rather than a single material with varying quality, have not yet been implemented. Additionally, some purchased materials, such as aluminum, had no quality value, which could impact crafting outcomes. The quality system is expected to evolve further with upcoming updates.
Dismantling crafted items is another newly added feature, allowing players to break down items they have created to recover materials. Currently, dismantling is limited to player-crafted items only and not all in-game items. Players can choose to have recovered materials returned to the crafting machine or their inventory. This mechanic has potential to become a major gameplay loop, encouraging players to loot and dismantle items to obtain valuable crafting resources. However, as it stands, dismantling is still in an early stage and will likely expand in future iterations.
Overall, the crafting test represents a foundational step toward integrating crafting into Star Citizen’s gameplay. While the system is functional, it remains a work in progress with many missing features such as a refined blueprint acquisition system, vehicle crafting, and more sophisticated UI elements. The test shows promise for crafting to become a significant gameplay loop for players who enjoy gathering materials and upgrading gear. However, it will require further development and iteration before being ready for live release.