Star Citizen is on the verge of a major shift with the imminent launch of its crafting system, set to begin testing on Monday, January 19th. Unlike previous major updates that were typically followed by account wipes, this time the developers at Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) are running a pricing surge event in the live build and testing crafting in the Public Test Universe (PTU) without any wipe announcements. This unusual approach suggests that crafting is closer to going live than many players expect, and those who prepare early by stockpiling materials and learning the new gathering loops will gain a significant market advantage. Crafting will allow players to manufacture FPS weapons, armor, ship components, ammo, and consumables using raw materials and blueprints, breaking the current reliance on NPC vendors and their fluctuating prices.
The crafting system is designed to be immersive and hands-on, requiring players to physically gather resources from multiple planets and transport them to fabricators where items are built in real-time. This system is comparable to Eve Online’s manufacturing but with a much more interactive and tangible process. The initial rollout will focus on essential, frequently used items such as FPS gear, small ship components, fuses, ammo, and consumables—items that players consistently burn through during missions. This focus aims to address longstanding pain points like expensive gear replacement costs and logistical inconveniences, such as flying long distances to restock ammo or waiting for ship claims.
CIG is cleverly preparing players for crafting through the current economy events and new missions introduced in patch 4.6. The Alliance Aid missions, for example, are teaching players how to gather and transport crafting materials without explicitly labeling them as tutorials. These missions reward players with necessary crafting ingredients like organic materials and filtration components, encouraging them to familiarize themselves with the resource loops ahead of crafting’s launch. Additionally, the pricing surge event incentivizes players to acquire rare materials now while vendor prices are high, effectively stress-testing the economy to see how supply and demand will react once crafting goes live.
The development timeline and recent release patterns indicate that crafting could arrive in a mid-patch update rather than waiting for the official 4.7 release. CIG has been accelerating feature rollouts, pushing major updates like VR support and engineering gameplay through testing to live builds within days. This aggressive approach suggests confidence in the crafting system’s stability and a desire to integrate it quickly into the game. Moreover, updates such as the Aurora Gold standard rework are designed to improve the new player experience, ensuring that newcomers encounter a polished, functional ship that encourages retention and engagement with complex new systems like crafting.
To maximize their advantage, players are advised to engage with the current economy events, run Alliance Aid missions to stockpile materials, and participate in the upcoming ETF test if possible. Ignoring these signs could leave players unprepared when crafting launches, facing high prices and scarcity while others dominate the market. The crafting system promises to fundamentally alter Star Citizen’s economy and gameplay loop, making early preparation critical. Meanwhile, other changes like ground vehicle missile balance adjustments may also impact gameplay strategies, but the crafting rollout remains the most significant upcoming development for players to watch closely.
