In the recent Star Citizen Live, CTO Benoit detailed significant technical advancements under the “Year of Playability,” including improved server meshing, enhanced stability, and upcoming features like Mission System 2.0 and engineering gameplay entering tech preview by year-end. The update also covered fixes to persistence and AI systems, upcoming events with a focus solely on Star Citizen content, and the soon-to-arrive Apollo ship on the PTU.
The recent Star Citizen Live featured Jared and Benoit, CIG’s Chief Technology Officer, discussing significant technical updates and development progress under what they call the “Year of Playability.” Over the past year, the game has seen substantial improvements in server performance, moving from single-server setups with limited player counts and poor FPS to a more robust static server meshing system supporting multiple servers and higher player capacities, sometimes up to 800 players. Alongside this, the development teams have restructured to better address critical bugs and reduce regression issues, enhancing overall game stability and speeding up content delivery.
A major focus was on the tech preview environment, which currently tests key features such as AI improvements, graphics upgrades, and the upcoming Mission System 2.0. Importantly, the engineering gameplay feature, which many players are eagerly awaiting, is being held back until these tech preview elements are fully integrated into the main branch. Benoit expressed hopes that engineering will enter the tech preview phase before the end of the year, possibly around Citizen Con, allowing players to experience this new gameplay aspect soon.
Server meshing remains a critical area of development, with static server meshing now stable and data-driven to optimize server allocation based on player activity. Meanwhile, dynamic server meshing is actively being developed, aiming to allow servers to split or merge in real-time depending on demand, which will also enable more advanced instancing technology. This will significantly improve scalability and player experience by better managing server loads and instanced content.
Several system improvements were highlighted, including fixes to freight elevators, transit systems like trams and elevators, and AI spawning mechanics to prevent overcrowding of enemies. Persistence and item loss issues were also addressed, with an ongoing revamp to ensure player entitlements and inventory items persist reliably between patches. Currently, proper ship stowing is crucial to avoid losses, but the new long-term persistence system aims to make item retention more robust and consistent, reducing player frustration.
Finally, the hosts discussed operational topics such as server maintenance schedules and upcoming events. Notably, Citizen Con Direct will be shorter this year and will not feature any Squadron 42 updates, which was surprising to many. The team is focusing solely on Star Citizen content, with Squadron 42 news expected only when the team is ready. Additionally, the Apollo ship is set to enter the PTU soon, promising new gameplay experiences. Overall, the live stream provided valuable insights into ongoing technical efforts and set expectations for upcoming developments and events.