Cloud Imperium Games has announced the release of Star Citizen Alpha 4.7: Welcome to the Rock, a new update that adds a long-awaited feature (crafting) and new content.
The update's headline content is Operation Breaker Stations, a multi-stage co-op mission set in the Keeger Belt. Players restore an abandoned Shubin asteroid mining station, fighting through Claw Salamander scavengers and icy-variant Valakkar creatures to reach the power core. Once power is restored, they craft optical components to amplify a massive laser array, drill into the asteroid, and descend inside to extract rare resources. The mission supports both private (Exclusive rights) and open (Shared rights) runs, the latter enabling PvP. It's fully replayable and designed to involve multiple player roles, including fighters, miners, haulers, and crafters.
On that note, Star Citizen Alpha 4.7 finally introduces the first iteration of a long-planned player crafting system. Players can now craft FPS weapons and armor using earnable blueprints, with material quality directly affecting the final item's stats. Items can also be dismantled for materials. Rare minerals from Operation Breaker Stations feed directly into this system, though blueprints are obtainable through other missions, too. CIG frames this as the foundation of a much deeper crafting ecosystem to be expanded in future updates.
The developers are also introducing the RSI Aurora Mk II, a redesigned starter ship that replaces the original Aurora Mk I. It features a modular system that allows pilots to tailor it from day one. The Cargo Module adds 6 SCU of extra storage (on top of 2 SCU base), while the Combat Module adds missile racks and a third shield generator for combat-oriented play.
Looking to the future, Star Citizen Alpha 4.8 should simplify the refueling process while also adding refueling missions that center on servicing NPC ships. Moreover, the next major patch should implement the new Transport System, a full rewrite of transit across the universe, supporting trams, trains, and elevators, with improved reliability and scalability for technologies such as Server Meshing and Instancing.
Cloud Imperium Games is also supposed to launch the single player campaign Squadron 42 later this year. As you'll recall, Game Director Chris Roberts has hyped its narrative as a mix of Top Gun and Star Wars, hoping that it will be one of the most anticipated triple-A games of the year after GTA 6.
Meanwhile, Star Citizen itself might reach version 1.0 in either 2027 or 2028.
About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.
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