Star Citizen is a massive, immersive sci-fi MMO that can be tricky for new players to get into. With a wide range of activities, from bounty hunting to mining and trading, there’s always something to do. Yet, understanding how to start and what to buy can be confusing.

The game features both space and ground activities, with huge locations to explore and missions to complete in a detailed universe. Technical aspects such as computer requirements and downloading the game are addressed to ensure a smooth start. This introduction will guide you through the basics, from account creation to navigating the game world.

Key Takeaways

• Star Citizen offers a variety of space and ground activities.
• Initial steps include creating an account and understanding computer requirements.
• Easy-to-follow guidance on game settings and basic controls.

Exploring Star Citizen

Star Citizen is an immensely expansive sci-fi MMO with almost seamless integration between space and ground content. It offers players a first-person experience that includes a wide range of activities. These activities are not limited to space alone; they extend to vast ground locations that players can explore.

Here are some of the key features players can engage in:

1. Bounty Hunting
2. Mining
3. Trading
4. Box Delivery
5. Racing
6. Exploring
7. Salvaging
8. Global Events
9. Smuggling
10. Piracy
11. PVP

In Star Citizen, the universe has high details and vast expanses, all accessible with just one initial loading screen. Despite its ambitious reach, the game has several issues, though gradual improvements come with every update.

To start, players need to create an account and purchase a game package. There are several choices for starter ships, including the Avenger Titan, which is known for its speed and combat capabilities. It also has internal storage and cargo space. For budget-conscious players, the Aurora MR and Mustang Alpha are good alternatives.

It’s crucial to ensure your PC meets the minimum requirements to play the game smoothly. This can be checked via the Telemetry page. After purchasing and installing the game, players need to set their graphics settings according to their PC’s capabilities. Adjustments like setting clouds to medium or off can enhance performance.

When entering the game, players can choose between Arena Commander and the Persistent Universe (PU). Arena Commander is ideal for practice without risking gear, while the PU is the main part of the game where long-term progression occurs. Character creation is the first step in the PU, followed by choosing a landing zone.

Navigating and interaction within Star Citizen involve using the ‘F’ key. Holding ‘F’ provides additional interaction options, and running can be sped up by using the scroll wheel and shift key. Tooltips and signs are helpful for navigation, and the global chat can be accessed with the ‘Enter’ key.

Players will also familiarize themselves with the inventory and shop systems, purchasing necessary items like Med Pins for healing, Oxy Pens for oxygen replenishment, and gear such as chest pieces and multitools. The shops offer a variety of items, though inventory space management is essential, especially since gear can be looted by others upon death.

Food and water consumption is necessary but infrequent, with items like the Cruz providing sustenance for hours. Managing personal and local inventory plays a critical role in gameplay, making it important for players to know how to equip and use items effectively.

Account Creation and Referral

To start playing Star Citizen, new players need to create an account. By following the referral link provided in the description, players can receive additional benefits, such as an extra 5,000 credits when they start.

After signing up, players are directed to the pledge store where they can purchase game packages. It’s important to consider the different ship options available:

• Avenger Titan: Known for its speed, decent combat abilities, and storage capabilities, the Avenger Titan is a balanced choice.
• Aurora MR or Mustang Alpha: These are more affordable starter ships that are suitable for beginning players.

System Requirements Players should ensure their PC meets the minimum requirements. Checking the Telemetry page can provide insight into the expected frame rates.

After purchasing a package, players should go to “Play Now” to download and install the game launcher. Once installed, they need to sign in and download the current game patch, which is around 80GB.

First Time Setup After launching the game, it’s recommended to adjust graphic settings to balance performance with visual quality. Preferences such as native high resolution or using DLSS/FSR can be adjusted based on the player’s system specifications.

Players will then create their character and choose a starting location from the following options:

• Lorville
• Orison
• Area 18
• New Babbage (recommended for its views, missions, and shops)

Choosing a Game Package

When picking a game package in Star Citizen, there are a few important things to consider. The game offers a variety of starter ships, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The Avenger Titan is highly recommended due to its speed, decent combat abilities, built-in bed for logging out, internal storage, and 8 SCU of cargo space.

If you’re looking for more affordable options, the Aurora MR and Mustang Alpha are also great choices for beginners. Both of these ships provide a solid starting point for new players.

Recommended Starter Packages

Ship	Speed	Combat Ability	Additional Features
Avenger Titan	Fast	Decent	Bed, internal storage, 8 SCU cargo
Aurora MR	Moderate	Basic	Affordable and versatile
Mustang Alpha	Moderate to Fast	Basic	Sleek design and affordable

Before making any purchase, ensure your PC meets the minimum requirements for the game. You can check the Telemetry page to see what kind of performance you can expect. Once you’ve selected and purchased your game package, you’ll need to download and install the game’s launcher, sign in, and start downloading the current patch.

Device Specifications

Basic Needs

To play Star Citizen, a PC must meet some minimum requirements. These specifications include:

• Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit
• Processor: Quad-core CPU, 3.0GHz
• Memory: 16GB RAM
• Graphics Card: DirectX 11 graphics card with 2GB VRAM
• Storage: SSD with at least 80GB free space

Frame Rate Expectations

Check the Telemetry page linked in the video description for real-time feedback on your PC’s performance. This page shows the frame rates you can expect while playing Star Citizen. This information helps in understanding if your system will run the game smoothly or if you might need to upgrade components for a better experience.

Downloading and Installing

To get started, visit the Star Citizen website and click on “Play Now” at the top right of the page. This will take you to the download page for the game launcher. Download the launcher and install it on your computer.

Once the launcher is installed, open it and sign in with your Star Citizen account. If you don’t have an account yet, you’ll need to create one first. Signing up through a referral link can give you an extra 5,000 in-game credits to start with.

After signing in, the launcher will prompt you to download the current patch, which is around 80GB. This might take some time, so be prepared to pause and wait for it to finish.

Once the download is complete, launch the game through the launcher. The first thing you’ll want to do is configure your graphic settings. High resolution is recommended, but for better performance, you might want to explore DLSS features or FSR if you’re using an AMD graphics card. Adjustable settings like cloud quality can greatly affect performance.

Before jumping into the game, you will need to create your character. There are options to customize your character’s appearance. After that, you’ll choose a starting location. Each location offers different advantages, like missions and shops.

Now, you are ready to dive into the world of Star Citizen. Use the “F” key to interact with objects. Hold “F” to see more options. Familiarize yourself with the controls and the interface as you start exploring and playing the game.

Graphics Settings and Performance

Adjusting graphics settings can greatly improve your experience in Star Citizen. Here’s how to get the best balance between visuals and performance.

Resolution: Set your resolution to the highest your monitor supports. Higher resolution gives better visuals but may affect performance.

DLSS and FSR: These features upscale lower resolutions to look like higher ones, improving performance without a big loss in quality. DLSS is for Nvidia, while FSR is for AMD.

Clouds: Turn clouds to medium or off. This setting has a major impact on performance, especially in busy areas.

FOV (Field of View): Set to 100. This gives a wider view of the game world.

VSync: Turn off VSync unless you’re experiencing screen tearing or are streaming.

Film Grain, Motion Blur, Chromatic Aberration: Turn all these off for a cleaner, sharper image.

Setting	Recommendation
Resolution	Highest Possible
DLSS	Enabled (for Nvidia GPUs)
FSR	Enabled (for AMD GPUs)
Clouds	Medium or Off
FOV	100
VSync	Off
Film Grain	Off
Motion Blur	Off
Chromatic Aberration	Off

Navigating Game Modes

The first game mode is Arena Commander, a great place for practice. It allows players to improve their skills without the risk of losing gear. This mode is perfect for getting a feel of the combat and flight mechanics.

The second game mode is the Persistent Universe (PU). This is the main feature where long-term progress happens. Players can engage in various activities like bounty hunting, mining, trading, and more. The PU offers a more immersive experience with a nearly seamless universe.

Character Creation
Upon entering the PU for the first time, players need to create a character. This process includes customizing appearance and saving the design for future use.

Selecting a Landing Zone
Next is choosing a landing zone. The options include Lorville, Orison, Area 18, and New Babbage. Each location has unique features:

• Lorville: Known for its industrial environment.
• Orison: Famous for floating platforms and beautiful views.
• Area 18: A bustling cityscape with plenty of shops.
• New Babbage: Offers great missions, shops, and breathtaking visuals.

Interacting with the Environment
Movement and interaction are essential. The primary key for interactions is F. Tapping F triggers the most obvious action for objects, while holding F provides additional options. Signs and tooltips are also available to guide players.

To get around faster, players can use the scroll wheel to speed up walking or hold Shift to run. Elevators take players to different parts of the city, including important areas like hospitals and transport hubs.

Shops and Inventory
Shops in Star Citizen sell a variety of items ranging from snacks to advanced gear. Inventory management is crucial. Opening the inventory can be done by tapping I. Items can be dragged, double-clicked, or right-clicked to equip or move them.

Tailoring Your Character

Crafting Your Persona

Upon starting the game for the first time, players are prompted to create their character. This step allows for significant customization, offering numerous sliders and options to adjust facial features, hairstyles, and more. Players can spend as much time as needed in this setup, ensuring their in-game avatar represents their ideal persona.

Preserving Your Creation

Once satisfied with the character’s appearance, players should proceed to save their design. This ensures that the customized character will be preserved for use in future game updates and patches. After finalizing and naming the character, the design is saved and can be accessed anytime.

Choosing a Start Location

Features of New Babbage

New Babbage has amazing views and good missions. It boasts multiple FPS and armor shops, along with some of the best ship upgrade shops in the game. The location is known for its aesthetic appeal and practical facilities, making it a popular choice for both new and returning players.

Option for Tutorial

Players who choose New Babbage will also get an option to go through a tutorial. This helps in getting familiar with the mechanics and controls of the game. Completing the tutorial can provide a solid foundation for gameplay, ensuring that players are well-prepared to make consistent money and enjoy the in-game features.

Basic Controls and Interaction

In Star Citizen, the main key for interacting with the environment is F. This key allows players to perform actions like picking up items or opening doors. Tapping F usually triggers the most obvious action for an object, while holding F reveals additional options if there are any.

Movement can initially feel slow, but using the mouse scroll wheel to scroll up will increase walking speed. Holding Shift enables running, allowing even faster movement. Tooltips, which appear in the bottom right corner of the screen, can be very useful and change based on the current situation.

Navigating through the game is made easier with signs that can be digitally zoomed in on by holding F and scrolling the mouse wheel. Global chat is accessed by pressing Enter, and it can be toggled on or off using F12. Once comfortable with the movement controls, players progress to using interactive objects like elevator panels, by holding F and selecting the desired floor or location from the panel’s options.

Shopping for gear and managing inventory are essential parts of the game. Players can buy items such as Med Pins for healing, Oxy Pins for oxygen, chest pieces, and multi-tools from shops like Kelto. The inventory system is accessed by tapping I. The character’s inventory appears on the left, and the local stash on the right. Items can be managed through dragging, right-clicking, or double-clicking.

Movement and Navigation Tips

Navigating New Babbage

In Star Citizen, players can navigate New Babbage using a few important controls. The primary interaction key is F. This lets players interact with various objects. Tapping F usually performs the most obvious action, such as picking up or opening items. Holding F can show additional options if available.

Fast Movement

Walking might feel slow at first. Players can use the scroll wheel to increase movement speed. Holding Shift enables running, which is even faster. Tooltips, displayed at the bottom right, provide useful hints based on the current situation.

Using Elevators

To use the elevator, players need to hold F on the elevator panel and select their destination, such as the Lobby.

Reading Signs

Signs in Star Citizen help with navigation. If players struggle to read them, they can hold F and scroll wheel in for a small digital zoom.

Global Chat

Global chat can be accessed by pressing Enter. Players can toggle it on or off using F12.

Shops and Inventory Management

Shops in New Babbage offer various items. Smaller stores may have limited options. Players start with limited funds, making it essential to manage resources wisely. Death results in gear becoming lootable by others, including the player if they can retrieve it.

Shopping Tips

It’s advisable to purchase healing items like Med pins, oxygen refills such as Oxy pins, and essential gear such as a chest piece for carrying a backpack. A multitool with different attachments, like the True Hold Tractor Beam, is also helpful.

Eating and Drinking

Food and water are important. Snacks like Cruz bars take care of both needs. Players must eat and drink every few hours to avoid running out of sustenance during long play sessions.

Inventory Management

Players can access their inventory using the I key. The local stash appears on the right, and the player’s personal inventory on the left. Items can be dragged, right-clicked to equip, or double-clicked if there’s enough space. Use Left Shift and Left Click to move items between personal and local inventories.

To consume food or drink, right-click and select “Carry”. Players must remove their helmet first, which can be done quickly by pressing Left Alt + H.

Using Global Chat

Global chat is an important tool in Star Citizen. It allows players to communicate with others in real-time. To access it, press the Enter key. For those who want to keep it visible or hidden at times, you can toggle it on or off by pressing F12.

Global chat can be used for a variety of purposes:

• Asking for Help: New players can ask experienced players for advice or guidance.
• Forming Teams: Players can coordinate with friends or join groups for missions.
• Trading: Discussing trades and exchanges with other players.

When using global chat, it’s important to remember that all communications should adhere to community guidelines. Keeping conversations respectful and on-topic ensures a positive experience for everyone.

First Visit to New Babbage

When you first load into New Babbage, you are greeted with stunning views and a variety of shops and missions. Using the primary interaction key (F), exploring the environment becomes straightforward. Holding down the key reveals more options, making it easier to navigate and interact with objects.

Movement speed can be adjusted using the scroll wheel and running with the shift key. Important tips are shown on the bottom right of the screen, and signs around the city help with navigation. Global chat is accessed by pressing Enter and can be toggled with F12.

Reaching the Lobby involves taking the elevator. From there, the tram is accessible via staircases to the left and right, with the hospital in the middle. For quick necessities, the convenience store on the right, Kelto’s, offers various items like food, drinks, and basic gear.

At Kelto’s, purchasing essential items is straightforward. Med pins and oxy pins help with healing and oxygen levels. Chest pieces are needed for wearing backpacks. Items like the multitool and its attachments, such as the tractor beam, are handy for various tasks including EVA maneuvers and salvaging weapons. Lastly, a space smoothie called Cruz takes care of both food and drink needs.

Managing inventory involves opening the main inventory menu with the “I” key. Items can be moved between personal and local inventory through dragging or simple key combinations. For example, Left Shift and Left Click will transfer items easily. Removing your helmet, done with Left Alt and H, allows you to consume food and drinks.

Shops, Gear, and Inventory

Kelto Convenience Store

Kelto Convenience Store is a popular spot in Stanton for grabbing essentials. You can find drinks, snacks, helmets, and even weapons like a 50-round SMG. While the shop is small and has limited items, it covers the basics. This is convenient for beginners who don’t start with much money. If you die, your gear can be taken by others, so learning to gather your own gear is very useful.

Purchasing Essentials

In this tutorial, you’ll buy a few key items to understand the buying process. Essential purchases include:

• Two Med Pins: For healing.
• Two Oxy Pins: To refill oxygen.
• Chest Piece: Required to wear a backpack.
• Multitool: Handy for various tasks, especially with attachments like the True Hold Tractor Beam.

Additionally, purchasing a Cruze is wise since it serves as both food and water, reducing the need to eat and drink frequently.

Managing Inventory

Managing your inventory is crucial.

Pressing I opens the inventory interface.

The right side shows your local stash, and the left side shows your personal gear.

You can move items by dragging them, right-clicking to equip, or double-clicking.

Left Shift + Left Click moves items between personal and local stashes quickly.

If you need to drink or eat, you must remove your helmet first.

You can do this by pressing Left Alt + H.