Cloud Imperium Games has released Alpha 3.20 update for Star Citizen

All systems are still not a go for Star Citizen but that hasn’t stopped Cloud Imperium Games from releasing incremental updates.

Star Citizen, an ambitious space simulation project by Cloud Imperium Games, is still making its way through a very critical internet that can’t help but pick at its increasingly costly production process.

After over ten years and roughly $600 million, CIG has released its latest update, Fully Loaded, which represents the Alpha 3.20 phase of its development.

Of the many new features, the most noteworthy are the improvements made to the Arena Commander mode, the addition of new PvP modes, larger maps, racetracks, and missions, as well as the addition of new spacecraft to the constantly expanding fleet.

Completely redesigned, the Arena Commander mode has been a crucial component of the Star Citizen game since its launch in 2014. This mode, which is effectively a game within the main title, allows players to skip the preparation stages and jump straight into spacecraft conflicts. After the most current redesign, its UI has been improved, combining all of its features into one window. In addition, the spawn screens have been updated to make it easier for players to customize their ship’s loadout, view a 3D map, and start multi-crew spawns.

Out of all the new features, two ships are particularly noteworthy. The MISC Hull C is referred to be a “titan of the cargo hauling profession” and is outfitted with automated cargo loading technologies in addition to spacious storage. It is nevertheless armed to repel pirate threats, making no concessions in terms of defense. The Mirai Fury LX, on the other hand, is a vehicle that exudes speed and agility. It uses innovative technologies to make quick work of narrow areas.

But spaceships aren’t the only thing in Star Citizen. New first-person shooter maps with a special Single Weapon Elimination mode for players who only use handguns are included in the most recent Star Citizen release. In addition to them, a fresh salvage task and a variety of localization choices enhance the gameplay even more.

By supporting High Dynamic Range (HDR), Star Citizen makes a huge advancement in graphics. By doing this, gamers can enjoy higher contrast ratios, sharper details, and brilliant highlights, which improves the game’s overall visual appeal. In response to the community’s expectations, this inclusion promises more depth and realism.

But there have been bumps in Star Citizen’s road. The game has received equal amounts of praise and criticism since its launch in 2012. While some have praised it as a shining example of creativity, others have voiced concerns about its protracted development and the high price of in-game items, such as the $500 MISC Hull C. The project’s total crowdfunding amount, as shown by Cloud Imperium Games, is currently more than $604 million, coming from more than 4.8 million backers.

Even with its slow development and the doubt that followed, the game’s yearly earnings have been steadily increasing. According to reports, it’s been closer to $100 million annually on average lately. However, other backers express dissatisfaction over what seems like an endless wait, citing stories of expensive PCs that were once constructed especially to play Star Citizen years ago becoming outdated even before the game’s official release.

The development of Star Citizen can be compared to the construction of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, a huge undertaking whose completion appears to be forever out of reach. Notwithstanding the conflicting opinions, one thing is certain: Star Citizen has made a name for itself in the annals of gaming history, regardless of whether it is hailed as a groundbreaking project or ridiculed for taking so long to build.