Star Citizen Is Barely Playable, But After Trying It For A Week I Am Sold

 

Star Citizen is a fascinating game. Created by Wing Commander visionary Chris Roberts, it stands as both one of the most ambitious games ever conceived and the most expensive, fueled by its massive crowdfunding success. As of now, over five and a half million backers have contributed more than $750 million toward its development. Yet, despite the time and money invested, 12 years after its first pledge, the game remains in an alpha state. To put that sum into perspective, $750 million averages out to $140 per backer, which is more than the cost of many deluxe editions of typical games. And despite this staggering figure, countless threads on Reddit still debate whether it's worth it, with most answers beginning with “if you can accept the bugs…”

So, why have so many people poured money into Star Citizen? I’ve always been intrigued, but never took the plunge myself—until recently. I’m a fan of space exploration games, especially No Man’s Sky, which is often compared to Star Citizen. As my gaming preferences evolved, I started seeking out games I could casually drop in and out of. A persistent universe where I could explore, deliver packages, and play the role of a high-tech FedEx pilot seemed like the perfect fit. Thanks to a ‘free fly’ event tied to the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo, I was finally able to see what all the hype was about—at no cost to my wallet. I downloaded the game, created my character, and stepped into the universe. The tutorial promised to guide me through the ropes, but a bug stopped me from completing even the first task—using an elevator. After resetting, I encountered more bugs, stuttering gameplay, and eventually a pounding headache. The game froze, and in my frantic attempts to unfreeze it, I somehow skipped the tutorial altogether and couldn’t return to it.

Normally, I would’ve given up, but my curiosity was too strong. I spent hours researching how to run Star Citizen more efficiently on my laptop—optimizing performance to get as many frames as possible, configuring it for a controller, and even setting up voice commands and eye tracking. As I mentioned, it’s an ambitious game. And, I almost bought a HOTAS (hands-on throttle and stick) setup on a whim.

For those wondering, my laptop is a top-of-the-line ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 with a Ryzen 9 processor, an RTX 3060 GPU, and 32GB of RAM.

After tempering my impulse to invest in high-end gear, I explored the expo. It's a fully realized trade show where manufacturers display their spacecraft in a vast hall, offering you the chance to view and rent ships for free. The ships on display rotate daily, making it an irresistible feature. My fascination grew as I spent hours watching reviews of nearly every ship in the game, making lists of my favorites. I think I’ve fallen in love with the Origin 315p—my dream ship. The problem? It costs $60.

At this point, I hadn’t even played the game yet, so I set off for the hangar. Navigating Star Citizen’s complex systems is an event in itself. You head to a spaceport, use a terminal to access your ship, wait for it to be retrieved (if it’s elsewhere in the universe, this can take a lot of real time), and then take yet another elevator (my nemesis by now) to your hangar.

Getting everything ready for takeoff, leaving the hangar, and flying proved nearly impossible due to a myriad of bugs. I often couldn’t even access the mobiGlas system to accept delivery missions. I struggled to move around, admiring the view of my frozen starter planet before the game lagged and crashed. Once, I made it to my delivery destination, but due to poor landing, I couldn’t get back onto my ship to take off again. That’s probably why there’s an in-game suicide button.

For me—and likely for many others without top-tier rigs—the game is virtually unplayable. Crashes, bugs, and stuttering are constant companions. If any other game had this many issues, it would have been pulled from release by now, but Star Citizen keeps raking in the money, with over $20 million coming in just from November alone.

Despite this, I’m not done with Star Citizen. Bugs force me to quit every single day, but my curiosity draws me back in each time. I see the ambition through the community threads, the countless videos, and most of all, by simply being in the universe. The game lets you play however you choose, whether as a delivery driver, a space ambulance pilot, a pirate, or a fleet captain. It’s a universe I want to explore.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Star Citizen is the ships. They are the heart of the game, crafted with such attention to detail that buying one feels like purchasing a house or a car. Your ship becomes more than just a vehicle for space battles or hauling cargo—it’s your home in the stars. The idea of gradually upgrading ships using in-game currency, eventually acquiring something as luxurious as the Origin 890 Jump, becomes a powerful allure.

Some of the game's most expensive ships, like the 890 Jump, cost nearly $1,000 in real money. Limited-time packages can go for even more. You can also purchase ships with in-game currency, though they won’t be safe from wipes during development. Ships bought with real money are account-bound and can even be resold for real money, like trading in a car.

I haven’t yet spent real money on a game package or ship deal, but I know I will at some point—perhaps once I upgrade my rig or overcome my hesitation about big purchases. But at some point, I’ll take the plunge. Star Citizen may not need my £50, but it will have it anyway.