Star Citizen developer Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) recently came under fire from its passionate player base over the release of new ship upgrades — specifically “flight blades” and bomb racks — which were initially offered for real-world money. However, despite early concerns, the upgrades were not delayed or pulled from sale, and they remained available throughout the in-game event. They’re now also accessible in the in-game stores in the PTU (Public Test Universe), as originally planned.
The controversy largely stemmed from how the items were first introduced. The upgrades were only available on the pledge store using real money, which led to immediate backlash from the community. Many players feared this could signal a shift toward selling standard ship components in a pay-to-win fashion — something CIG has not done before, despite having sold modular ship add-ons like the Retaliator modules in the past.
This wasn’t an isolated event, either. Some players pointed to last year’s ATLS rollout as a similar moment when CIG faced community outrage over monetization decisions. Once again, the feedback was overwhelmingly negative, and in response, CIG committed to making the upgrades available via in-game currency (aUEC) — a model they’ve used before with other items: cash-first, game-access later.
Community Director Tyler Witkin acknowledged the outcry and confirmed the shift in messaging, promising that future gameplay-centric kits would be earnable in-game from day one. While some players continue to question the studio’s monetization practices, many agree that the core issue this time was communication, not intent.
Interestingly, this situation coincided with the reveal of a combat variant of the ATLS — which, after early feedback, became the first in-game-only vehicle that must be earned through gameplay and is not available on the pledge store. This move, tied to the Collector Wikelo character in 4.2, was seen as a direct acknowledgment of the community’s call for more in-game progression and fewer cash-gated assets.
While the rollout of the flight blades and bomb racks caused a stir, CIG ultimately adapted — a perk of its open development model. The event has become yet another case study in how strong community feedback can shape Star Citizen’s evolving roadmap.
Special thanks to both @digitalruins.fyi and @halengar.bsky.social on Bluesky for community clarification.
