Star Citizen DefenseCon 2956 brings free fly and new ships

Cloud Imperium Video games has kicked off this yr’s massive Star Citizen showcase occasion, with DefenseCon 2956 now dwell and operating till Might 27. The annual in-universe conference doubles as one of many recreation’s largest free fly occasions, which means anybody can bounce in and check out Star Citizen with out paying for entry over the following two weeks.

Set in Area18 on ArcCorp, DefenseCon 2956 takes over the Bevic Conference Middle with a rotating each day producer showcase that includes greater than 100 ships obtainable to hire and take a look at fly. The occasion arrives simply after the launch of Alpha 4.8, which added Tactical Strike Teams, a large-scale fleet fight mission targeted on coordinated assaults and capital ship battles.

This yr’s occasion leans closely into Drake Interplanetary’s rough-and-ready aesthetic following the UEE Navy’s withdrawal from Stanton. In lore, Drake CEO Anden Arden turned that absence into a chance, remodeling the occasion right into a loud celebration of heavy firepower, outsized cargo haulers, and combat-ready ships.

The opening days of DefenseCon introduce a number of new Drake vessels. The principle addition is the Ironclad, an enormous freight ship carrying greater than 2,200 SCU of cargo house alongside a removable command module and in depth turret protection. Its counterpart, the Ironclad Assault, sacrifices some cargo capability in trade for troop transport house, armored automobile bays, and onboard restore and refueling capabilities.

Drake can be debuting the Pitbull, a light-weight solo snub fighter constructed round pure offensive output.

Different producers are getting their very own highlight all through the occasion too. Origin is unveiling the M80 heavy fighter on Might 16-17, whereas MISC follows with the Starlite, a brand new solo refueling ship designed to maintain fleets operational mid-flight.

Aegis then steps in with one of many extra intimidating reveals of the occasion. The Tiburon heavy gunship is particularly designed for anti-capital fight, packing 5 turrets, beam weaponry, and heavy missile payloads aimed squarely at bigger ships.

Maybe the most important reveal arrives later within the week when Anvil introduces the Odin battlecruiser idea. In response to Cloud Imperium Video games, the ship sits someplace between the Javelin and Bengal in scale, that includes 23 turrets, 10 torpedo launchers, seven hangars, and eight,000 SCU of cargo house.

DefenseCon 2956 additionally consists of Twitch Drops for viewers watching taking part Star Citizen streams. Anybody watching 4 hours of eligible streams can unlock a Murray Cup-themed flight go well with for his or her in-game hangar.

Veteran gamers may also earn referral rewards throughout the occasion, together with a Drake Dragonfly with Coalfire Paint for profitable referrals, whereas new gamers obtain free beauty clothes gadgets.

The occasion’s free fly interval runs till Might 27 at 4 pm UTC, giving curious gamers an opportunity to see what Star Citizen at the moment seems to be like following Alpha 4.8’s newest additions.