Star Citizen’s most passionate fans are fighting back against the game’s proposed paid land claim system, fearing limited space and possible pay-to-win mechanics. The feature was detailed in the latest Around The Verse alongside an update on the Consolidated Outland Mustang.
The land claim feature still works as described during CitizenCon. Players will take a colonization ship (like the Pioneer) or a scanning ship (like a Prospector) to scout out in-game parcels for habitation or resource farming. Because most land will be under UEE control, players will have to purchase licenses valued from $50 to $100 based on size. In return, owners will get the protection of the UEE, making it harder for pirates to take control of the area.
Before being granted a parcel, interested parties must first place a land becon and take the request for that land back to the UEE. In the event the same plot is being speculated by multiple groups at once, the first group to hand in the paperwork to the proper authorities will be given the space. In an effort to be as realistic as possible, there will also be opportunities to lease and sell parcels for greater value. The goal is to essentially provide explorers with a gameplay framework that truly makes massive ships like the Pioneer worth its hefty price.
Assuming the land claim system works like this in the final game has raised concerns Star Citizen’s colonization features will essentially be pay-to-win. After all, those willing to spend the most money on land will be able to reap the increased resources and benefits from each parcel. Also, especially in Star Citizen’s early days where the universe may not be at its full size, there may not be enough good land available for players to buy.
Several threads on the Star Citizen subreddit specifically focus on these concerns. One such post suggests Cloud Imperium Games is “idiotic and asking for trouble” if the developer expects these intricate features to work as intended. That post alone has received well over 200 replies, many agreeing with the sentiment. “Adding base building was already sketchy, now they are doubling down and having people pay for a mechanic that, let's be honest, won't show up in the next three to five years,” said one such commenter.
With some negativity still looming, CIG has taken steps to quell these trepidations. For one, all land claims sold today will be ineffective until the game's release. Also, developers have insisted that, even if every single backer bought a parcel of land today, it would only occupy half of a single planet in one of Star Citizen’s planned 100 solar systems. As Director Chris Roberts put it, “there’s so much land that I think there will be plenty for everyone.”
Like most pressure points in the largely unfinished Star Citizen universe, it will likely take patience and years of development to fully determine if any of this controversy is truly worth the frustration.
Also detailed briefly at the end of last night’s ATV was an update on the CNOU Mustang. This revised design is in its grey-box phase and has been outfitted with a hop-in cockpit design and in-cockpit landing gear. Overall, it’s much sleeker than the previous concept.
Star Citizen is in alpha for Kickstarter backers on PC.
How do you feel about Star Citizen’s land claim system? Are the high parcel prices truly worth concern right now? Tell us in the comments section!
